Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years. Going back to the earliest autism research and chronicling the brave and lonely journey of autistic people and their families through the decades, he provides long-sought solutions to the puzzle, while mapping out a path toward a more humane world in which people with learning differences have access to the resources they need to live happier and more meaningful lives.