Diagnosing Jefferson

Historians have long remarked on Thomas Jeffersons peculiarities. But it took author Norm Ledgin, whose son has Aspergers Syndrome, to see what others did not. In this intriguing book, Ledgin carefully constructs a convincing case for the likelihood that Thomas Jefferson had Aspergers Syndrome. He matches Jeffersons behaviors with five diagnostic criteria for Aspergers: social impairment, preoccupation with special interests, impairment in nonverbal communication, lack of emotional reciprocity, and inflexible adherence to non-functional routines. He also addresses other well-known signs of Aspergers, such as failure to recognize social cues, need for calming pressure, and indifference to peer pressure. A fascinating read!