Look me in the eye

John Elder Robison
pages 282

Sub-titled "my life with Asperger's" this memoir is an insightful look into the world of Autism, specifically the spectrum known as Asperger's Syndrome. Robison, whose younger brother is writer Augusten Burroughs of "Running With Scissors" fame was not diagnosed until he was well into adulthood. Reading how his life was shaped by the unique perspective of Asperger's is fascinating. Socially stunted and an over-logical sense of thinking, John Elder lived a childhood labeled weird, retarded and at times psychotic. Living in a home of highly intelligent, yet dysfunctional parents created an isolation that left him on his own to try to learn how to cope in a world that does not even today understand the nuances of Asperger's much less how to best deal with those affected by it. Writing these memories is a cathartic experience for the author, yet because of his Asperger's he is also able to detach from it and objectively examine it. If you know anyone who deals with Autism on a personal level I would highly recommend this book because it is such an uplifting and demystifying experience. Wonderfully written, it would be an entertaining and
informative read for anyone. Loved it! It get's top rating.
Rock, Chalk, Jay, Hawk