Look Me in the Eye My Life with Asperger's

Presents the author's account of living with Asperger's syndrome. Beginning with his painful childhood, along with his abusive alcoholic father and his mentally disturbed mother, he describes how from nursery school on he could not communicate effectively with others, something his brain is not wired to do, since kids with Asperger's don't recognize common social cues and body language or facial expressions. Failing in junior high, Robison was encouraged by some audiovisual teachers to fix their broken equipment, and he discovered a more comfortable world of machines and circuits, of muted colors, soft light, and mechanical perfection. This led to jobs (and many hilarious events) in worlds where strange behavior is seen as normal: developing intricate rocket-shooting guitars for the rock band Kiss and computerized toys for the Milton Bradley Company. Finally, at age 40, while he was running a successful business repairing high-end cars, a therapist correctly diagnosed him as having Asperger's. In the end, the author succeeds in his goal of helping those who are struggling to grow up or live with Asperger's to see how it is not a disease but a way of being that needs no cure except understanding and encouragement from others.