Author: Valerie Paradiz
ISBN: 978 1 84310 802 3

The following review was contributed by: Kathryn Atwood: Click Here To View More Of Kathryn's   Reviews

“Elijah’s Cup” is the mesmerizing account of German scholar and author Valerie Paradiz’s journey into the world of high-functioning autism.  Her son Elijah, who seemed fairly normal at birth, begins to have inexplicable seizures as a toddler and subsequently exhibits significant behavioral delays.  As the narrative develops, Paradiz begins to understand that Elijah is on the high-functioning end of autism,  part of something called “Asperger’s Syndrome.” 

Asperger’s syndrome was not detected until the mid-20th century when Austrian psychiatrist Hans Asperger first wrote about the syndrome that bears his name.  Characteristics generally associated with the syndrome include difficulty with socialization, a low frustration level, and a narrow range of intensely pursued interests (which usually includes a large amount of related memorized fact and a highly developed corresponding vocabulary).  Although Asperger discovered the syndrome during WWII, his knowledge wasn’t disseminated outside of his immediate circle for decades and the syndrome was virtually unknown until it became widely diagnosed in the 1990's.

As the knowledge of Asperger’s Syndrome unfolds before her, Paradiz chronicles each step in her discovery and peppers the book with the results of her fascinating research.  For example, while watching her son draw the same Looney Toons figures repeatedly, she discovers that pop artist Andy Warhol most likely was an “Aspie” (an affectionate nickname within the autistic community for someone possessing Asperger’s Syndrome) and includes a whole chapter chronicling her supposition based on Warhol’s biography.  While watching her son’s carefully practiced comedic routines, she is drawn to the biographical information of stand-up comic Andy Kaufman, whose personality traits were very Asperger-like.  Her indefatigable research also uncovers the likelihood that Albert Einstein had the syndrome as well.

Paradiz also includes a plethora of information on autism researchers and their findings, including Leo Kanner (who first discovered autism), Hans Asperger, and Lorna Wing (an autism researcher of the post-Kanner generation) as they dovetail with her odyssey, but the book remains first and foremost a personal narrative.  A devoted mother, Paradiz never falters for a moment, eventually finding fellowship for herself and Elijah in the company of others on the autistic spectrum and ultimately opening a school for children with Asperger’s syndrome.

“Elijah’s Cup” is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the fascinating world of high-functioning autism.