Deväť myslí: Krása v rozmanitosti autistického spektra

by Daniel Tammet, Alexandra Strelková (Translator)

Deväť silných príbehov, deväť rôznych pohľadov na fascinujúce neurodivergentné mysle. Autistický savant a matematický génius Daniel Tammet sa po výnimočnej memoárovej knihe Narodený v modrú stredu rozhodol preskúmať životné príbehy ďalších výnimočných autistických ľudí. Jeho kniha Deväť myslí rozbíja všetky stereotypy, ktoré sme kedy mali o ľuďoch na spektre.

Japonská vedkyňa sa rozhodne skúmať mieru ľudskej osamelosti, pričom vychádza aj z vlastnej skúsenosti s autizmom. Britský detektív vyrieši záhadnú vraždu v mestskom parku vďaka takmer nepostrehnuteľnému detailu. A neverbálny muž prežije plnohodnotný život vďaka reči tela a nezlomnosti svojej matky, ktorá nestratila vieru.

Kniha Deväť myslí približuje jedinečné životné skúsenosti deviatich neurodivergentných mužov a žien. Každý z nich je pozoruhodný vo svojom odbore a každý z nich je výzvou pre nás všetkých i pre naše vnímanie ľudí s autizmom. Daniel Tammet odkrýva vnútorný svet svojich hrdinov a hrdiniek, aby oslávil silu a krásu neurodivergentnej mysle ako aj odvahu, s akou si títo ľudia vybudovali svoje životy.

Spoznajte neurodivergentný svet herca Daniela Aykroyda, matematika a politika Cédrica Villaniho, írskej spisovateľky Naoise Dolan a mnohých ďalších. Deväť myslí je svedectvom krásy a nekonečnej rozmanitosti autistickej predstavivosti v živote i v literatúre.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Biography, Disability, Essays, Audiobook

280 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2025

About the author

Daniel Tammet is the subject of the award-winning television documentary, The Boy with the Incredible Brain, as well as a BBC Radio 4 documentary, Two Poets (with Les Murray) and the Kate Bush song, Pi. He is the author of nine books, including the memoir Born on a Blue Day, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; two collections of essays, Thinking in Numbers, a New Yorker recommendation, and Every Word is a Bird We Teach to Sing, a Booklist Editors' Choice and Listener Magazine Book of the Year; a bilingual poetry collection in English and French, Portraits, and a novel written in French, Mishenka. His writing has appeared in Esquire, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, Aeon and Quadrant, and his books have been translated into thirty languages. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2012, and awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, The Open University, in 2023. Daniel Tammet lives in Paris.

Reviews

[anastasia tasou · Rating 2 out of 5]

love the concept but not the book :(

[Hayley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious and gloomy, the stories just reinforce the stereotypical "little professor" type or focusses on the great struggle from an outsiders perspective, so the "otherness" of these autistic people is even more emphasised.

It's a bland and monotone read, don't recommend. There are plenty other (and much more engaging) books about autism.

[Darren Ambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, don’t expect a scientific exposition of autism, expect engaging stories of nine other humans with which we share this experience.

[Pooj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine Minds is a collection of short stories following nine individuals as they recount their experiences as autistic humans in this world. As an autistic adult myself, this was such a profound introspective piece of work. I can see parts of myself in every one of the individuals and it made me feel less alone in the world knowing there are so many more autistic people out there. I feel like the key point made in this book is that there is no one flavor of autism and just because you are able to have higher functioning than others doesn't make your experience any more invalid. I read this basically in one sitting, I felt so connected and enthralled by the individuals' recollections. I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending this to my family. 5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept for this book, but unfortunately the execution fell short for me. I see what Tammet was going for by asking the participants to share their experiences and lives with him with no particular directive for how they do the telling, but it left every essay feeling directionless and strangely kind of repetitive. Since the subjects themselves don’t really provide any kind of guidance in how their stories are told, it was up to Tammet to shape them into a cohesive narrative and he basically applied the same formula to each section in a way that made them blend together to me at the end of the book.

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

bardzo dobra, niektore rozdzialy jednak sa mniej ciekawe niz inne; takie 3.5🌟

[Jagoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,3
Dobry rzetelny reportaż
Ciekawe osoby
Lecz czegoś mi zabrakło, jakiejś dłuższej historii, ale pamiętajmy, że są to historie prawdziwych, żyjących cały czas ludzi.

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliantly written collection of stories about nine very different people, from different parts of the world, all with one thing in common: Autism. Each story gives us a look into how autism can differ from person to person; in the way it presents and in the way it affects their daily lives. I felt particularly drawn to the story of Billy, a young boy rendered mute, unable to advocate for himself, but having a strong mother who fought for him in every way possible.
I'll give you a little rundown of these remarkable people:
Vaughan - a brilliant hand/wrist surgeon, excellent in his field but struggles with daily conversations
Kana - a Japanese woman studying and researching loneliness, particularly amongst those who are neurodivergent
Warren - a police detective whose autism has helped him solve numerous murders throughout his career.
@naoisedolan - an Irish author currently working on her third book.
Billy - a boy who lost his ability to speak at the age of 2, and now in his 30s communicates via a device.
Amanda - a blind woman with autism who uses a form of echolocation allowing her to 'see'
Cédric - a mathematician who ran for office in France
Ayo - a bullied girl who became a beauty queen
Danny - a Hollywood icon

I'd highly recommend this book.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Daniel Tammet’s style of writing. The word syntax is a bit different than how my mind works, and the focus is on different aspects of the individuals‘ personalities. I think back on all the people I’ve known throughout my life, especially in school, and wonder how they could have been channeled to be more accepted in productive.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written account of nine neuro divergent lives, all unique in their own way. If you are neuro divergent then this will give you some insight into your own condition and if you are not it will help you in your interactions with those who are.

[Nick Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empathetic, illuminating, humanising. A series of beautiful vignettes that subtly and lovingly show wildly different ways of experiencing and existing in the world.

[Eowyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, well written and very very moving.

I wish my young self could have read this book. And taken the same comfort from it.

[Shan Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful reminder that us Autistics are as varied and talented as any other person, even (or despite) the neurotype commonalities we share.

[Jeanette]

No rating. DNF I only got 3 people in and called it. This writing is probably one of the worst to read in English I have ever come across- and that's not an exaggeration.

I'm not sure if it is the translation or just that the continuity for Tammet in telling is just so off. There is not a beginning, middle or end to tell, tell, tell. And the tangent information just put hodgepodge serendipty is so ridiculous that I have to reread every single page. Most of the time I never knew what aspect of side bar related person, place, thing he was describing around NOW.

Sad, and perhaps he has some spectrum level affliction? Really, it's rather surprising this was published. Maybe for empathy's sake. That's believeable. This states (Unknown Binding)- it should also state "unknown continuity of English".

It is also mood negative. And half the time you don't even know who is narrator just then.

[Katelyn Birchfield]

DNF. I was so excited about this one but just could not get into it. Pretty disappointed!

[Carroll Nelson Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite worthwhile read about people on the Aspergers/autism spectrum. Not didactic, not polemical, but rather anecdotal. Tammet acquaints the reader with nine distinct neurodivergent individuals, with their own life stories, characteristics, challenges, successes, and styles of narration. There is no definition of a "type'; the nine accounts overlap in some ways and diverge in others, as would those of any nine people. Each story does not draw to an ending, or prove a point, or lead to a moral. The reader gets to know these people some and maybe gains some feeling of what it's like to be each of them. A greater feeling of acquaintance is an important benefit of "coming out": it is harder to ostracize/"other"/hate someone when it is someone you know. So it is useful for more of us to be ready to relate to neurodivergent friends and family members as they are rather than demonize and dismiss them as extremists such as RFK Jr. would have us do.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable perspectives on the spectrum

I really enjoyed reading nine different stories of people on the spectrum. The main thing I disliked was the author self inserting randomly into the story, which was jarring since I was enjoying that person's perspective and then inevitably got confused every chapter. Otherwise a good read

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful stories!

[Jessica]

Particularly thoughtfully written, with a unique pacing and sentence structure. The personalities aren't easy to distinguish, but it comes across to me more as retaining privacy for each individual and valuing a realistic observation.

[Elle Leggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s nice. Gives insight into the diversity of autism, with good story telling. But that’s about it for its greatness

[Lunaticvamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Było spoko, można było spojrzeć na osoby ze spektrum autyzmu z innej strony, dodatkowo pokazuje autor że osoby ze spektrum były wśród nas już od dawna tylko wtedy postrzegało się je jako „inne”

[Kelly Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the lives of 9 neurodivergent people. #9 was a most welcome surprise!

[books4chess · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Our lives are lived forwards but understood backwards.

Tammet delivers an engaging collection of self-contained biographies of neurodivergent minds. He explores their individual stories with no pressure for a direction or moral, but giving the floor to several different individuals who have achieved very different outcomes in their life, with a clear theme - success is subjective but everyone can achieve. And I’m here for it.

The book recalls the various ways that a selected group of neurodivergent individuals are loved and encouraged by those around them - exploring the loving parents who refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer, a relative who encourages a young boy to keep asking questions and the doctor who repeatedly looked for solutions to challenges others accepted as fact.

“She toughed out the awful rain, cold and clinging. It was only rain after all. She’d known worse, though some days it really lashed down. Only rain, it couldn’t help being wet. And besides, she wasn’t made of sugar”.

There is plenty of literature available in present day around neurodivergency with an undercurrent of pessimism. They hit you with ‘it is what it is’, and suggestions of how you can encourage others to ‘learn’ your ticks. In all honesty, I find these sources disheartening and have put many a book down after the first few chapters, exhausted by the self-defeated exclamations and opinions as fact. But this non-fiction hit me where I wanted, detailing a topic many speak on in a fresh light. These individuals, to many, may not be considered the traditional view of ’successful’, but every single one is a proactive do-er, refusing to be limited in a way that reads not as toxic positivity, but as a pragmatic approach to taking on a different reality from the mainstream whilst co-existing side by side.

“Yoga was about progress, as Eve’s instructor had once said. Stretching a little further, breathing a little easier. Relinquishing inch by inch, the false comfort of bad posture - and even worse habits of thoughts”.

The collection isn’t something that grips you in a way that you’re compelled to finish it in one, but it’s something you’ll read slowly, digest and reflect on for a while.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book and found most of its portraits very interesting and touching. I enjoyed reading about the many different ways that autism can manifest throughout a person's life. The portrait of Ayo was particularly touching.

Unfortunately, there were two bad chapters that soured the book for me. The two celebrity chapters, about Cédric Villani and Dan Aykroyd, stood out for having less depth than the rest of the book. The Villani portrait was particularly weak, reading more like a fawning political biography than a nuanced investigation into the subject's inner mind. And then the book's final and longest chapter, about Dan Aykroyd, was reconstructed without ever talking to the subject, making it feel hazy and impersonal.

If the book focused entirely on everyday people that the author could easily access, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. There are many unsung heroes Tammet could have depicted instead.

[Kamila · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is great: stories of real, living people, with insight on their inner lives.
I started reading with much anticipation, but - even though the people described in the book are interesting and admirable individuals - the chapters felt like generic bios and didn't really convey that much detail and personality.
I understand the challenge of reaching out to real people with a request of sharing their inner lives and experiences. I don't think this book delivers what it promises, but it is an important documentation of these people and their achievements.
For me, a bit of a disappointment.

[Justin Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off well with the story of a Police detective and how his autism assisted him in doing his job. However from there, although there were interesting observations and moments, nothing else for me really held my attention and I found the book became a little bit repetitive.
I'm still glad that I read it for the interesting insights I gained but I don't think it really worked as a complete book. 2.5 would probably be my score for this one.

[Barbara Girardet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2✨: l’auteur dit au début du livre donner une représentation des personnes sur le spectre du trouble autistique. Travaillant dans le domaine, j’ai au contraire trouvé que les histoires, bien que différentes, ne rendaient pas justice à la diversité des personnes TSA (8 récits sur 9 avec des personnalités de hauts fonctionnement par exemple). J’ai eu un peu de mal à crocher avec l’écriture, et finalement qui parle peu des difficultés liées au diagnostic et à la neuroatypie.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the concept of the book was great, focusing heavily on how the autism spectrum includes many notable intelligent people, with certain social differences and sensory issues. However, the stories told about each person were very boring, although the people were somewhat interesting. I struggled through this one.

Thank you to NetGalley/The Experiment for an advanced eBook.

[beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

i would’ve enjoyed a chapter or two with more “ordinary” people and their inner thoughts / feelings / experiences in day to day life. not every autistic person is savant / hugely gifted and i think it’s important to acknowledge that too

[joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

an okay read. i wouldn’t reread it and i would reluctantly recommend it- it felt quite repetitive, but i did enjoy the writing style. the intentions were there, but the execution lacked in my opinion