Tow #4: IRB Review

Daniel Tammet

Daniel Tammet is officially one of my new authors. Not only is he a new favorite author, but he's a new favorite person. Born on a Blue Day is basically about this guy, Daniel Tammet, who has autism, but it's a different and special kind of autism. He sees numbers as shapes and colors and textures. He can do insane mathematical problems in his head. He stressed these ideas while also stressing an even bigger idea: autistic people aren't much different from those who are not autistic. One of my favorite quotes from the book was, "You don't have to be disabled to be different, because everyone's different." (201). I loved this quote. At this point in the story, Tammet is talking about a man named Kim Peek, who goes on speaking tours and reads books to people in orphanages and colleges and hospitals. Peek was an inspiration for Tammet. The quote does give me a little reminder that everyone is different. A disability is just like have a unique characteristic or a unique personality trait. I think that's one of the main purposes of the book. Tammet wants to inform the reader that it's okay to think of the disabled as different, but never put a negative connotation on the word; everyone is different, and different is okay. Another idea that I love throughout the book is that he goes through many personal experiences that even I go through. One of them being relationships. He says, "No relationship is without its difficulties and this is certainly true when one or both of the persons involved has an autistic spectrum disorder. Even so, I believe what is truly essential to the success of any relationship is not so much compatibility, but love. When you love someone, virtually anything is possible.” (155). I liked this quote just based on the fact that he knows why something like a relationship would be more difficult for him. Not only is he autistic, but he is also openly gay. This really opened my eyes and allowed me to see how much Tammet really must go through every single day of his life just to be happy. I think it's absolutely incredible the way he lives. He's so proud of himself and he's so humble and modest. He appeals to pathos throughout the book as he describes the tough times that he's encountered due to his disability or homosexuality. This is one of my favorite books that I have ever read, and I am so glad I was introduced to it in my non-fiction course. It really makes me come to realize how lucky I am, but it also allows me to see autistic people differently; not with a disability, but almost with a certain gift, just like Daniel.