Twice Exceptional - by Sumit Dhanda & Viraj Dhanda (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A father's account, and a son's own words. The moving memoir of a single father whose son was presumed intellectually disabled, but became the first nonspeaking autistic person admitted to MIT--called "truthful, joyful, unflinching, and kind" (David Mitchell) and "required reading for teachers [and] parents" (Temple Grandin).

Sumit Dhanda's son Viraj was two when he was diagnosed with severe autism and apraxia. Therapists and doctors delivered the same message: Viraj was intellectually disabled. He would never speak. Sumit, a single father, relinquished a thriving career on Wall Street to focus on his son's needs. Never once did he doubt the experts.

Then, one morning when Viraj was almost thirteen, a startling truth emerged: his intelligence had been there all along--expansive, concealed, waiting to be discovered.

Twice Exceptional is the story of a father who refused to settle for less for his son, and a boy who defied his doubters. As Sumit would soon find, Viraj had been aware of the world around him all along--he had simply lacked the means to engage with it. His silence had obscured talents for math, science, and self-expression.

These revelations brought with them an even more vexing challenge: How could Sumit get the world to see--and believe--what he saw?

Told in Sumit's words alongside Viraj's own writing, Twice Exceptional is a testament to the bond between a father and his son. A profoundly affecting story of love, sacrifice, and achievement against the odds, it urges readers to presume competence. To do so could be to open the door to minds waiting to reveal their gifts.

Review Quotes

"Twice Exceptional is a book I will be pressing into the hands of every parent I know. Sumit and Viraj Dhanda remind us what unconditional love, unwavering belief, and opportunity can make possible. I'm so grateful for this book, and for the light it shares with all of us."
--Holly Robinson Peete, actress, autism advocate, and coauthor of My Brother Charlie and Same But Different

"Twice Exceptional should be required reading for teachers, parents, and professionals who work with non-speaking individuals. Many of these individuals have a motor control issue rather than a language problem. Learn how Viraj's mind was unlocked."
--Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of Thinking in Pictures, Animals in Translation, The Autistic Brain, and Visual Thinking

"Twice Exceptional is at turns tender, funny, and enraging, but always compulsively readable. A must-read book for anyone who's been underestimated, and all those who underestimate us."
--Sara Novic, New York Times bestselling author of True Biz and Mother Tongue

"I can't remember the last time I was so moved and inspired in reading a book as I was in reading Twice Exceptional. I've read many special-needs parenting memoirs, but this is something more. A truly remarkable, riveting account of the deep love between a father and a son facing heartbreaking, infuriating circumstances... An absolute triumph. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know."
--Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Falls and Miracle Creek

"Truthful, joyful, unflinching, and kind, Twice Exceptional is testament to an autistic nonspeaker's hidden brilliance; his father's love; and their joint determination in the face of ableism. A beautiful book."
--David Mitchell, New York Times bestselling author of Cloud Atlas, Utopia Avenue, The Bone Clocks, and Black Swan Green

About the Author

Sumit Dhanda, a Stanford PhD, spent over a decade in leadership roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citadel Securities, and Evercore ISI. Today, he advocates for nonspeaking individuals while working in wealth management.

Viraj Dhanda is a nonspeaking autistic student admitted to MIT's Class of 2030, where he hopes to study economics and political science. His journey has been featured on CBS Evening News, NPR, and The Boston Globe.