Build Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide For Individuals With Asperger Syndrome [Paperback]

Wendy Lawson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843101149 | ISBN-13: 978-1843101147 | Publication Date: February 15, 2003 | Edition: 1

As someone with Asperger Syndrome, Wendy Lawson knows all about the social difficulties that accompany the condition. Here she guides others on the autism spectrum through the confusing map of life, tackling the building bricks of social existence one by one. With insight and practical suggestions she looks at issues such as the concept of 'self' and 'other', the difficulty of 'putting on a face' and how to deal with unwelcome changes, helping all those on the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum, and those close to them, to get the best out of a world that is often perplexing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wendy Lawson overcame a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia to become a social worker and adult educator. Author of Life Behind Glass and Understanding and Working with the Spectrum of Autism, both published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, she lives in Victoria, Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (February 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843101149
• ISBN-13: 978-1843101147
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,052,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat confusing and not very helpful for me., January 5, 2004

By 

J. K. Shannon "aunt" (Columbia, South Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Build Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide For Individuals With Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

As an adult with Asperger Syndrome, I thought this book would be exactly what I was looking for to help me. The title sounds great and the table of contents looked great too, and it was written by another woman with AS. But I was very disappointed when I got the book and started reading it. The whole book is an extended metaphor (and if you know anything about AS, you know that metaphors can confuse us). I understood the main point of this metaphor (your life is a house or building), but some of the other points (plumbing, electricity, etc.) totally confused me. I had trouble forming the connections to understand what the author was talking about. I also found that some of the subheadings within the book would say one thing and the text that followed seemed to be on a completely different topic and/or did not say anything very helpful (at least for me). I have read many, many books and articles on AS (I am also a graduate student), and there are much better and more helpful books available. I have several books that I will consult on a regular basis and read multiple times, but this one will probably just stay on the shelf.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cutting Through the Metaphors, December 19, 2004

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Build Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide For Individuals With Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

While I am delighted to see another book for adults with Asperger's, I am dismayed to find this one so choked with metaphors. The over-dependency on the "building" analogies and the weed-killer weakens what could be a highly effective book.

Sadly, the heavy-handed application of terms such as "closed pictures" is often lost on the audience for whom this work was written. For people with Asperger's who do read this book, you might want an NT (neurotypical) translator to interpret some of it.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, August 22, 2011

By 

Elaine H. "insight" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Build Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide For Individuals With Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

The book seamed to be tailored to the reader with Asperger's Syndrome and I do not have Asperger's, but work with individuals who do. "Build Your Own Life...:" helped me to better understand and respect what they are dealing with and relate or share with them more productvely.