Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything [Paperback]

Kenneth Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000

Kenneth Hall was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of eight. His early school years had been difficult, as although he is bright and articulate, his behavior could be challenging and easily misread. After his diagnosis, the Local Education Board intervened and provided him with a laptop computer, to encourage him to express himself. This book is the result. Kenneth is in a unique position to describe some of the inner experiences and perceptions of autism in childhood. He has a warm and positive attitude to Asperger's Syndrome which other children will find inspiring. Insights, struggles and joys are recounted vividly in a frank and humorous way. His book is for anyone interested in understanding more about autism, including parents, siblings, teachers and professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kenneth Hall writes with an innocence, sincerity and insight that perhaps only a child could. -- Arlene Cassidy, Director, PAPA, the Northern Ireland Autism Charity

Kenneth's story offers a fascinating insight into the life of an individual with AS...this book is a must. --Ken P. Kerr

From the Author

Children with Asperger Syndrome are the best experts on AS. They can tell adults what seems unusual to them about the world. If they tell this to the adults, the adults should do all in their power to make things right for the child. They should try to make their child feel at home.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 109 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853029300
• ISBN-13: 978-1853029301
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parents MUST READ!, January 26, 2001

By 

Shannon Ahern "Active-but-Odd" (Monterey Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything (Paperback)

I read this book in one sitting, and enjoyed every moment of it. One thing I am sure of is that, when the time comes comes to have "The Talk" with my son, when he expresses an interest in knowing what makes him (and me) so different from other people, this will be one of the first resources to which I turn. In fact, I may approach the initial process by reading this book aloud together.

This boy, Kenneth, does a wonderful job of explaining his emotions and struggles as he works very, very hard at making his life (and everyone else's) better. He works hard, and he frankly shares his experiences, good and bad. He wonders if his mission in life will be to help others like himself, and if it is, he's already made good progress. I am not Christian, but I found his sense of God and the wonders of the world around him to be quite moving, and his sense of justice and ethics to be quite strong for such a young child.

I think this is a wonderful book; one which should be read by the teachers, caregivers, siblings, and most importantly, parents of AS kids.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Asperger is just another way of thinking, November 9, 2001

By 

Kristi A. Sakai (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything (Paperback)

When I asked my 9 year old son who has Aspeger Syndrome what he thought of this book he said it was "Great!" I read this book only a few months after my son was diagnosed last year and it was greatly reassuring. Although my son is not as brilliant or gifted as this ten year old author obviously is, the book is such a positive portrayal of the realities of having an child with Asperger's that it makes my son glow with pride that he is special like Kenneth and has so much in common with him. It gave us a new way of thinking of Aspergers, that it is not just a "disability" but a personality style, a different way of viewing the world. Yes, having a child who is AS is sometimes extremely difficult, but this book is inspirational and makes me believe that there is no end to what my son can achieve...in his own way. Let your AS child read this book!

Kristi Sakai, parent of 3 with Asperger Syndrome and author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the mouths of babes, March 19, 2001

By 

John T. Kramer (Skokie, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything (Paperback)

My twelve year old son was diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome during the past year and I have spent much of that year trying to learn as much as possible about his condition. I've read four other books on AS, and while they were all very good at describing this condition in clinical and sometimes anecdotal terms, none of them came close to being as enlightening and entertaining as young Kenneth Halls account of his condition. Perhaps it's because his personality and his AS mirror my own son's so closely, but my heart literaly sang as I read this book and discovered that all of my child's "unusal" behaviors were not merely idiosycracies, but part of a neurological condition which is shared by many people around the world. It's one thing to read a doctor's description of AS, and it's quite another to read a little boy honestly laying out the "cosy" fabric of his life. I can't thank Master Hall enough for his work in writing this book, and I can't recommend it enough to other parents and AS individuals. Sometimes you need to walk around in another man's boots (or books)to really understand him.