When it gets dark enough, men see stars," according to Emerson. In irreducibly simple yet profound words, Dan Gottlieb shares the wisdom he has derived from living in a wheelchair, battling his own inner demons, and practicing psychology for the past 25 years. His loves, losses, and lessons are informed and inspired by the unique bond he shares with his grandson, Sam, who is also different—growing up with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. I wish I had this book when my son was diagnosed with autism over 20 years ago. I am overjoyed that we have it now for Letters to Sam is a guide for the soul, much more than just another autism book, and a wonderful gift to families.

Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D.
author of Special Children, Challenged Parents
co-editor of Voices from the Spectrum

Letter by letter, page by page, Dr. Dan Gottlieb weaves an extraordinary tapestry of his own struggles and triumphs, his eternal love for his grandson Sam, his profound compassion for humanity, and his urgent desire to share his wisdom. Within my first minute with this book, I knew he was speaking as much to Sam as to me. Within the second minute, I had already begun to ask deep questions about my life. WIthin the third minute, I forgot I was reading a book, and felt I was in the great classroom of life, with a teacher as vulnerable as he is enlightening, and with lessons I will treasure forever.

Rachel Simon
author of Riding the Bus With My Sister

Letters to Sam is the manifestation of a brilliant mind inside a giant heart.

Gerda Weissmann Klein
Holocaust survivor
author of All But My Life and A Boring Evening at Home
co-founder of The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation

Rarely are familial intimacies revealed with such clarion honesty, compassion and erudition. Learn from both a master clinician's wisdom, and his lifetime of reflection.

Peter C Whybrow, MD
Director, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA
author of A Mood Apart, The Thinkers Guide to Emotion and Disorder

Letters to Sam is a remarkable book that I want to give to my wife, and friends and family. I also want to share this book with my son who has special needs, along with his teachers and the parents at his school because it does a beautiful job of describing the beauty and richness of being unique and highly sensitive.

Leonard Felder, Ph.D.
author of The Ten Challenges

Letters to Sam is heartbreaking and heartmending all at the same time. I cried as I read and felt my heart open and fill with love. Being with Dan through these stories is a precious gift. I feel lucky that he became a grandfather and was inspired to write to Sam--and then so glad he let us all in on it. Dan has the authority of having lived through the extremities of pain and loss, so when you bite down on his wisdom, it's gold. I want to give this book to everyone I care about.

Ellen Bass
author of Mules of Love