{Look me in the Eye}

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

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it did hold up to my expectations. It is not a work of literary genious, but it does effectively relay the challenges that "Aspergians" have in socializing. Probably my favorite part of the book is the prologue that discusses the significance of the phrase, "Look me in the eye," which not-so-ironically is the title of the book. What makes this book stand out is that it is the autobiography/memoir of an individual with Asperger's. Instead of textbook, medical journal-type information about the disorder, you get a first-hand account. Asperger's is one of what I call (and the author, John Elder Robison, does too) a hidden disability. Unlike the characteristic facial features of Down syndrome or seeing someone in a wheelchair, an "Aspergian's" disabilities are hidden; they don't wear their disabilities on their sleeve, so when they act out of the norm they are viewed as a social deviant rather than someone who has a disability. Reading books like this reminds me that every individual has their own unique view of each and every experience in life--just like reading a book--each of us will take home a different message even though we read the same words.

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