. But for several chapters, I just wasn't interested in the long, hyper-detailed descriptions of Robison's interests and experiences in trains, electronics, etc. Even if you have no personal connections with Asperger’ s, you’ll find that Robison—like his brother, Burroughs—has a life worth reading about.” —Daily Camera I finished this book last week. “Look Me in the Eye is a fantastic read that takes readers into the mind of an Aspergian both through its plot and through the calm, logical style in which Robison writes. He wonders why he isn't like other kids and why they don't hang around with him. Reviewing this book will be a complex affair; I gave it four stars but I wouldn't say I "liked" or "enjoyed" it. It was insightful, witty, and entertaining. I loved this book. 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. Although it was a struggle and continues to be one, John went on to achieve outstanding successes in both his personal and professional life. It took me a heckuva lot longer! LOOK ME IN THE EYE MY LIFE WITH ASPERGER’S. "Look me in the eye" gives that viewpoint in rich detail from a man who not only has experienced it but who can insightfully explain why he responded the way he did in certain situations. As an "Autism Family" (for lack of a better description) I find that sometimes "good books" for others are not necessarily a "good book" for our family. . No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings drunk. This has always bothered me. I was expecting this memoir to be an astonishing insight into Asperger's syndrome, a glimpse into the mind of the author. Before then, John knew there was something wrong with him, but he didn't know what. Instead, what I got was a bunch of semi-interesting stories about this dude's life, with the Asperger's aspect as almost an afterthought. by John Elder Robison "I don't really understand why it's considered natural to stare at someone's eyeballs." In this book he tells of growing up in an extremely dysfunctional family. ... Asperger’s can lead to a life of isolation, but the author credits interested adults with drawing him out as a child and keeping him engaged with human beings. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Look Me in the Eye. Other reviews I've read have called Robison a "born storyteller" but I personally didn't find this to be all that engrossing. Not diagnosed with Asperger’s until he was forty, Robison describes himself as a misfit. Look Me in the Eye details Robison’s life growing up with Asperger’s syndrome before the condition was officially recognized by the psychiatric community. What could I expect? But for several chapters, I just wasn't interested in the long, hyper-detailed descriptions of Robison's interests and experiences in trains, electronics, etc. Memoirists focus on details and scenes from their lives that they want to convey without giving us enough context or background to appreciate what we're reading. Covid was in the news every day, and borders were closing. He couldn't understand social cues and didn't understand when other people got mad at him for asking inappropriate questions or smiling at the wrong times. This books publish date is Sep 09, 2008 and it has a suggested retail price of $17.00. I couldn't see the humor in his interactions or his pranks, (Like. He was incredibly gifted in understanding electronics and math, but normal conversations baffled him. Summary / Annotation Table of Contents Fiction Profile Author Notes COMMUNITY REVIEWS. John Elder Robison has Asperger's Syndrome. When John was just three, a playmate made the fatal mistake of placing a red block on John'… WTF?). Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's is a New York Times bestselling book by John Elder Robison, chronicling the author's life with Asperger syndrome and tough times growing up. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s John Elder Robison. Worst of all, John would often look at the, A thoughtful and entertaining memoir of someone who has Asperger's, but he wasn't diagnosed until he was 40. The book often made me angry, however, with its characteristic habits (which I find among "normal" men as well as Aspies) of blowing off anything that he personally wasn't interested in or good at as unimportant... and by chronically lumping all "normal" people as possessing certain characteristics. However, not only did I dislike it due to the poor writing, but also because it really didn't seem to agree with Robison's assessment of Asperger's. Robison then discusses his books Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s and Raising Cubby. JOHN ELDER ROBISON is the New York Times bestselling author of Look Me in the Eye, Be Different and Raising Cubby.He lectures widely on autism and neurological differences, and is a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the US Dept. (The whole naming chapter-- I call people what I want, but I get pissed if they don't respect my made up names? In a day when a cure is expected for nearly every ailment, flaw or disorder, I was struck by John Elder Robinson's assertion that those with Asperger's Syndrome, a neurobiological disorder on the autism spectrum that the author lived with undiagnosed until he was forty, needs no cure - only understanding. September 25th 2007 And all those child psychologists who said “John prefers to play by himself” were dead wrong. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison. But, just like me, he had an uphill road to climb in life. Too bad he wasn't diagnosed at a younger age and he wouldn't have had to discover everything for himself. "Look Me in the Eye," by John Elder Robison,= is an autobiographical account of John Robison's life, career, and his struggles with Asperger's Syndrome. He was constantly told that he would end up as a criminal, him having shifty eyes and all, and what did he have to hide? This book was a bit odd. What could I expect? When he's a teenager, he is always dismantling things like radios and burying his little brother in holes in the ground. Reading this book is like reading Augusten, if Augusten had Asperger's, if that makes any sense. Since that time I have heard of other Aspergians who have been successful to varying degrees but have never talked to one about their experiences. When he was young he wanted to make friends and be part of a team, but he had trouble talking to other kids. His mother speaks to light fixtures and his farther is always drunk in the evenings, so John's only friends seem to be the machines he tinkers with - least. He described a lot of what I considered to be mean spirited pranks he'd play on people, including on his little brother- who was going through his own trials and tribulations. He couldn't understand social cues and didn't understand when other people got mad at him for asking inappropriate questions or smiling at the wrong times. A thoughtful and entertaining memoir of someone who has Asperger's, but he wasn't diagnosed until he was 40. He described a lot of what I considered to be mean spirited pranks he'd play on people, including on his little brother- who was going through his own trials and tribulations. help you understand the book. It was certainly educational, about Aspies yes, but also about humanity in general. Chapters 8-11. I really enjoyed this book. Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of autism that affects social interaction, communication skills and may also cause physical clumsiness. It wasn't really about Asperger's as much as it was the story of Robison's life thus far - he wasn't diagnosed with any type of autistic disorder until he was in his later 30s. I've been reading the author's blog (jerobison.blogspot.com) and find myself wanting to read the book again. . Book Summary: The title of this book is Look Me in the Eye and it was written by John Elder Robison. He then answers the question by telling the audience that Look Me in the Eye is based on his own life and that in the first half of the book, he was miserable, and in the second half, he finds happiness. Look Me in the Eye My Life with Aspergers by John Elder Robison available in Hardcover on Powells.com, also read synopsis and reviews. I was confused about what his future prospects were. All this has him looked upon as weirdo. Later in life, John recognized that he had some characteristics that were savant-like. Get started. Chapters 4-7. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Having no interest in the lives of the abusive alcoholic father and certifiably crazy mother of Augusten Burroughs and John Elder Robison, no interest in KISS and the other bands that benefitted from Robison's brilliance, no interest in complex electrical engineering projects, I read LOOK ME IN THE EYE for only one reason. I was alone as a result of my own limitations, and being alone was one of the bitterest disappointments of my young life.”. John Elder Robison's best-selling memoir, Look Me in the Eye, is one of the most beloved accounts of life with autism. They did take him to therapists but they usually concluded that John was just rude and arrogant by nature. "Look me in the eye," is something John Robinson grew up hearing. A lot of what he attributes to the condition (dangerous pranks, manipulation, lying) seems less to do with him being an Aspie than him just being a jerk. And not all "normal" people prefer platitudes to actual conversation -- and when we do, it is often for a functional reason. While I found all of them interesting, I can't think of one that I would have called warm or engaging - until I read John Elder Robison's memoir Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's. He tells a great story, honestly sharing his struggles and joys. And for several other chapters, I just couldn't see the humor in the ways he chose to interact with others, with his "pranks" (many of which were incredibly dangerous, which he dism, I really wanted to like this one, and I did appreciate the first-person account of growing up with Asperger's, long before it was even a recognized condition. There were parts that were quite interesting, but nothing seemed really cohesive. Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger’s is the first book by John Elder Robison. I'd been tempted to give Robison 3 stars, wished I could give 3.5 but then ultimately settled on 4 because his story is so uplifting, if not always well-told. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. So much so that I first began wondering if his way of thinking didn't make more sense, then wondering if Aspergian aren't more normal than the normal person, and finally, "Maybe I'm a bit Aspergerish myself. I'm watching Running with Scissors again as there were many references to it in the book. Even if you have no personal connections with Asperger’ s, you’ll find that Robison—like his brother, Burroughs—has a life worth reading about.” —Daily Camera “Look Me in the Eye is a fantastic read that takes readers into the mind of an Aspergian both through its plot and through the calm, logical style in which Robison writes. It wasn't until he was 40 yrs old that he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism. Robison divides his childhood between his grandparents’ farm in Georgia and his home in Massachusetts. . The book often made me angry, however, with its characteristic habits (which I find among "normal" men as well as Aspies) of blowing off anything that he personally wasn't interested in or good at as unimportant... and by chronically lumping all "normal" people as possessing certain characteristics. It was published by Three Rivers Press and has a total of 302 pages in the book. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on. The tale chronicles a man with Asperger’s syndrome and the challenges he has faced throughout his life. The book is about his life in general and very little is devoted to how Asperger's influenced his life at all ages. However, as a long-time fan of Augusten Burroughs, his brother famous for "Dry" and "Runn. Robison had difficulty all of his life relating to people, emotions, social situations. . "Look me in the eye" gives that viewpoint in rich detail from a man who not only ha, I've been looking for a book like this since summer when my 10-year-old was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. He also showed streaks of violence that stemmed from the frustration he was feeling because he knew he didn't fit in but couldn't figure out exactly why that was the case. We spoke at some events in Florida, and Cubby came along to visit the alligators at Wakulla and my aunt and uncle from Cairo, GA: This year, it all came to a stop. For most of my life, my history as an abused child with what I saw as a personality defect was shameful and embarrassing. At first I wasn't sure I'd like the book, b/c I wasn't sure I liked the author! This Study Guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - John Robison was full of playful life as a young kid. I say that it is funny because he is very light hearted about his trials and tribulations. I'd been tempted to give Robison 3 stars, wished I could give 3.5 but then ultimately settled on 4 because his story is so uplifting, if not always well-told. I played by myself because I was a failure at playing with others. We’d love your help. It's the true story of a boy named John Robison's struggle to connect with people. Look Me in the Eye My Life With Asperger's (Book) : Robison, John Elder : Memoir of John Robison whose odd behavior was explained when he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome when he was forty and the change that made in his life. This has always bothered me. Since that time I have heard of other Aspergians who have been successful to varying degrees but have never talked to one about their experiences. And it took him forty years to grow up. Aspies and the families and friends who love them, I bought this book on a whim (so that my order would get free shipping from Amazon.com). ", I really wanted to like this book. Not diagnosed with Asperger’s until he was forty, Robison describes himself as a misfit. So wonderful of you to say that, Helen! The problem is not in his ability to tell it, but the genre. I wanted to read a memoir about growing up within a dysfunctional family and also having a condition that. A selling point? What are you hiding? Summary. I was relieved in many parts of the book, to learn that he was able to rise to such successes, given all the obstacles he had to face. Having no interest i. Ma. Look Me in the Eye My Life With Asperger's (Book) : Robison, John Elder : Memoir of John Robison whose odd behavior was explained when he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome when he was forty and the change that made in his life. The book is about his life in general and very little is devoted to how Asperger's influenced his life at all ages. He developed a long term relationship with KISS and created special effects and exotic lighting designs for the band. Crown $25.95 (288p) ISBN 978-0-307-39598-6. I dropped out of school in 10th grade, and never looked back. When John was young, Asperger's Syndrome had not yet been recognized as a malady that fell into the vast array of autistic conditions. by Crown, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's. "Look Me in the Eye," by John Elder Robison,= is an autobiographical account of John Robison's life, career, and his struggles with Asperger's Syndrome. He has the ability to step through his thought process to pinpoint where his thinking differs from the "Normal" person. Summary John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits had earned him the label "social deviant." Some of the techniques listed in Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers may require a sound knowledge of Hypnosis, users are advised to either leave those sections or must have a basic understanding of the subject before practicing them. This book is about a dysfunctional family, not Autism. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’sis John Robison’s first book. Chapter 24-Epilogue. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on In this book he tells of growing up in an extremely dysfunctional family. He grew up thinking he was inferior to normal people. Welcome back. In retaliation, John boxed the kid on both ears. A lot of what he attributes to the condition (dangerous pranks, manipulation, lying) seems less to do with him being an Aspie than him just being a jerk. He was incredibly gifted in understanding electronics and math, but normal conversations baffled him. In Switched On , Robison shares the second part of his journey, pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery as he undergoes an experimental brain therapy known as TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation. Chapters 16-19. It's the true story of a boy named John Robison's struggle to connect with people. His earliest memories are of his inability to make friends and feeling isolated. Praise For Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's … NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “An entertaining, provocative and highly-readable story by a great storyteller...you will rethink your own definition of normal, and it may spark a new appreciation of the untapped potential behind every quirky, awkward person who doesn’t quite fit in.” Could he be productive in society? Nevertheless, I wanted access to the interior of someone with Asperger's. Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger’s is the first book by John Elder Robison. Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's is a memoir about John Elder Robison's experiences navigating life with Asperger's Syndrome. No. To see what your friends thought of this book. Download Save. At first I wasn't sure I'd like the book, b/c I wasn't sure I liked the author! Get Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's from Amazon.com. As John matured, he learned that his natural tendency to blurt out the first thing that came to his mind was not socially acceptable. I was relieved in many parts of the book, to learn that he was able. I was born in rural Georgia, where my dad worked as a country preacher. describes bits and pieces of Asperger's, but it is not a book about Asperger's. I am interested in the Asperger's continuum, so when I heard about this memoir - written by Augusten Burroughs's brother - I added it to my Amazon wish list. This is one of the best books I've read all year - and the cover is fantastic too. By forcing himself to become socially acceptable, John was able to bridge the gap between his introspective world and his savant-like tendencies and the normal world. I am interested in the Asperger's continuum, so when I heard about this memoir - written by Augusten Burroughs's brother - I added it to my Amazon wish list. I unhesitatingly gave LOOK ME IN THE EYE four stars -- because I got what I wanted. Yes, I was well aware of the fact that it's not a "one-size-fits-all" syndrome and that looking at people and experiences through Robison's eyes wouldn't enable me to prove the unprovable. I really wanted to like this book. Nevertheless, I wanted access to the interior of someone with Asperger's. It is a very funny life story of someone who understands that there are social mores, but has to eventually learn to do them and even as an adult remind himself to follow them. Could he be productive in society? Wrenching those lost years out of my memory and placing them under the bright glare of clinical psychology was. It was early March when I took my last trip. When he went to nursery school, the other kids steered clear of him because he didn't interact with them in a normal fashion. And it all makes sense. . Humanizes Aspergers submitted by amym on August 18, 2014, 1:11pm This was a funny and entertaining book about a man with Asperger's. He also learned to acquire facial expressions that were more "normal" than the stoic face he usually wore no matter what was taking place. When John was just three, a playmate made the fatal mistake of placing a red block on John's neatly stacked blue blocks. Would he be living with me the rest of his life? Look Me in the Eye, published in 2007, is a memoir of John Elder Robison’s unique life. For example, it may prevent a person from displaying emotion and may cause them to make inappropriate or odd comments. Worst of all, John would often look at the floor when someone talked to him, and grownups often yelled at him to "look me in the eye! “I don't really understsand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs”, “As a functional Aspergian adult, one thing troubles me deeply about those kids who end up behind the second door. He dropped out of school at sixteen and earned a GED with a 96 percent score. Thanks in advance to those of you that answer. John showed unusual behavior early in life. Jenny Lawson is the funniest person you know. I'm sending it on to a friend whose son has Asperger's. Enjoy this free preview Unlock all 37 pages of this Study Guide by subscribing today. See all 5 questions about Look Me in the Eye…, Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant, Jeanette (GR isn't sending comment notifications), Petra-X is down to 75 books awaiting reviews, April nonfiction- Autism: Look Me in the Eye, Jenny Lawson Talks Humor, Depression, and the Underrated Virtue of Kindness. My brother dropped out a few years later, following in my footsteps. At age 8, I got a little brother, and he was a misfit too. . I really enjoyed this book. Start by marking “Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's” as Want to Read: Error rating book. The author Robison had it … The title leads one to believe that the book is about the author's life with Asperger's, but that's a little misleading. I was reading it for a class and had to compare it to other accounts of people with Asperger's. More By and About This Author. John showed unusual behavior early in life. 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