John Elder Robison was born on August 13, 1957 in Athens, Georgia, and he grew up in and around Amherst, Massachusetts. From an early age, he perceives that he is different from other children, although he lacks the insight and vocabulary to articulate precisely how. Asperger’s syndrome is still an unknown condition, and his behavior is labeled “deviant” or “psychotic.” His inability to read the normal social cues that most people take for granted makes him the target of ridicule growing up, and as a result, he becomes socially awkward and introverted, preferring books and machines to the company of people. His condition has a positive side, however, enabling him to think creatively and solve problems that seem unsolvable. He uses his rare gifts to excel in a variety of careers, but until his diagnosis at age 40, that success comes despite his ongoing difficulty understanding people.

In 2016 Robison published Switched On, an account of his participation in an experimental treatment for autism known as “transcranial magnetic stimulation.” Robison has also been a vocal advocate in the autism rights movement, and in 2012 he became the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.