Look Me in the Eye

My Life with Asperger's

By: John Elder Robison

Narrated by: John Elder Robison

Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.

After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t: communicate. It wasn’t worth the paycheck.

It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself—and the world.

Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger’s at a time when the diagnosis simply didn’t exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as “defective,” who could not avail himself of KISS’s endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people’s given names (he calls his wife “Unit Two”). He also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents—the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs and write the bestselling memoir Running with Scissors.

Ultimately, this is the story of Robison’s journey from his world into ours, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner—repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

©2007 John Elder Robison (P)2007 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Deeply felt and often darkly funny, Look Me in the Eye is a delight."—People magazine, Critics Choice, 4 Stars

“It's a fantastic life story (highlights include building guitars for KISS) told with grace, humor, and a bracing lack of sentimentality.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Dramatic and revealing.”—Boston Globe

🖒👍

I wish this was unabridged. it was amazing to have him read his own story to me

headline

review:
seeing the experience of this life, through those eyes, and in that voice was pretty close to perfect.

Thank You

For this wonderful story, and your outstanding performance and detailed story line I think you. I am a mother of two Asperger children and every thing you said was spot on. My son who is 17 is socially awkward but yet he somehow is able to persevere through school through his challenges and has become and incredible and outstanding young man at 17, he is a veteran of Wrestling and one of the most intense wrestlers I’ve ever seen. I wish more people would understand about this disorder and look at it as a gift instead of a disability thank you Mr. Roberson for your incredible testimony of your disorder and sharing it with the world!

Heartwarming

I got this book hoping to get some insight on how to better raise my son who has asperger’s.
It turns out that this was not a good choice for that but if it’s give me some insight as to the trail in trouble people have growing up with.this syndrome. Funny and sad at times it is written from the heart and was a good story.

Interesting and Captivating

I enjoyed Mr Robison's personal story. It held my attention thoroughly and at times brought tears to my eyes. My grandson shows signs of being on the spectrum and this story has given me an understanding of what might go through his head. He too is an avid lover of trains. I will recommend this book to my daughter his mother and my husband! Thank you Mr Robison for sharing your story!

Fabulous account of a life with Asperger’s

Recommended for anyone with Asperger’s, their surroundings, or anyone else! Very enjoyable listen, read/told superbly by the author.

awesome

loved this story. it kept me intrigued throughout. I'm glad his brother told him to write it!!

Insightful!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I wanted to send this book to my entire family!

Have you listened to any of John Elder Robison’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first book I purchased from John Elder Robinson.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Absolutely resonated with me on so many levels.

excellent read!

Well written memoir. it gave me insight into a world I have too often judged and misunderstood.

Excellent insight

Well written. easy to understand and entertaining while you learn. An enjoyable read I recommend this book