Tantam (psychotherapy, University of Sheffield, UK) explores the latest theories on nonverbal communication and how it shapes social behavior. He argues that impairment of nonverbal communication is the fundamental disability in anyone on the autistic spectrum, and that many of the other hypotheses about the cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as central coherence or theory of mind, are either secondary to ASD or associated with another neurodevelopmental problem which affects only a proportion of people with an ASD. The book will be of interested to individuals with ASDs and their families, as well as professionals working with them. The author founded the first ever mental health clinic for adults with ASDs in 1980. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)