This book report is written regarding the book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s, by John Elder Robinson; published by Crown Publishers, New York. I chose this book due to the fact it’s about Asperger’s syndrome. When I first read a brief description of the syndrome, it was defined as a social inability to interact or connect, with other people properly. As a person who suffered from severe social anxiety for most of my life, I was very interested in learning more about this syndrome. In some way, I thought I could understand the author’s point of view.
Description of exceptionality (definition/traits)
Asperger’s syndrome is a mild form of autism. In Robinson’s memoir Look Me in the Eye he clarifies that “Asperger’s is not a disease. It’s a way of being. There is no cure, nor is there a need for one.” However, he explains that what is needed is a “need for knowledge and adaption on the part of Aspergian kids and their families and friends.” (p 5) Robinson mentions that “Asperger’s exists
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I enjoyed the style of writing that Robinson used; unlike most non-fiction memoirs, Look Me in the Eye was written in a fascinating,’ story telling’ kind of way. Look Me in the Eye was also very informative to me. There is a specific quote from Look Me in the Eye that I believe will stick with me forever. Robinson says:
“Many descriptions of autism and Asperger’s describe people like me as “not wanting contact with others” or “preferring to play alone.” I can’t speak for other kids, but I’d like to be very clear about my own feeling: I did not ever want to be alone… I played by myself because I was a failure at playing with others. I was alone as a result of my own limitations, and being alone was one of the bitterest disappointments of my young life.” (p211)
This quote clarifies the fact that all disorders differ with each