Be Different

ALL GROWN-UP MONDAYS - Books for Adults

Review by Leisa Hammett @ LeisaHammett.com

Be Different: 

Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, 
Families & Teachers  

 John Elder Robison's Be Different gives a vivid image of what it is like to have Asperger's 

and to deal with common situations that most neurotypical individuals take for granted.

 He describes, for instance, what it's like to ask a girl to dance at a party. 

But, the angst he suffers in doing so would normally be seen in a seventh grader, 

only he is in his late teens or early 20's at the time of the incident. Throughout the book,

I had an emotional reaction to his struggle and was extremely impressed with how he overcame 

each Aspergian hurdle. 

At times, when he explains how he vaulted these hurdles, it almost seems braggadocio,

 but I have to take into account that he may not understand why it would sound that way. 

It's as if he has an Horatio Alger's life. He will state in an almost matter-of-fact manner that 

he designed the light-show guitar for one of the bandmates of KISS. Anyone who knows 

anything about KISS knows about the famed guitar. And this goes beyond his skills as an 

electronic genius, he's a mechanical genius as well, owning a high-end automotive repair shop 

specializing in Mercedes Benzes, Range Rovers and Bentleys, to name a few.

Be Different is a unique book that gives the reader an experiential opportunity to step

 in the shoes and life of someone who has Asperger's. And for that reason, the plodding,

 the odd lay out, etc., is more than tolerable. Furthermore, he has attached an appendix 

that will serve as an excellent resource guide for anyone who has Asperger's or for their 

family members.

Readers can learn more about this book and others plus autism and “disAbility” at 

LeisaHammett.com, The Journey with Grace: Autism, Art & All the Rest of Life

Look Me in the Eye/Leisa A. Hammett

Today - a new series begins! Instead of the usual fare of autism-friendly children’s literature, 
here is something for adults in this guest review by Nashville-based author, speaker and 
autism-mom/advocate, Leisa A. Hammett.

Here’s a portion of her review of John Elder Robison’s Look me in the Eye his extraordinary life
with Asperger’s.
“Parts of "Aspergian" John Elder Robison's Look Me in the Eye plod. 

Including the beginning and parts of the end. Yet, the writing is crisp, the character
(himself) intriguing and likable. And, the reader hopefully realizes--as I did--that this is,
after all, an autobiography of a person with Asperger's syndrome...The sometimes chokingly-dry
intricate details are his life, the machinations of his incredibly gifted mind,
and naturally in character with Asperger's. Remembering that makes the dry passages palatable
and even a bit charming.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to expand their understanding of
Asperger's syndrome, especially parents of children with autism. It is one of the better books
I've read by an "Aspergian." There are many books out by people on this high end of the autism
spectrum and some of them are also dry or disjointed. But the beauty of them is that it is their
story told by them--not an expert writing about them and not a parent. I am very grateful to such
authors because they expand my parent view of the spectrum as well as educate the world,
hopefully, to become more tolerant. I truly turned the last page and closed the cover of
 Look Me in the Eye more enlightened and possessing a deeper understanding of the syndrome.

Robison has been successful with his first book. Here's a link to his second book, Be Different.
Look Me in the Eye was listed as a New York Times bestseller. Both Robison and
highly successful author-brother Auguston Burroughs (Running with Scissors),
though their childhood was frighteningly traumatic, can credit their poet mother
for a genetic gift with words. With skilled effort--that appeared effortlessly--Robinson
takes the reader through his childhood, adolescence, young and middle adulthood.

The childhood scenes are at times a bit harrowing and .  .  . ”
[you can read the rest of this review @ http://www.leisahammett.com: “The Journey with Grace:
Autism, Art & All the Rest of Life”].

[Leisa A. Hammett publishes her blog three times weekly and usually focuses on autism and 
“disAbility”on Wednesdays. She also occasionally covers art and autism on Fridays.]