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Asperger’s: A Literal Journey
We all know people popularly described as “on the spectrum” - people who have Aspergers Syndrome. In this memoir, David vividly and clearly describes what that in the home, in schoolyards, in classrooms, in the work place and in a love relationship. And the reader learns from the inside out.
-Susan Bergman
-Susan Bergman
- GenresNonfiction
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2017
50 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 20, 2018
It always severely bothered me that almost the entire "polite society" discourse on mental conditions designated by psychology and psychiatry to be pathological is in the third person. Everything we learn about Autism, learning disorders, etc. is told to us by people who make a (middle class) living out of calling other humans "sick" so that they can be avoided or ignored by those who are called "healthy". Mental apartheid at its finest.
Imagine your life story told to the world exclusively by people from a foreign culture who don't speak your language, don't eat your food, and don't understand that weather in your country has four seasons. What are the odds that the narrative will present you as a human equal in all your rights and dignities? Just a quick glance at how National Geographic talks about native cultures around the world makes it obvious that they are regarded not as equal human beings with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and land and property rights, but as local dwellers of a safari experience from which the audience always returns home to the "real world".
Well, we do the same to people in our own countries and cultures who don't conform to the majority social expectations. For example, someone who is designated "autistic" by the majority automatically becomes "less than", and stops being taken seriously. People instinctively objectify those they don't like or understand as a personal excuse to not deal with the moral consequences of being mean to them.
The reason why I liked this book is because it allows David to talk about autism in the first person, and I think we should get used to learning about autism not from arcane medical books, but from the people themselves.
Imagine your life story told to the world exclusively by people from a foreign culture who don't speak your language, don't eat your food, and don't understand that weather in your country has four seasons. What are the odds that the narrative will present you as a human equal in all your rights and dignities? Just a quick glance at how National Geographic talks about native cultures around the world makes it obvious that they are regarded not as equal human beings with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and land and property rights, but as local dwellers of a safari experience from which the audience always returns home to the "real world".
Well, we do the same to people in our own countries and cultures who don't conform to the majority social expectations. For example, someone who is designated "autistic" by the majority automatically becomes "less than", and stops being taken seriously. People instinctively objectify those they don't like or understand as a personal excuse to not deal with the moral consequences of being mean to them.
The reason why I liked this book is because it allows David to talk about autism in the first person, and I think we should get used to learning about autism not from arcane medical books, but from the people themselves.
November 11, 2017
I have a student in one of my classes that everyone says is Autistic. After thinking back to other people I have met in the past, I believe he has Asperger's. In an effort to understand his behavior and way of thinking, I found this book to read. Since it covers his school years and what happened in different situations while in school, I decided to read it, hoping for understanding.
I am not sure it helps me a lot with dealing with my student, but I am glad I read it. It was fascinating to read about the author's struggles with lack of comprehension of even basic social niceties. To read about his school behavior and efforts to make friends; his struggle with non-academic interactions; his struggle with his sexuality; and his struggle with his family that did not understand any of this-it was extremely interesting.
If you have even just observed a person with the unusual mannerisms of Autism and Asperger's, you will find the book to be a helpful glance at what may be going on in that person's life and the internal struggles they have. It is not a reference book or a book of things to try. Just a story that helps make a little more sense out of what is often a totally senesless situation.
I am not sure it helps me a lot with dealing with my student, but I am glad I read it. It was fascinating to read about the author's struggles with lack of comprehension of even basic social niceties. To read about his school behavior and efforts to make friends; his struggle with non-academic interactions; his struggle with his sexuality; and his struggle with his family that did not understand any of this-it was extremely interesting.
If you have even just observed a person with the unusual mannerisms of Autism and Asperger's, you will find the book to be a helpful glance at what may be going on in that person's life and the internal struggles they have. It is not a reference book or a book of things to try. Just a story that helps make a little more sense out of what is often a totally senesless situation.
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June 19, 2018Sincere and heartwarming
As a sister to a young adult Aspie, I'm pretty aware how painstakingly hard are the ups and downs of this condition. Thank you David for putting in words what he can't explain.
As a sister to a young adult Aspie, I'm pretty aware how painstakingly hard are the ups and downs of this condition. Thank you David for putting in words what he can't explain.
August 2, 2017
David Marr's book is a gift to those of us who know people with Aspberger's and sometimes struggle to comprehend why they think and act so differently. He had the good fortune to have parents who loved and encouraged him as he learned to live in the world. And he had the drive, determination and intelligence to learn how to thrive.
Marr's book is not always comfortable to read, but that is the book's gift. He writes candidly of difficult social interactions, work challenges, and his growing ability to enter into a loving relationship. As a consequence, the reader gains insight into how challenging it is for someone without Asperger's to understand symptoms that can include repetitive behaviors, literal interpretations of conversations, lack of social give-and-take, fixation on a topic, and misunderstanding of social cues.
Since 2013 Asperger's has been considered a form of autism, but wherever it fits in diagnostic manuals, it is challenge for those with it and those who work, study or live with them. David Marr's book will open pathways of understanding and acceptance.
Marr's book is not always comfortable to read, but that is the book's gift. He writes candidly of difficult social interactions, work challenges, and his growing ability to enter into a loving relationship. As a consequence, the reader gains insight into how challenging it is for someone without Asperger's to understand symptoms that can include repetitive behaviors, literal interpretations of conversations, lack of social give-and-take, fixation on a topic, and misunderstanding of social cues.
Since 2013 Asperger's has been considered a form of autism, but wherever it fits in diagnostic manuals, it is challenge for those with it and those who work, study or live with them. David Marr's book will open pathways of understanding and acceptance.
August 11, 2018
Revenge writing
I really hope Marr got everything off his chest, because that seems the sole purpose of this badly written book. His Asperger's (and I would seriously question the diagnosis, since his symptoms seem much closer to borderline personality disorder) doomed him to a miserable childhood and he vents constantly about how much at fault his mean, evil parents were. He never once opines what it must have been like for them trying to cater to the excessive needs of a child who takes no responsibility for his own behavior. Hard to believe this attitude will ever allow him to sustain a relationship. Marr apparently chose not to employ the services of an editor since his language, sentence structure, organization, etc are unengaging. The best thing about the book? It's really short.
I really hope Marr got everything off his chest, because that seems the sole purpose of this badly written book. His Asperger's (and I would seriously question the diagnosis, since his symptoms seem much closer to borderline personality disorder) doomed him to a miserable childhood and he vents constantly about how much at fault his mean, evil parents were. He never once opines what it must have been like for them trying to cater to the excessive needs of a child who takes no responsibility for his own behavior. Hard to believe this attitude will ever allow him to sustain a relationship. Marr apparently chose not to employ the services of an editor since his language, sentence structure, organization, etc are unengaging. The best thing about the book? It's really short.
January 22, 2022
I met David at our Twin Lakes Writers meeting in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He is bright, happy, and outgoing. He shared some of his experiences with our group. I bought his book. Well written, personal and pleasing, and so insightful. My son has a similar but less debilitating condition. We “cured” him with diet, patterned exercises and other treatment. David’s book expressing his feelings, hurts, triumphs, learning from his mistakes, and advice to others on how to be tolerant and sympathetic taught me a great deal. For various reasons, we often meet people who are different. Their differences should make them intriguing. And none of us are perfect. Read this book. Regardless of who you are, you will learn something. If you have Asperger's or something similar, you will find the sympathy you need as well as ideas for how to help yourself.
April 14, 2018
The book tells the personal story of a person with Asperger's syndrome, his struggles fitting in, both socially and in a family context, and with his sexual orientation.
Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism, but one that, contrary to the mental image of autism in society, appears in average or above-average intelligence individuals.
I arrived to the book in my own journey discovering some "Aspie's" traits in myself and some of my connections. I was hoping to make more sense of myself and these connections. I discovered I indeed share some traits but not many others.
The book itself sometimes feels more like a diary with no big hindsight. And for whatever reason, I didn't fully connect with the author's journey.
Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism, but one that, contrary to the mental image of autism in society, appears in average or above-average intelligence individuals.
I arrived to the book in my own journey discovering some "Aspie's" traits in myself and some of my connections. I was hoping to make more sense of myself and these connections. I discovered I indeed share some traits but not many others.
The book itself sometimes feels more like a diary with no big hindsight. And for whatever reason, I didn't fully connect with the author's journey.
May 28, 2018
This book was as it says: a literal journey. However, it did not feel primarily an Asperger's journey. Some of the facts stated at the beginning of the book were not entirely correct, and a large proportion of the book covers systemic and sexuality issues which are not Asperger's related. Many of the chapters finish with a "people should be aware of Asperger's... " but this doesn't really correlate with the content of the chapter. Perhaps with a bit of editing this would have been more relevant.
May 15, 2018
Written from the heart, this book helped me to better understand someone I love. While the Spectrum is broad and its effects different from person to person, several times my loved one and I could only marvel that she was not the only one who had these struggles.
If you are looking for textbook answers, keep looking. If you want to read of a life well-lived in spite of the struggle, I recommend this book.
If you are looking for textbook answers, keep looking. If you want to read of a life well-lived in spite of the struggle, I recommend this book.
September 18, 2023
I feel I've read more about complaints of the author and learned less about Asperger. 💆♀️💆♀️
Or that I learned was, the author thinking people should feel empathy for him bc he was Asperger; but he feels no empathy whatsoever for no one, not even his parents, bc of Asperger.
His mother mother :(
Or that I learned was, the author thinking people should feel empathy for him bc he was Asperger; but he feels no empathy whatsoever for no one, not even his parents, bc of Asperger.
His mother mother :(
April 23, 2018
An interesting read
As I have close friends and even family who have ADHD and are on the autistic spectrum I wanted to gain more insight into it all and found this book a good place to start
As I have close friends and even family who have ADHD and are on the autistic spectrum I wanted to gain more insight into it all and found this book a good place to start
December 29, 2018
Very good. Interesting to read the ups and downs of someone else with Aspergers. Inspirational. I'm still getting to understand my own condition, and realise that we are all unique but share certain traits. Very helpful.
October 5, 2020
Amazing Read
As a person of the author's age and unbeknownst watched some of his YouTube channel in helping me understand my sexuality better. This read has shown that you make anything possible if you make your mind up to do it. In such a better place after reading this book
As a person of the author's age and unbeknownst watched some of his YouTube channel in helping me understand my sexuality better. This read has shown that you make anything possible if you make your mind up to do it. In such a better place after reading this book
December 19, 2017
Interesting 'insider view' of Aspergers.
June 18, 2022
A great, but hard experience seeing what aspergers looks like through eyes of experience. I appreciate the candor, passion to learn for his own benefit but also the benefit of others, and vulnerability through some hard memories. I hope I can continue to learn as he has to see my impact on others and change where I need too.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews