Robin Sheppard had always seemed liked a lucky guy! Proud father of two sons: Sam the eldest (the musical/wordy one) and Charlie (the artistic/sporty one). Still good friends with his first wife Georgina and partnered by the effervescent and indomitable Suzanne when his hitherto contented life took a different turn. He had bounded through 50 years of an unfettered existence. A universe largely comprising five star hotels set in manicured gardens, with fine wines and outrageous flower arrangements, separating well-heeled customers in which the `anticipation of need' was paramount. After growing up in Bath he had become an hotelier who delighted in operating some of the very best of Britain's hotels, winning hotel of the year prizes along the way, before founding with some like-minded chums, their own specialist hotel operating group. Ending up in London he presided over an empire of a dozen or so glamorous hotels which featured architecture of the grade one variety, decadent decor, period fixtures in Capability parkland surroundings, and food of the highest standard. His was an untroubled workplace. Taking time out along the way to invent the truly iconic, deep blue, skittle shaped, Ty-Nant mineral water and then a niche adult soft drinks business. He became an entrepreneur without even knowing it and a role model for many a novice hotel student along the way. Then things changed.

This is a positive description of how it feels to be autistic and how friends, family and the professionals that work with autistic prople can be more sensitive to their needs. The author, herself autistic, perceives the creativity, imagination and keenly-felt sensory world of the autistic person, as gifts. She argues that "normalizing" autistic people - pushing them into behaving in a way that is alien to their true natures - is not just ineffective, but wrong. She challenges the reader to accept their differences and celebrate their uniqueness.;This work is intended for anyone who is interested in learning more about autism, including familes and friends of autistic people, and doctors, therapists and other professionals who work with them. It should also prove a source of inspiration to autistic people themselves.