This book was a bridge to the mind of my 13-year-old grandson, who not only deals with this syndrome, but Tourette's, as well. As we struggled as a family to understand him, it would've made all the difference in the world if we'd had this book as a guidebook!

What was so hopeful and helpful to me was the resourcefulness which John Elder exhibited. It brings us a breath of fresh air to know that there is a world out there that needs Aspergians, and without these gifts (many from undiagnosed geniuses of historical significance), we would be much poorer indeed.

I think the author was brave to share that hope with all of us!

This was an educating read on a fascinating character with Asperger's. To see Mr. Robinson grow and be able to utilize his condition for his personal well being was inspiring. The fact that he is Augusten Burrough's brother is what led me to read the book but after finishing the autobiography, I realize his relationship to his brother played a very small part in my enjoyment of the work.

Caution: SPOILERS in this review.

The author seems to delight in "getting one over" certain people - he stages an elaborate stunt to get one over on the cops, tells his son convoluted lies about Santa being in trouble with the law, spends a huge amount of time setting up a trap for higher-ups at work to fall into (and then is incredulous and disgusted at the end result), and calls people insulting names because "that's the only way that works for me." Where does Aspberger's end and the "real" John Elder begin?

He goes on at great length about not understanding why people from a certain city like the way he describes them. The word "goonie" is in the middle of his word, which may be the reason. If he asked instead of trying to puzzle such things out in his head he may be surprised to know others are also intelligent in ways he is not.

The whole tone of this book is one of amused superiority.

I've only know I had AS for two years. I've read a few books on it, but this one was particularly insightful and well written. There are five pages of charts that discuss typica symptoms and then both the negative and positive interpretations people may apply to that behavior. I found that to be one of the most helpful aspects of the book.

Well written, easy to read, very useful.

This is the BEST book of the many that I've read about Asperger's Syndrome. John Robison allows the reader to truly see the world through his eyes, and the result is an authentic experience unlike any other I've had. I'm a special ed teacher, sometimes working with Asperger's students. While reading this book, I gained a level of insight that none of the materials I've read or the experts I've talked with have given me before. The book can also stand on its own simply as a marvelous, engaging story. Everyone who works with, is related to, or even knows anyone with Asperger's Syndrome should read it.

Am not an expert on autism or asperger, but have read enough about it to feel quite sure that this is not what this author has. If he has it, then he was not able to convey it in the book or perhaps his asperger is very very very mild to the point of well...normal.

I did get a kick out of reading the book and laughed at times at the content, but like other readers was quite disturbed by some of the pranks. Early into the book, I felt that this author does not have asperger and got a sense that instead he was just not properly socialized. I'm a shy person and while reading the book felt ten times more socially disabled than he. He was able to "figure out" how to make friends, look people in the eye and appear normal. As a shy person, I did too. The one thing I found remarkable was his ability and ease of lying. As a proud prankster, he was able to lie easily and on a whim to just about everybody. It made me wonder, is he also lying in this book???

A few things I will point out that make me reluctant to believe he has this condition. For one, his "theory of mind" capabilities seem to be in fine working order. He seems very much able to predict other people's behavior, emotions and intentions and act accordingly. He knew people would be upset as the victims of his pranks and that's why he did them. In the stories he tells, he knew how his behavior would affect others!!!

He also says he knew as a young child that his parents fought because of him and that his dad had done something to his dog even though his father didn't say anything. This shows that he is able to "read" and understand people even if they don't say anything which contradicts theory of mind. He was also able to lie at such a young age, which as far as I know, is something that people on the spectrum can't simply do.

He also talks about wanting to play cowboy with the neighborhood kids which shows an interest in pretend play, which also doesn't match with asperger's syndrome. He talks about how he's a misfit and doesn't work well in teams, etc., but shows no evidence of it. He's able to lie, work in teams (with the band, at the bars, etc.), communicates well, and makes all kinds of adjustments to his life. There's no mention of tantrums or complete meltdows at schedule changes or anything that indicates autism. The fact that he didn't like working in a company or in an administrative role and didn't like working in teams does not qualify as asperger!

When I read Temple Grandin's book, I got a real sense of a disability. I was able to see the strangeness of her. For example, she talks in her book about building a "hug" machine that would press her body and comfort her. This is very different from what John Elder describes as liking to sleep with pillows on top. I think a lot of normal people like sleeping with pillows on top.

Overall, I just sensed that this was someone who had a troubled childhood and was not properly socialized. He's been very successful in his ability to figure people out on his own and is more capable and successful than a whole lot of people.

Don't buy this book if you want to find out how a person with autism feels and thinks. Buy it if you want to read unbelievable stories and get a few laughs.

This book is a humorous look at one mans life with aspergers and shows some of the unfortunate things that can and did happen.

While reading Augustin Burroughs description of his brother's asperger's it hit me like a brick. When he was describing John Elder my loved one fell into every category he mentioned. John Elder has done an amazing job giving us a glimpse into his life. I found every emotion in this book. I laughed, I cried, and I came out knowing and feeling I understood alot more about Asperger's. This book flows very well and even though big is a very fast read.

I think John Elder definately has a gift for writing too! I would recommend this book to anyone. I will also add him to my list of authors to purchase everytime they have a new book come out. There are currently only 2 authors on that list and I am an avid reader.

I am recently married to a wonderful man with Asperger's as well as step mom to a pre teen boy with asperger's. This book gave me a whole new insight to them both... There were several chapters where I either thought to myself that he was writing about my husband or my son...

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has children or grandchildren or other family members or friends who have children with autistic issues; especially Asperger issues.

I was disappointed in this book. Reading through the other reviews I was astonished at how many people thought it was "amazing" and "interesting". I thought it was full of boring anecdotes and I was appalled at how proud he was of his mean pranks. If the meanness is a result of the Asperger's syndrome it was not well explained, so I had a hard time accepting that the meanness was out of his control. It did appear to be poorly edited, with lots of inconsistencies. There were several places, usually at the end of chapters, where he leaves us hanging with such teasers as, "Little did I know it would get much worse." (Sorry, paraphrasing here - I don't have the book in front of me). Turn the page to the next chapter and we don't really find out what was "much worse" (again, paraphrasing). This was very frustrating and made the book difficult to follow. I've read many books along this line and this was just poorly written, by what appears to be a mean, arrogant man. Maybe he's not really like that, but that's what comes across. I hardly ever dislike a book, but it was all I could do to finish this one

This is less a book about what it's like to live with Asperger's, than it is a collection of anecdotes from someone who happens to have the syndrome. If the purpose of the book is to convince that the author experiences emotions similarly to 'normal' people but expresses them differently, it fails in that regard. There was, to me, the feeling that the author is emotionally 'robotic' in a way that 'normal' people are not. The book means to humanize him (and people like him) beyond what would be the first impressions of someone who didn't know better, but only the most judgemental observer would assume less humanity than is on display in these pages. If anything, the book confirms the impression of a certain roboticness which is at odds with a certain humanity.

Maybe an autobiographical book by an author who lacks ability to be introspective should be expected to be shallow on some level. But it would have been interesting to at least go into how his Asperger's affected his first marriage, or how it forced him to leave his corporate job, or how it affects his personal relationships with his wife and son. There is almost no direct information on those topics in the book. The author chose not to write about certain more-personal topics which would have provided the most meaningful and interesting cases in point of living with Aspergers. As such, I felt slightly cheated by the book.

I picked up this book after hearing John on the Diane Rehm show, and it did not disappoint. I'm a clinical child psychologist, and I believe this book and others written by people with autistic spectrum disorders (or aspergians) to be invaluable resources for those of us who are supposed to be able to help. Aside from being clinically useful in helping me understand how my patients with ASDs see the world, this book is a great collection of stories. Highly recommended both for its entertainment value and its quality as a memoir.

This book was a delight in so many ways. As a clinician, I appreciate that this is a book filled with personal growth, filled with hope and success while struggling, very real struggles, with this syndrome. What a sensitive portrayal by someone who isn't supposed to really understand empathy.

I wanted to read this book b/c I have one child with Asperger's and another with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I wanted to hear what John Elder Robison had to say.

I was VERY IMPRESSED with Robison's accounts of his experiences when he was young. Good editing aside, it is most impressive that he can vividly recollect the situation and tell it in a way that the average reader (someone like myself) can visualize and understand.

There are some parts where I am certain he is trying to convey his experience (for example, Chapters 14 through 17 when he is working with KISS), but gets a bit too technical and descriptive with the electronics/circuits/etc. I have to admit he lost me there.

There are a lot of profound observations made in the book:

p. 96, "I knew I was some kind of misfit, but it was becoming apparent that some of the grown-ups who smiled sweetly and told me how terrible and f*d-up I was were complete f-ups themselves. And my experience in the music scene had shown me that there were places in the world where misfits were welcome".

p. 239 "...I began to understand the difference between how I acted an how "normal" people acted in different situations."

p. 271 "I am sure antidepresssents, drugs, and liquor have their place. BUt so far, that place is in others, not me."

Reading those passages in the book show an evolution in Robison's self-perception as well as show his understanding and acceptance of his diagnosis. I was so happy to read that Robison has made a life for himself and exists peacefully with his condition. Way to go, John Elder!!!

John Elder Robison has Asperger's Syndrome, but didn't know until his thirties. Asperger's is a form of autism that wasn't labeled or understood until 1981. Those with Asperger's are usually smart but have a difficult time understanding social cues and thus establishing relationships. They don't express emotions like most people do, and when they do, they often appear to express the wrong one (like smiling when someone dies). It is often a lonely life.

John decided to write about his life with Asperger's as a way to deal with his father's death. His home life was tragic. His mother was crazy and his father an abusive drunk. He dropped out of school at 16. He had a genius for electronics and began an accidental career fixing and improving musical equipment. He did so well that he worked with KISS making their dazzling (and dangerous) guitars that smoked, lit on fire, shone hundreds of lights, or flew in the air and exploded.

Describing John as eccentric is gracious. He gives a nickname to those close to him that he insists on using. (His brother starts out Snort, then becomes Varmint. His parents are Slave and Stupid.) He seems to think of his brother, and eventually his son, as pets. He delights in elaborate pranks and tricking people. He rambles on for pages about "mate selection" and how to know if you've really selected the best sister (or, as he calls them, "unit"). And sometimes I wondered if his main point in the book was to show what awesome guy he was.

It's a bit disturbing, and many things struck me as wrong. Maybe some of it was. But after thinking more about it, I think most of it is just different. John Elder doesn't think like I think, and if I was like him I would probably think the same way. He's certainly unconventional and isn't as culturally aware as most of us, but different isn't always wrong.

And in many ways, I sympathize. I too had trouble relating to other children. I had few friends and many enemies, even though I was a nice kid. I was also diagnosed with a form of autism, though different from his, called sensory integration dysfunction. John's story made me want to learn more about sensory integration, something I have never researched on my own.

I'd recommend this book. Be warned, though, that it is often profane. But it is a rare glimpse into a mind groping to understand the world around it. It just may cause you to do the same.

Josh Sowin
fireandknowledge.org

This book is "excellent". My order was filled very promptly which I appreciated very much.

While this book didn't give me, a parent of an aspergian child, any "tips" on how to deal with my son, it certainly helped me to relate to him a whole lot better than before reading it! The unabashed style used by Robison, while creating something of a "bumpy" reading path (he's not a poet, and some things were written out of chronological order), helps you to actual "get inside the head" of someone with AS, and that's a miracle! After reading this book, I was better able to understand some of my son's "quirks" as being a symptom of AS, and something that we were going to have to work with instead of trying to eliminate.

Having a child with Asperger Syndrome, this book has opened my eye's as to what to do, and how to do it, with my child.

I am a big fan of Augusten Burroughs and I am studying Aspergers and Autism for my own appreciation of these diagnoses. The moments of John Elder trying desperately to "fit in" lend new evidence to the contrary to the previously thought "devoid of emotion, in their own world, etc." life with Aspergers. John offers his wry look at the world from nicknames and "calling it as he sees it" to his own transformation by working extrememely hard both by his work and his person. Congratulations on this book that cannot be put down until you are finished.

I was interested to read this mostly because I am a big fan of his brother's books. The book is a collection of vignettes from the author's life which are sad, touching, and humorous all at once. The central theme is how John Elder deals with asperger's syndrome which affects every facet of his life. I found his descriptions of the disorder very interesting and like Temple Grandin's books a fascinating view from the mind of a person who lives with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.

Also, proving yet again that truth is stranger than fiction we follow the author from his early childhood days to creating flame-shooting guitars for the band KISS to becoming a toy designer and finally a specialty mechanic and author, all without a highschool degree.

Ever since a relative
told me she has Asperger's
I've wanted more insight
than you can get
from the DSM IV
Here we have it
and Mr Robison lets us see
into both the syndrome
and the amazing plasticity of the brain
Did you ever want to be a teenage roadie
for a big time rock and roll band?
Did your relatives make up stories
about realities on the fly?
Come join Mr Robison
and some of his practical jokes
and perhaps you will gain greater insight
into the spectrum of human
It certainly got me out of the doldrums
of things I'm reading to reeducate myself!

I cannot understand the reviews calling this book boring! I was up to 1.30 am two nights in a row reading this because I couldn't stop.

Real life is contradictory sometimes. Everything is not orderly just the way we would like it. The fact that John Robison could overcome many difficulties and end up leading a relatively functional life, making important contributions to music, engineering and now, through this book, to society is a great inspiration to me.

I think that it also prompts us to be more open minded about the differences in others.

Great book! Woof!

I was very excited to get this book, but unfortunately I found it hard to get through because it is poorly written, and because a large part of the book is about guitars and electronic circuits.
I found the tone to come across as "showing off." The author seemed to brag about what a great prankster he is, and what a savant he is. Perhaps I am misinterpreting some of Asperger's traits, which is not my intention, but this is how it felt to me personally. I have 4 people in my life with AS, and none of them play mean tricks on people, nor do they act superior or condescending. And I have read many other AS autobiographies, and none of those people played mean tricks either. So I do not believe that these personality traits can be applauded or excused as belonging to the disease. We should not blur the line between pathology and personality.
Whenever it seemed like the author was about to get to some interesting story, instead of telling it, he would refer the readers to his brother's book.

I was very excited to get this book, but unfortunately I found it hard to get through.
It is poorly written and mostly boring. A big part of the book is about guitars and electronic circuits. And since this is not my interest, I found it hard to get through these parts. I had to skip through them.
I found the book's tone to come across as "showing off." The author seemed to "brag" about what a great prankster he is, and what a savant he is. Perhaps I am misinterpreting some of Asperger's traits, which is not my intention, but this is how it felt to me personally. I have 4 people in my life with AS. And none of them play mean tricks on people, nor do they act superior or condescending. So I do not believe that these personality traits can be applauded or excused as belonging to the disease.
Whenever it seemed like the author was about to get to some interesting story, instead of telling it, he would refer the readers to his brother's book. I guess I should try to check out "Running With Scissors" to get a more complete story.

Understanding the mind of an Aspergian is often difficult. Despite their intelligence and grasp of language, their ability to express their feelings, emotions, and motivation is almost negligable. Robison grew up undiagnosed and misunderstood. Luckily, he now has a grasp of communication and an understanding of "normal" folks that allows him to explain his growing up and many of the issues that plague Aspergians and the people who love them-and misunderstand them.

It is important to remember while reading his book that Aspies often forget that other people don't want to hear every detail of the things that interest them-he goes on and on about guitar designs, circuit designs, train brake systems...he seriously spends more time on a single guitar's description than he does on the entire first decade of his child's life. But if there is someone with AS in your life, this is a great book to read to understand the things happening in his head that he can't describe this well.

Oh, and the author is the brother of the guy who wrote "Running with Scissors." I haven't read that book and don't feel I've missed anything in the plot by skipping it.

A remarkable look at one of the many diseases on the autism spectrum from the distinctive perspective of one who truly knows. John Elder Robison's voice, now that he has fully found it, deserves to be heard.

John Robison's book is an immensely affecting account of a life lived according to his gifts rather than his limitations. It was great to read a more positive book on Asperger's syndrome. It sheds light on how this one man turned what others viewed as a "disability," into a way of life and a way to succeed.

His story was not interesting and his writing was amateurish and unpolished. There were too many inconsistencies throughout the story. It read similarly to a rough draft, rather than a finished book. His brother's book, however, Running with Scissors, is touching and wonderful.

An enlightening read on Aspergers. I laughed and At times cried as my five year appears to be on the spectrum of this rarely talked about behavior. I thank Mr. Robinson for writing this book. It has given me and my wife some insight on what our child is and will be going though.

Our son has Asperger's Syndrome, and this book made us nod vigorously and laugh with recognition of his amazing, endearing traits. This book is a fascinating view into the other half of the Robison brothers. I would highly recommend "Look Me in the Eye" and "Running with Scizzors," especially if you want some insight into how a person with Asperger's thinks.

Mr. Robison has done the public a great service by writing his story. As a family dealing with an eight-year-old son who has this condition, Mr. Robison has given an accurate depiction of the inner workings of a person with Asperger's. Fluctuating between laughter, sadness and a serious dollop of fear about what is possibly in store for our son based upon this book, Mr. Robison intentionally or unintentionally reassures the reader that high-functioning autism does not inevitably lead to unending misery and failure. He was fortunate enough to have crossed paths with a few people that helped guide him into a more fulfilling life. Even his matter-of-fact narration rings with authenticity and sounds very much like our son. The book is an inspiration and ultimately a succor for families that are dealing with Asperger's. Highly recommended.

I read this book because I'm a fan of his brother... but maybe I was coming into it with too many expectations, because John Elder is NOTHING like his brother. This book was boring and not funny at all. I found it incredibly hard to finish, and it was not very well written...at all.
I'm not even sure if this book was really even about aspergers...

This book is a rich and interesting biography of a childhood with Aspergers from an adult perspective. The most helpful part for practitioners is when the author explains how he uses the logical parts of his brain to understand social cues. What an invaluable resource for social skills clinicians. The only 'caution' is for people who are looking to understand Asperger's disorder as a diagnosis- this book is a biography not a diagnostic tool or a therapy guide. Although, I do think the author was clear about that.

Admittedly, I got this book only because I heard that John Elder Robinson was the older brother of Augusten Burroughs. Augusten is one of my favorite authors. Now, I'm trying to decide who's the better writer. I know, I know...I shouldn't do that.

Can you imagine growing up with a condition or a syndrome and that no one can pinpoint what is it that you have? Can you imagine being told, most of your life, that you're doing something wrong or that you doing nothing but misbehaving? That is John's life.

John recounts his childhood and his journey into adulthood. It wasn't until he was in his 40's when a friend, a counselor, shared with him that he has noticed some behavioral aspects of John. With referral to resources, John eventually learns that he has Asperger's. What a relief to know what he has had his entire life.

Like Augusten, John was a mischievious child/brother. You could say that he had a normal life, except that everyone always scolded him for not looking into people in the eyes or for not responding appropriately. In addition, he had to deal with an alcoholic father and a mentally unstable mother.

John's life is actually interesting. He went on to work for KISS, making these custom guitars that shoot out fire and whatnots. Then, he went on to work for a major toy company that eventually led him to video gaming designs. In addition, he worked on Porsches and other "high end" vehicles. This all proves that even with Asperger's, one can lead a successful and productive life.

I thought that John wrote a well-written memoir that had me laughing in some parts. John doesn't just stop there. He ends with offering resources for those wanting to know more about Asperger's. How thoughtful.

Simple, thought provoking and funny. The next time I have one of those day's we all have I will remember this book. I am grateful I had the pleasure.

This is an excellent view into Asperger's and way people think. A must read for any one in the field, who is thinking of gong in the field and for everyone else, as we all come into contact with folks who are different.

Worth reading. It's easy to tear apart a book or even build one up to false expectations and I won't do either. What I will say is that this book is a good read if you are new to trying to get a handle on what it means, or what it looks like to have Asperger's Syndrome. But you must complement it with other views because Asperger's is complex and so different from Aspie to Aspie . This is a memoir, not technical. I applaud anyone with autism who can and does share what he's thinking so we can learn from them. But you must read, read, read. Read lots of others too as Asperger's varies by individual (Robison's is one of many). Some good books to complement Look Me in the Eye (if you are wanting to get a well rounded picture of Asperger's) are Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome by Liane Holliday, Born On A Blue Day by Daniel Tammet who has Asperger's but is also a savant, or the fiction book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon, and a more technical book (one of many good ones), Asperger's Syndrome Natural Steps toward a Better Life by Suzanne Lawton. On the other hand if you are just looking for a good read and oh by the way were curious about Asperger's, this book could stand alone.

Just a fantastic read. Entertaining and informative, it gave me a whole new perspective on Asperger's.

Just a fantastic read. Entertaining and informative, it gave me a whole new perspective on Asperger's.

As a mental health professional, I think it is important to try to understand the issues my clients are living with and dealing with. This book gives a wealth of insight into Asperger's Syndrome which is not well known. The book is well written and is funny as well as endearing.

Having been a fan of all of Augusten Burroughs' books, I was eager to read this one by his brother. It was a joy! Sometimes his dry wit made me laugh out loud; other times his story broke my heart. This book is a winner from start to finish.

This book is so entertaining, such a good read, that I could barely put it down. It was uplifting, funny and encouraging. I look forward to more books by this author!!

I found this book very helpful in that I am living with an asperger on a daily basis and have discovered that so many happenings in his life parralel that of the author's life. The attitudes toward teachers were the same for my friend was constantly thinking of ways to get even with what was perceived as unfair treatment. I am hoping that he is reading the book but aspergers do not like to meet themselves, although my friend did insist that he had evey single trait of the eight aspects of the syndrone,but does not like to have them pointed out, however gently. He is the same age as the author and refers to himself as an intuitive scientist whose numerous inventions appear to him in moving parts and vivid colors on white surfaces and/or his computer screen.
Although other books have been helpful, this one shows the reade exactly how different the life of an asperger can be.

I was sick and tired of reading depressing books about my son's outlook with Asperger's Syndrome!

I bought this book on a recommendation from a friend who saw it mentioned in USA Today. I ordered it right away after viewing his brother's video on the Amazon.com page for the book.

This man gave me hope that my son will do just fine in adulthood. After reading it, I began to see many similarities with my 11 year old.

And the part about working in the music production industry with KISS was a complete surprise.

I won't give any more details as not to spoil it for you. The only reason I didn't give it a full-star rating is that it doesn't have enough pictures.

It's a delightful afternoon of reading and a welcome change from the boring, depressing books about Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Fantastic book with so much insight into how an Aspergian thinks, and 'why'they respond to things as they do. As a daughter with a 58 year old father who may have Asperger's, it is such a relief to finally come to some understanding of why my dad acted like he did while I was growing up, and still acts like he does, not like 'normal'people. This book is an invaluable resource to children of Aspergian parents in understanding their parents, who have probably not been diagnosed through most of their lives.

I have the same problem with this book as I did with his brother's: neither rings true throughout too much of the writing. I think much of each of them is simply invented. The characters, the anecdotes, the chronology--too much begs belief. I worry that we give automatic credence to anything either one says simply because they had bad childhoods--which I do not question. But that doesn't give them a free ride to: 1) [in this case, at least] get praised for a very poorly written book 2) stretch the truth or even invent anecdotes and have the reader simply ignore the likelihood of their ever having happened. There are too many inconsistencies, coincidences, and just plain silly impossibilities in the story lines. I worry about the gullibility of the reading public--its apparent willingness to accept fantasy as reality--or its inability to distinguish one from the other.
I thought the only truly informative part of the book came near the end when he actually discussed Asperger's S. in a reasoned and worthwhile chapter. Through most of the book, the syndrome was never mentioned and affected nothing that he did--or said he did.
I loved Born on a Blue Day, and I think Temple Grandin's books are fascinating. But this simply does not qualify as a worthwhile read.

This book was informative, sad, but still entertaining. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to anyone interested in aspergers.

This was most enlightening as I have a grandson that has been labeled with Asberger..excellent insight

If you know anyone (adult or child) with Asperger's, this book will fascinate you. It has given me many new insights in regard to my son's behavior. It's also just a very interesting memoir of a unique life.