Be Different

February 15, 2011

A guide to making the most of living with Asperger's Syndrome. 

Aspergian Robison (Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, 2007) offers down-to-earth life advice for his "Aspie" peers and their friends, families and teachers. The author grew up never fully understanding why he, an intelligent, capable man, could never quite fit in. It was only when he was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 40 that he realized his quirkiness arose from having been born with a mind that made connections in ways different from what he calls "nypicals" —people with neurotypical or "normal" brains. Unlike so many other Aspergians who end up alienated, alone and unemployed, Robison gradually found ways to overcome his social and communication deficits and transform his differences—such as superior concentration, abstract reasoning and mechanical skills—into gifts. Beginning with a chapter that gives a human face—his own—to the "restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior" associated with Asperger's, Robison proceeds with a discussion of the thornier interpersonal issues Aspergians face. Compensation for all or most of these challenges is possible, argues the author, by combining the Aspergian strength of logical analysis with observation, an awareness of past experiences and practice. Learning to live in a "nypical" world was not easy for the author—"[i]t's been a lifetime job for me"—but the rewards have made his efforts undeniably worthwhile.

Recommended reading for anyone seeking to understand Aspergian children and adults.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

November 1, 2010

We first met Robison in brother Augusten Burroughs's eye-popping Running with Scissors. Then Robison himself spoke up, detailing his life with Asperger's syndrome in the best-selling Look Me in the Eye. Here he uses examples from his own life to advise Aspergians and their parents--including his "Mom Army" of over 10,000 online followers--and also shares recent scientific research. There's an audience; this syndrome is increasingly in the news.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2011
Aspergers syndrome inhabits a particular niche with regard to treatment because it is characterized by symptomology that can be difficult to pinpoint, even in the somewhat less-than-exact art of psychological diagnosis. (The trainwreck-in-progress that is the DSM-5the next edition of the diagnosis bibleis rumored to fold Aspergers into a larger autism spectrum category.) RobisonAspergian author of the well-received memoir Look Me in the Eye (2007)does the Aspergers community a service in this eclectic book of essays on his experiences navigating social mores. He reflects on the bittersweet insights hes gained about his own lifehaving lived for years with Aspergers before the syndrome had been identifiedand provides incredibly helpful advice to families learning to live with these challenges. Robisons clear writing provides substantial insight into the mind of someone whose disorder makes clarity very, very difficult. While its important to recognize that this is the account of one person with Aspergers, and as such isnt about everyone with Aspergers, it is a valuable read nonetheless.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2011

In his second autobiographic work on Asperger's syndrome (a milder version of autism), following his Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, Robison includes additional episodes while providing "actionable advice" intended to help explain Asperger's. He uses short chapters to showcase different character traits of Asperger's; some are quite strong, such as his account of his nonemotional reaction to a horrific automobile accident. Many of the chapters, however, are weak and lack real value. He discusses at great length and with no clear purpose why the nicknames he provides are more appropriate than given names. The book has a good deal of useful content but repeats his chronological first work in a topical fashion. Many of the stories appear in both books, and there is only a bit of new material here for readers of his first title. VERDICT While Robison provides a nice understanding of the Asperger's mind, this follow-up does not adequately supplement his previous work. It is recommended only for libraries with comprehensive autism and Asperger's collections. Others should have Look Me in the Eye.--Corey Seeman, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2011

A guide to making the most of living with Asperger's Syndrome.

Aspergian Robison (Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, 2007) offers down-to-earth life advice for his "Aspie" peers and their friends, families and teachers. The author grew up never fully understanding why he, an intelligent, capable man, could never quite fit in. It was only when he was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 40 that he realized his quirkiness arose from having been born with a mind that made connections in ways different from what he calls "nypicals" --people with neurotypical or "normal" brains. Unlike so many other Aspergians who end up alienated, alone and unemployed, Robison gradually found ways to overcome his social and communication deficits and transform his differences--such as superior concentration, abstract reasoning and mechanical skills--into gifts. Beginning with a chapter that gives a human face--his own--to the "restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior" associated with Asperger's, Robison proceeds with a discussion of the thornier interpersonal issues Aspergians face. Compensation for all or most of these challenges is possible, argues the author, by combining the Aspergian strength of logical analysis with observation, an awareness of past experiences and practice. Learning to live in a "nypical" world was not easy for the author--"[i]t's been a lifetime job for me"--but the rewards have made his efforts undeniably worthwhile.

Recommended reading for anyone seeking to understand Aspergian children and adults.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)