Animals In Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

Temple Grandin’s “Animals in Translation” speaks in the clear voice of a woman who emerged from the other side of autism, bringing with her an extraordinary message about how animals think and feel. Temple’s professional training as an animal scientist and her history as a person with autism have given her a perspective like that of no other expert in the field. Standing at the intersection of autism and animals, she offers unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas about both.

Autistic people can often think the way animals think — in fact, Grandin and co-author Catherine Johnson see autism as a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans — putting autistic people in the perfect position to translate “animal talk.” Temple is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. Not only are animals much smarter than anyone ever imagined, in some cases animals are out-and-out brilliant.

The sweep of “Animals in Translation” is immense, merging an animal scientist’s thirty years of study with her keen perceptions as a person with autism — Temple sees what others cannot.

Among its provocative ideas, the book:

argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness — and that animals do have consciousness

applies the autism theory of “hyper-specificity” to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they “can’t see the forest for the trees” — a talent as well as a “deficit”

explores the “interpreter” in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much ofthe reality that surrounds them — a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly

explains how animals have “superhuman” skills: animals have animal genius

compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see

examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future

reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals

maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid

Temple Grandin is like no other author on the subject of animals because of her training and because of her autism: understanding animals is in her blood and in her bones.