Thinking in Pictures

Who it's for

Grandin, a professor of animal science and designer of livestock-handling systems, explains how she thinks in detailed images rather than words, running and editing designs in her head like a film.

Feelings it meets

• Neurodivergent Identity
• Anxiety
• Faith
• Sensory Overload

What it is

First published in 1995 with a foreword by Oliver Sacks, Thinking in Pictures is Temple Grandin's account of autism written from her perspective as both a scientist and an autistic person. She describes thinking in detailed visual images rather than words and how she applies this to designing equipment.

Where to find it

In print (Vintage expanded edition); widely available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook. Not public domain. The 2010 HBO film Temple Grandin draws on this book.

Before you start

Heads up: Matter-of-fact talk of animal slaughter.

Age: Ages 12+

To define is to limit.Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter XVII