Dibs in Search of Self

Rating:
Summary: Life changing
Review: When I first encountered Dibs in 7th grade I was deeply touched and changed by the reading. Dibs is a little boy caught in a family that doesn't mean to hurt him but does sheerly by continuing the dysfunctionalism that is so prevalent. I don't think Axline ever accuses or blames the parents for not knowing how to cope with Dibs' different personality. As I read I was able to see Dibs in myself. And I also was able to conquer the world I was locked into. I still read this book about once a year and I still learn so much about myself

Rating:
Summary: A DEFINITE MUST READ!
Review: DIBS is an incredible book that can serve as an inspiration to all. It pulls you in emotionally while teaching you a great deal about children's psychology. I read it in ONE DAY! For everyone who rated this book low... they were obviously unable to see the meaning of this book. The strength this child had to overcome his past and learn to live a strong, happy, and healthy life. It is definitly worth the time and the money.

Rating:
Summary: Dibs has "unlocked" the door to a happy life
Review: In the novel, Dibs: In Search of Self, I found many instances of the word "lock." Through this stirring novel, Dibs is able to "unlock" his emotions and allow himself to be happy. He realizes that he can be angry, sad or happy and that is what makes him Dibs. This was a touching novel, I can understand how some readers may believe that it is cruel to motherhood, but from my viewpoint, Dibs mother did not smother him with love, as so many mothers do. She passed him off as a "chunk of a thing" and believed that with her intellect, she could not have a mentally retarded child. But as we see, Dibs has an IQ of 168. But that's not what is important in a child, or any being, it is the self-worth that Dibs found through his play therapy sessions. He "unlocked" the door and found himself. This was a remarkable novel, and I recommend this book to those who would like to see the strength in a child named Dibs.

Rating:
Summary: A Seminal Text
Review: First, I must take issue with two of the other reviews: Axline makes clear that Dibs is NOT an autistic or otherwise abnormal child and thus the idea that she blames his "autism" on his parents is a non-starter. Rather, Axline makes clear that Dibs is, in fact, a normal child whose past experiences have crushed his ability to trust and to reach out to others. Counterintuitively, she does not cure him by providing him with the love and acceptance that his parents have clearly withheld (they make a practice of locking him in his room), but by allowing him to work through his experiences in play therapy, and she never takes his parents to task for their actions but allows the family to evolve as well. The process of play therapy is illustrated and explained through her meticulous observations and it is fascinating to see Dibs tell his autobiography to his therapist through his play and come to his own resolutions with her help and guidance. An essential work for those interested in personality development and a heroic biography.

Rating:
Summary: outdated, dangerous, and cruel
Review: This book is a classic example of the "refrigerator mother" school of thought. In the fifties and sixties, psychologists decided that children with autism had been emotionally abused; their parents had "rejected" them. Today, most informed people recognize this theory for the nonsense it was, as more and more evidence has mounted to conclusively demonstrate that autism is a disorder of genetic etiology. But Axline and her ilk never considered any objective "evidence" about children like Dibs or their parents. As these self-promoting, self-aggrandizing saviors heaped ridicule and condemnation on parents, they ineveitably painted themselves as loving, warm, nurturing healers. Read "Dibs" and note just how often, and how sickeningly, the author dwells on her own incredibly warm insights, as she is excoriating that poor mother. This book is dangerously outdated. Mothers and fathers who are already confused and suffering as they struggle to understand and cope with their child's differences do not need this kind scapegoating and demonizing. Why, as one informed reader asked below, is this book still in print?

Rating:
Summary: A touching story
Review: This is a great book, and Dibs' story will touch your heart

Rating:
Summary: Good for ALL!
Review: You don't have to be of any age or any occupation to read this book. When I was 13, I read this book in a reading class I took over the summer, and I instantly fell in love with it! Dibs is a remarkable character and the more I read, I the more I wanted to know. I recommend this book to all people!

Rating:
Summary: A story you'll never forget.
Review: I first read "Dibs in Search of Self" when I was about 10. I loved it immediately, and I read it several more times over the the next few years. You don't have to be a parent, a psychologist, or a basket-case to love this book - you only have to be human. Dibs is a fascinating boy of intelligence, integrity, and courage, and his struggle to connect with another human being is truly inspiring. I'm glad I've found him again!

Rating:
Summary: very powerful and heart warming
Review: i can't tell you how much I loved and still love this book and Dibs. I don't even know this person personally, but I love him. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how to love and how to give dignity and self-love to a person. I recommend this book to everyone who shows any kind of interest in people or who don't understand how to truly listen to another person. It is at the top of my list for my all-time favorite books. I can hardly wait to read it for the 6th time.

Rating:
Summary: A Gem Of A Book
Review: Dibs is an example of how parents do not take how they behave around their children into account, and instead blame their childs behaviour on some mental conditition. Dibs is proof that all anyone needs is love and attention to be truly happy