Ever since he was small, John Robison had 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 younger brother in them)--had earned him the label "social deviant." No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on ...
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Ever since he was small, John Robison had 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 younger brother in them)--had earned him the label "social deviant." No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on. After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a "real" job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be "normal" and do what he simply couldn't: communicate. It wasn't worth the paycheck. It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger's syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself--and the world. "Look Me in the Eye" is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger's at a time when the diagnosis simply didn't exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as "defective," who could not avail himself of KISS's endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people's given names (he calls his wife "Unit Two"). He also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nuttyparents--the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs and write the bestselling memoir "Running with Scissors," Ultimately, this is the story of Robison's journey from his world into ours, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner--repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It's a strange, sly, indelible account--sometimes alien, yet always deeply human. "From the Hardcover edition."
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Add this copy of Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's to cart. $26.50, like new condition, Sold by Marlowes Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ferny Hills, Brisbane, QLD, AUSTRALIA, published 2007 by Bantam.
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Seller's Description:
As New in None Issued jacket. 288 pages. Book appears to have hardly been read and is in As new condition throughout. The only exception is a small inscription to the inside page.
Add this copy of Look Me in the Eye-My Life With Asperger's to cart. $37.08, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Bantam Books.
This book is excellent for anyone who has a friend, friend's family member, their own family member, or themselves with Asperger's! It gives a lot of hope for a successful life! I had read the book on my NOOK because my sister is raising a grandson with Asperger's. I bought a copy of the book for her, as well as for a friend, whose grandson also has it. They are both SUPER grateful to get a copy of it. Thanks for sending the copies as quickly as you did!
me78too
Dec 24, 2009
From the inside
I was very interested, in this book, because I have a 12 year old grandson who has Aspergers. It gave me a better view of how he felt from the inside. It has been read by his mother and is now being read by an aunt who has an autistic daughter.
michelebeth
Nov 19, 2009
I have 2 children with autism, my oldest having Asperger's. As soon as I saw the front cover of the book the title struck me; I knew it was a biography about someone with autism. John Robison shows us what it feels like to grow up with Asperger's, how different he felt, and not knowing why. I really enjoyed the stories he told about the pranks he pulled, and sometimes how such complicated things often are really just so simple if you think about it. I enjoyed this book very much.
large
Jan 17, 2008
inside Asperger's
After reading several "technical" books on this subject, this was a breath of fresh air. A true "inside" look at Asperber's. Would recommend this book to anyone trying to understand the thought processes of a child or adult with Asperger's. A great read!
