Can different ways of thinking be seen as stumbling blocks, or as hidden gifts? Temple Grandin, an ethologist also known for designing industrial livestock facilities, describes – in this case with the help of "verbal thinker" Betsy Lerner – her distinctive way of thinking without words. After making clear from the outset that it is not her autism that makes her a visual thinker, she takes a deep dive into the research on the subject and the real-world consequences she has seen result from it. For instance: has focusing school teaching on the most easily testable subjects deprived many students of the chance to be exposed to other sources of interest? Could a plane crash have been prevented if the risk assessment had been entrusted to a visual thinker rather than a verbal one? The personal experiences and practical reflections gathered by Grandin suggest that, in teamwork, diversity – when valued and nurtured – can truly make a difference.
Thinking Without Words
Temple Grandin with Betsy Lerner
Translated by Silvio Ferraresi
400 pages
Adelphi, 2025
€28