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Informative,
Insightful,
Interesting

4 reviews

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
by John Elder Robison

Published: 2007-09-25
Hardcover : 304 pages
9 members reading this now
20 clubs reading this now
10 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 3 of 4 members
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 ...
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Introduction

(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. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.

After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t: communicate. It wasn’t worth the paycheck.
It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself—and the world.

Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger’s at a time when the diagnosis simply didn’t exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as “defective,” who could not avail himself of KISS’s endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people’s given names (he calls his wife “Unit Two”). He also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents—the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs and write the bestselling memoir Running with Scissors.

Ultimately, this is the story of Robison’s journey from his world into ours, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner—repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Anita M. (see profile) 10/25/19

 
by Athmika P. (see profile) 07/27/19

 
by Lynda W. (see profile) 07/23/19

Such a courageous and insightful memoir. Written with care and detail, the author’s story comes to life to help the reader broaden understanding of Aspergers and how it affects the lives bound by this... (read more)

 
  "Interesting read"by Stacie G. (see profile) 09/28/13

You will certainly look at people with disabilities differently.

 
  "Informative"by Vickie R. (see profile) 12/08/12

The group had a great discussion as most of us recognized others in our lives with Aspergian tendencies.

 
  "look me in the eye"by Ann L. (see profile) 07/20/11

Story about the life of someone with aspergers. The trials and tribulations through a lifetime of challenges. Our club learned a lot about this disease and it provides insight into people lives with aspergers.... (read more)

 
  "Good for a laugh"by Lisa S. (see profile) 01/28/11

This book gives us insight into the mind of someone with Asperger's even before he knows he has Asperger's. The author gives us great details of what went on in his mind growing up feeling "different"... (read more)

 
  "Look Me in the Eye; my life with aspergers"by Jeanne R. (see profile) 11/15/10

Great book. Working with the learning disabled and disabled it really gave us a perspective we usually don't get!

 
  "Not what I expected"by Joan T. (see profile) 09/20/10

I expected more of an insight into how his mind worked. There were a few chapters on that towards the end that were interesting. However most of the book skipped around quite a bit or concentrated on... (read more)

 
  "Great book! Author is funny and informative about his life."by Tee S. (see profile) 07/18/08

This was a great book that I recommend to anyone who would liek a little insight into ASpergers. We all probably know someone who John reminds us of in some way. He writes in a very humorou... (read more)

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