THE REASON I JUMP-A 13 yr. Old with Autism Explains His World

THE REASON I JUMP is an incredible insight into what it feels like to live with autism.  Written by 13 year old Naoki Higashida it is a triumph of eloquence & empathy and nothing short of miraculous.  Naoki insightful and inspiring responses to questions regarding behavioral traits are astonishing.  His prose is remarkable for its literary skill.  This is a book that can be read in one sitting and should be shared with everyone.  There are so many reasons to recommend this testament to humanity, compassion, patience and understanding.  Naoki's answer to what's the worst thing about having autism is nothing short of humbling "Whenever we've done something wrong, we get told off or laughed at, without even being able to apologize, and we end up hating ourselves and despairing about our own lives…It's impossible not to wonder why we were born into this world…But I ask you, those of you who are with us all day not to stress yourselves out because of us. When you do this, it feels as if you're denying any value at all that our lives may have-and that saps the spirit we need to soldier on. The hardest ordeal for us is the idea that we are causing grief for other people."  The judiciousness with which Naoki shares his feelings leaves an indelible mark, "Everybody has a heart that can be touched by something."