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The Pattern Seekers

bySimon Baron-Cohen

A New Theory of Human Invention

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'Celebrates human cognitive diversity, and is rich with empathy and psychological insight' Steven Pinker

'Bold, intriguing, profound' Jay Elwes, Spectator

Why can humans alone invent? In this book, psychologist and world renowned autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen puts forward a bold new theory: because we can identify patterns, specifically if-and-then patterns. Baron-Cohen argues that the genes for this unique ability overlap with the genes for autism and have driven human progress for 70,000 years.

From the first musical instruments to the agricultural, industrial, and digital revolutions, Pattern Seekers links one of our greatest human strengths with a condition that is so often misunderstood and challenges us to think differently about those who think differently.

Ambitious and provocative...goes beyond the usual discussion of 'special gifts' in autism to propose that the diversity of human operating systems has accelerated the advancement of human civilization and culture in ways we can barely imagine.

Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes

About Simon Baron-Cohen

Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor at Cambridge University in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. He is also the Director of the Autism Research Centre there. He has carried out research into social neuroscience over a 20 year career. His popular science book entitled The Essential Difference (Penguin 2003) has been translated in over a dozen languages, and has been widely reviewed.
Details
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • ISBN: 9780241242193
  • Length: 256 pages
  • Price: £6.99
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