Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison (2007, Hardcover)

Excellent and inspiring! A deeply moving and insightful memoir of living with Asperger's syndrome. John Elder Robison (a high functioning Aspergian) vividly describes his life as a child (and as an adult) whose brain simply doesn't function in what is considered to be a "normal" way , i.e., in interacting with others, picking up on social and visual cues, facial movements, and messages. At times his memories make one pull back in horror, especially when he describes his alcoholic and at times abusive father and his mentally ill mother who eventually had to be admitted to a mental hospital. Despite all this, John emerges as a creative and successful inventor, businessman, foreign car buff, husband and father. Amazingly, his sometimes very painful story is told with great humor and deep insight, especially when sharing his Aspergian thought processes and how he arrives at conclusions about the world and those around him. His musings about selecting a wife are hilarious. I highly recommend this book, especially if you have a loved one, child, or friend who suffers from Asperger's. And as someone who has taken her Land Rovers to John for a number of years, I also highly recommend Robison's Service. Kudos, John, VERY well done!