How to Read Minds
- Author Aimee Cliff
- Narrator Alby Baldwin
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date 12 March 2026
- Run Time 6 hours and 14 minutes
- Format x-book®
- Genre Coping with autism / Asperger’s, Disability: social aspects, Emotions and emotional intelligence, Neurosciences, Popular psychology, Psychology: emotions, Social, group or collective psychology.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.
Send as a gift Get in the xigxag appFlexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
- £3.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
'A beautifully observed exploration of what it really means to understand another person' EMMA REED TURRELL
'Sharp, funny and brilliant – a book that needed to be written' DR CAMILLA PANG
________________________________
What is true empathy?
The classic stereotype of autistic people is that they can’t empathise, that they’re highly intellectual but find it difficult to connect. As an autistic psychotherapist who empathises for a living, Aimee Cliff knew that this wasn’t right. Empathy is something you do, not something you are – meaning it’s something we can all get better at, if we choose to practise.
Drawing on the latest scientific research, her clinical experience and interviews with a wide range of neurodivergent people, Cliff examines how empathy works in the brain and body, and lays out five pillars that allow anyone to practise empathy. She finds that empathy is humble, empathy is embodied, empathy is amoral, empathy is radical, and empathy is work.
How to Read Minds offers a new idea of empathy with a more radical and expansive definition. For real empathy fights against constrictive stereotypes and dares to imagine something new. It has the potential to connect and liberate humans across our differences.
This wise, humane and quietly life-changing book considers how to understand each other, how to care for and love each other, in a timeless examination of questions that affect us all.
‘Clear-eyed, forensic and humane’ Sophie Walker, author of Five Rules for Rebellion
Critics Review
'Sharp, funny and brilliant – a book that needed to be written' Dr Camilla Pang, author of Explaining Humans
n'A beautifully observed exploration of what it really means to understand another person. It’s a book about tuning in, slowing down and learning to hear what isn’t always spoken. Wise, honest and quietly transformative' Emma Reed Turrell, author of Please Yourself
n‘Clear-eyed, forensic and humane … challenges outdated assumptions about how we understand autistic people and each other. Empathy as a collective learning exercise is something we could all do with more of’ Sophie Walker, author of Five Rules for Rebellion
n‘A much-needed guide to empathy – what it really is, what it isn't, and all the ways in which we can put it to transformative use’ Joanne Limburg, author of Letters to My Weird Sisters
n'Challenges us to question the ‘universal’ in human psychology and relationships … to argue that what really matters is how we show up for each other' Devon Price, author of Unmasking Autism
n'In this warm and insightful book, Aimee Cliff offers an invaluable reframing of the nature of empathy: empathy is not a static trait, but a practice one can develop' Nick Walker, author of Neuroqueer Heresies
nMore from the same
Narrator
About xigxag and the x-book®
Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.
Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.