Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Naoki Higashida explores how he experiences the world as a young adult with autism. Read by Matthew Beard.

Naoki Higashida explores how he experiences the world as a young adult with autism.

He describes the challenges he encounters as he attempts to fight the demands of his fixations. He wonders at the joy of hearing the laughter of his family, which he experiences as a bubble-like evanescence. Movingly, he explores how being 'non-verbal' can feel like the dark hours before dawn, and how the loneliness of not being able to hold a conversation with others can be at times overwhelming.

Most compellingly, and simply, he explains how it's easier to like himself when he feels loved by others.

Written by Naoki Higashida.

Translated by David Mitchell and KA Yoshida

Read by Matthew Beard, and introduced by David Mitchell.

Abridged by Robin Brooks.

Producer: Allegra McIlroy

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in July 2017.

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Jun 2022 02:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Reader Matthew Beard
Author Naoki Higashida
Translation David Mitchell
Translation KA Yoshida
Abridger Robin Brooks
Producer Allegra McIlroy

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Jul 2017 09:45
  • Fri 21 Jul 2017 00:30
  • Thu 2 Jun 2022 14:00
  • Fri 3 Jun 2022 02:00

The Path to Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight

David Mitchell describes how a young Japanese boy helped him understand his son's autism.