Sparked by an accidental encounter between an autism communication pioneer and a maybug, this light-hearted account explores themes of consciousness, awareness and what it means to connect and be alive.

Maybugs and Mortality draws a comparison between the shared life-cycles and mortality of the human and maybug. This diverse book is a must read for anyone interested in autism, psychology and human behaviour. The author, Phoebe Caldwell, pioneer of responsive communication with autistic people, has spent a lifetime understanding and responding to barriers and challenges in communication between individuals, enabling autistic children and adults to engage with a world that is sensorily confusing. In this fascinating and diverse book, she draws on her work, personal experience and scientific advances in psychology and neurobiology to consider key aspects of the shared life-cycles and mortality of maybug and human. From this unique perspective, she examines themes such as consciousness, self-awareness and the need to reach out beyond ourselves in order to find confirmation and understanding.