Rating: 
Summary: Down-to-earth
Review: I do not have a child with Asperger's Syndrome, but am soon to marry an adult who claims to be "A positive" (his term). I have read several books about autism and AS and found this one particularly informative and enjoyable; I like the author's down-to-earth approach that emphasizes parent action over chasing after specialists and diet and environment over medication. While she is realistic about the difficulties of living with AS kids, she points out that there are positive things about the syndrome as well. She is scrupulous about pointing out that what works for her child won't work for all others. The book is also a quick read. My only complaint about the book is that the editing should have been better; I noticed some typos and even occasional incorrect names. I wouldn't want the book or the author to lose credibility because the publisher didn't hire a sufficiently careful proofreader... But overall, I would recommend the book highly.
Rating:
Summary: Down-to-earth
Review: I do not have a child with Asperger's Syndrome, but am soon to marry an adult who claims to be "A positive" (his term). I have read several books about autism and AS and found this one particularly informative and enjoyable; I like the author's down-to-earth approach that emphasizes parent action over chasing after specialists and diet and environment over medication. While she is realistic about the difficulties of living with AS kids, she points out that there are positive things about the syndrome as well. She is scrupulous about pointing out that what works for her child won't work for all others. The book is also a quick read. My only complaint about the book is that the editing should have been better; I noticed some typos and even occasional incorrect names. I wouldn't want the book or the author to lose credibility because the publisher didn't hire a sufficiently careful proofreader... But overall, I would recommend the book highly.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED reading the true story of ASPERGERS
Review: I have "known" Lise Pyles for four years from an email
group of AS parents and folks on the autism spectrum. Her insights and knowledge of her son has always been
on target for me. I look forward to every post she writes the
email group. As I know, I will gleam some new insight. She
adds humor and a depth of understanding AS in her stories living with a child on the spectrum. Her son John, now 17 is a remarkable example of how
far a person with AS can go in life with proper supports
and parents that educate themselves and guide their child
with understanding and acceptance. I only pray my son becomes as self reliant as John is. Lise is up to date in her thoughts on ASD(autism spectrum disorders) Her information on diets, homeschooling, resources
are well researched and thought out. Her experience is global. Their family has lived in the UK,
Australia and the US. This book is more than just one moms experience, it is EVERY MOMS
of an AS child's guidance in "HOW TO deal with AS in the ev ery
day life of our precious children. If I could meet anybody in the world, from my list
of over 1,000 parents to pick their brains on parenting an AS
child, it would be LISE PYLES...... Her book is a success story and John you are TRULY blessed .
Rating:
Summary: LOVED reading the true story of ASPERGERS
Review: I have "known" Lise Pyles for four years from an email
group of AS parents and folks on the autism spectrum. Her insights and knowledge of her son has always been
on target for me. I look forward to every post she writes the
email group. As I know, I will gleam some new insight. She
adds humor and a depth of understanding AS in her stories living with a child on the spectrum. Her son John, now 17 is a remarkable example of how
far a person with AS can go in life with proper supports
and parents that educate themselves and guide their child
with understanding and acceptance. I only pray my son becomes as self reliant as John is. Lise is up to date in her thoughts on ASD(autism spectrum disorders) Her information on diets, homeschooling, resources
are well researched and thought out. Her experience is global. Their family has lived in the UK,
Australia and the US. This book is more than just one moms experience, it is EVERY MOMS
of an AS child's guidance in "HOW TO deal with AS in the ev ery
day life of our precious children. If I could meet anybody in the world, from my list
of over 1,000 parents to pick their brains on parenting an AS
child, it would be LISE PYLES...... Her book is a success story and John you are TRULY blessed .
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT book for parents/caregivers
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read many books on autism and asperger syndrome in my "career" as a parent of two children with both diagnoses. I found that this book was especially warm, and easy to read, with a lot of practical knowledge from someone who has walked in my shoes! I really appreciated the authors writing style, it was really inviting, taking me through the family's experience, without it being clinical at all. Lise made one statement that has resinated with me to this day and while I am not looking directly at the book to quote it exactly, it was about how at some point your child is going to need something and you are going to be completely on your own and for whatever moment, however long, you alone will be the one who has to provide it. This book is an excellent resource in how to meet some of those needs when you are alone and have to provide and need an idea. Lise has done an excellent job of providing many ideas in multiple subject areas throughout her book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think it is an excellent find for both readers of people newly diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and people who have "been around" for a while too.
Rating: 
Summary: Genuine Warmth makes this book an Easy to Read Gem
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read many books on autism and asperger syndrome in my "career" as a parent of two children with both diagnoses. I found that this book was especially warm, and easy to read, with a lot of practical knowledge from someone who has walked in my shoes! I really appreciated the authors writing style, it was really inviting, taking me through the family's experience, without it being clinical at all. Lise made one statement that has resinated with me to this day and while I am not looking directly at the book to quote it exactly, it was about how at some point your child is going to need something and you are going to be completely on your own and for whatever moment, however long, you alone will be the one who has to provide it. This book is an excellent resource in how to meet some of those needs when you are alone and have to provide and need an idea. Lise has done an excellent job of providing many ideas in multiple subject areas throughout her book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think it is an excellent find for both readers of people newly diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and people who have "been around" for a while too.
Rating:
Summary: How Long?
Review: I'll keep it brief. My husband is 70 and we have only just recently found a name for what has troubled him for 70 years. The "why don't I fit - the anger, frustration and anxiety". I knew something wasn't quite right for some time. We discovered that Food Combining helped. I wrote a small article but never got it published. Like Lisa I believe our family may have had slight Asperegers Syndrome - some symptoms were there and some not. But my husband is a classic and yet none of the doctors or pschologists ever came up with any suggestion that this has been his problem. I wonder how many other adults are battling through their illness and psychological problems today that could be helped if only THEY ( the medical profession)would wake up. It seems that the biggest problem is that even they can't agree. A recent documentary on ABC Television hosted by George Negus pointed this out. OK - it's a problem for kids - does anyone have any idea what it's like being 70 and trying to get some help? (I'm told it's too late). A recent interview with yet another psychiatrist received the comment - "Oh, he couldn't have it now - there would have been signs and he would have come in contact with someone for help. He couldn't have had a life without help". Somewhat stuneed I remined him that when my husband was a child the only help he got was canings especially for bad handwriting and frequent hidings from his parents (probably for not listening). When he tried hypnosis the psychologist said that he couln't get him past a block because he had been traumatised. It wasn't until we watched the movie "Shine" that my husband revealed that his parents had treated him like that.Yeah - some help. Can you imagine his hang-ups? How many more adults are there who received this kind of help? I wish that someone would research what happens to older Asperegers Syndrome sufferes.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: If I could only recommend one book on Asperger Syndrome, this would be it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Handbook on Asperger Syndrome for All
Review: Lise Pyles has an enjoyable, easy style of writing. Lise has used her experience as a free lance writer and in bringing up a child with Asperger Syndrome to produce an informative yet poignant look at her journey through Asperger Syndrome. Lise gives us real-life examples and ideas that really work to illustrate her points along the way. Lise combines her stringent research with documented resources and contacts which demonstrates her credibility and fervent desire to share her meticulously accumulated knowledge and experiences in a way that is understood by all. My favorite chapter is the one on "Diet". Lise has been instrumental as a sounding board through our frequent e-mail dialogs for my thoughts on nutritional therapy; and also as a research gatherer in the early development of my hypothesis which has been published: Grimaldi, B.L. "The central role of magnesium deficiency in Tourette's syndrome: causal relationships between magnesium deficiency, altered biochemical pathways and symptoms relating to Tourette's syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions." Medical Hypotheses. 2002. 58(1); 47-60. In researching my hypothesis I have developed a supplement formula and marketed a product called ts-PLUS CONTROL as a nutritional aid in those with Tourette Syndrome and/or comborbidities including Asperger Syndrome. Lise mentions my formula and diet in her book starting on page 228. This handbook is essential for parents, educators, and clinicians as a beacon to guide them as they are Hitchhiking through Asperger Syndrome.
Rating:
Summary: Hitchhiking Through Asperger Syndrome - A Grand Tour!
Review: Lise Pyles' HITCHHIKING THROUGH ASPERGER SYNDROME is a welcome, well-researched and cleverly-crafted guidebook. It engagingly leads the reader through what is often unchartered territory for both parents and the professionals who encounter Asperger Syndrome (AS) children in educational, diagnostic or therapeutic settings. (Generally accepted diagnostic criteria for this autism spectrum disorder were first defined in recent years DSM-IV (1994), ICD-10 (World Health Organizatio 1993) and The Australian Scale for Asperger Syndrome (Atwood 1998), and the symptom was first named in 1981 by researcher Lorna Wing.)
The book offers a wealth of current resources and references, carefully compiled, critically assessed, and expertly indexed. The author is, herself, a knowledgeable guide. Her experiences over nearly two decades parenting an AS child in the USA, UK and now Australia, are shared with the reader in an often light-hearted and down-to-earth style, but not in the form of an autobiographical human interest story. Instead, the reader is given enough information about the author and her family to establish credibility, trust and empathy. Then comes the heart-to-heart talk, beginning with her chapter, "Coming to Terms, Moving Forward." She deals frankly with a broad range of issues affecting parents of AS children: educational, medical, and social issues, diet therapies, medication, the option of home schooling, ways to build support networks. She empowers and challenges parents to be more than advocates for their AS children. (Actually, the principles could apply to parents of a broad range of special needs children, but the focus is clearly on AS.) One of the author's delightful analogies that resonated with me was: If your child is drowning and there's no lifeguard in sight, you'll jump in to save him, even if the city is supposed to have a lifeguard on duty. So why wouldn't you act to "save" your child when educators or medical care providers are either uninformed, unavailable, unsympathetic, and/or underfunded, and, as a result, your AS child is at risk? Another striking analogy is the one that inspired the title of this book: "Every child with Asperger Syndrome is different, and
every family must chart its own path, mile by mile.
It's akin to hitchhiking--you will get lots of rides
along the way in the form of help from others, but you
will also wear out a lot of your own shoe leather.
. . . .
But the good hitchhiker is wary and discriminating. Some
rides come at a price, move too fast or slow, take
detours, or dump you out on the shoulder just when you
start to doze. So don't doze. Keep focused on your
child and where you want to head, and then be prepared
to get out and walk long distances on foot." Preface, p. 12. Lise Pyles claims her book is intended to be a compass, not a map, for those hitchhiking through Asperger Syndrome. In my opinion, she's found True North.
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