Purchased for my aunt who has great grandchild w/autism. She thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I bought this book so I could understand my autistic granddaughter better. As it turns out, I didn't find it too helpful; however, my friend really loved it. She suspected her husband had Asperger's. She has not stopped talking about this book since I gave it to her. Her husband is reading it now. So, while it didn't help me too much, it was a wonderful resource for them.

Look Me in the Eye is John Elder Robison's memoir of his experiences as a person with Asperger's Syndrome. The early chapters are the most difficult to read, as Robison describes growing up in a family with alcoholism, physical abuse and mental illness. Fortunately he omits most of the more disturbing experiences described by younger brother Augusten Borrough in his memoir "Running with Scissors," but the added challenges Robinson faces because of his condition make the story even more poignant.

Once Robison leaves home and slowly begins learning how to interact in a socially acceptable way, Look Me in the Eye becomes a fun and interesting read. The author's stories of being on tour with KISS and working in R&D for a toy company show what a talented person he is. Though it starts out bleak, Look Me in the Eye is ultimately a happy story as Robison is able to forgive his parents and find a wife who appreciates who he is.

Purists be warned: this paperback edition was edited to make it more appropriate for the teenage audience it has found. Seek out the hardback edition if you want the swearing intact.

My brother is 21 and has Asperger Syndrome. I am 20 years old and have lived with my brother all my life. I love to read books about people who have autism spectrum disorders to help me "get inside his head." I thought this one did a fairly good job. I saw a lot of similarities between the things my brother would do or say and those that the author would. Even better than this book, though, is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. It did a phenomenal job of mirroring the way an Aspergian would think.

Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Aspergers is an insightful sharing by one who has this disorder. So many stories of this type are told by observers rather than the afflicted. I found this book most helpful in understanding Aspergers.

The book was received in excellent condition. My daughter could not even tell in was used! Delevery was prompt!

My son was diagnosed with Asperger's. 'Look Me In The Eye..' has been a great comfort to understanding my son. I laughed and could see so much of my boy through John. Hearing that this person or that person in history could have had Asperger's is not as helpful as seeing what someone sees with Asperger's. It was a brave thing to write about.

When choosing to read/purchase this book, do so in the mindframe that you're not getting a literary work with a plot, characters, and storyline that are planned and processed for the mainstream reader. You're getting some insight into a mind of a real person. It's akin to reading the diaries of Anne Frank. It's fact. It's real. And it doesn't always flow like we want, but you're going to come away with a knowledge and perspective few are privilaged enough to have.

I loved it!

As a mom of a high functioning young child on the spectrum, I really appreciated a glimpse into the life journey of someone with Asperger's. Maybe there really is hope for a functioning life in the real world. Will everyone with Asperger's have a similar story? Not likely. But isn't that the reality of Asperger's anyway? In the book John describes his frustration of not being able to understand why people could not see things the way he did. I remember this every day in dealing with my son, that he is trying to get me to understand something he so clearly sees in his own mind. Whether you have a direct connection with Asperger's or not this is a great story.

My mother thoroughly enjoyed it. The book came quickly and in great shape. I don't know why anyone would buy books new when you can get them from a place like this.

It was the time and era of the unknown, the parents dealt with mental melt-downs of which we are still waiting to hear about.... I hope Mom has some faculties left to tell her side of the story.

It is mentioned that both parents came from unstable environments.... I would have liked some detail regarding that!

As far as having AS? Dear John, you are the most successful case in the history of the syndrome!!!!!!

Chris - aka Augusten Burroughs - and John have both written memoires regarding their father and his evil ways, but we really don't know what it was that caused him to get "ugly" every night. A shame that he is dead now and can't tell us.

I think this book was more of a la-dee-daa life of disfunctional parents than an education on Asperger's Syndrome - and that was disappointing to me.

However, I was very glad to see that the book provided websites for a real education on the syndrome.

An interesting, well-written insight into the sometimes unbelievable life of a person on the autism spectrum. I really enjoyed the read and being able to get into his "head."

Sophisticated pranks are almost impossible for Aspergers people because to do them you need a very well developed Theory of Mind, which Aspies simply do not have. So, much of this book did NOT resonate with true Aspergers Syndrome, which I am very familiar with since my son, husband and FIL all have it. My other criticisms are covered by other reviewers.

Good read and completely different from his brother's book Running with Scissors. I loved the book!

If I could meet John Elder Robison, I would give him a big hug and thank him for sharing the story of his personal life challenges. It is the first time I have read such a thorough account of one man's struggle with Asberger's Syndrome. Just a short time ago, this personality complex was a virtual unknown. He explains and documents his hardships as he becomes more aware of the totally unknown ramifications his behavior created among his family, friends and business associates. Join him on this revelatory and successful journey.

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's explores, through the life story of John Elder Robison, the question of what it means to be normal.

Robison's life story is chiefly concerned with his lifelong bout with Asperger's Sydrome. People with Asberger's Syndrome often display, among other symptoms, impaired emotional intelligence. Robison details in his memoir the logical way in which his mind - against his will - approaches all social situations. Sarcasm, irony, and subtle facial expressions are utterly lost on Robison. With this impairment, Robison endures the insanity of his alcoholic father and schizophrenic mother, tours the road with rock legends Kiss, takes a stab at corporate life, and gets married.

To argue over whether Robison actually had Asperberger's or not, or whether Asberger's ultimately served as an impairment or blessing in Robison's life, is I believe to miss the overarching theme of the book.

The same way in which Robison's low emotional IQ isolates him, it also makes him uniquely aware of the absurdities present in societal norms, which one could argue is a gift. Robison points out the absurdity of why the average person has no problem identifying themselves as an American, but would never identify themselves by the city they come from (i.e. someone from Richmond would never say I am a Richmondian). But why not? Yes saying things like "I am a Richmondian" would make one abnormal, but do we really expect everyone to be "normal" (i.e. similar)?

At the very least, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's should make one tolerant of behaviors and people that seem to stray from norms. The main purpose for understanding the behaviors that our society associates with the word "Asberger's" is not so that we can all go around diagnosing people. But rather it is to demonstrate how empathy can go a long way towards making better sense of why Robison acts the way he does, regardless of what he "has". And to understand that abnormal isn't all that bad, particularly when we can put such abnormality into words, however imperfect those words may prove to be.

look me in the eye: my life with asperger's is a funny, yet sad, memoir by John Elder Robison about his life with Asperger's, a type of autism. Robison tells pertinent stories from his childhood into adulthood, demonstrating his struggles to connect with his peers. He is a natural storyteller, stirring up laughter and sadness from the reader. He explains his personal growth with Asperger's and satisfies any curiosity the reader may have about the disorder.

A trait of Asperger's Disorder is to lack empathy. Robison tells stories about how he tried to connect with his peers as a child, but could not. At 5 years old, he could not comprehend that playing with others required compromise; he became insistent with his peers on what he thought was the right way to stack blocks or explained all he knew about dinosaurs until they walked away. At 9 years old, he learned to listen and understand how his peers wanted him to respond; he learned to be empathetic to what they said. He learned that if a peer said, "'Look at my Tonka truck,'" an appropriate response would be, "'That's a neat truck! Can I hold it?'" Before he learned empathy, his response may have been: "'I have a helicopter, '" or "`I rode a horse at the fair!'"

Another trait of Asperger's Disorder is to become extremely focused on something. In junior high school, Robison had an interest in electronics after receiving an electronics kit for a Christmas present. This interest evolved into his disassembling and reassembling old radios and TVs. He started hanging out at an engineering lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to gain more understanding about electronics, but did not comprehend the college level equations. Smart and self-motivated, he taught himself electronic components and how to modify sound quality on amplifiers. Shortly thereafter, he started modifying local musicians' amplifiers. Later, he modified the amplifiers of KISS, April Wine, and Pink Floyd. He made the first smoking guitar for Ace Frehley of KISS: "'Ampie, can you make one that shoots rockets?'"

[...]

An excellent book describing so very well the life of an Aspergerian from childhood to very successful adulthood. I have a 43 year old son with ADHD and many of the aspects of John Elder's life mimic his life
which makes it a very valuable book for other spectrum children and their parents. Like John Elder my son
was late in being diagnosed but to know he was not alone in his confusion began much of his healing process. I gave him the book to read and he kept leaping up and saying .. "this is me.. this is me"
Thank you John Elder for the great gift of enlightenment you will bring to so many through your brave
acknowledgement of what it is to live your life with Asperger's .. I laughed and wept alternately and most of all was filled with hope for everyone who is fortunate enough to read your writings. Jan Brenton

This book is not written particularly well, but it is worth reading if you have a personal interest in learning more about Asperger's (your job or a friend or family member with Asperger's). It moves slowly, but does give insight into the thinking and emotions of someone who is struggling to make sense of the world and find his place in it.

I purchased this book for my grandson to read because I feel he has Aspergers, but has never bee diagnosed. He has been under the care of mental health professionals for years, but they just want to give him medications to make him behave better. He is 20 years old now and he is relating to many things in this book. I hope it gives him a path to follow to make his life have meaning. I also have a great-nephew who has been diagnosed with Asbergers and his grandmother, my sister-in-law, who is a teacher with a doctorate degree in education is reading it. She is truly a supporter of this book. Even if you don't have Aspergres, it will help you understand that those who do have a very difficult time in this world and you may find you can help them.

I love this book! As a mother with a daughter on the autistic spectrum I read everything I can find regarding the subject. I was previously aware of Augusten's works on his early family life. And I was happy to see that his brother, John Elder, had given an (all-to-rare) voice on what it is to be inside an Autism spectrum disorder. His story is inspirational and extraordinary. Hope he writes some more. And I wish him long life and happiness with his family and thank you for sharing your experience with the "outside" world.

My grandson is 7 years old and is thought to have a mild form of Aspergers's. This book has helped me understand my grandson quite a bit more. I had to laugh at many of the stories but then had to remind myself this is a true story. This man endured the cruelty of our society and I applaud him for writing this book. I thank my grandson's therapist for recommending the book. The author is a very brilliant man and has learned to channel his energy to become a very productive member of our society. Thank you for helping me understand Asperger's!

Parts of John Elder Robison's life were hard and are hard to read about. But like the main character in Shawshank Redemption, he climbs out of his particular hell and gets his life figured out. This book is informative about the author's struggle with the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome, inspiring as it traces his life's journey of coping and discovery, and entertaining for its pranks, anecdotes, and insider revelations about the music and electronic gaming industries.

The older brother of Running with Scissors author Augusten Burroughs, John Elder describes his life in that extremely troubled family. His mother's mental illness, his father's alcoholism, and his own difficulties in relating to other children isolated John Elder and created a deep sense of loneliness that did not diminish until adulthood. Escaping by dropping out of high school, John Elder leaves town for a consuming job repairing musical equipment for a high-profile rock group. He describes his gradually successful efforts to reach out of his very private world and connect with friends, his first wife, his son, and then his second wife. Readers feel his sense of closure later in the book as he eventually returns to his home town and rebuilds relationships with his parents and childhood schoolmates. He goes home again, and makes it work out.

John Elder did not learn about Asberger's Syndrome until he was 40 years old, and had already worked out how to approach life with his own personal palette of strengths and weaknesses. Now able to reinterpret the challenges of growing up, he gives readers a guided tour of the effect of Asperger's on his life. We see him struggle to understand how other children think, how to talk to them, and how to cope with recurring rejection from them. We also see how his single-minded focus on machines and electronics turned him into a talented sound engineer and special effects wizard. In his adult life we experience his exhilarating success as a toy company R&D engineer, then his unfulfilling struggle to manage people as a corporate executive. He finally leaves to run his own high-end car repair business and is happy again working with machines and directly with people who appreciate his skills.

This book is an inspirational tale of a challenging life rebuilt into a fulfilling one. It gives one view of what it is like to live day-to-day with Asperger's Syndrome. Readers who want to know more about this condition can follow the author's recommendations and read Tony Attwood's The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome or explore the web site of the Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support Site (OASIS). Both are highly recommended by this reviewer as well.

The book was delivered timely and in excellent condition. The book is an easy read and very informative.

This book was incredibly informative, not to mention supportive for anyone seeking understanding of Asperger's Syndrome (AS). I also found the book funny, touching, and strange at certain parts -- e.g., the idea of a man saying, "Put your paw on your mate," meaning, for Robison's wife to put her arm around him in bed. In several passages, it's clear that Robison's wife has to view her husband with lots of compassion -- in almost a motherly way. And, yet, their relationship and John Elder Robison's success suggests that people with Asperger's can be successful in relationships and work. Cool.

I have dealt with a whole bunch of books written by people with autism/Asperger's (a/AS), and this book is the most tremendous book I've ever read. John Robinson has his own in interests such as dealing with automobiles, which motivated him to run his automobile company. Since I suspect many people with a/AS have been chronically unemployed or underachieved at work, I wish I could do what I was really interested in like him. Even today, I have a lot of job changes, which frequently causes embarrassment at a whole bunch of job interviews. John E. Robinson seems to have more reliable friends than I do. I guess he wasn't as unhappy as me even before he was diagnosed. TR, one of his friends gave John Dr. Tony Attwood's book, Asperger's Syndrome. In this respect, this book wouldn't exist without TR's help, because TR could see through John's AS traits and took it as John's characteristics instead of mentally retarded or socially disabled. The author likes to deal with automobiles and so do I. Unfortunately, I still have no idea what kind of jobs interest me, while he seems to make the best use of his interests at work. So the author must have overcome his social misfits when he became a grown-up.

I'm not getting young and I may not be offered as many jobs as younger people. At least, however, I want to avoid torturing myself at work by experiencing social misfits such as reluctance to do what doesn't suit me! Otherwise, I eventually may have to be stressed-out and quit or get fired like I used to. That is a vicious circle.

I am considering writing my own book about living with Asperger's syndrome, and I'm really glad to have read Robison's version. It gives me some valuable tips and insights. But I doubt that parents would want their children to read this book. It has a dark side.

*Tell the Grand Adventure Story*

Robison does this well, and he sets an example for other Aspies who might want to tell their stories. We can't all match Robison's technical genius and great commercial accomplishments, but any Aspie's life is so unique and challenging that it is potentially interesting. The trick, Aspies, is to do it late enough in life so that your Aspie emotions are under control, you can finally look back and understand why you irritated people, and you can write about it clearly and objectively. My book will be more of a tempest in a teapot than Robison's, like a Jane Austen novel with an oddball character trying to appear as normal, leading to some comical situations.

As you can see, I prefer the old, two-syllable "Aspie" to the new, pompous "Aspergian."

*Respect the Privacy of Others*

In his "Author's Note," Robison says that he uses pseudonyms where appropriate to avoid embarrassing people. Good idea.

*Accept Some Responsibility*

Here is where I begin to differ with Robison. He sets the tone, which he never grows out of, that because I was this poor Aspergian victim, anything that I did is OK. Yes, people should be more tolerant of our oddness. However, despite being "a little strange" (the last three words of the paperback version), we still have a basic understanding of right vs. wrong. Being born without social grace does not excuse intentionally harmful behavior. Robison equivocates a bit when he writes, in the postscript to the paperback, "no one was ever hurt by my shenanigans, and they provided a way for me to relieve frustrations harmlessly." In this ominous sentence, which suggests that the alternative was much worse, the word "harmlessly" is very important. Maybe he is not being completely honest with himself. Here's a small sampling of the pranks that he brags about: He tricks his mother, who is already living on the edge of sanity, into thinking that his little brother has been abducted. "She turned white." Has he considered how that might have impacted her mental health? And to stage a fake hanging over burning paint cans, "I had stolen the paint cans from a construction site down the road." And to lure police -- ultimately three police cruisers, a fire truck, half a dozen cars and pickups, two power company trucks, and an ambulance -- to the fire, he uses "MY linesman's telephone, which I had looted along with some other supplies from a visiting phone truck." (MY emphasis.) If he thinks stealing is harmless, what else has he done "harmlessly?" And has it occurred to him that he might have made emergency personnel unavailable for a real emergency? Then, after he makes the phone call using the phone circuit of a "least favorite" neighbor, we have this gem: "If they can trace the call, I said to myself, that jerk Ellis will get a visit tonight. He had a kid, too, a snotty little brat. Maybe they'll wake him up and ask him about this, I thought. Maybe they'll even arrest him. I snickered at the thought."

How comfortable it must be to not repent of anything. I'm not against pranks, just sinful ones, and when I write about my pranks, I will acknowledge, and accept responsibility for, any potential or real harm.

In Chapter 25, Robison defends introducing a friend, who lived in the town of Montague, as a Montagoonian. For a moment he begins to understand how he hurt his friend's feelings, then he stubbornly rejustifies Montagoonian. How would Robison like to be called an Aspergoonian? Which brings me to my final point.

*Don't Oversell Asperger's*

I'm aware that some psychologists regard Asperger's as part of a diversity of healthy mental states, not a disorder. I side with those who see it as a disorder that needs diagnosis and treatment, especially in childhood. Young Aspies need coaching! My grandson, whose Asperger's syndrome is more severe than mine, is benefitting from a much earlier diagnosis, and more help, than what I got.

At the end of Chapter 24, Robison writes, "So I'm not defective. In fact, in recent years I have started to see that we Aspergians are better than normal!" -- Which shows how easy it is to forget, after reaching a comfortable middle age, the hell that we went through as children. Robison works both sides of the ticket: His Asperger's sometimes handicaps him, sometimes makes him superior to ordinary people. Thus we should view him with both sympathy and awe. That's not wrong per se, and it's a formula for selling lots of books. The problem is, in setting himself on a pedestal, Robison oversells Asperger's. Many Aspies are not superior, and many superior people are not Aspies.

I must admit that Robison is more gifted than me and probably most Aspies. I have decided that Aspies with superior intelligence are Aspergoonians. So I have decreed, and so it shall be.

**

Well, this review is more negative than what I expected when I began to write. It's an interesting book -- thus my first observation, tell the grand adventure story. Robison certainly does that.

This is a worthwhile read for families working through members with Aspergers. Buy the edited paperback if you wanted something a little more tepid - the hardback 1st edition if you wanted the story in its original rendition.

This book is so very well written; it is presented in a series of short stories. I can't say enough about how good this book is. It presents insights not only in the sense of Aspergers but just general insight in psychology. Everyone should read this -- but particularly those interested in the human mind, psychology, human-social-perception or those who know people who have Aspergers.

Abstracting away from psychology, the book is filled with entertaining, funny, sad and heartfelt stories. I found many connections to my own life which (I think) allowed me to further appreciate the stories.

I like this book because it is funny. It is a story about a boy growing to be a man, a story of a survivor - surviving from both difficult family condition and Asperger disorder. From the descriptions of his thoughts I see similarities to my own experiences with Aspergers. However I disagree with some of his rather naughty deviltry, those are entertaining and worth telling. After all it's a story of a person's destiny and his choices along with it. The style of writing is as honest as Aspergers - straightforward and jaw dropping funny. I like the author's courage of moving on, unwillingness to be trapped in his surroundings or disabilities, and sarcastic but still optimistic sense of humor.

I believe whoever cares about someone with AS will read more than one book about this syndrome. I might be a bit worried about people who only read this book and think AS is all this book represents..... However, I'd still love to see as many people talk about Asperger syndrome as possible!!!

Off course we can't expect people with AS to all grow up being positive and successful. It's like to expect every person with hand disabilities to be happy foot artists. When we learn most AS show similar characteristics of symptoms, we need to realize they have different personalities, interests, upbringing and experiences in life.

A delightfully quick read! I now have a better understanding and appreciation for the struggle of those with Aspergers. Thank you John for your wit and insight!

I chuckled at Mr. Robison's comment that he doesn't think of himself as having a disability that makes him "less than;" in fact, he proposes that Aspergians are actually a better shade of human being. That's an interesting concept. What would a country be like if its inhabitants were predominantly Aspergian? The cultural mores? The daily etiquette? Would there be more efficient use of language?

I also am considering adopting the mantle of Aspergianism when it suits. Did I put my foot in my mouth? "Oh, I'm so sorry, I've got a touch of Asperger's, you know. That's just the way I'm wired." I don't want to go to certain social events? Problem solved! "I'm so sorry I can't attend; you know how large groups affect those of us with Asperger's."

The reality is, I probably *am* somewhere on the lower end of the A Continuum.

But getting back to the book. I relished it. Loved Mr. Robison's straightforward writing style. Delighted with the "did I get the BEST sister" quandary. Even more delighted with how Unit 2 (Mary) answered his question, which gave him no satisfaction. Both she and Little Bear (Martha?) must be remarkable women.

I'm glad I'd read Running With Scissors first. I appreciated seeing a bit of the same story, but from an entirely different perspective.

When I read of kids who were like Mr. Robison, I think of one of the Huxley brothers' books, Island. A Utopian novel, it goes to some length to discuss how to learn about kids' challenges early on, and to describe specific methods of channeling those challenges in productive ways.

I was captured by this book from page one. I have not (YET) read any of the books written by his famous brother, Augusten X Burroughs, but after reading LOOK ME IN THE EYE, I certainly will read something of Burroughs', probably WOLF AT THE TABLE. In any case, Robison's story of his life with Asperberger's is as revealing and intimate as a memoir can be. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of his role with the roadies and techies of the KISS tour, as both of my sons are long-time KISS fans. Robison's difficulties in childhood and high school are well documented here in the most human terms, his lack of friends and the lack of empathy or understanding from teachers and other adults made me wince with sympathy. Strangely, or perhaps not, as I read of Robison's life, I thought of a few people I have known over the years who exhibited similar quirks and savant-like talents, and wondered if perhaps they might also have been Asperger's types. I was also quite startled to learn that perhaps one in 150 people suffer from autism, which covers a wide spectrum of difficulties. Even Robison's strange and sometimes devilish and even cruel sense of humor and his penchant for practical jokes and pranks were described in such a way that I found myself entranced rather than repelled. After all, many of his victims got only what they deserved. Robison's experiences in looking for love and his descriptions of his first girlfriend (later his first wife) are also told in utterly believable and interesting terms. His obvious love for his son, Cubby, is another plus. I picked up this book rather reluctantly, possibly because I had read ANIMALS IN TRANSLATION a few years ago, written by Temple Grandin, an autistic savant of sorts. While I found her theories interesting, her writing style was somewhat sterile and robotic, in addition to being often repetitious and borderline boring. I had also picked up another autism memoir, Daniel Tammet's BORN ON A BLUE DAY and glanced through it once. It did not engage me at all. I found none of these faults in Robison's book. This is one helluva good read. I recommend it highly. - Tim Bazzett, author of SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA

WELL WRITTEN, HEARTFELT INSIGHT INTO THE MIND OF AN ASPERGIAN. VALUABLE FOR EDUCATORS AND PARENTS ALIKE.

I bought this book because I also have asperger syndrome.. but i didn't read much about asperger's at all.. found it very boring.

In his enthralling memoir, John Elder Robison provides us with a captivating glimpse into how his unique, gifted mind works. Raised by an alcoholic, abusive father and a mentally-ill mother, he overcomes the many challenges of growing up with Asperger's. Socially awkward, he learns how to correctly respond to comments made in conversations. Mr. Robison also shares many insightful stories which are both humorous and poignant. Blessed with a special ability to sharply focus and learn quickly, along with an extraordinary talent for mechanics, he makes many amazing contributions to the areas of music and electronics. Today, he runs a very successful and productive small business restoring old cars. Mr. Robison has magnificently-written a brilliant, enlightening book that I absolutely LOVED for many reasons. Finding out the details of his various electronics projects was really interesting. Learning about his thought process during a conversation was quite fascinating. I also really enjoyed reading narrative from a different perspective. I don't have a connection to Asperger's or Autism, but if I do meet someone, I'll certainly understand what life is like for them. This book also served as an excellent reminder for me to stop and think before I judge the actions or behavior of someone else. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!

This book provides a unique "inside Asperger's" view of the condition and common reactions to a person with Asperger's. The author is an excellent writer and enables you to "feel" as well as picture life with Asperger's.

This book is great! The moment I started to read it, I realized that my boyfriend has Asperger's (as does his son). I now understand his social "quirkiness." He doesn't believe he has Asperger's but he does. I believe a lot of adults have Asperger's but are "diagnosed" with something else. Adult Asperger's needs to be examined more closely.

Great book, great service. Thank you!!!

Kay

My 7 y/o nephew was recently diagnosed with aspergers, and I bought this book for some insight. Immediately after finishing it, I recommended to my sister and my Mum that they buy themselves a copy (they can't have mine!).

Brilliant story telling, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether or not they have friend or family with aspergers!

Wow. It really helps to already know what aspergers is all about. My husband at 47 was just diagnosed and we both have read this book. For me, it was a little ragged but very interesting. Ha, my aspie doesn't have any trouble getting it totally! Really was uplifting in a sense because John Elder has accomplished so much and is a real inspiration. Good read.

You gotta love the cover of the paperback edition of LOOK ME IN THE EYE: MY LIFE WITH ASPERGER'S. It features a photo of a geeky-eared boy, his eyes and mouth scrunched shut in a "you-can't-make-me" way. It's the reason I picked up the book.

Author John Elder Robison has Asperger's. He didn't graduate from high school, didn't go to college, but he did design "fire-breathing" guitars for KISS, solve problems as an electrical engineer, marry twice, and start a business called J E Robinson Service that repairs and restores Rolls-Royces, Land Rovers, and Mercedes cars. He's successful. Of course, Robinson learned a lot to enable himself to get where he is now, most importantly to work with his strengths and to practice introspection. (I think he would admit he's isn't typical of someone who has Asperger's; no one is typical.)

Robinson talks about the thing he's always had for machines:

"Many people with Asperger's have an affinity for machines. Sometimes I think I can relate better to a good machine than any kind of person. I've thought about why that is, and I've come up with a few ideas. One thought is that I control the machines. We don't interact as equals. No matter how big the machine, I am in charge. Machines don't talk back. They are predictable. They don't trick me, and they're never mean.

"I have a lot of trouble reading other people. I am not very good at looking at people and knowing whether they like me, or they're mad, or they're just waiting for me to say something. I don't have problems like that with machines."

He also talks about "Looking people in the eye":

"I was well into my teenage years before I figured out that I wasn't a killer, or worse. By then, I knew I wasn't being shifty or evasive when I failed to meet someone's gaze, and I had started to wonder why so many adults equated that behavior with shiftiness and evasiveness. Also, by then I had met shifty and scummy people who did look me in the eye, making me think the people who complained about me were hypocrites.

"To this day, when I speak, I find visual input to be distracting. When I was younger, if I saw something interesting I might begin to watch it and stop speaking entirely. As a grown-up, I don't usually come to a complete stop, but I may still pause if something catches my eye. That's why I usually look somewhere neutral--at the ground or off into the distance--when I'm talking to someone. Because speaking while watching things has always been difficult for me, learning to drive a car and talk at the same time was tough one, but I mastered it.

"And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don't really understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs."

I'm glad I read this book, because it gave me some understanding about people like Robinson, whom I consider rude, clueless, or just plain weird. I'd like to think this understanding will help me think before I judge.

Note: John Elder Robison is Augusten Burroughs' (RUNNING WITH SCISSORS) older brother.

My 5 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's this year. When I searched to find a book that might give me insight into how Aspergians think, this book jumped out at me.
The title is something I said to my son over and over again. Sections when John was talking about his thought process for meeting a little girl, or how he "helped" other kids play with things the "right way" really opened my eyes.
We had a problem with our son smiling/laughing after someone was hurt or sad...John even outlined his thoughts when a moment like this happened to him.
Thank you so much for opening the door to my son's mind!

I recently was diagnosed with Aspergers after a lifetime of trying to figure out why I was so different than everyone else. I was mis-diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, you name it, they guessed at it. I too went through my period of trying different things, attempting to find out where I fit in the world. I came close to tears when I found out that I have Aspergers, the relief was beyond belief. But buying and reading John's book put me over the edge. At last, I not only found out what I've been dealing with, I also found that I was not alone. I've since found out the joy of finding many others, and rejoicing in my diagnosis. I pity the folks who gave this book one star, but understand that unless you lived the life, or realize that there are many levels in the Austism spectrum, you will not be able to accept that John's life (or mine) could be attributed to Aspergers. John's book lifted a ton of weight off of me, and I cherish my copy.

I purchased this book, in the hopes that it would help me, and my 19 year old son (who was very recently diagnosed with Asperger's), to understand -- from an "Aspergian's" point of view -- what is going on.

He, John Elder, says that he was mislabelled a "social deviant". I think that label is more accurate than Asperger's!!! All of his antics showed that he came from a very very broken home, and his pranks were, in my opinion, his way of getting attention. Yes, John is an incredibly bright man. His pranks, were sometimes hilarious, and more often destructive, and illegal, and just mean.

If you googled Asperger's and looked at the "symptoms", you would see almost NO correlation between John and Asperger's.

I wish I could get my money back. This book did nothing to help me understand the Asperger's mind. It was just filled with with juvenile delinquent stories.

I love reading books and trying to "walk in their shoes" for a bit- to futher understand their point of view, or to simply "live their life" for just a few hours.

I saw the cover to this book and immediately pounced on it. The cover is exactly the kind of book that I like to read. It looks interesting, like the kid is having trouble saying his mind, or like there is something very INTERESTING inside the book flaps.

Then, to my surprise, I noticed John Elder's name and realized he is Augusten's older brother. Woohoo! A winner of a book for sure! Even though I am a HUGE lover of Augusten's early works (Sellevision, Running With Scissors, Magical Thinking, Dry) I still tried to keep John Elder and Augusten separate while reading John Elder's story.

I tried to read this book as a story- not as an encyclopedia- but had trouble connecting to it. It seemed a bit of short stories bunched together- there wasn't much of a consistency throughout the book that tied all of the [great] ideas together.

This book could have been a gem. It could have taught me the zillions of things that I have no idea about Asperger's syndrome. (The only thing I knew about it was the very very brief skit on the TV show "Becker") I read with an open mind, but kept finding myself banging my head against the poetic "wall" because I just couldn't "feel" the characters. I understand John Elder's character as a child, I understand the symptoms and the general idea that he can't connect with people or other children, or even to himself sometimes. I get the condition.

This review is in NO WAY a reflection of how I feel about Asperger's Syndrome. It is a serious condition that I will be further dissecting to better understand.

However, this review IS a reflection of John Elder's writing style and abilities showcased in this book. It just didn't... flow. I didn't leave the story thinking "Wow, that touched me" in any sense.

I'm willing to try another of John Elder's books, if he writes one, but if he writes in the same disconnected style as he did in this novel, I won't be giving a third shot.

This book describes my 15-year old perfectly. It has helped my family to better cope with his Asperger's. I have shared this book with many people who do not understand the syndrome and it has opened their eyes as well.

I bought this book because I wanted/needed insight into how my son processes things. This book gave logic to what others see as illogical. It is empowering, enlightening, educational, and provides great insight into the mind of those with Asperger's. This book was so good I loaned it to my son's teacher who felt it was very educational and it gave her a look into how people with Asperger's and autism think. It is funny, it is educational and at time heartbreaking but a must read for those who are dealing with all the trials and joys of raising a child with Asperger's or high function Autism. After reading it you get this feeling of "now I understand".

The item was just as promised. It came in good condition. However, the book was ordered on May 4 and did not ship until the 14th. I did not receive it until May 27. I sent a note to the store and they responded very quickly. They let me know that it was within the delivery window. I probably would deal with the seller again. I just would know not to be in a hurry.

John Elder Robison isn't normal -- he knows this pretty quickly in his youth. He is baffled, though, to determine what it is that sets him apart from others and causes his difficulties. After being told for years that he would "come to no good," Robison manages to break free from others' expectations and create a fulfilling and rewarding life for himself in the world of technology.

It isn't until his third decade that he discovers the troubling personality characteristics -- his inability to sense others' social cues, his struggles creating close relationships, his comfort with machines and technology that far outweigh his comfort with other humans -- are actually signs of a form of Autism, called Asperger's Syndrome.

Robison shows the reader the struggles he's dealt with, as well as the gifts that his "disorder" brings with it. And this book is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in autism, or has been touched by it in some way. Because he is at the milder end of the spectrum, he is able to adjust and put words to the sensations, thoughts, and feelings he experienced, and this book may be a gateway to understanding what others with more severe symptoms may be experiencing.

At times heartbreaking, hilarious, and thought-provoking, this book is a well-written addition to human understanding, as well as a plea for those of us considered "normal" to practice compassion towards those who are different.

I read this book so that I could get a better understanding of the experience of an Asberger's person who shares my life. The book was a quick and enjoyable read, but more importantly, it changed the way I view people who are "odd". Instead of dismissing someone who acts in apparently inappropriate ways, I wonder what the situation looks like through their eyes, and how actions that appear bizarre to me might make perfect sense if I could see it their way.

I also was grateful to see that childhood challenges related to autism/asbergers will not prevent someone from having a full, rich life as an adult.

Augusten Burroughs isn't the only story teller in the Robison clan. His brother, John Elder, wrote his memoir with prompting from Augusten, and I must say I was enthralled. I've never read any of Burroughs' stuff, but I saw a bit of the movie Running with Scissors. After reading this, I'm excited to grab a couple of his memoirs.

John Elder grew up with machines as friends, and little clue as to why none of his peers wanted to befriend him. As he grew older, his parents got odder and meaner (his dad an alcoholic, his mom sinking into mental illness), and it seems he was given free reign to experiment with tools to his heart's content. The voracity of his brain showed early on, it seemed only his social skills were somewhat lacking.

At 16, he dropped out of school and left his parents' home, and ended up getting his GED. He moved in with a band of his called Fat and worked on their sound for a while before deciding that living with ten people was a bit too much for him. At some point soon after, he met the guitarist for KISS and began designing and implementing tricks for his guitars. Smoking guitars, exploding guitars, you name it, he could create it. This too began to wear on him after a while and he began the pursuit of finding a real job with steady income. This led him to engineering at Milton Bradley, where he designed and created several toys. After leaving this line of work and setting up his own business working on and restoring luxury cars, Robison met a therapist who he became good friends with, and who ultimately diagnosed him with Asperger's at the age of 40.

This book was incredibly fascinating, although at times a bit difficult to follow, because it did seem to jump from place to place and back again, but if you read each chapter as a short story it is a lot easier. At times straightforward, and at times showcasing the vulnerability he felt as a youth, this book is not to be missed. I laughed out loud at the chapter talking about his wife, and his mind using logic to wonder whether he got the best mate out of the three sisters.