Look Me in the Eye

My Life with Asperger's

By: John Elder Robison

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits - an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes - had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother or his father. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.

After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t: communicate.

It was not until he was 40 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. Robison also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents - the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs.

Ultimately, this is the story of Robison’s journey from his world into ours, a strange, sly, indelible account - sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

©2007 John Elder Robison (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Thoughtful and thoroughly memorable." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great book

Would you listen to Look Me in the Eye again? Why?

It was fascinating to understand the Asperger's syndrome

What about Mark Deakins’s performance did you like?

It was great

Any additional comments?

Great book I already recommended to many people

Honest Memoir

Any additional comments?

While I thought this memoir was well-done, it felt a little bifurcated for me. There are the parts of the memoir that deal with how the author sees the world and interacts with it through the prism of having Asperger's - those parts are illuminating and unique and absolutely fascinating. Hearing directly from the author about what he finds frustrating about "normal" people, about the hypocrisy of the majority of social interaction, and about how it felt to finally be diagnosed at age 40 are worth reading the entire memoir and would have garnered the book 4 or 5 stars. The remainder of the memoir follows every day activities, his career, etc. It isn't that these parts are completely wasted, but that they are not as engrossing as the other half. I can see why they are necessary as this is a memoir and no person is solely defined by any one aspect of their life; moreover, they prove that a normal and fulfilling life can be crafted even where you might differ from the majority. But these parts did not have the same force and impact as the other parts. Overall, the book is worth the time and I look forward to reading his most recent book, which covers some treatments he received in an attempt to gain a fuller emotional life.

Great book!

It is always good to have insight into human behavior. Most of us can learn to adapt our behavior to fit many social situations (like it or not). I loved towards the end where he talked about his family dynamic and memories. How we each lived through the same situations and took totally different things away. I'm glad he bridged the relationship with his parents. Once I understood life through others eyes it totally allowed me to let go of a lot of bad feelings I had towards others. For that reason alone people should read this book

Understanding aspie life

This is a must read/listen for someone who is an aspie born before 1980, as well as anyone related to an aspie.

Love it

A very fun book that shows how the gifts can sometimes outweigh the burdens. A truly inspirational story!

Great story telling

This book was a fabulous look into Asperger’s and the mind of great author. Truly a great book.

great book

Do like this book... Great honest way of telling ones story.
Love the joke about babyes and bowling balls!
it's worth a re read....

Excellent listen!

Loved this book. It was at times heart breaking and at others triumphant and fascinating throughout.

Fantastic.

Best memoir of a person with Asperger' yet. Robison's description of things is wonderful and touching, and the narrator had such a soothing voice.

Boisterous and Witty

So entertaining!
Robinson takes us on roller-coaster rides through life as aspies that make us chuckle and wonder.
Has to be read to be thoroughly appreciated.
A unique gift of entertainment indeed.