The Journal of Best Practices

A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband

By: David Finch

Narrated by: David Finch

At some point in nearly every marriage, a wife finds herself asking, "What is wrong with my husband?!" In David Finch's case, this turns out to be an apt question. Five years after he married Kristen, the love of his life, they learn that he has Asperger syndrome. The diagnosis explains David's ever-growing list of quirks and compulsions, his lifelong propensity to quack and otherwise melt down in social exchanges, and his clinical strength inflexibility. But it doesn't make him any easier to live with.

Determined to change, David sets out to understand Asperger syndrome and learn to be a better husband - no easy task for a guy whose inability to express himself rivals his two-year-old daughter's, who thinks his responsibility for laundry extends no further than throwing things in (or at) the hamper, and whose autism spectrum condition makes seeing his wife's point of view a near impossibility.

Nevertheless, David devotes himself to improving his marriage with an endearing, yet hilarious, zeal that involves excessive note-taking, performance reviews, and most of all, The Journal of Best Practices: a collection of hundreds of maxims and hard-won epiphanies that result from self-reflection, both comic and painful. They include "Don't change the radio station when she's singing along", "Apologies do not count when you shout them", and "Be her friend, first and always". Guided by The Journal of Best Practices, David transforms himself over the course of two years from the world's most trying husband to the husband who tries the hardest - the husband he'd always meant to be.

Filled with humor and surprising wisdom, The Journal of Best Practices is a candid story of ruthless self-improvement, a unique window into living with an autism spectrum condition, and proof that a true heart can conquer all.

©2012 David Finch (P)2012 Tantor

Entitled asshole seeks redemption

This book. This guy... Holy cow. His wife is a saint. His new obsession became his wife and family and he tried to become what they needed him to be through obsession. It worked. But don't expect to sympathize much with his character.

Best book ive found so far

Great sense of humor, it was hard finding a book that was informative yet entertaining and this one nailed it! However I was expecting some tips on coping with the illness which left me a bit disappointed but other then that 10/10. Loved it! <3

Relatable and inspiring

I love the fact that the author wanted to be a better husband, Dad, person, and how he went about it. The humor in the book is great because I’m sure it wasn’t all that easy. I found his stories all very relatable and refreshing that he shared his story. Thank you.

The most helpful book I’ve ever read

I found this book many years ago when my husband realized he has Asperger‘s. This was an enlightening book for me to and help me understand inside the mind of my husband. It has taken me years and years to get my husband to finally read/listen to this book.He said he couldn’t believe he was laughing his head off one minute and crying his eyes out the next. If someone you love has Asperger’s read this book! I bought copies for everyone in our family.

Thank You for the Understanding

wow.. truely amazing thought provoking i laughed giggle and found helpfull insight in my time enjoying this book. Thanks for sharing this journey on a destination in life.