For most of my artistic life, my work has been focused on trying to understand myself – specifically things about myself that I may find difficult, mysterious, or unexplainable. At first this work was based on examining my past experiences but more recently I have become very interested in the neurological processes underlying my social and creative decisions. I have long wondered why I have a seemingly natural talent for composing and performing. Why? Where did this come from? I read this book in 2021 following some unexpected and very serious mental health difficulties and found that perhaps some of my seemingly natural ability is the result of an inherited neurological condition. The book was revelatory and allowed me to see myself more clearly and explain many things I could not understand before and made it possible for me to turn what could be seen as disability into a key aspect of my identity as both a musician and human being.

Sarah Hennies, 4 May 2022