"Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna"

"Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna" explores the work of Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician whose research on autism took place during the Nazi regime. Author Edith Sheffer reveals how Asperger's studies, while significant in identifying what we now call autism, were intertwined with the era's eugenics movement, which promoted the idea of "racial purity." The book examines the ethical implications of Asperger’s research, highlighting how it contributed to the marginalization and mistreatment of disabled individuals during that time, ultimately shaping our understanding of autism and its historical context.