The Journal of Best Practices

A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband

By: David Finch

Narrated by: David Finch

At some point in nearly every marriage, a wife finds herself asking, "What is wrong with my husband?!" In David Finch's case, this turns out to be an apt question. Five years after he married Kristen, the love of his life, they learn that he has Asperger syndrome. The diagnosis explains David's ever-growing list of quirks and compulsions, his lifelong propensity to quack and otherwise melt down in social exchanges, and his clinical strength inflexibility. But it doesn't make him any easier to live with.

Determined to change, David sets out to understand Asperger syndrome and learn to be a better husband - no easy task for a guy whose inability to express himself rivals his two-year-old daughter's, who thinks his responsibility for laundry extends no further than throwing things in (or at) the hamper, and whose autism spectrum condition makes seeing his wife's point of view a near impossibility.

Nevertheless, David devotes himself to improving his marriage with an endearing, yet hilarious, zeal that involves excessive note-taking, performance reviews, and most of all, The Journal of Best Practices: a collection of hundreds of maxims and hard-won epiphanies that result from self-reflection, both comic and painful. They include "Don't change the radio station when she's singing along", "Apologies do not count when you shout them", and "Be her friend, first and always". Guided by The Journal of Best Practices, David transforms himself over the course of two years from the world's most trying husband to the husband who tries the hardest - the husband he'd always meant to be.

Filled with humor and surprising wisdom, The Journal of Best Practices is a candid story of ruthless self-improvement, a unique window into living with an autism spectrum condition, and proof that a true heart can conquer all.

©2012 David Finch (P)2012 Tantor

Entitled asshole seeks redemption

This book. This guy... Holy cow. His wife is a saint. His new obsession became his wife and family and he tried to become what they needed him to be through obsession. It worked. But don't expect to sympathize much with his character.

Best book ive found so far

Great sense of humor, it was hard finding a book that was informative yet entertaining and this one nailed it! However I was expecting some tips on coping with the illness which left me a bit disappointed but other then that 10/10. Loved it! <3

Really explains a lot

Would you listen to The Journal of Best Practices again? Why?

There is so much here that opened my eyes to my life and how I have been living since I was a kid.

Who was your favorite character and why?

David Finch because I could relate to him and I don't like things that are outside of my comfort-zone

Have you listened to any of David Finch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The first realization with the test for Aspergers.

Any additional comments?

It was the best of Aspergers. It was the worst of Aspergers. While David can be verbose with his flowery descriptions, it is the exact thing I would do. That makes me not feel so alone or odd.

Good

Loved it! Great insight into relationships and how to make them work. I have already recommended the book to several others. The narration was good.

Relationship saving, life changing, good hearted

Advice for aspies who seek to ease the lives of their loved ones. Also insightful to relatives who aspire to shed light on previously incomprehensible behavior.

Very interesting story and helpful to understand Asperger‘s

I enjoyed listening to the story and the effort that this couple made to keep their marriage intact and live a happy life. Very informative on the impact of Asperger’s.

Brilliant! Entertaining! Inspirational!

This book not only gives the reader a glimpse into the mind and characteristics of a married man, it proves what positive changes can occur in a marital relationship when intentionality is exhibited by a husband.

David shares his honest struggles to understand the environment he created, but goes to impressive lengths to implement strategies that improve the relationship with his wife and children.

Whether a man is on the autism spectrum, or not, this book can be instrumental in helping him grasp the simple concepts that plague most marriages and how a man can turn his life and marriage around with sheer determination and effort.

The most helpful book I’ve ever read

I found this book many years ago when my husband realized he has Asperger‘s. This was an enlightening book for me to and help me understand inside the mind of my husband. It has taken me years and years to get my husband to finally read/listen to this book.He said he couldn’t believe he was laughing his head off one minute and crying his eyes out the next. If someone you love has Asperger’s read this book! I bought copies for everyone in our family.

Thank You for the Understanding

wow.. truely amazing thought provoking i laughed giggle and found helpfull insight in my time enjoying this book. Thanks for sharing this journey on a destination in life.

Saw a few glimpses of myself

Enjoyable listen, I could relate to a few situations and it gave me hope and faith in myself