Born on a blue day : a memoir of Asperger's and an extraordinary mind

This unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome. Tammet's ability to think abstractly, deviate from routine, and empathize, interact and communicate with others is impaired, yet he's capable of incredible feats of memorization and mental calculation. Besides being able to effortlessly multiply and divide huge sums in his head with the speed and accuracy of a computer, Tammet, the subject of the 2005 documentary Brainman, learned Icelandic in a single week and recited the number pi up to the 22,514th digit, breaking the European record. He also experiences synesthesia, an unusual neurological syndrome that enables him to experience numbers and words as "shapes, colors, textures and motions." Tammet traces his life from a frustrating, withdrawn childhood and adolescence to his adult achievements, which include teaching in Lithuania, achieving financial independence with an educational Web site and sustaining a long-term romantic relationship. As one of only about 50 people living today with synesthesia and autism, Tammet's condition is intriguing to researchers; his ability to express himself clearly and with a surprisingly engaging tone (given his symptoms) makes for an account that will intrigue others as well. 'i Was Born On 31 January 1979 - A Wednesday. I Know It Was A Wednesday, Because The Date Is Blue In My Mind And Wednesdays Are Always Blue, Like The Number Nine Or The Sound Of Loud Voices Arguing.' Like The Character Hoffman Portrayed, He Can Perform Extraordinary Maths In His Head, Sees Numbers As Shapes, Colours, Textures And Motions, And Can Learn To Speak A Language Fluently From Scratch In Three Days. He Also Has A Compulsive Need For Order And Routine. He Eats Exactly 45 Grams Of Porridge For Breakfast And Cannot Leave The House Without Counting The Number Of Items Of Clothing He's Wearing. If He Gets Stressed Or Unhappy He Closes His Eyes And Counts. But In Some Ways Daniel Is Not All Like The Rain Man. He Is Virtually Unique Amongst People Who Have Severe Autisitic Disorders In Being Capable Of Living A Fully-functioning, Independent Life. It Is This Incredible Self-awareness And Ability To Communicate What It Feels Like To Live In A Totally Extraordinary Way That Makes Born On A Blue Day So Powerful. A journey into one of the most fascinating minds alive today--guided by its owner. Daniel Tammet sees numbers as shapes, colors, and textures, and he can perform extraordinary calculations in his head. He can learn new languages from scratch, in a week. He has savant syndrome, a rare condition that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers. But in one crucial way Daniel is not at all like the Rain Man: he is virtually unique among autistic people in that he is capable of living an independent life. He is even able to explain what is happening inside his head. Starting from early childhood, when he was incapable of making friends and prone to tantrums, to young adulthood, when he learned how to control himself and to live independently, fell in love, experienced a religious conversion to Christianity, and most recently, emerged as a celebrity.--From publisher description 'Born On A Blue Day' is a fascinating and touching memoir from real-life Rain Man, Daniel Tammet, who has the extremely rare condition Savant Syndrome. Originally published: London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2006