Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “In American culture, looking a person in the eye is supposed to be indicative of trustworthiness and attentiveness. But what if you couldn't look someone in the eye? People might think you were hiding something... or lying... or ignoring them... or even being deviant! Such was the life...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Having a brother with Autism/Asperger's this book hit close to home...what an incredible story! Even if you don't have someone close to you living with the same disorder I would recommend this book as he retells his adventures of creating toys in the '80's to touring with KISS. ”
April S wrote this review 2 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An interesing insight into Asperger's Syndrome and how it affected this particular man. Knowing someone with Asperger's, it helped me be somewhat more empathetic. A difficult disorder to understand for sure. Well written.”
Amy W wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s – John Elder Robison
JudithG wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
3stars
There are so many things to say about this memoir. It’s fascinating, sad, funny, poignant, weird and educational. John Robison is the older brother of Austen Burroughs, the author of Running with Scissors. This book gives another perspective on the effects of growing up in a very dysfunctional family. It is also the story of growing up with undiagnosed Asperger Syndrome. It’s a survival story with many dark moments that are told in such a matter of fact tone that it’s hard to discern fact from fiction. Is he exaggerating? Is he trying to be funny? Is he playing as huge a prank on the reader as he played on his hated biology teacher?
I think he is also a talented writer and a gifted story teller. As a reader, my need to try to figure it out mirrored Robison's experience of trying to figure out the rest of the world from an Asperger perspective.
It’s good to have his perspective, and as an educator I appreciated the resource section at the end of the book. Hopefully, teachers today can do a better job with such exceptional kids than in the past.
”
“I really enjoyed the chapters about his days designing special-effects guitars for KISS; in fact, I'm pretty sure that my well known affinity for that band is the reason this book was recommended to me by almost everyone I know in education. But it was an interesting biography even without that stuff. The final few chapters were not as enjoyable to me because they felt a bit like pandering to the Asperger crowd. The story is intriguing in its own right, whether he is an "Aspergian" or not. The fact that the subtitle of the book is "My Life with Asperger's" indicates that one of the conditions of publication was probably that he do a certain amount of shilling for that cause; however, I felt that many of the traits he desribes as Aspergian are really just traits of people who care about the details. What he refers to as Aspergian, I might call competent. (Maybe I am just saying that because I happen to share some of those traits -- concern for details, lack of patience with bureaucracy, substance over style -- and, then again, maybe all these folks recommended the book to me because they think I have Asperger's. And maybe I do.) I know a little bit about the condition, and I have had a number of students that have been so diagnosed, and I'll admit that the writer's spare style (lots of short, declarative sentences; no flowery language; no comparisons) does ring true to that description. There is often a feeling when reading that the purpose is simply to inform, never to entertain. No small talk, few digressions. (Maybe that's why the final few chapters seemed like a chore: maybe I got tired of that.) I think, ultimately, there is a message to Aspergians that even people with this condition can live a relatively happy and normal life, but, as I said before, some of this felt too much like a kind of pandering. I think he could have let his story speak for itself, and he could have let readers arrive at that conclusion on their own. That way he would not have risked alienating readers who may not know anything about Asperger's. I'm glad I read it.”
Wolfman T wrote this review Monday, December 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A book written by the brother of Augusten Burroughs ”
Chocolate S wrote this review Thursday, December 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wanted to like it better than I did. ”
Kelly L wrote this review Thursday, December 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“July 2009 Book Club
Mandi C wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Jessica's house”
“This was not only a great eye-opener on Aspergers and how it feels to live with it, particularly before most doctors had heard of it, but it's also just a fascinating autobiography. Robison has led a very interesting life.”
Mindy H wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very good story (its true too), told by a Man who has Aspergers. I am enjoying it.”
Julie wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No0 of 1 members found this review helpful“The book I chose is "Look Me In The Eye", written by John Elder Robinson.
Reese B wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The genre is a biography. The story is written in first person and reveals a person who has Aspergers. The book is a reflection of life with Aspergers from John Elder Robinson perspective. It is a light hearted tale of John's experiences living with Aspergers.
John became aware early in life he could manipulate others. "The trick was weaving enough truth into the story to make it "plausible"(Robinson p.36). John was creative in the schemes he pulled "Quick varmit, hide in that shed before Mom gets back. We"ll trick her". (Robinson p. 37).
This book is enjoyable for all readers, give it a shot.”
