Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome (Paperback)

~ (Author), Ed.D., Peter F. Gerhardt (Foreword) "MY friend was crying..." (more)
Key Phrases: motor skills issues, neurotypical world, autism spectrum, Coming Out Asperger, New York, Holliday Willey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and others who think they might be Asperger's will greatly benefit from this book."
--Temple Grandin, Ph.D., author of Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation

" Asperger's from the Inside-Out is refreshing, concise, systematic and to the point. It spans the history of ASD diagnosis, the identity crises involved in diagnosis . . . It explores positive versus negative takes on ASD and their consequences, the resonating impact of a diagnosis on other family members but, more so, gives spiritual guidance about more or less healthy ways of managing all these things and the consequences that choices have for each individual. Beautifully alive with quotes from a broad range of voices with ASD, this is a helpful addition to the world of autism-related literature."
--Donna Williams, author of Nobody Nowhere and The Jumbled Jigsaw

"Michael John Carley is an articulate and passionate advocate for people with Asperger's Syndrome. His engaging book offers a thoughtful and creative roadmap for people with Aspergers and their loved ones."
--Mark Roithmayr, President, Autism Speaks

"Michael Carley is unique in his ability to combine and integrate his experiences with conclusions and insights that are remarkable and powerful. His unique ability to integrate, conceptualize, compare and contrast at such a high level is what makes his work stand out."
--Gary Mesibov, Ph.D., Director, Division TEACCH, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"A wonderfully candid and encouraging book about navigating the world of Asperger's Syndrome. I recommend it to everyone, on or off the spectrum, who believes in creating a more tolerant and inclusive society."
--Sigourney Weaver, actress

"Michael John Carley is not only a successful leader in the AS community, he has proven himself to be a gifted writer. EVERYONE who is involved with the Asperger Syndrome Community, their family, friends, and the professionals who help them MUST read this book!"
-- Susan J. Moreno, M.A., A.B.S., President, MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome

"It's a new day for adults with Asperger's! Michael John Carley offers reflective, penetrating and exquisitely expressed personal descriptions of the inner and outer challenges faced by people with AS. The person with AS will find a family, a community of like-minded individuals and a guide for dealing with a world that is often ill-suited to AS thinking. The rest of us find threads of commonality that indicate, again and again, that there is more that unites, than divides us all."
-Veronica Zysk, Author & Managing Editor, Autism Asperger's Digest magazine

"For years, Michael John Carley has supported his colleagues on the spectrum through GRASP. With this excellent book, Michael John will now be able to provide much needed support to thousands more. This highly informative book provides tremendous insight on a broad range of topics for those both on the spectrum and for those supporting individuals on the spectrum. This is something that should be read by all. "
--Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism

"Michael has written a wonderful book that will serve as an invaluable resource to us all. This must-read provides a perspective that is essential."
-Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D., University of Kansas

"This book fills a special niche for individuals on the spectrum and others as well. It addresses many topics important to those on the spectrum and in a way that helps with the struggle of what such a diagnosis means. This book is a fantastic resource for recently diagnosed adolescents and adults, as well as for family members and professionals."
--Lynda Geller, Ph.D., Clinical Director, Asperger Institute, New York University Child Study Center

"Well-written, positive, yet never preachy, this practical book realistically describes what if feels like to be an adult with AS. It is highly recommended not only to adults on the spectrum and their family members, but to anyone who works with people on the spectrum. Neurotypical or Aspie, there is much to learn in these pages."
--Chantal Sicile-Kira, author of Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Product Description

An intimate, engaging, and insightful guide to coping with Asperger's-from one of the condition's most passionate advocates.

Michael John Carley was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at thirty-six-when his young son received the same diagnosis. This fascinating book reveals his personal experience with the confusion and trauma associated with this condition-and offers insights into living an independent and productive life.

Now the Executive Director of the world's largest Asperger's oranization, Carley helps readers in such areas as:

- Social interactions
- Nurturing interests
- Whom to confide in-and how
- Dealing with family and loved ones
- Finding work that suits your strengths and talents

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399533974
• ISBN-13: 978-0399533976
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,173 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent level-headed book for adults with Asperger's, April 10, 2008

By	A. Keating (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book's primary audience is for adults living with Asperger's. In a field dominated by books on Asperger's and autism in children, it is often hard to find books that focus primarly on adult issues and concerns. If you buy only one book on the subject of diagnosis, coping and life with Asperger's, this is the book to get. Written by Carley, who was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult, this book is like sitting down and chatting with a witty, intellegent friend who has experienced the ups and downs associated with knowing one is different, finally being diagnosed and living with the diagnosis. This well-written, readable book is filled with information, advice and most refreshing of all, an overall positive attitude about Asperger's. While the primary audience is adults with Asperger's this book is equally valuable for parents, family and friends of people with Asperger's. As someone living with Asperger's I can't recommend this book enough, it reflects my experience and is filled with practical insights and advice.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the newly diagnosed, April 16, 2008

By	Nicolas W. Dubin "nickatnitetrane" (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If I were to recommend one book to adults who have just received their initial diagnosis of Asperger's, it would be this one. There are a myriad of books written by adult self-advocates for an Asperger-Autistic audience and many of them are excellent, but Michael's is in my opinion the most comprehensive, accessible and the best. He covers almost every issue imaginable that our population faces and does it with authority and empathy. If you've ever wanted to look back on your life and make sense of it within an Asperger framework, this book will help you accomplish that. While Michael is extremely empathetic to our (people with Asperger's) hardships in life, I believe the greatest gift this book has to offer is that he teaches us strategies for letting go of our pain. That, in and of itself, is worth the price of the book, a hundredfold. Highly recommended!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally I understand!, January 24, 2009

By	Rose Birchfield "creekwalker" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome (Paperback)

I bought this book because I suspected that much of the emotional turmoil in my family life as a child was the result of a father with undiagnosed Asperger's. I expected to discover that Dad was just an angry old man and that my suspicions were unfounded. Instead I discovered a new point of view that makes sense of my father's anguish, his anger, and his rude behavior. Before I read this book, Dad was someone that I mostly put up with and sometimes dreaded spending time with. Since reading the book I find I see him as a misunderstood hero who managed to get a PhD, hold down a good job, and raise a family in spite of the fact that the world was a very confusing and often cruel place for him. It's been a rough, bumpy ride, but this book made sense of everything. I actually enjoy spending time with my father now because I have a much better sense of why he does what he does and I am no longer hurt by his behavior.

A big part of why this book was so helpful to me was who wrote it and how he wrote it. Carley makes it clear that Asperger's means seeing and experiencing the world differently. It does not in any way meaning being substandard or stupid. Carley is not someone who has studied Asperger's through clinical observation and drawn his conclusions based on his experience as an NT individual. As someone who also sees the world through an Asperger's lens and works regularly with people all over the autism spectrum, he is able to teach about Aperger's through example and experience. His thoughts and advice are heartfelt, forgiving and mind opening. I want to emphasize that they are particularly forgiving. His emphasis on forgiveness was very freeing for me and I thank him for that.

After 43 years of trying to understand the man that I knew loved me in spite of his rude, angry behavior, his odd interests which often seemed way more important than anything or anyone else in his life, his weird, unspoken rules about how to get along with him, I finally understand. I am finally able to forgive. I feel like someone handed me an owner's manual and now I know why pushing this button got that reaction and that lever didn't seem to work, what those flashing lights were all about. Most of all I understand that there really is no one to blame.

This book is a definite must read if you suspect Asperger's in yourself or a relative. As the adult child of someone who was never diagnosed, but almost certainly has Asperger's, I found it to be life altering in a very good way.