NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “As sweet and funny and sad and true and heartfelt a memoir as one could find.” —from the foreword by Augusten Burroughs Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his … holes (and stick his younger brother, Augusten Burroughs, in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” It was not until he was forty that he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way he saw himself—and the world. A born storyteller, Robison has written a moving, darkly funny memoir about a life that has taken him from developing exploding guitars for KISS to building a family of his own. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien yet always deeply human.
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Wonderful insight into growing up with “ass burgers” before it was recognized. Recommended reading if you suspect you may also have been undiagnosed or a loved one has been determined to be on the spectrum.
Good read with insight and information. Robison’s second book “be different” is a must read. Extremely insightful and full of great information and understanding.
Learning about Asbergers syndrome from someone who has the condition was an eye opening experience. The author was open and candid about his life experiences. I appreciated that. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it to be a delightful read.
jf only people could realize that just because someone is different they still have feelings and worth as a person. hopefully people will become more accepting of those who are different.
WOW! I have worked for years with kids and adults who have ( and have not) been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, seen changes in behaviors and have often felt like I am somewhere on the spectrum. Loved the honest sharing providing insight and more understanding. Yes, learning is lifelong if we work at it.Kudos to the author and his …
Very informative , sad, amazing all he Went through by himself.
I liked this book because it gave me insight to what it is like to be a person with Asberger’s syndrome. I also did not realize that it is also classified as a type of autistism but on the functional end of the syndrome. It was inspirational to see how John made decisions to help him progress in living in our society. I also found it curious …
This was informative but not the best written yet I enjoyed it
I was actually looking for a book with a narrower focus on what it is like to be autistic. This has very little medical or authoritative information but the author did a wonderful job. His ability to describe the emotional confusion and turmoil of an autistic person was stellar. I was very pleased that he ended up having a good life after …
Awesome description of Asperger’s Syndrome! Author also discusses how it has affected his life – both positively and negatively – and how he feels Asperger’s has helped him through life. Definitely a positive view of a personality trait that currently carries a negative connotation.
An account of life with Asperger’s (now known as high-functioning autism as per the latest DSM, as I understand) told with an authentic voice and surprising humor, this book is a must for anyone who wants to better understand how Aspergians experience the world. I walked away from this wonderful memoir with insight and more empathy – not sympathy. …
A terrific autobiography of an incredible man!
This book describes Asperger’s in a non clinical way.The author helps you understand his thought process dealing with this disease.His story is interesting and gives hope for dealing with hard issues.