Anyone reading Look Me In the Eye?

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I was hoping to get a general discussion going. I'm only on chapter 3.

metalmom

it was that book that got me looking into this whole thing. My stepdad was diagnosed last year, and i picked it up to learn about him, learned about myself instead

It's not bad. It's really obviously written by an aspie In the end, it's just one guys mildly remarkable story, but it's a really excellent portrait of life as an aspie through adulthood, especially since he went undiagnosed most of his life.

I've put it on reserve at the library. There were actually no copies available!

Thats what happened to me when I went to rent it, too.

Read, past tense. It's certainly interesting, and the written style is familiar - I used to write like that in High School, I think I do better now, but in a lot of ways the way he does it feels more natural to me than almost anything else I've written. I liked the book, it was entertaining and interesting, and because of my objection to the term "aspie" because I feel it makes those with Asperger's sound childlike, I've adopted Robison's "aspergian" instead.
I think you can learn some things about Aspergians from it, but I do think that it's possible some will think he was typical, in a lot of ways he's not - his chronic rule-breaking and exploitation of others, while it certainly happens in aspergians, I don't believe is really representative. In a biography, that's OK - it certainly makes for an entertaining read - but I do worry that some will read it and feel that all aspergians are that way. On the other hand, the chapters where he really digresses and talks about how he feels, how others seem to him, are invaluable IMO.

I read it and really like it, especially his perspective on being a father. That was really helpful for me.
I started a thread like this before, and the author actually posted a reply.

Very true - this underscores that, even as we share many classic 'Aspergian' traits, we still have our own very distinct personalities.

Also, those of us who have had to survive in the business world learn very quickly to adapt to what is tolerated in NT-Land; pranks and chronic rule-breaking do not work so well.

John Elder has managed to craft an environment in which he can survive and still misbehave a little - good for him!

Most of what I read about Asperger's is too clinical. I don't always see myself. The books are always depressing for me. I wanted to compare my life experiences (40+ yrs) to others but there aren’t many memoirs. I was in my 40’s when diagnosed and realized that I have learned to adapt to the NT world; this adaptation has never felt comfortable but more like acting.

I also want my teenager who is in denial to read a book that was not clinical in its explanation and could shed some light in a way the other books didn’t. So far I’ve gotten to chapter 5 and for my son this will be Illuminating!
metalmom

I haven't read the book, but i have listen to the book on CD. I really enjoyed his pranks he would play with his little brother, the way he would make up his own names for his family members.
I also liked his story telling about the amps and stacks etc that he would recreate or improve for musicians.

yo metalmom --

The author writes a personal blog. You'd like it.

http://jerobison.blogspot.com/

I subscribe to it via Google Reader.

I think I'm going to try to read this as soon as I can get ahold of it. The university library has one copy, which is checked out, and the public library has two, both checked out as well. Even the CD is checked out.

I just spent the last hour on the above site. Thanks for the link. I probably wouldn't have thought about it until I finished the book. It's funny how I am consciously pacing myself reading this book. I usually pick up a book and not put it down until I finish it. I've almost lost a job because of my single mindedness reading books at the wrong time.

metalmom

I'm glad you mentioned this book, as my younger sister gave me a copy for Christmas, having just found from me that I was "Aspergian" around my 63rd birthday. I haven't more than started the book; it's been the cold and flu season again and I haven't yet been in a good reading mood.

I enjoyed the book. Yes, I had to find a small library in the area and time it perfectly to score a copy. I'm glad the book is a success. He embraces his AS and has a positive message. The end of the book pretty much sums it up: AS can be difficult and make him look odd, but it also contributed to his success. He writes about the good, the bad and the ugly.

Thanks for the link to the blog. Jan 20th is a short example of why I liked the book. His writing style has an AS quality to it, demonstrating its characteristics while continuing to be entertaining or making a thoughtful point.

"Now, I only shoot for my own editorial use" is a funny, odd, clever phrase. He then moves into the technical aspects of the artistic activity of photography with step by step logical precision. Sure, there's no Blakean mysticism to his artistic decisions, but he's still being very creative. I agree about the naming. Starting the book out about his insistence on re-naming people like personal objects and his use of the term "Aspergian" instead of the slightly more standard aspie fits AS traits but also reflects his personality. It's so much better to read this book -- chock full of individuality -- to show the humanity of the AS community than the horrible misinformed tombs targeted towards panic-stricken suburban parents.

I just now listened to the audio book (pretty much all in one go), and I thought it was pretty amazing. Parts of it are so hard to listen to (because they're painfully familiar), but others are absolutely hilarious. I think I'm going to make my mom listen to it. Because she needs to understand this.

Do you think it's best to let my son listen to it or read it, he is 14 going on 40? Can you get the audio from a library?

I have the traits but my son would have more of the "classic" traits. I have learned to embrace all of myself and him also. I am trying to get him to accept himself, have a better understanding of himself and feel good in his skin with the knowledge that he is not broken.

As far as different is concerned, there are way too many of us out there to be considered different. I feel this is just our difference from others who have differences also. I have yet to met someone who was perfect and could handle everything. I'm finding out at 40; how many others just finding out. I see the trait in many family members, I have a big family. I see traits in my in-laws and when I see interviews like the 20 something year old guy that dropped out of Harvar/Yale and owns the Co. thats giving GOOGLE a run. Please forgive me as I do not remember details of issues that do not directly relate to me; my head used to explode trying to remember everything.
Metalmom