John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits had earned him the label "social deviant." No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings drunk. No wonder he gravitated to machines, which could be counted on. 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, the more he had to pretend to be "normal" and do what he simply couldn't: communicate. 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.INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR:
19 comments:
I chose to read this book, because it looks interesting and inspirational. I think learning about people who may be a little different is impotant because it helps you in life not to judge others.
I chose to read this book, because it looks interesting and inspirational. I think learning about people who may be a little different is impotant because it helps you in life not to judge others.
I chose this book from the Abe List because I really enjoy the Gossip Girl series and I'm OBSESSED with the show and I heard that The Luxe is similar to the Gossip Girl Series but just in the late 1800's early 1900's time period. I also chose this book because I like reading things that talk about life back in the day.
I decided to read this book because I know a few kids my age with asbegergers and I wanted to learn more about it. I thought it would be interesting to read a book that chronicled the life of an 'asbergian'. It was really cool to hear about his experiences in life and how he saw things in the world differently than most people. Overall I thought it was a fairly good book, with a few dull points, but would reccommend it to people so they could learn more about people with aspergers too.
I decided to read "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's Syndrome" by John Elder Robison because when I read the blurb about it i was immediately drawn in. I find books about peoples struggles very interesting, and I try to compare the struggles that I am going through to the one's the main character is going through. I find inspiration through hearing what people have gone through to make it on their own, and to me this book seemed like the perfect fit. It is about a boy growing up trying to make it in the world with a form of autism and going through hell to make it. So I immediatley connected to him from the first time I read the blurb, wanting to help him find a way out, feeling sympathy for him, and understanding him. That is why I chose this abe book because before I even read it I had a relationship with the main character.
I chose to read this book because i've always wanted to see the world in people with disabilities' perspectives. It also looks very fascinating, especially because its a true story.
Look Me In The Eye is a memoir of the life of someone suffering(and benefitting) from Asperger’s Syndrome: essentially mild Autism. John Elder Robison wasn’t
diagnosed until he was 40, and this book traces back from when he was three to his marriage. This book really appeals to me because I have Asperger’s Syndrome myself. I think it’s interesting to read about how someone else with this condition
dealt with it, and how he continues to deal with it as an adult with children. I disagree with some of his opinions on Asperger's, and agree with him on others. It’s a very interesting read because I can empathize and understand the story and mind behind him more adequately than most other readers.
For me, I relate mostly to the main character, John Elder Robison. Mainly it's because he's the narrator of the novel and it's only in his point of view. But there are some things that are similar about me and him. for instance, we both use music as an escape from some things, we both have the same sense of humor. For instance, some of the pranks he pulled I thought were hilarious. But most of all, i related to him mostly on a brotherly level. What I mean by this is, both of us are older brothers by two years. And when he spoke of his brother, it sometimes reminded me a lot about how I treat my brother and how he acts as well.
While reading this book I do feel I relate to John Elder yet I do not see many similarities between us. For John Elder, he is living with a form of autism, he doesnt really relate to people, he leaves home, makes it on his own by making guitars and products. But for me I dont relate to him by his actions, I feel i relate more to him by emotions and feelings. For example, John Elder's family is so unbelievably disfuntional, and so is mine. I believe everyone's family is disfunctional but I read this book and memories start to play back in my head. Another example would be the way that John Elder finds an escape from this crazy life in technology. I completely relate to this because I have found my escape in art and my ability to put my emotions down on paper in a way that lets me release. Therefore there arent many obvious similarities between me and the main character, but there is definitely a relationship between the emotions and feelings of us.
I certainly do relate to the main character -- the author. We both have Asperger's and both have endured the basic implications of living with Asperger's Syndrome. However, I think the most interesting aspect of reading this book as someone with Asperger's myself, is how John Elder and I *differ*. His main obsession is in machines, mine is in social science -- particularly anthropology. He dropped out of high school, I'm trying to get into Brown. While I certainly relate to his disabilities associated with Asperger's we both differ on how we solve them, and make Asperger's work for the benefit of our lives. I think that is the most interesting thing I've learned by reading this book -- how other people cope with Asperger's. You clearly can't lump us all into one group, it depends on the individual.
I think I can relate to John in some ways actually. The fact that he feels out of place and thinks differently than everyone is something I feel at times. There have been a lot of times in my life where i have felt that I think differntley on a subject than most and people are conused with me about it. Then there is how when he is intereested in something, he becomes completley immersed in the subject. I can completley relate to that because when I like something, it can sometimes become the center of all my thoughts. John may have asbergers, but I actually think most people can relate with some aspect of the disease, so John wrote a very relatable book.
I relate to the main character, John Elder because, having ADD myself i found myself often misunderstood amongst many people. Just like how he couldn't look people in the eye, i'd space out whenever i looked people in the eye, and i was frequently screamed at for being disrespectful. Of course, i was much more able to cope with it than he was, and i guess thats where we differ. I also figured out i had ADD when i was 13. From this book, i've seen the world through a person with Asperger's eyes and find it interesting how he used his disability to his advantage.
While the only books I have read on the ABE list are An Abundance of Katherines and Look Me in the Eye, I really do feel that Look Me in the Eye is worthy to be on the ABE list for this year.
The essence of Abraham Lincoln was his life of failing time and time again, but achieving an enourmous abundance of goals and dreams for himself and others. Likewise, John Elder, the author of Look Me in the Eye, has aspergers syndrome which led him down a trail of misery and failure, but also a trail of success and fulfillment. Like Lincoln, Elder struggled with his identity, forming relationships, indentifiying his strengths in life, and embracing his life goals. Also like Lincoln, Elder used what quelled from having a successful childhood (in elder's case; Asperger's Syndrome)to eventually fulfill his dreams and even accomplish them faster and better than others reaching for the same dream. Elder was a genius in the music world, and toured the country with famous bands, like KISS.
Now, Elder is writing and speaking to give inspirating to others struggling with Aspeger's Syndrome and doubting their potential. As someone with Aspeger's Syndrome, I can certainly see how his story helps others cope with Aspeger's.
It also helps non-"aspergarians" understand people with A.S. and teaches them how to approach and deal with those with AS. Similar to how Lincoln gave inspiration to others who otherwise believed they had no reason to be inspired.
This book is a great window into the minds of people who are different, but also a great light for those who are different, and how they can remain who they are and still succeed. I think it really supports the message that books on the ABE list want to promote.
After reading "Look Me in The Eye" i developed a greater appreciation for people with disorders than many people just look past. Getting into the character of John Elder, his life was not easy because people accused him of being stupid, not being able to pay attention, not being able to look someone straight in the eye, when really he had no control over those various things. I do not relate to the author in terms of his disability, but i do relate to him in my love for music. John had an incredible talent of creating inspirational sounds and i love making music. He feels so accomplished after he completes his job and i feel the same way.
In my opinion i believe that this book belongs on the Abe list. "Look me in the Eye" provides teenagers and adults with a chance to take a walk in someone else's shoes. Someone who has had to work through challenges that were thrust upon him on top of the disorder that he was already born with. By reading this book, people have the opportunity to be able to apply this story to themselves and grow. Not only that but people can also learn how to be able to deal with challenges they face by reading John Elder's struggle. This story can be an inspiration to anyone who reads it, making it a perfect choice to be on the Abe list.
I do think that this book should be on the Abe list. I think this because it's witty, enlightening, different and just an all around good book. Mainly it's just an informational story of someone's life with Aspergers syndrome. To me it was eye opening in the way of how people with aspergers act compared to how people who don't have the syndrome. it was very interesting for me seeing his mind set in certain parts of the book. how he had to stop and think about something tat we may not have to, or and visa versa.
I do think that "Look Me in the Eye" is a book worthy of the ABE award list. The fact that this book chronicles someone different, yet also relatable shows how it can enthrall all differnet types of readers. It can be a good read for people with alike struggles to help them see how another copes with similar situations. It then can envelop another type of reader who can better understand people with asbergers. For all readers it tells a story of perseverance, finding youself and staying true to that as well. All these elements combined make for a worth while read deserving of the ABE award honor.
I definitely think this book deserves an ABE book award because it was very detailed, intriguing, and interesting. This book increased my understanding of people with not just A.S., but other disabilities by great leaps and bounds. Through telling his story in detail and sharing his experiences, as well as pointing out what was difficult for him, i was able to understand a great deal about his situation and the situation of those like him. I believe every person who reads this can get something out of it, and can be thoroughly entertained in the process. For example, when he would say how he wouldn't know what emotion to express and smiled when his grandma died and got scolded for that. This stressed on how his disabilities caused him trouble. However he also said how he used his superior ability to concentrate when he told of how he became a skilled car mechanic. I really enjoyed this book, and because of that i think it definitely deserves an ABE ward.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It taight me the importance of not judging people by the way they act. The book was written really well i felt the pain for the main character, John. I put myself in his shoes and thought of what life would be like if i was him and it helped me appreciate the amazing things i have going for me in my life. Overall i suggest this book to high school students it was uplifting.
Post a Comment