Islands of Genius : The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired, and Sudden Savant

Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which individuals with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance - 'islands of genius' - that exist in contrast with their overall limitations. This paradox of genius and limitation within the same person offers a unique window on talent, intelligence and memory, and raises interesting questions about the hidden brain potential within us all. What makes the mind of a savant tick? Does this exceptional potential exist within each of us? If so, how can it be tapped? This unique account of Dr Darold Treffert's 47-year journey into the mind and world of the savant introduces some truly remarkable individuals, and looks at the causes, manifestations and implications of this extraordinary condition. It explores recently-discovered phenomena such as 'genetic memory', the capacity of some individuals to 'know' things they never learned, and 'acquired savantism', instances in which a neuro-typical person unexpectedly and spectacularly develops savant-like abilities following a trauma such as a head injury or stroke. Explaining that such cases point convincingly towards a reservoir of untapped ability - an inner savant capacity - in us all, it describes techniques for discovering and tapping this dormant potential. Above all, it's message is that prodigy and genius should be celebrated and nurtured, and experts in music, math, and art share strategies and techniques to help parents, teachers and others better support these exceptionally talented individuals. This book will intrigue anyone who has ever wondered what makes the brain of a savant tick, as well as clinicians, parents, teachers, therapists and others who care for, and about, individuals with savant syndrome. Savant Syndrome Is A Rare Condition In Which Individuals With Developmental Disorders Have One Or More Areas Of Expertise, Ability, Or Brilliance -- Islands Of Genius -- That Exist In Contrast With Their Overall Limitations. In This Fascinating Book, Dr. Darold Treffert Explores Recently-discovered Phenomena Such As Genetic Memory, The Capacity Of Some Individuals To Know Things They Never Learned, And Acquired Savantism, Instances In Which A Neuro-typical Person Unexpectedly And Spectacularly Develops Savant-like Abilities Following A Trauma Such As A Head Injury Or Stroke. Above All, His Message Is That Prodigy And Genius Should Be Celebrated And Nurtured. This Book Is For Clinicians, Parents, Teachers, Therapists, And Others Who Care For, And About, Individuals With Savant Syndrome -- Publisher Description. Sightseeing On An Incredible Journey -- The Mind Of The Savant -- What We Do Know: A Rare But Remarkable Condition -- How Do They Do It? Some Earlier Theories From Heredity To Quantum Theory -- How Do They Do It? More Recent Findings: The Three R's: Rewiring, Recruitment, Release -- Genetic Memory: How Do We Know Things We Never Learned? -- More Medical Mysteries: Calendars, Cantors, Foreign Accents And Hypermnesia -- The World Of The Savant -- The Genius Of Earlswood Asylum And Blind Tom: Some Early Savants -- Leslie And May: Two Memorable People / With A Contribution By Shirlee Monty -- Alonzo: God Gives The Gift -- George: It's Fantastic I Can Do That! -- Kim: The Real Rain Man -- Ellen: With A Song In Her Heart -- Tony: Against All Odds, Magna Cum Laude From Berklee -- Temple: An Emergence Extraordinaire -- Matt: The Key Of Genius -- Flo And Kay: An Unforgettable Two Of A Kind -- Daniel: Numbers Are My Friends -- Stephen: A Rocket Of Young Talent -- Ping Lian, Gregory, Richard, George, Jonathan And Some Others: Artwork Of The Prodigious Savant -- Significant New Dimensions To Savant Syndrome -- Accidental Genius: The Acquired Savant -- Sudden Genius: An Epiphany Of Talent -- Normal Genius: Dormant Skills Within Us All? -- Accessing The Inner Savant Within Us All -- The Bountiful Brain: Half A Brain (or Less) May Be Enough -- Training The Talent: I've Got A Son Or Daughter Who ... -- Teaching Music To The Special Needs Client: A Music Therapist's Approach / Susan Rancer -- Training The Talent In Art And Other Skills: An Educator's Approach / Rosa C. Martinez -- Teaching Autistic Numerical Savants: A Specific Approach That Worked / Peter Lewis -- Our Journey Has Just Begun -- New Tools And New Optimism: The Trail Ahead For The Mind Of The Savant -- Oval Souls On A Round Planet: The Trail Ahead For The World Of The Savant. Darold A. Treffert ; Foreword By Daniel Tammet. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 289-296) And Indexes. title page......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Foreword by Daniel Tammet......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Introduction: Sightseeing on an Incredible Journey......Page 20 Part 1 The Mind of the Savant......Page 34 1 What We Do Know: A Rare but Remarkable Condition......Page 36 2 How Do They Do It? Some Earlier Theories from Heredity to Quantum Theory......Page 54 3 How Do They Do It? More Recent Findings: The Three “R’s”—Rewiring, Recruitment, Release......Page 67 4 Genetic Memory: How Do We Know Things We Never Learned?......Page 74 5 More Medical Mysteries: Calendars, Cantors, Foreign Accents and Hypermnesia......Page 81 Part 2 The World of the Savant......Page 98 6 The Genius of Earlswood Asylum and Blind Tom: Some Early Savants......Page 100 7 Leslie and May: “Two Memorable People” with a contribution by Shirlee Monty, author of May’s Boys......Page 112 8 Alonzo: “God Gives the Gift”......Page 129 9 George: “It’s Fantastic I Can Do That!”......Page 135 10 Kim: “The Real Rain Man”......Page 139 11 Ellen: “With a Song In Her Heart”......Page 149 12 Tony: “Against All Odds”—Magna Cum Laude from Berklee......Page 157 13 Temple: “An Emergence Extraordinaire”......Page 163 14 Matt: “The Key of Genius”......Page 168 15 Flo and Kay: An Unforgettable “Two of a Kind”......Page 175 16 Daniel: “Numbers Are my Friends”......Page 180 17 Stephen: “A Rocket of Young Talent”......Page 184 18 Ping Lian, Gregory, Richard, George, Jonathan and Some Others: Artwork of the Prodigious Savant......Page 189 19 Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man: The World’s Best Known Savant......Page 202 Illustrations......Page 210 Part 3 Signifi cant New Dimensions to Savant Syndrome......Page 218 20 “Accidental Genius”: The Acquired Savant......Page 220 21 “Sudden Genius”: An Epiphany of Talent......Page 231 22 “Normal Genius”: Dormant Skills Within Us All?......Page 239 23 Accessing the “Inner Savant” Within Us Al......Page 244 24 The Bountiful Brain: Half a Brain (or Less) May Be Enough......Page 254 Part 4 Training the Talent: “I’ve Got a Son or Daughter Who...”......Page 256 25 Teaching Music to the Special Needs Client: A Music Therapist’s Approach......Page 258 26 “Training the Talent” in Art and Other Skills: An Educator’s Approach......Page 267 27 Teaching Autistic Numerical Savants: A Specifi c Approach that Worked......Page 277 Part 5 Our Journey Has Just Begun......Page 286 28 New Tools and New Optimism: The Trail Ahead for the Mind of the Savant......Page 288 29 Oval Souls on a Round Planet: The Trail Ahead for the World of the Savant......Page 302 References......Page 316 Appendix: Books About Savant Syndrome and Books By or About Specific Savants......Page 322 Subject Index......Page 324 Author Index......Page 328 * Gold Medal Winner in the Psychology / Mental Health Category of the 2011 IPPY Awards * * Silver Medal Winner in the 2010 BOTYA Awards Psychology Category * Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which individuals with developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance - "islands of genius" - that exist in contrast with their overall limitations. In this fascinating book, Dr. Darold Treffert looks at what we know about this remarkable condition, and at new discoveries that raise interesting questions about the hidden brain potential within us all. Dr. Treffert explores the phenomena of genetic memory - instances in which individuals somehow "know" things they never learned - and sudden genius or "acquired savantism" - where a neuro-typical person unexpectedly and spectacularly develops savant-like abilities following a head injury or stroke. Showing that these phenomena point convincingly towards a reservoir of untapped potential - an inner savant capacity - within us all, he looks both at how savant skills can be nurtured, and how they can help the person who has them, particularly if that person is on the autism spectrum. A central colour section contains the extraordinary artwork of some of the savants who are mentioned in the book. Islands of Genius will intrigue anyone who has ever wondered what makes the mind of a savant tick, as well as clinicians, parents, teachers, therapists, and others who care for, and about, individuals with savant syndrome. In this fascinating book, Dr. Treffert looks at what we know about savant syndrome, and at new discoveries that raise interesting questions about the hidden brain potential within us all. He looks both at how savant skills can be nurtured, and how they can help the person who has them, particularly if that person is on the autism spectrum.