A Mind Apart: Travels in a Neurodiverse World

by Susanne Paola Antonetta

An intimate exploration of mental disease draws on the author's manic depression experience and interviews with people who suffer from such conditions as multiple personality disorder, autism, and schizophrenia, evaluating what can be learned by the alternate perceptions inherent with each disease. By the author of Body Toxic. 20,000 first printing.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health, Disability, Science

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

An American poet and author who is most widely known for her book Body Toxic: An Environmental Memoir. In 2001, Body Toxic was named by the New York Times as a "Notable Book". An excerpt of "Body Toxic" was published as a stand-alone essay which was recognized as a "Notable Essay" in the 1998 Best American Essays 1998 anthology. She has published several prize-winning collections of poems, including Bardo, a Brittingham Prize in Poetry winner, and the poetry books Petitioner, Glass, and most recently The Lives of The Saints. She currently resides in Washington with her husband and adopted son. She is widely published both in newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as in literary journals including Orion, Brevity, JuxtaProse Literary Magazine, Seneca Review, and Image. She is the current Editor-in-Chief of Bellingham Review.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book. I couldn't put it down. This is a brilliant look at some of the most difficult questions that face us when we ask larger questions about mental health, neuroatypicality (go ahead, say it, it's actually a fun word on the tongue!), and social policy.

But enough about the big issues... the truth is that A Mind Apart is just a really beautiful read. It tackled issues of particular interest to me, but I would read Susanne Antonetta's essay on basketball play-offs, if there were one. Her language is really stunning, particularly on the level of the word and the turn of phrase.

If you know me, and if you are or love someone who is neuroatypical (my new favorite word), you will probably be getting this from me for Christmas. If you don't think you're on that list, then you'll have to get your own copy, but you'll be glad you did. This is creative nonfiction at its most beautiful and its most useful.

[Alyson Bardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing, and a perfect blend of science, introspection, and cultural politics.

[Anita Dalton · Rating 2 out of 5]

...Antonetta states outright that she sees the gifts as well as the challenges of mental illness and I respect that. But the examples she gives of bipolar artists is mostly a list of the damned.

The painter van Gogh was bipolar, as were Virginia Woolf, Georgia O’Keefe, Sylvia Plath, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Gioacchino Rossini and hundreds of other artists.

“Spring and Fall, to a Young Child” is one of my favorite poems and it contains the line from poetry I quote most often in my life: “It is the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for.” But would you really have wanted to have lived Hopkins’ life, with his manias that caused him to dehydrate himself to the point of illness, the deep unipolar horrors that he faced most of his short life? Would you really have wanted to live the lives of either Plath or Woolf, with the anorexia, the suicide attempts, the rages, the final desperations? It is a subjective point, to be sure, that such suffering is worth the art it creates, but who really would have wanted to be Sylvia Plath, alone, terrified, angry and willing to die, tucking towels under the door and opening windows in the childrens’ room so they wouldn’t inhale the gas? I am reluctant to grace mental illness with any sort of sanctity because while we get to enjoy the fruit borne from madness, the lives of those whose minds burned them out are often nothing any of us would want. Yes, I wish there was a cure for all mental illness and I know the best most of us can do is cope however we decide to cope, but I am uneasy as hell as seeing the bright side to any of this. “Yay, we got some poems before Plath gassed herself!” is not the way I want to look at this possible form of natural selection. That the world benefited from the sufferings of Ernest Hemingway, Anne Sexton, Abbie Hoffman and Edgar Allan Poe is, for many of us, a cold comfort when we realize we know how much misery they felt. You can read my entire review here: http://ireadoddbooks.com/ire/a-mind-a...

[RJ McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

Susanne Antonetta explores the lives and abilities of those who are considered by society to be different. The thought processes of those with multiple personality and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, autism, and various other neurological conditions can be mystifying to those on the outside, including family and friends. Suffering from manic depression for many years, Antonetta utilizes her own experiences to paint a detailed and often personal portrait of the beautiful contributions made by these individuals, and the potential consequences of eradicating such conditions.

Advancements in technology are presenting man with many options that were at one time unthinkable. Today, with genetic manipulation and engineering the eradication of many of these disorders must be considered carefully. Diversity is necessary for society to thrive and continue to grow. Many creative, inventive and forward thinking individuals suffered from mental illness... Georgia O'Keefe, Van Gogh, Churchill, and their contributions to society are immeasurable. Had such genetic manipulation been available our society would never have known the beauty of some of the world's most sought after art.

Antonetta makes a strong and impressive argument that although technological advancements may make it possible to rid ourselves of undesirable traits today, doing so could prove disastrous in the future. While an important and complex issue, the book often appears unorganized and confusing, making it a very difficult read, even for the most interested reader.

[Michaela Montero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mind Apart: Travels in a Neurodiverse World was written by Susanne Antonetta. This literary memoir explores the “unusual abilities of those who are differently wired,” including Antonetta herself. Her personal experience as a “manic-depressive” is portrayed along with interviews of people with different personality disorders. This is the first time I read a book where the author integrates so many personal experiences into their work. It successfully translates experiences into life lessons. Hence, it allowed me to look at the world through her perspective and understand the message she is trying to convey: that the neurodiverse world is a unique and important part of our world. Antonetta’s approach to the nerodiverse world is very positive. She believes that the existence of differing mindsets is utterly important to the arts and sciences. Nonetheless, at times, the book lost my attention. Points are constantly repeated throughout the book and the focus of the chapters was hard to understand. The sequences of anecdotes also were sometimes unclear because she would change topics quickly. Overall, however, I found this book very inspirational because it shows us how the mentally ill can be responsible for shaping a surprising amount of people in the world; in other words, it depicts these peoples’ importance because they allow us to gain thoughtful and unique perspective. Finally, I believe that this book may be somewhat hard to understand at times, however, it is worth the read because it opens one’s eyes to a hidden yet prominent side of our world.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fascinated me. It deals with eh concept of neurodiversity, that is, that we have misunderstood many people, labeling them as "mentally ill" and less desirable, because their brains are, according to Antonetta, "hard-wired" to think differently. She explores what she means by neurodiversity, and analyzes links to technological developments and broader social movements. If parents had the ability to genetically engineer their children, would they choose to have a child inclined to mental illness? Most likely not. But what if the same gene that created a predisposition to mental illness simultaneously made the child predisposed to creativity?

Antonetta herself is bipolar, and much of the book relates her own neurodiverse perspective. Towards the beginning of the book, which is written in a flowing first-person, she relates that her husband has told her she must prepare the readers for the fact that this is a "bipolar book". It becomes clear that even as she introduces her readers to the concept of neurodiversity, even as she confronts issues as skillfully as a social scientist, she is relating her own thought processes about these issues. The warmth of the analysis, and Antonetta's stake in the outcome, makes the book truly engaging.

I very strongly recommend this book, which reads much more like a personal narrative than a textbook, but which has the strength of informed thought.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonetta challenges the reader to view mood disorders, learning disabilities and schizo-affective disorders as alternate ways of being in the world rather than disabilities. The term neuroatypical moves in that direction. Her subtitle tips us off.

The book is a series of genre-defying personal essays that contain bits of news stories, scientific reports, classic literature, theology and even particle physics. Antonetta concedes that her own bipolar diagnosis contributes to the far-flung topics in her writing (manic side) and the intense quest to find meaning even in the most trivial objects / events (depressive side).

It's a privilege to keep company with her for a few hundred pages--if not at times a bit intense and exhausting. She makes herself extremely vulnerable as she shares details about her atypical behavior. But she does so in such a way that shows self-awareness and self-acceptance. She conveys that same tone when describing a handful of friends and relatives who are neuroatypical.

But this isn't a book limited to the interior of one person's mind. Antonetta confesses to a hypermania about the material world around her. And I believe her. She paints a rich portrait of her environment--both inside and out, so that the reader is transported to her time and her place and grounded in that moment, even when talking about neurosis, Newton, neurology or Neanderthals.

[Adam Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me at the start, seemed to stumble a little in the middle, and finished with a flurry.



Antonetta’s musings are quite absorbing even if they do tend to wander. But, of course, that is the point. She wants the reader to be set out on a rudderless raft in her river of consciousness. Although you are adrift, it seems there aren’t any landmarks on the bank or islands in the channel that don’t seem to need to be there. There is a crystal clear point to all that she includes. And these points are wide ranging. From animal consciousness to human love, from physics to pseudo-science, and even existential and theological questions, we see it all from her unique perspective.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who begins this book expecting a reasoned, tightly crafted argument for the acceptance of nontypical mental/social conditions, i.e. autism and bipoplarism (Antonetta herself) will be disappointed. The beauty of the book lies not in a calm recitation of stats and examples of high functioning and famous people (though the information is included) but in the highly personal view of a woman coming to terms with who she is, was and how her son and herself reflect the self and society at large.
Negative reviews of this piece cite its disorganiztion, positive ones note its poetic style. The books' structure reflects the topic. Know yourself, and what you like.

[Kristylemmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could say I liked this more, but for most of it I was really confused. I know it's supposed to be *stream of consciousness* but I often had to keep rereading to follow it. There were some really great insights and quotes from all kinds of scientists that I really enjoyed. And I am very much a fan of *neuro-diversity.* There is a movement now to accept autistics as having a different not defective way of being in the world, I am all for that. I just found this book, though well-written and highly intelligent, a bit too meandering for me to follow.

[Micaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about this memoir when I first read it. However, it offers an amazing insight into what it is like to try to live life when your brain does not process information like other people. Most of the book is instructional without being boring in the least. however, there is one particularly spooky chapter about the author visiting the trial of a young man who has tortured and killed a neighborhood boy. It is amazing of her rendering of a consciousness at work trying to figure out the ethics/justice of the events. This section is not for the faint hearted.

[Lori]

I've been reading a bit about how the mind works and this book intrigues me b/c it's written from a personal viewpoint in a poetic style a/b the author's and other people's experience with living with autism, being bipolar and other ways of being in the world. I like it b/c she comes at this subject not as a person being not whole but in by seeing the world from a different perspective from the mainstream or what is considered "right" or "normal". My partner, Deborah, says it's fantastic.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This disjointed book poses questions regarding the inner workings of the mind and society’s view of the typical psyche. The author deals not only with her own unique temperament and personality, but of those she encounters. Antonetta gently challenges the reader to evaluate his or her own experiences with consciousness.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure reading pleasure, almost poetic lyricism drawing us into the sometimes enviably world of those who have a different camera.

Very personal compelling argument for not messing with our genes until we can adequately agree on what it means to be fully human. And just who will be on that committee? See what I mean?

[Lisa Mccarty · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I would like to say that I received this book as a good reads first read giveaway. I found this book hard to get into, the message behind it though, was very powerful. It is just not my type of book. I definitely agree with the author on a lot of points and feel that she has a very interesting mind. It is not a bad book, just not my favorite. It is worth reading at least once though.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only three stars but totally worth reading. Thought-provoking and accessible discussion of "neurodiversity" written by a woman with bipolar disorder. David Lynch makes an appearance, as does a middle-aged man with six female personalities. Also whales.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author explores the value of different kinds of brains. Should we try to genetically engineer out people who are bipolar (like her), autistic or otherwise different? What does it mean in evolutionary terms that these conditions are on the rise?

[MaureenMcBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an excellent idea for a book, but not an excellent book. The blending of the science of bipolar brains and the life experience of a writer who is bipolar should have been riveting. But the writer's decision to keep the reader beyond arms length weakens the power of the story.

[Nicole C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting beginning and it showed some promise, but I began to feel lost towards the middle and skimmed through till the end. It does pose some very philosophical questions if you like that sort of thing.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Travels in a neurodiverse world'. Bought this in America, read most of it on the plane on the way home. Meandering, which is the point.

[laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

maybe my brain doesn't have to feel so abnormal.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm having trouble putting it down.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! This looks awesome! It's the kinda thing I've been talking about for years!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying a lot of this book. The only issue I've had so far is how resigned she is the 'fate' that we (the neuroatypical) will be eliminated.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really difficult, valuable.

[Sara Stamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonetta is brilliant in presenting alternate perceptions of much that most people take for granted as "consensual reality." She's a guide to understanding -- take a tour!

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

MFA: Beautifully written, disturbing and comforting all at once. A fascinating exploration of neuroatypical minds.

[B.J. Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent existential book that discusses intersections of religion, disability, and the whys behind it all. Don't expect direct answers though.

Below is a snippet from a post I made about this book for a university class (Minor SPOILERS):

One thing that stood out to me was how Antonetta twist spiritually associated disability myths into a positive framing. Instead of seeing disability as “’a signifier of sacred or ritual processes’” (Quayson 46 qtd. in Dolmage 44), Antonetta frames this as inevitable, if not necessary, for the evolutionary process:


“It is evident that God loves diversity. Perhaps the universe is constructed according to a principle of maximum diversity. The principle of maximum diversity says that the laws of nature, and the initial conditions at the beginning of time, are such as to make the universe as interesting as possible. As a result, life is possible but not too easy. Maximum diversity often leads to maximum stress.” (71).


In other words, disability and, in Antonetta’s case, neurodiversity is part of, if one believes in a God, a guided evolutionary process—a necessary component to maximize diversity. However, she also recognizes the mental strain such diversity can cause, framing it as a necessary-but-difficult process that goes against traditional homogeny: ”We have imagined ourselves as being not just God’s image but an image that replicates shiny and alike as sequins on a gown. But some of us, maybe many of us, are more like our distant cousins than like one another” (28, underline mine). Going against long-held tropes of “‘normal’ as a valid and useful standard” that cuases our society to react as if, “all efforts should be made to bring the deviant back to as close to normal as possible, and if that is not possible, to eliminate the deviant" (OToole 22).


She uses this framework to suggest that the result of the societal problems that are associated with mental illness are caused by abusing this necessity/inevitable outcome, “And [God] pushes that australopithecine intelligence along until one day it says, Let me invent chemicals for these people. Let me see if the chemicals work at making them act normal, or at least more normal, and maybe in the process I’ll make some money” (71). In this moment, societal issues (e.g., disruptive behaviors cause by people that are neurodivergent) are viewed as the result of neurotypical choices that are exploitative and designed to force conformity. This goes against the myth of “disability as evil” that frames disabled people as “a repository of evil” that frames disabilities in a light that “the evil or lack of the disabled figure is a way to establish the virtue and character of the nondisabled protagonist” (Dolmage 41). To sum up, disruptive behaviors are seen as a result of exploitative neurotypicals rather than any inherent wrong with neurodivergent people.


After showing disability as a possible evolutionary necessity, Antonetta then shows the line between neurotypicality, and neurodiversity may be less of a categorical difference than a variation of human development. Before she lists her own organizational proclivities, she establishes the sorting habits of our past relatives: “you would notice the s. sapiens site already demonstrating a sense of order: a spot for piling wood, a spot for hacking out axes, a spot for sleep. We are a compulsive people. There is a place in our world just for reindeer bones, for tusks, for fire” (131). She later shows how this tendency is still present, suggesting that neurodiversity is, instead of a evil deviance, a natural part of the human experience “I have paintings on the walls, and a stove at one end of my living room … interesting in that our 50,000-year-ago humans would feel at home with my choices, and not just the practical choice of heat. Art bloomed on their walls [too]” (132, brackets mine).

To sum up: not only is neurodiversity a natural result of the evolution, but Antonetta is suggesting that this natural process resist homogeny and that this process shows the line between neurodivergent and neurotypical may not be disguisable from “normal” human behavior. Any problems are the result of neurotypical people trying to fit Neurodivergence into the neurotypical box. Furthermore, she goes against the idea that disability can be a sign of Devine judgement by including God in this evolutionary process.

What do you guys think? Am I reading too much into her passages? Any thoughts I didn’t mention?

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two favorite quotes of many:

"The accidental emergence of purpose."

"New ways of looking at the Christian Logos, the word. Maybe the lack of mental gatedness, the ability to take in so much outside stimuli all at once, allows some tender connective tissue to emerge, a sense of fingering where the mountains drown and the Western hemlocks point the way of the wind." (208)

Wrote other thoughts and then this app shut down, and I lost everything I wrote.
Love this writer so much.

[Betsy Hagestedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free when I worked at a bookstore, and have been meaning to read it for years. I didn't have any expectations one way or another for it, but I loved it. It opened my mind to new ways of considering the world, and inspired me to think differently about neurodiversity. Well worth a read.