Steve Silberman

Steve Silberman
Silberman in 2016
Born	(1957-12-23)December 23, 1957 Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Died	August 29, 2024(2024-08-29) (aged 66) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Oberlin College, University of California, Berkeley
Genre	Non-fiction
Notable work	Neurotribes
Notable awards	Kavli Science Journalism Award for Magazine Writing Samuel Johnson Prize
Spouse	Keith Karraker ​ (m. 2003)​
Website
www.stevesilberman.com

Stephen Louis Silberman (December 23, 1957 – August 29, 2024) was an American writer for Wired magazine and was an editor and contributor there for more than two decades. In 2010, Silberman was awarded the AAAS "Kavli Science Journalism Award for Magazine Writing." His featured article, known as "The Placebo Problem",^[1] discussed the impact of placebos on the pharmaceutical industry.^[2]

Silberman's 2015 book Neurotribes,^[3] which discusses the autism rights and neurodiversity movements, was awarded the Samuel Johnson Prize.^[4][5] Additionally, Silberman's Wired article "The Geek Syndrome",^[6] which focused on autism in Silicon Valley, has been referenced by many sources and has been described as a culturally significant article for the autism community.^[7]

Silberman's Twitter account made Time magazine's list of the best Twitter feeds for the year 2011.^[8]

In 2016, he gave the keynote address at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day.^[9][10]

Biography

Silberman was born on December 23, 1957 in Ithaca, New York, the son of Donald and Leslie (née Hantman) Silberman, both English professors at Jersey City State College.^[11][12] He grew up in a Jewish family and described the Passover haggadah as being a "major influence" on his writing style.^[13] Silberman said that his parents were communists.^[13]

He studied psychology at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, then received a master's degree in English literature from Berkeley, where his thesis advisor was Thom Gunn.^[14]

Silberman would later write about the Grateful Dead. He attended his first concert Grateful Dead concert in 1973 at Summer Jam at Watkins Glen.^[13] Silberman moved to San Francisco in 1979, drawn by three factors: so that he could live "a gay life without fear";^[14] because of the music of Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Grateful Dead, and others;^[15] and so he could be near the San Francisco Zen Center.^[16] He was friends with the musician David Crosby, with whom he hosted a podcast.^[10][13]

Silberman studied with Allen Ginsberg at Naropa University in 1977. After Silberman interviewed Ginsberg for Whole Earth Review in 1987 the two became friends and Ginsberg invited Silberman to be his teaching assistant the next term at Naropa University.^[17] The Beat Generation was a regular subject in Silberman's writings and he considered poet Philip Whalen to be a hero.^[13] Silberman lived with his husband Keith Karraker,^[11] a high-school science teacher, to whom he had been married since 2003.^[18]

In 2019, Silberman started working on a new book, titled The Taste of Salt. According to Silberman the book was going to detail "the human stories behind one of the most impressive, but little-known, medical successes of our time: the transformation of cystic fibrosis from an inevitably fatal childhood disease to a chronic and manageable condition of adulthood."^[19]

Silberman died on August 29, 2024 at his home in San Francisco, from a suspected heart attack.^[11] He was 66.^[20][21][22]

NeuroTribes

Main article: NeuroTribes

Silberman's 2015 book NeuroTribes documents the origins and history of autism from a neurodiversity viewpoint. The book has received mostly positive reviews from both scientific and popular media. In a review published in Science-Based Medicine, Harriet Hall describes Neurotribes as "the most complete history of autism I have seen" and recommends it as "a welcome ray of clarity, sanity, and optimism".^[23] In The New York Times Book Review, Jennifer Senior wrote that the book was "beautifully told, humanizing, important";^[24] the Boston Globe called it "as emotionally resonant as any [book] this year";^[25] and in Science, the cognitive neuroscientist Francesca Happé wrote, "It is a beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted book, a historical tour of autism, richly populated with fascinating and engaging characters, and a rallying call to respect difference."^[26] It was named one of the best books of 2015 by The New York Times,^[27] The Economist,^[28] Financial Times,^[29] The Guardian,^[30] and many other outlets.^{[citation needed]} Anil Ananthaswamy described Silberman's book in Literary Review as a "comprehensive, thoroughly researched and eminently readable" book about autism, which showcases Silberman's strengths as a journalist: "the writing is crisp, clear and engaging."^[31]

Some other reviews were less positive, for example James Harris of Johns Hopkins University criticized NeuroTribes as a book that pushes an agenda, saying that Silberman misrepresented Leo Kanner as somebody who had a negative view towards autistics and their parents, rather than, as Harris argued, an advocate for individualized treatment for every child.^[32] An autistic autism researcher named Sam Fellowes has also attacked the book on the basis of a prochronism.^[33][34]

Silberman stated that a key point from the book is to recognize the need for accommodating autism as a significant disability in the same way that society accommodates wheelchair users.^[35]

Awards

• 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize^[36]
• 2015 Books for a Better Life Psychology Award, Southern New York National Multiple Sclerosis Society^[37]
• 2016 Health Book of the Year, Medical Journalists' Association^[38]
• 2016 Silver Medal, Nonfiction, California Book Awards^[39]
• 2016 Erikson Institute Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media^[40]
• 2016 ARC Catalyst Awards Author of the Year^[41]

Publications

Books

• Shenk, David; Silberman, Steve (1994). Skeleton Key: A Dictionary for Deadheads. New York: Main Street Books. ISBN 978-0-385-47402-3.
• Silberman, Steve (2015). NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity (1st ed.). Avery. ISBN 978-1-760-11363-6.

Selected articles

• Silberman, Steve (December 1, 2001). "The Geek Syndrome". Wired. Condé Nast.
• Silberman, Steve (August 24, 2009). "Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why". Wired. Condé Nast. The Placebo Problem

Film appearances

• 2010 William Burroughs documentary William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

• 2017 Grateful Dead documentary Long Strange Trip^[42]

References

1. Silberman, Steve (August 2009). "Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why". Wired. Vol. 17, no. 9. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
2. "Communicating Science: A Conversation with Science Writer Steve Silberman". The Kavli Foundation. 2010. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
3. Silberman, Steve (2015). Neurotribes, The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People who Think Differently. Crows Nest Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-76011-362-9.
4. Anders, Charlie Jane. Why do we want autistic kids to have superpowers? Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine io9, January 25, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013
5. Pan, Deanna. The Media's Post-Newtown Autism Fail Archived April 20, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Mother Jones, December 22, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013
6. Silberman, Steve (December 2001). "The Geek Syndrome". Wired. Vol. 9, no. 12. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
7. Shepard, Neil Patrick. Rewiring Difference and Disability: Narratives of Asperger's Syndrome in the Twenty-First Century, 2010, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies/Ethnic Studies. Retrieved October 18, 2013
8. Melnick, Meredith. The 140 Best Twitter Feeds of 2011, Time, March 28, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2013
9. "World Autism Awareness Day 2 April". United Nations. April 2, 2016. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
10. Young, Robin; Miller-Medzon, Karyn; Hagan, Allison (January 30, 2023). "Grieving David Crosby friend shares their decades of music and banter". WBUR Here & Now. WBUR. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
11. Sandomir, Richard (September 5, 2024). "Steve Silberman, 66, Dies; Writer Deepened Understanding of Autism". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
12. Silberman, Steve [@stevesilberman] (December 23, 2021). "Today's the day I get to ask @WardQNormal the question, "Will you still need me when I'm 64?" Judging by the looks on our faces at the moment we got married in 2003, I feel blessed to believe the answer is yes. Happy birthday to me and thanks to all of you for being our friends" (Tweet). Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
13. "Interview with Steve Silberman". Interviews with Max Raskin. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
14. Moss, Stephen (November 3, 2015). "Steve Silberman on Winning the Samuel Johnson Prize: 'I Was Broke, Broke, Broke'". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
15. Silberman, Steve. "The Song that Changed My Life: Steve Silberman". Rexly. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015. I ended up buying all the music I could by Crosby and the rest of the band, particularly Crosby's luminous first solo album 'If I Could Only Remember My Name,' which featured musicians from the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. Eventually, I would move to San Francisco in search of the elusive 'vibe' I got from that body of music; I still live there, 40 years later.
16. Silberman, Steve (January 5, 2011). "Lessons from an Old Copy of 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind'". Lion's Roar. Shambhala Sun Foundation.
17. Ginsberg, Allen (September 1987). "No More Bagels: An Interview with Allen Ginsberg". Whole Earth Review (Interview). Archived from the original on April 1, 2015.
18. "Happily Ever After" (PDF). Lion's Roar. Shambhala Sun Foundation: 23–24. May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
19. "Steve Silberman Has Died. His Work on the Grateful Dead and David Crosby is Eternal". Rolling Stone.
20. "Hi everyone. Sorry to start your day with bad news. It's my very sad duty to inform you all that @stevesilberman.bsky.social, my wonderful husband and best friend, passed away last night. I'll have more info later. For now, please take a moment to remember his kindness, humor, wisdom, and love". Bluesky Social. August 29, 2024. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
21. Silberman, Steve (August 7, 2024). "I am so proud of my teacher husband @wardqnormal.bsky.social for making this counted cross stitch sampler so all of his students, no matter how they identify, know they're safe in his classroom". Bluesky Social. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
22. https://relix.com/news/detail/r-i-p-journalist-editor-and-counterculture-enthusiast-steve-silberman/ Archived August 29, 2024, at the Wayback Machine r i p journalist editor and counterculture enthusiast Steve Silberman
23. Hall, Harriet (December 22, 2015). "Neurotribes: A Better Understanding of Autism". Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
24. Senior, Jennifer (August 17, 2015). "'NeuroTribes,' by Steve Silberman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
25. "Capsule reviews of four new nonfiction books – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
26. "'A rallying call to respect difference' | The Psychologist". thepsychologist.bps.org.uk. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
27. "100 Notable Books of 2015". The New York Times. November 27, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
28. "Shelf life". The Economist. December 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
29. "The FT's best books of 2015". Financial Times. November 27, 2015. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
30. Fenn, Chris. "Best books of 2015 – part one". the Guardian. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
31. Ananthaswamy, Anil (November 30, 2015). "Inner Worlds". Literary Review. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
32. Harris, James C. (August 2016). "Book forum". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 55 (8): 729–735. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2016.06.004.
33. "Steve Silberman's Phony History of Autism Dealt Another Blow". January 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
34. Fellowes, Sam (February 2017). "Putting the Present in the History of Autism". Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. 61: 54–58. doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2016.11.002 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
35. Muzikar, Debra (October 5, 2016). "An interview with Steve Silberman author of Neurotribes". The Art of Autism. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
36. "The 2015 Shortlist". The Samuel Johnson Prize. October 11, 2015. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
37. "Books for a Better Life Awards 2015 | Bookreporter.com". www.bookreporter.com. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
38. "Mr Brown's joys — the 2016 MJA Awards winners". Medical Journalists' Association. June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
39. "California Book Awards | Commonwealth Club". www.commonwealthclub.org. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
40. "Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media | Austen Riggs Center". www.austenriggs.org. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
41. "Author of the Year 2016 « The Catalyst Awards". catalystawards.org. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
42. Grateful Dead (June 2, 2017). "Long Strange Trip Out-takes: An Interview With Steve Silberman | Grateful Dead". dead.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

External links

• NeuroTribes blog at Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Official website
• Steve Silberman on Twitter
• Steve Silberman at TED
• Steve Silberman at IMDb
• Steve Silberman discography at Discogs