Be Different: My Adventures with Asperger's and My Advice for Fellow Aspergians, Misfits, Families, and Teachers

John Elder Robison has spent his life teaching himself to compensate for his own lack of social skills due to living with Asperger's Syndrome. His first book, "Look Me in the Eye" includes stories of hilarity and pain, sometimes at his own expense. The response to these stories has surely far surpassed his expectations, as he quickly becomes looked to as "the guide" to parents' hopes and teachers' dreams. Seeing the need for more information, Robison offers to others the best understanding he has developed about autistic thinking throughout a life span in his new book, "Be Different"."Be Different" offers deeper explanations of this thinking - at least as Robison has experienced it - as a child and as an adult. He reflects on how much easier his own life might have been if others had been there to guide him rather than punish him for unknown transgressions. In an attempt to enlighten those who are trying to desperately to understand, but who are handicapped by being "nypical" (non-Aspergians), he has answered some of the questions asked of him by the many caregivers and loved ones who now look to him for this guidance plus much more.Robison has a knack for humor as he describes and analyzes events with explanations for his blank stares and misunderstandings due to differences in language interpretation. He refutes the idea that lack of response means lack of feelings, in fact, he states that the truth is quite the opposite. Some of the issues he discusses are as problematic to "nypicals" as they were to him, and his salient points apply to many children who are misunderstood by those who make assumptions instead of making the effort.This book is a "must read" for anyone involved with loving or serving these children and who might recognized a hitherto misunderstood adult. It also might serve to enlighten related persons who need to forgive those who are not responsible for their condition. Robison's kind and wise views give heart from the heart.

I read "Look Me In the Eye" before "Be Different" and found it riveting. There are so many parallels between John's life experience and my own it is mind-boggling. It is too bad I didn't have more 'fire' in me as John's life is surely more interesting than mine.Anyways, Be Different was just as riveting. I am not a diagnosed aspie but have always felt different. Every sentence I read confirms my aspie suspicions and makes me feel more 'whole'.This book brings up so many mixed emotions in me. A deep sadness regarding the way different people are treated and the laziness that used to be so pervasive in the mental health and educational systems. A sense of relief to finally realize I was far from alone, even though technically, I was alone.A profound joy that the world is turning around and often accepting of and even celebratory of 'weird' people.There is far too much to write here and it would only become more difficult to follow, so: Thank you John Elder Robison. Thank you for spreading the word to aspies and neurotypicals alike. Your story is the most inspirational one I've ever had the pleasure to read. I look forward to your next book!

Be Different was recommended to us by my son's counselor and we've been reading it as a family and discussing the applicable points in it. My son is 10 and has been diagnosed with ADHD and PDD. His younger brother is 9 and seems to have no neuro-social challenges. It is such a great benefit to be able to point out to the boys what they can acheive and compensate for regardless of thier innate challenges. I don't always agree with the conclusions the author comes to but that just makes more fodder for discussion with my boys. And it is interesting to point out that some of the hurdles the author has had to overcome are not only specific to Aspergers - that some of us who are "nypical" or "proto-aspergian" have the same social challenges and have to overcome them through conscience effort the same way, albeit maybe not in the extreme form the author does. A good book, enjoyable, enlightening and easy to read.

Excellent book, easy to read and hard to put down. It has a lot of good information, coping mechanism and anecdotes.

Pages 162-194 are missing

An inspiring read about harnessing the skills of being unique. How to transform your challenge into your best attribute.

very opinionated, immature and childish. How can a man be soooo scared of women and yet, think it perfectly acceptable to slurp asparagus down in front of her like an animal.I'm sure he's embellished a fair bit of it.

As a child psychologist I appreciated and enjoyed this book immensely! I will recommend it to many of my clients.