In 2016, the world first got to know of Jory Fleming as the first autistic Rhodes Scholar to attend Oxford University. Having completed his education, this autistic Rhodes scholar is keen on sharing the lessons he learned outside the classroom in the last few years. He’s doing this through his book ‘How to Be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life’.
The book, co-authored by Lyric Winik, was released in April 2021. It begins with telling the readers how Fleming adjusted in the world that was not sympathetic towards him being neuro-atypical. It continues to provide a lot of food for thought for readers, raising questions about whether the neurotypical people’s way of maneuvering through life is better. Fleming lives with several disabilities including autism.
In the introduction to the audiobook version of the memoir that he shared on Twitter, Fleming said, “I enjoy speaking with others about my way of seeing the world. I hope that the listeners find that my story may connect with them in surprising ways. I hope that they take away new insights by hearing how my brain works.” He also added that he hopes that he inspires people to connect with neurodiverse people around them and help in expanding their horizons.
