Author Q&A: 'The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy' by Clara Törnvall

TÖ RNVALL Clara

"I spent so many years feeling like there was something fundamentally wrong with me, and when I was diagnosed with autism, it was a huge relief because I realized that I wasn’t a failed human being."

Journalist and TV/radio producer Clara Törnvall was diagnosed with autism at the age of 42. After her life-affirming diagnosis, she wrote her first book The Autists: Women on the spectrum in 2023.

Her second book An Autist's Guide to the Galaxy was released this month, which claims to 'flip the script' on discourse around autism and autistic people.

We spoke to Klara about her experiences as an 'Autist' (a term used throughout her book to describe an autistic person) and learn more about how she feels that her book can help bridge the gap of understanding between the neurotypical and autistic community.

The Autists Guide To The Galaxy UK

Q1: Thank you for agreeing to speak to us, Clara! Let’s start at the beginning. What is the inspiration behind The Autist’s Guide to the Galaxy, where did the idea come from?

I wanted to write a book I wish I could’ve read as a young adult.

I spent so many years feeling like there was something fundamentally wrong with me, and when I was diagnosed with autism, it was a huge relief because I realized that I wasn’t a failed human being; I was a completely ordinary autistic person.

The title paraphrases Douglas Adams’ classic novel because, in his book, the meaning of life is 42, and I was diagnosed at age 42. I wanted to write an eye-opener that lets a neurotypical reader experience the feeling of being described as deviant and also a fun book from the autist’s perspective. A book in which being autistic is the norm, because I felt like that was missing.

Q2: The book makes it clear from the start that it wants to ‘flip the script’ in how it talks about autism and autistic people. Can you explain a bit more about what this means?

The book is mainly about miscommunication.

It came about in collaboration with many autistic people that I interviewed about their weirdest encounters with majority neurotypical society. The misunderstandings and conflicts that can occur between autistics and non-autistics are often funny.

When one interprets communication literally and the other “reads between the lines,” it’s bound to go wrong. But the book also has a serious purpose. The title shows the autist as the outsider, studying neurotypical society. But it also allows the autist to be the main character of the story – and the judge of “the galaxy”/neurotypical society.

And that is important because it changes the perspective of "right" and "wrong." In my book, autistic people are “we” and neurotypicals are “them.” The effect is not only funny; it’s absurd. The reversed perspective shows us that the way society describes autistic people is also absurd: filled with generalisations, stereotypes, and prejudice.

Last summer, I went to visit my grandmother. It was a chilly summer's day, which I found quite pleasant since I tend to run hot. The door to the patio was open and I was out there, probably fussing over some plants, when Grandma popped her head out to ask if I wasn't cold.

"No," I replied cheerfully, "it's nice and cool."

But a few minutes later, she came and asked the same question again. I assured her that I wasn't cold, and Grandma went inside once more. I noticed that she sounded a bit disappointed, though.

So I got up, went into the kitchen and said, "You know, if you're feeling chilly and want to close the door, that's fine too."

And wouldn't you know, that's exactly what she wanted.

An excerpt from 'The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy'

Q3: It seems like the style/format of the book was designed to be accessible to readers of all kinds. The chapters are short and the book is fewer than 200 pages. Was this an important aspect of writing the book?

Yes, absolutely. I wanted it to be accessible to all sorts of readers. The examples in the book are mostly from a young perspective; I imagined a reader in their twenties, but the autistic people that I interviewed were of all ages, both young and old. And the book has found readers of all ages.

Q4: The general tone of the book is quite playful and comedic. What was the process of developing this style, and how do you think it stands out against other titles of its type?

After my first book The Autists: Women on the Spectrum was published, I came in contact with so many autistic people who told me their life stories. And I learned that the autistic community is filled with strength, wisdom, and a great sense of humor. Yet autistics are often portrayed as victims in the media or in books on autism written by neurotypicals. I wanted to change that. Being autistic is not a tragedy; it's just different.

I learned that the autistic community is filled with strength, wisdom, and a great sense of humor. Yet we are often portrayed as victims in the media or in books on autism written by neurotypicals. I wanted to change that. Being autistic is not a tragedy; it's just different.

Clara Törnvall on The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy

Q5: You are very open about your own experience as an ‘autist’ – what does this title mean to you, and why is language important when we talk about autism?

I call myself an autist, and I prefer the term "autistic" over "has autism." Because, to me, being autistic is an important, fundamental part of my identity that you can't separate from who I am as a person.

Autism is also not a disease, which the term "has autism" implies. But at the same time, I would never judge another autistic person for having a different view on their preferred language.

To me, language is important, but I will always prefer a curious "clumsy" question from someone using the "wrong" terminology over people being too afraid to ask because they don't know which words they are "allowed" to use.

Q6: What do you hope that readers will get out of reading The Autist’s Guide to the Galaxy?

My dream would be for the book to boost confidence in autistic people. Hopefully, readers will relate, laugh, question their views on “normality,” and - if they’re neurotypical - stop doing things like “reading between the lines” when they meet autistic people. A couple of neurotypical readers have found the book provoking and reacted like: “That’s prejudice, we are not all like that!”

Well, that was exactly the point of the book… to let you walk a mile in our shoes. Welcome to the world of being part of a minority! But my aim is absolutely not to polarize; it’s the exact opposite. I want us all to understand each other better.

Society needs neurological diversity, and we have to stop viewing the neurotypical way as the “right” way.

Let’s benefit from each other's differences instead.

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