Life as a Late-Identified Autistic

A Collection of Essays Exploring Autism

When Jackie Schuld’s therapist suggested she might be autistic, she scoffed. She knew there was no way she could be autistic. She was in her mid-30s and ran her own therapy private practice. Everything she learned about autism in her Master’s program in mental health counseling didn’t apply to her. She could make excellent eye contact. She could engage in deep conversations. She could attend social gatherings. She could make it through abrupt changes and remain flexible.

How could she be autistic?

The more she learned about autism — how it internally impacts autistics and how it can present in women — the more she saw herself.

All those times she’d felt too much or thought too much started to make sense. She could see why she’d always felt — off .

As she talked with other autistics, read books, and studied articles, she pieced together a new picture of autism. She processed all of the information through her writing and art. This book is a collection of the essays through which she came to understand autism — and herself.

Her book explores why autism is commonly misunderstood and provides personal stories that illustrate the primary impacts of autism, including:

• Mental characteristics
• Emotional characteristics
• Sensory system characteristics
• Body characteristics
• Passions (special interests)
• Socializing

Although she couldn’t see herself as autistic before, Jackie now knows without a doubt that she is autistic.

Very informative

This was very informative. I liked the essay set up. It’s all listed by topics. I will be listening to this one again.
It made me five stars for performance and story. It’s an automated voice and I listened to it on high speed, so I can’t really judge that. Also, it’s non fiction.

so relevant

this felt like the author was in my head and lived my life. thank you!

Interesting

Very short, but a helpful look at the life of someone who is autistic, helping the reader to better understand how to interact with them - and perhaps helping the reader to understand if they are likely to be autistic.

I'd prefer a human reader to Virtual Voice, but Virtual Voice is better than there being no audio version at all.

thorough and real

I hesitated because of the AI but it was really Ok! the book is very usefull for autistic people, covers many topics in an encompassing way, and advocated for self validation as a first aid response to enxiety , which I find very usefull.liked it very much!

Concise and Informative

This short, but information packed book was a great introduction to how autism can present in a late in life diagnosis/ or for women. This book had me nodding along and feeling understood and less alone in the ways I am. It also connected me to other resources for further research.
While this book is nowhere near comprehensive in its scope, it is a short, accessible, and helpful read and worth the short time it takes to listen.
It is narrated by an electronic voice, which is barely noticeable, but every once in a while, the inflection is slightly off.