Since the advent of autism as a diagnosed condition in the 1940s, the importance of music in the lives of autistic people has been widely observed and studied. Articles on musical savants, extraordinary feats of musical memory, unusually high rates of absolute or "perfect" pitch, and the effectiveness of music-based therapies abound in the autism literature. Meanwhile, music scholars and historians have posited autism-centered explanatory models to account for the unique musical artistry of everyone from B?la Bart?k and Glenn Gould to "Blind Tom" Wiggins.
Given the great deal of attention paid to music and autism, it is surprising to discover that autistic people have rarely been asked to account for how they themselves make and experience music or why it matters to them that they do. In
Speaking for Ourselves, renowned ethnomusicologist Michael Bakan does just that, engaging in deep conversations--some spanning the course of years--with ten fascinating and very different individuals who share two basic things in common: an autism spectrum diagnosis and a life in which music plays a central part. These conversations offer profound insights into the intricacies and intersections of music, autism, neurodiversity, and life in general, not from an autistic point of view, but rather from many different autistic
points of view. They invite readers to partake of a rich tapestry of words, ideas, images, and musical sounds that speak to both the diversity of autistic experience and the common humanity we all share.
Industry Reviews
"Speaking for Ourselves is a significant contribution to the literature on autism, social science, and neuroscience as well as on music. For the most part it is free of jargon, and the conversations are relatable in a way rarely found in works emanating from academic presses. A companion website offers music and video (and a few photos) that strengthen the discussion with aural/visual examples of things discussed in the text. Those with an interest in
autism, music, or just life experience in general will find this an enlightening resource." -- CHOICE
"Speaking for Ourselves is a true collaboration between Michael Bakan and his autistic interlocutors, who journey together into the heart of what making and experiencing music feels like for people who are wired differently. Reading it will enhance your understanding of not just autism, but creativity itself." --Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
"Michael Bakan's work has always been inspired - open, dynamic, warm -hearted, and keenly intelligent. This is a delightfully human read - deftly illuminating the differences in autistic thinking while simultaneously underscoring how much our deep shared experiences as human beings provide bridging webs of feeling and wonder. His humility and respect are real models of ways we can work together toward understanding one another - beyond labels...as people."
--Dawn Prince-Hughes, primatologist and anthropologist, best selling author of Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey through Autism
"This is ground breaking research that could lead to real improvements in the lives of people with autism." -- Derryck Smith, MD, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
