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Summary: We are not alone
Review: Liane Holliday Willey's daughter was diagnosed with AS and through her research she realized that she herself had the same disorder. This book recounts her life before the self awareness that she is an "Aspie" as she calls herself. In retrospect the mystery of her life is revealed. My son was also diagnosed with Aspergers last year, which is why I was reading this book. Ironically as I read about Liane's life the hair began to stand up on my neck. I recognized myself. I loaned it to a friend, who recognized her husband and who now shares self awareness as well. You read it too. If you have an AS child you may recognize yourself, your spouse or that odd uncle or peculiar cousin, the oddball in the family tree :-) I also recommend her second book, Asperger Sydrome in the Family by the same author, which gives you ideas of what to do now that you understand what the problem is. Knowledge is power.
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Summary: AT LAST A BOOK FOR ADULT ASPIES
Review: Liane Willey comes to us disguised as an author; when in reality, she is a God sent guide for all Aspies who never truly understood who or why we were. Most books written about AS are generally directd to children. Finally a guide has been written for us adults. The book gave me hope that others will soon see us as viable individuals with unlimited potential. I'm hapy to know that I'm O. K. I am recommending her book to all my family and friends maybe they will "get me" too. I can't wait for her next book to be published.
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Summary: The closest description yet of defining mild aspergers
Review: Liane Willey takes the reader, for the first time, into the world of someone who is very mildly Aspergers. While there are many biographies of high functioning autistics out there, this is the first to address a group whose needs are even less well understood. This book enabled me to understand my 7 year old AS son for the first time, a way I never could by merely reading autism related books. Her memiors are filled with humor, sadness and pain, but; no remorse, or bitterness. It is an acceptance of yet another of life's curveballs. I believe her motivation is to tell others with AS (or their parents) to work with the hand dealt you---it may yet be the four kings (or queens) you were looking for!
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Summary: A book to buy in bulk
Review: Liane's book has helped me to explain Asperger's syndrome to family, friends and educators. Many have told me it is the most readable of the Asperger's books. It is both funny and touching; it has helped me to understand my own AS daughter better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to either understand or explain to others what Asperger's Syndrome is all about.
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Summary: Not a good book on Asperger's but a decent autobiography
Review: Most people with Asperger's Syndrome are male. Most professionals have a devil of a time diagnosing someone with Asperger's prior to age 10 or so. Most Asperger's people have better developed math/spatial skills than they do language skills. Not a single one of these things applies to the author of this book. She is, obviously as is her daugher, female. She claims that her daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's as an infant - which is something I have never seen in my 17 year career as a psychologist. She also states that she has very poor spatial skills and her language skills are excellent (at least her writing skills). So, how much of what she says in the book can be taken as representative of the experiences of the majority of people suffering from Asperger's Syndrome? Read Attwood's book if you want to learn about Asperger's but read this if you want to read a decent autobiography just don't think what is presented here generalizes beyond Ms. Willey's own experiences.
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Summary: Best Book to Read for Parents with newly Diagnosed Children
Review: My 4 year old daughter had just been diagnosed with Asperger's and I was desparate for information. This book really helped me better understand my daughter and what she's going through. I want to help her as a mother in any way that I can. Reading is a great way to educate yourself so that you can be better prepared to deal with issues like these. I highly recommend this book to parents/teachers who have a newly diagnosed child because its very easy to read and it gives alot of insight to why your child is behaving the way they do.
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Summary: PRETENDING TO BE NORMAL
Review: My 9-yr-old son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome after five very frustrating years spent in public school trying to figure out "what was wrong" with him. When he was diagnosed, I had never even heard of Asperger's Syndrome, however, when I was 6 I was diagnosed with Hyperactivity, ADD, "Autism-like-tendencies", "anti-social behaviors" and aggressive personality disorder (along with having an IQ over 130) I have been researching Asperger's Syndrome to try and help my son, but reading this book was like reading my own autobiography. In my egocentric way of thinking, I have thought for over 40 years that I was the only adult who had these personality quirks, social interaction difficulties and problems with skills and coordination, etc. I just assumed that these were personality flaws that I should be able to conquer. I wish that I could meet the author, give her a hug and tell her "hey---I am just like you." This book is a MUST for teachers, nurses, social workers and school counselors who work with autistic and Asperger's children--it gives an insight into Asperger's like no other book on this subject that I have ever read.
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Summary: PRETENDING TO BE NORMAL
Review: My 9-yr-old son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome after five very frustrating years spent in public school trying to figure out "what was wrong" with him. When he was diagnosed, I had never even heard of Asperger's Syndrome, however, when I was 6 I was diagnosed with Hyperactivity, ADD, "Autism-like-tendencies", "anti-social behaviors" and aggressive personality disorder (along with having an IQ over 130) I have been researching Asperger's Syndrome to try and help my son, but reading this book was like reading my own autobiography. In my egocentric way of thinking, I have thought for over 40 years that I was the only adult who had these personality quirks, social interaction difficulties and problems with skills and coordination, etc. I just assumed that these were personality flaws that I should be able to conquer. I wish that I could meet the author, give her a hug and tell her "hey---I am just like you." This book is a MUST for teachers, nurses, social workers and school counselors who work with autistic and Asperger's children--it gives an insight into Asperger's like no other book on this subject that I have ever read.
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Summary: This book was a bridge connecting our family members
Review: My mother has probably been dealing with Asperger's all her married life. I grew up with a brother who almost certainly has Asperger's. I myself believe I have Asperger's. The clues to all our differences began with my son's diagnosis of Asperger's last year. Reading this book together and discussing it with each other has opened up a dialogue of support, healing, and acceptance. Replacing being lonely and afraid for each other, this book has shown us an example of positive outlook and hopefulness. It's OK to ask for understanding, we can revel in our successes and we can be proud aspies. The author's writing style was honest and engaging.
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Summary: A Life Saver!
Review: Our family has lived with this book for two years. Along with Tony Attwood's book it has been instrumental in helping my wife and me help our son to find his way at a very difficult time in his life. Following a collapse at college he told us in his deep depression, "You don't know me..." This was in part true. The diagnosis of a relative's son prompted us to investigate the subject of Asperger's Syndrome, which we had never heard of. We were fortunate in discovering a local AS support group and attending a conference at which which Tony Attwood spoke. We purchased his book along with Willey's. They were both revelatory, but turning the pages of "Pretending to be Normal" was like opening windows into our son's world through which we had never been able to see. For our son, like the author, had fought a brave but doomed battle as a "high-functioning Aspie" maintaining the pretense that he was "neurologically typical." The author's first-hand description of the world from the strange, sometimes disorienting, always interesting perspective of the individual with AS is invaluable in helping parents, teachers and friends to understand the problems as well as the unique assets of the aspie. The fact that she may well be at the "high end of the spectrum" of those affected with the condition ought not to diminish the usefulness of her insights. I bristle with annoyance when reviewers of this book express doubt that the author can be an "Aspie" simply because she is articulate and caring. To say that only those most severely affected by AS can be taken seriously as having the condition is analogous to deciding that only those with life-threatening cancers should receive treatment. Liane Willey's remarkable success in her struggle as a highly intelligent, talented, and energetic woman with Asperger's Syndrome to lead a full, productive, and happy life should be an inspiration to all in the AS community--Aspies themselves along with their parents, friends and teachers. Thanks in no small part to her insights we have been able to provide our son with the guidance he needs begin to bridge the gap between the AS and NT ("neurotypical") worlds and to graduate from an Ivy League college this spring.
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