What is it like to have Asperger's Syndrome?

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I am new to learning about Asperger's Syndrome and I don't really know that much about it. I am looking for books that will give me more insight on being an Aspie and what it would be like to live with an Aspie and how to understand them and such. Please let me know of any books. Thank you!

Have you tried Google Books?

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&tb ... q=asperger

Congratulations! It's Asperger's Syndrome - Jen Birch
Pretending To Be Normal : Living with Asperger's Syndrome - Liane Holliday
Loving Mr Spock - Barbara Jacobs

Google Book links for those ^ are:

http://books.google.com/books?id=MWdYMKNmYGUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Congratulations!+It's+Asperger's+Syndrome&hl=en&ei=_B8BTpekCsrOsgaTvZ2eCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Congratulations!%20It's%20Asperger's%20Syndrome&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=eWSqTIJ-6XwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Pretending+To+Be+Normal+:+Living+with+Asperger's+Syndrome&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=KyABTpCkDMbEsgbf_aXJDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ew0bMmmk0LIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Loving+Mr+Spock&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=SiABTqD4CNHHswa4j7SvDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

The best AS book I've ever read is Tony Atwood's The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. It's what thoroughly convinced me that I really do have AS. The special interest chapter is particularly amazing. Lots of info and details in the book that you don't read anywhere else.

I usually describe it as an extreme loneliness coupled with an extreme dislike of being around people. It sucks to have Aspergers since most people with it were cursed with average to high intelligence. We are smart enough to know why we are different and bright enough to think we can fix it. I can mimic normal behavior but I will never be normal no matter how much I wish or pretend.

Last edited by Todesking on 22 Jun 2011, 12:19 am, edited 3 times in total.

Freaks, Geeks and Asperger's Syndrome- Luke Jackson

Thanks. I am getting Loving Mr. Spock.

Thank you for explaining this. I have never understood how someone I care about very much could tell me, "I'm always lonely." Yet also avoid me even though according to him, "I like you and everything about you."

It has always seemed like he has two competing desires to be with people and to be alone. What you wrote was very helpful to me.

These may not be books, but here are the web links that I give to everyone who wants to know more about AS in a concise summarized manner. These links helped me greatly one year ago during my own awakening.

http://www.wikihow.com/Relate-to-Someon ... s-Syndrome

http://theotherside.wordpress.com/autis ... dvantages/

http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Aspergers_Checklist

By the way, welcome to WP from down the road 100 miles from you.

Look Me in the Eye

Be Different

Both by John Robison.

Try "Wait, What Do You Mean?" by Martha Dunne. See at http://www.aspergerstellandshow.com

A simple but good explanation:

Asperger's syndrome explained for children (2:31)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9eATBV-_lg

Uh, it's hell.

Thank you, this sounds good. I'm definitely going to have a look at it.

It's like not being good at answering vague questions.

Smarmyness aside, all those books are generally good places to start. I also recommend Aquamarine Blue 5: Personal Stories Of College Students With Autism, which is a collection of essays. I think it's a good example of Autistic people speaking for themselves, and presenting multiple individual perspectives ranging in age, gender, nationality, and expressive abilities.