Animals in Translation

I came across a book called Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior today. The author, Temple Grandin, is autistic and has spent her life with/studying animals. I found a list of some of of her ideas online...

• argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness--and that animals do have consciousness
• applies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees"--a talent as well as a "deficit"
• explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them--a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearly
• explains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal genius
• compares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even see
• examines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future 
• reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals 
• maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid

I have a nephew with autism and a golden retriever mix. In a weird way, I understand what she is talking about. I have not read much of it yet, but I am excited to.