Asperger’s From the Inside Out was written by Michael John Carley, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s shortly after his son was given a diagnosis. He has since become involved in helping others with AS and is the Executive Director of GRASP, which is the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership.
The opening chapters cover some background information on Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as Carley’s own experience being diagnosed and then examining his past through that filter. The book also brings out the issues surrounding disclosure and provides some possible coping strategies, a discussion of special interests and, finally, a fascinating look at what happiness really is.
I really like what he has to say about the diagnosis of AS:
Diagnosis is not intended as a eulogy, but almost instead as a starting point, a context, or a filter through which to discover the person’s individuality–far quicker that without it.
He makes another great point in the chapter about coping strategies, talking about how strategies that are offered in books like this are theoretical and are not going to work the same for every person. He stresses that they are not foolproof but are worth trying – in quantity – in order to find the ones that make a difference.
All in all, I think this would be a great book for anyone who either has Asperger’s Syndrome or is close to someone who does. Carley provides a tremendous amount of helpful information while emphasizing the individuality of every person on the spectrum.
by Michael John Carley
Perigee (2008)
250 pages
Asperger’s From the Inside Out was written by Michael John Carley, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s shortly after his son was given a diagnosis. He has since become involved in helping others with AS and is the Executive Director of GRASP, which is the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership.
The opening chapters cover some background information on Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as Carley’s own experience being diagnosed and then examining his past through that filter. The book also brings out the issues surrounding disclosure and provides some possible coping strategies, a discussion of special interests and, finally, a fascinating look at what happiness really is.
I really like what he has to say about the diagnosis of AS:
He makes another great point in the chapter about coping strategies, talking about how strategies that are offered in books like this are theoretical and are not going to work the same for every person. He stresses that they are not foolproof but are worth trying – in quantity – in order to find the ones that make a difference.
All in all, I think this would be a great book for anyone who either has Asperger’s Syndrome or is close to someone who does. Carley provides a tremendous amount of helpful information while emphasizing the individuality of every person on the spectrum.
Note: This is Book #108 of my 2011 Reads ( master list here ).
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