Look Me in the Eye

My Life with Asperger's

By: John Elder Robison

Narrated by: John Elder Robison

Length: 5 hrs and 40 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, including 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.

A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy teachers and other adults regarded as "defective". He 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, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner. It's a strange, sly, indelible account, sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

©2007 John Elder Robison (P)2007 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Thoughtful and thoroughly memorable." ( Publishers Weekly)

Understanding Asperger's

If you could sum up Look Me in the Eye in three words, what would they be?

I listened to this book initially to help myself better understand those with Asperger's Syndrome. Not only did I feel that this book gave me a greater understanding of those with Asperger's, it was also just a wonderful story, that grabbed my attention, and kept me listening. I loved the author's candid discussion of his inner thoughts and feelings growing up in a world that did not understand, or accurately diagnose him.

What other book might you compare Look Me in the Eye to and why?

It had somewhat of a David Sedaris quality to it

This is an abridged version...

The reading is an abridged version of the book. Being abridged it does not sync with the Kindle book. The author also inserts profanity into his narration that is not in the written book. Buy the version that is read by Mark Deakins instead; it costs less, is Whispersync ready and is unabridged.

STUPID!!!

This story itself is great but this audio only goes up to chapter five and this does not make because it does not say a anywhere that this is only half the book.

Thank You

My wife was recently diagnosed with Aspergers (bad speller) and your story helped me understand her better. However it was a great book on its own and I highly recommend it.

Fabulous account of a life with Asperger’s

Recommended for anyone with Asperger’s, their surroundings, or anyone else! Very enjoyable listen, read/told superbly by the author.

Perspective Changing

This book has been so helpful for me. I have a child on the autism spectrum. This allowed me to see more of life through my son's eyes and withhold my worldly judgement. I think less about how he should be behaving and let him tell me about what he is perceiving.

I have even seen changes in my perspective of things that bother me and please me. The movie Forest Gump is so different now. Forest a boy and man always out of place, but forever in important places. He thought of himself as "not a smart man" because that is what he was told. That was just a label placed upon him.

Thank you John Elder.

Interesting and Captivating

I enjoyed Mr Robison's personal story. It held my attention thoroughly and at times brought tears to my eyes. My grandson shows signs of being on the spectrum and this story has given me an understanding of what might go through his head. He too is an avid lover of trains. I will recommend this book to my daughter his mother and my husband! Thank you Mr Robison for sharing your story!

Very insightful great story

Loved John Elders story very interesting guy. Would love to see a movie about John.

Good read, but a lot of slow spots

I enjoyed this book, but I hate to admit that it had too many slow spots that dragged on longer than necessary which may be related to his autistic traits.

And I felt he promoted his brothers books (Augusten Burroughs, another famous author as well) far too much. I had the impression that he was coaxed into "name dropping."

Besides that, I was interesting to hear him explain his point of view through the eyes of an autistic child.

Not too bad

I'll just say this book is interesting and enlightening. I do wish there would have been more about Asperger's and less about his life but still. A fascinating story, I'd recommend it.