by Daniel Tammet
Back in high school, I was completely intrigued by my psychology class, mostly in part due to the fantastic Ms. Weise. It was upon our lesson on autism that she shared with us the story of a savant named Daniel Tammet who memorized pi to the 22,000th digit. He remembers information as colors, making dates, numbers, and words visually come to life in his head. They appear as landscapes in his mind and contribute to his fantastic memorization skills. It was with Ms. Weise's recommendation of his autobiography Born on a Blue Day that I was able to learn more about Tammet. After a long seven years, I finally purchased his book and dove in.
I find this book fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it is an excellent piece of nonfiction, and I do not normally read from this genre. Secondly, it is a great way to understand autism. Not only does it break preconceived notions you may have, but it also allows you to jump inside his head. Tammet is remarkable because he is able to explain his thought processes in a way that is understandable to everyone. Lastly, Tammet is very open in regards to his personal life. Not only does he explain his struggles socially and behaviorally, typical of people with Asperger's syndrom, but his everyday struggles that make him relatable to every reader.
I suggest this book to all of my nonfiction fans, as well as those interested in psychology. For all of you romantics out there, there is a little bit here for you as Tammet accepts his sexuality and finds the love of his life.
Watch this short video on Daniel Tammat!
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