Steve Silberman: A Tireless Advocate for Neurodiversity

Strategic Insights -

Steve Silberman, a renowned science writer and advocate for neurodiversity, passed away at 66. His magnum opus, "NeuroTribes," a 500-page history of autism, transformed the narrative around autism from a disorder to a natural part of human diversity. Silberman's work was deeply influenced by his early experiences writing for Wired magazine, where he penned an article that sparked a response from hundreds of parents and autistic individuals, shifting his perspective on autism. Through his research and interviews with autistic adults, Silberman featured pioneers like Temple Grandin and Lorna Wing, while critically examining the harm caused by researchers like Leo Kanner and Ivar Lovaas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Steve Silberman's book "NeuroTribes" won the 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize and featured on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists.
  • Silberman's work was influenced by his 2001 Wired article "The Geek Syndrome," which received a strong response from parents and autistic individuals.
  • He interviewed dozens of autistic adults and attended conferences to write "NeuroTribes," which presented a sweeping and penetrating history of autism with sympathy and sensitivity.
  • Silberman was a harsh critic of researchers like Leo Kanner and Ivar Lovaas, and he highlighted the harm caused by the "euthanasia program" in Nazi Germany and Austria.
  • At the time of his death, Silberman's TED talk on the "forgotten history of autism" had been viewed nearly two million times, and he was working on a new book about cystic fibrosis research.
  • Silberman was a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's presidency and the anti-vaccination movement, and he was known for his forthright opinions on social media.
  • He was part of San Francisco's counter-cultural movement, wrote liner notes for the Grateful Dead's albums, and co-authored "Skeleton Key" with David Shenk.
  • Silberman's work was influenced by neurologist Oliver Sacks, with whom he became close friends, and he wrote a profile of Sacks for Wired.
  • Silberman was described as "hyper-neurotypical" but was drawn to those he called "loners, programmers, science geeks, maths geeks," and he wrote about individuals with synaesthesia and obsessive personalities.

Statistics:

  • Steve Silberman's "NeuroTribes" was shortlisted for the Wellcome Prize.
  • The book was praised for its scope and depth of research and its central message that autistic traits should be accepted.
  • Silberman's TED talk on the "forgotten history of autism" had been viewed nearly two million times at the time of his death.
  • Silberman was working on a new book about cystic fibrosis research at the time of his death.
  • He was a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's presidency and the anti-vaccination movement on social media.

Sources:

  • Wired magazine
  • NeuroTribes by Steve Silberman
  • The Sunday Times
  • The New York Times
  • TED
  • The Wellcome Prize
  • Oliver Sacks
  • James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
  • Allen Ginsberg
  • William Burroughs
  • Gregory Corso
  • Naropa University
  • Berkeley California
  • San Francisco Chronicle
  • The Grateful Dead
  • Skeleton Key by Steve Silberman and David Shenk
  • Freak Flag Flying podcast with David Crosby