Books by Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen is professor of developmental psychopathology at Cambridge University, and director of the university’s autism research centre. He is best known for his work on autism, including his early theory that autism involves degrees of “mind-blindness” and his later theory that autism is an extreme form of the “male brain”. His latest book, Zero Degrees of Empathy, examines the role of empathy or a lack of it in various medical conditions, and in acts of cruelty
The Essential Difference
by Simon Baron-Cohen
This is one of the best popular books on the evolved sex differences in the brain. It explains how and why men’s and women’s brains have their distinct strengths and weaknesses. Men’s need to invent, manufacture, and improve tools and weapons throughout evolutionary history has made the male brain particularly strong on systemising (logically and rationally dealing with things), whereas women’s need to leave their natal group upon puberty and marry into a neighbouring group full of strangers has made the female brain particularly strong on empathising (relating to other people).
The Essential Difference
by Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen says research shows that when babies are born they pursue two tasks. The first is to make sense of the material world they live in. Baron-Cohen calls that S-type thought for systemising. And they are also driven to understand other people because we are social animals. Baron-Cohen calls that E-type thought for empathising. For evolutionary reasons, he thinks that boys are slightly more inclined to S-type thought and girls to E-type thought.
Interviews with Simon Baron-Cohen
The best books on Autism and Developmental Psychology, recommended by Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen, the longstanding director of the University of Cambridge’s multidisciplinary Autism Research Centre, offers some recommended reading (plus a film to watch) to help you improve your understanding of the experience of those on the autism spectrum, or of developmental psychology more generally.
Interviews where books by Simon Baron-Cohen were recommended
The best books on Men and Women, recommended by Satoshi Kanazawa
The differences between men and women are innate, argues the evolutionary psychologist, and men’s relative success in the workplace a reflection of desire rather than discrimination.
The best books on Boys and Toxic Masculinity, recommended by Sue Palmer
The child development expert Sue Palmer explains why modern life is making boys more sad, isolated and materialistic.
