Once I got into the pattern of his writing being like his thought process, I really enjoyed this "look back." It is amazing that he was able to overcome some of his early life experiences. Very inspirational. ( )

This book offered great insight into someone with Aspergers. The only downside to the book were his endless pranks, which weren't as funny as the author thought. ( )

I love this book! The dry, sometimes-disturbing humor is spot-on, the descriptions vivid and almost technicolor in their realness. A truly inspiring story, told in an engaging, involving way. It led me to do some research of my own into Asperger's Syndrom, and to endeavor to be more sensitive in my dealings with others in the future. ( )

I liked how this was much more than a book about having Asperger's. The ways that John Elder found uses for his unique gifts could be really inspiring for students, for example, creating special effects for the band KISS. I listened to the audio version, read by John himself, and I came to really like him as a person. Although the pace was slow at times, and stories seemed to have no purposeful connection one to another, the ending brought the story to a satisfying conclusion. ( )

I was captured by this book from page one. I have not (YET) read any of the books written by his famous brother, Augusten X Burroughs, but after reading LOOK ME IN THE EYE, I certainly will read something of Burroughs', probably WOLF AT THE TABLE. In any case, Robison's story of his life with Asperberger's is as revealing and intimate as a memoir can be. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of his role with the roadies and techies of the KISS tour, as both of my sons are long-time KISS fans. Robison's difficulties in childhood and high school are well documented here in the most human terms, his lack of friends and the lack of empathy or understanding from teachers and other adults made me wince with sympathy. Strangely, or perhaps not, as I read of Robison's life, I thought of a few people I have known over the years who exhibited similar quirks and savant-like talents, and wondered if perhaps they might also have been Asperger's types. I was also quite startled to learn that perhaps one in 150 people suffer from autism, which covers a wide spectrum of difficulties. Even Robison's strange and sometimes devilish and even cruel sense of humor and his penchant for practical jokes and pranks were described in such a way that I found myself entranced rather than repelled. After all, many of his victims got only what they deserved. Robison's experiences in looking for love and his descriptions of his first girlfriend (later his first wife) are also told in utterly believable and interesting terms. His obvious love for his son, Cubby, is another plus. I picked up this book rather reluctantly, possibly because I had read ANIMALS IN TRANSLATION a few years ago, written by Temple Grandin, an autistic savant of sorts. While I found her theories interesting, her writing style was somewhat sterile and robotic, in addition to being often repetitious and borderline boring. I had also picked up another autism memoir, Daniel Tammet's BORN ON A BLUE DAY and glanced through it once. It did not engage me at all. I found none of these faults in Robison's book. This is one helluva good read. I recommend it highly. ( )