One thing that puts this book above most of the others I've read on autism is the age-by-age checklist. However, it doesn't spend much time explaining the differences in the spectrum of autism-mostly it focuses on the more severe autism.
However, this is a very detailed book that includes information on how to deal with all kinds of specific issues (toilet-training, for example), including why the child is behaving a certain way, what could be going through his mind, and how to help him cope.
This is one of the more useful books I've read to help me understand what my son needs from me. ( )