Visual Thinking

The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

By: Temple Grandin PhD

Narrated by: Andrea Gallo, Temple Grandin PhD

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE NAUTILUS GOLD AWARD

“A powerful and provocative testament to the diverse coalition of minds we’ll need to face the mounting challenges of the twenty-first century.” —Steve Silberman

“An absolute eye-opener.” —Frans de Waal

A landmark book that reveals, celebrates, and advocates for the special minds and contributions of visual thinkers

A quarter of a century after her memoir, Thinking in Pictures, forever changed how the world understood autism, Temple Grandin— “an anthropologist on Mars,” as Oliver Sacks dubbed her—transforms our awareness of the different ways our brains are wired. Do you have a keen sense of direction, a love of puzzles, the ability to assemble furniture without crying? You are likely a visual thinker.

With her genius for demystifying science, Grandin draws on cutting-edge research to take us inside visual thinking. Visual thinkers constitute a far greater proportion of the population than previously believed, she reveals, and a more varied one, from the photo-realistic “object visualizers” like Grandin herself, with their intuitive knack for design and problem solving, to the abstract, mathematically inclined “visual spatial” thinkers who excel in pattern recognition and systemic thinking. She also makes us understand how a world increasingly geared to the verbal tends to sideline visual thinkers, screening them out at school and passing over them in the workplace. Rather than continuing to waste their singular gifts, driving a collective loss in productivity and innovation, Grandin proposes new approaches to educating, parenting, employing, and collaborating with visual thinkers. In a highly competitive world, this important book helps us see, we need every mind on board.

A roadmap for our survival

Should be required reading for all the verbal thinkers who currently limit the world of visual thinkers and for all those talented visual thinkers who struggle to find a suitable path. For the sake of us all, I hope Temple Grandin’s impact in this cause will be as great as what she has accomplished during the rest of her career.

Temple is in my head.

Amazing! The only person who really knows & understands me has never met me.
I did not know that most of the world does not think like us. Now that I know this, Ive adjusted my method of communication at work. I now know that my audience cannot “see” what I do. So I take WAY more time to slowly explain my vision to them in words. I still have trouble getting my point across, but now I understand why I’m having difficulty.

In my minds eye…….

In envisioning a classroom setting, I imagine one that celebrates diverse traits, reframing what society often deems as disabilities into abilities. Visual thinkers should be esteemed for the unique perspectives they contribute. As an educator, I aim to embrace Temple Grandin’s perspective on autism as a positive divergence, fostering inclusivity and recognizing the various talents and learning styles of all children. Grandin sheds light on the challenges within our education system and workforce, advocating for a tailored approach that acknowledges diverse learning styles rather than relying solely on a one-size-fits-all method favoring verbal thinkers. Neglecting to accommodate these individuals ultimately diminishes our pool of talent. I found this book to be truly inspiring!

Great book!

The content was fantastic and it was well written! But the narrators voice was kind of gruff and grating.

Loved

Thank you for your wise words. I couldn’t agree with you more. I believe that education, in all levels, have become underfunded.