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Look Me in the Eye (Abridged): My Life with Asperger's Audiobook
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(3.00) - 24,750 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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 (and stick his younger brother in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. 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, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. 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 wasn’t worth the paycheck.
It was not until he was forty 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.
Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger’s at a time when the diagnosis simply didn’t exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as “defective,” who could not avail himself of KISS’s endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people’s given names (he calls his wife “Unit Two”). 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 and write the bestselling memoir Running with Scissors.
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—repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.
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"I enjoyed reading this memoir by the brother of one of today's most famous memoirists, Augusten Burroughs. Seeing a different perspective of a family we already know from Burroughs' books, it really opens up a lot of interesting analysis for the memoir genre. The book is also captivating in its own right, as Robison eloquently explains his thought process, the result of Asperger's Syndrome. I couldn't give it five stars, though, because several chapters diverged into complicated technical descriptions of sound equipment and machinery, which isn't going to hold a lot of readers' interest."
— Valarie (4 out of 5 stars)
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Deeply felt and often darkly funny, Look Me in the Eye is a delight.
— People magazine, Critics Choice, 4 Stars -
It's a fantastic life story (highlights include building guitars for KISS) told with grace, humor, and a bracing lack of sentimentality.
— Entertainment Weekly -
Dramatic and revealing.
— Boston Globe -
Lean, powerful in its descriptive accuracy and engaging in its understated humor...Emotionally gripping.
— Chicago Tribune -
Robison’s lack of finesse with language is not only forgivable, but an asset to his story . . . His rigid sentences are arguably more telling of his condition than if he had created the most graceful prose this side of Proust.
— Chicago Sun-Times -
Look Me in the Eye is a fantastic read that takes readers into the mind of an Aspergian both through its plot and through the calm, logical style in which Robison writes. . . Even if you have no personal connections with Asperger’s, you’ll find that Robison—like his brother, Burroughs—has a life worth reading about.
— Daily Camera -
Not only does Robison share with his famous brother, Augusten Burroughs (Running With Scissors), a talent for writing; he also has that same deadpan, biting humor that's so irresistible.
— ELLE magazine -
There's an endearing quality to Robison and his story that transcends the "Scissors" connection … Look Me in the Eye is often drolly funny and seldom angry or self-pitying. Even when describing his fear that he'd grow up to be a sociopathic killer, Robison brings a light touch to what could be construed as dark subject matter…Robison is also a natural storyteller and engaging conversationalist.
— The Boston Globe -
“This is no misery memoir…[Robison] is a gifted storyteller with a deadpan sense of humour and the book is a rollicking read. —Times (London)
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Robison's memoir is must reading for its unblinking (as only an Aspergian can) glimpse into the life of a person who had to wait decades for the medical community to catch up with him.
— Booklist -
“Well-written and fascinating.
— Library Journal -
“Thoughtful and thoroughly memorable…Moving…In the end, Robison 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.
— Publishers Weekly -
Affecting, on occasion surprisingly comic memoir about growing up with Asperger’s syndrome….The view from inside this little-understood disorder offers both cold comfort and real hope, which makes it an exceptionally useful contribution to the literature. —Kirkus Reviews
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Of course this book is brilliant; my big brother wrote it. But even if it hadn’t been created by my big, lumbering, swearing, unshaven ‘early man’ sibling, this is as sweet and funny and sad and true and heartfelt a memoir as one could find, utterly unspoiled, uninfluenced, and original.
— from the foreword by Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors -
“Look Me In The Eye is a wonderful surprise on so many levels: it is compassionate, funny, and deeply insightful. By the end, I realized my vision of the world had undergone a slight but permanent alteration; I had taken for granted that our behavioral conventions were meaningful, when in fact they are arbitrary. That he is able to illuminate something so simple (but hidden, and unalterable) proves that John Elder Robison is at least as good a writer as he is an engineer, if not better.
— Haven Kimmel (who was in attendance at the 1978 KISS tour*), author of A Girl Named Zippy -
“I hugely enjoyed reading Look Me in the Eye. This book is a wild rollercoaster ride through John Robison’s life--from troubled teenage prankster to successful employment in electronics, music, and classic cars. A kindly professor introduced him to electrical engineering, which led to jobs where he found techie soulmates that were like him. A fascinating glimpse into the mind of an engineer which should be on the reading list of anyone who is interested in the human mind.
— Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation -
John Robison's book is an immensely affecting account of a life lived according to his gifts rather than his limitations. His story provides ample evidence for my belief that individuals on the autistic spectrum are just as capable of rich and productive lives as anyone else.
— Daniel Tammet, author of Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller
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An iTunes Top Seller
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A 2010 Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee
Look Me in the Eye Listener Reviews
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" Not really a memoir about having Asperger's, but a memoir of John Robison, a man who just happened to have Asperger's. "
— Jennie, 2/8/2014 -
" I enjoyed Look Me in the Eye, though during the middle of the read, I began to feel like it was going to be more of a less than okay memoir, with less and less about his struggle with Aspergers. By the end, this was not true. Mr. Robison's story of achievement and finding self in spite of the lack of awareness and understanding was insightful and compassionate. "
— Dslab, 2/7/2014 -
" Good book! I like the way in which (true to his disability) the author compartmentalized his topics. Deepened my understanding of being a highly functioning adult w a learned rather than innate sense of social norms "
— Shelley, 1/22/2014 -
" Having read "Running With Scissors," the brother's story makes an interesting companion piece. Robison's strength is not as a writer but he presents his take on a nightmarish childhood and late diagnosis of Asperger's in compelling short chapters. How does anyone survive such parents?? "
— Peggy, 1/14/2014 -
" Very real, touching, sometimes funny, sometimes a bit sad, 1st person view on what it's like to live with Asperger's. "
— Roz, 1/8/2014 -
" It was a good memoir, although I expected more about Aspergers...It seemed very much his form of Aspergers. "
— Audrey, 1/3/2014 -
" John Robison has led an interesting life and made a success of himself in spite of a dysfunctional family and growing up with Asperger's. He gives an insight on how someone with Asperger's processes information and relates to people. "
— Gretchen, 12/28/2013 -
" This was an excellent book. I also read his brother's and his mother's books. The book was informative and very entertaining. "
— Louise, 12/19/2013 -
" Excellent book. We have a couple Aspergians in my family and it was really interesting, funny and instructive. Should be required reading for all of us! "
— Alex, 10/19/2013 -
" A well written consideration of Asperger's. "
— Linda, 8/31/2013 -
" I thought this book was really interesting and a great read, especially if you know someone with an autistic type of disability. Brought a lot of light into how people think and really great story. I enjoyed it. "
— Melinda, 8/1/2013 -
" Interesting and absorbed (& if you've read it you know I don't mean absorbing). "
— Chenoa, 7/9/2013 -
" Memoir about the author growing up and living as an adult with Asbergers. "
— Elena, 6/28/2013 -
" Interesting but at times a little too braggy. I felt like I was reading a commercial for him. Otherwise not too bad. "
— Marisia, 3/25/2013 -
" I loved this book. Robison's writing style is accessible and authentic, and considering that he has Asperger's, he is a very engaging storyteller. Can't wait to read his other work. "
— Renee, 9/11/2012 -
" Anyone who knows someone with autism or asperger's should read this book "
— Gayle, 8/5/2012 -
" Readable account of an interesting life. "
— Jessie, 7/18/2012 -
" I really liked seeing how people with Aspergers see things. Very different. "
— Noelle, 7/11/2012 -
" A beautifully written book about growing up but not knowing that you have aspergers. Funny and amazing stories all rolled into one great book! "
— Theodore, 4/26/2012 -
" Sometimes very detailed into the mechanics of his exploits but trulyy funny and heartwarming. Interesting and inspiring to say the least. "
— Katheryn, 3/31/2012 -
" I loved this book. It gives a great look inside the mind and life of someone with Asperger's that you otherwise might not be privy to. Definitely an eye opener. "
— Jennifer, 12/5/2011 -
" This gave a really interesting glimpse into the mind of someone with Asperger's. A lot of the stories were humorous. It was quite enjoyable. "
— Shawna, 10/27/2011 -
" I got a lot out of this book because it helped me to understand some of the actions of the "Aspergian" in my life. I most enjoyed the parts where the author explained his thought process. Very enlightening. "
— Tamara, 8/9/2011 -
" I really enjoyed reading this book and it gave me more perspective on Asperger's. "
— Cheri, 7/13/2011 -
" An intriguing book about a guy with Asperger Syndrome. "
— Pascale, 7/7/2011 -
" I am almost finished reading this. I know that when you are reading a good book you feel like you can't put it down. With this one, it's so good that I find myself spacing the reading out in longer increments so that I can have just a little more time with it. I have grown attached. "
— Schanty, 5/23/2011 -
" Having a child on the spectrum it was a timely read. It was comforting to hear the thought process that goes on within John Elders mind....any insight is helpful. "
— Sarah, 5/16/2011 -
" Robinson's journey to a successful adulthood, after struggling with undiagnosed Asperger's and an incresibly dysfunctional family, makes for a great read. "
— Ginny, 5/16/2011 -
" Excellent book. Stories are amusing, interesting and short and to the point. "
— Barbara, 5/12/2011 -
" Loved it. Very different from Page but as good. "
— Jon, 5/11/2011 -
" well written perspective of an adult living with Aspergers. For the time it gave a totally different view then any other works on the market and it was a refreshing view. "
— Sarah, 5/7/2011 -
" Great insight into the world of autism. "
— Angie, 5/5/2011 -
" This gives a really good understanding of how someone with Asperger's may think. "
— Robyn, 4/21/2011
About John Elder Robison
John Elder Robison is the author of Be Different, Raising Cubby, and the New York Times bestseller Look Me in the Eye. He lectures widely on autism and neurological differences, and is a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Robison also serves on committees and review boards for the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, and Autism Speaks. A machinery enthusiast and avid photographer, he lives with his family in Amherst, Massachusetts.