In this book, Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the world's most respected scholars writing about autism, offers the reader an unexpected and bold look at the characteristics of autistic people and their role in human civilization. Baron-Cohen explores how persistent experimentation with patterns and sequences, whether in music, art, mathematics, engineering, cooking, or observing ocean waves, led to new inventions and discoveries. Since our ancestors began to create the first tools, and until today’s digital revolution, we owe progress to “pattern seekers,” the author is convinced. However, for the carriers of autism genes themselves, their abilities often result in a variety of problems - from social to medical. By rethinking the approach to autism, the author encourages society to see it as a rare opportunity that should be valued and welcomed, respecting people who think differently from others.