The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: cognitive behaviour therapy, sensory integration therapy, social understanding and friendship, Hans Asperger, Theory of Mind, Liane Holliday Willey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'From causes and diagnosis to differences in social interactions, perception, and mental health issues, The Complete Guide goes far beyond the usual Asperger's approach and is a "must" for any serious health reference collection.' - The Midwest Book Review '...encyclopaedic in its depth and detail.' - Good Autism Practice (GAP) 'The author has expertly captured the essence and distinctness of individuals with AS. This book should be considered as an essential resource for all therapists who come across children, adolescents and adults with AS.' - British Journal of Occupational Therapy '...the tone of the book throughout, whilst not shying away from the difficulties that Asperger's can present to individuals, retains a positive slant that helps maintain the reader's interest. And excellent read!' - Journal of Occupational Psychology '...a brilliant book - [it] doesn't leave my side in my work with clients with Asperger Syndrome. Enjoy!' - Speech and Language Therapy in Practice 'Tony Attwood elegantly combines scientific understanding with experiences from people who have AS, and the result is a book that is both easy to read and informative. He seamlessly weaves together research findings with his extensive clinical experience to provide practical ideas and suggestions.' - Community Care 'This book is a jewel among the growing number of books on the subject.' - Children Now Magazine 'Readers familiar with Attwood's work will be baying for this new 'bible' and will not be disappointed.' - Therapy Today 'An in depth exploration of the topic undertaken from a very positive and optimistic point of view by a clinical psychologist with long experience in the field.' - BILD Current Awareness Service 'The author has achieved real empathic understanding of children and adults whose basic problem is a biologically based lack of empathy with others. The book is to be highly recommended for those with Asperger's syndrome as well as for families, other carers and professionals in the field.' - Lorna Wing '...a good mix of research information, first person reports and clinical information. The section on sensory over-sensitivity is excellent.' - Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation '...a comprehensively researched and beautifully written state of the art review of what is currently known about Asperger's syndrome.' - Uta Frith 'Dr. Attwood, or Saint Tony as I call him, gave me the strength to come out to the world and admit I was only pretending to be normal. That strength saved my life, of that I am certain. And now Saint Tony has penned a new book and it is extraordinary... The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is flawless in its ability to ease the trepidations, answer the questions, buoy the spirits, and encourage the dreams of those who walk with AS.' - Liane Holliday Willey, EdD author of Pretending to be Normal: Living With Asperger's Syndrome"

Product Description

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is the definitive handbook for anyone affected by Asperger's syndrome (AS). It brings together a wealth of information on all aspects of the syndrome for children through to adults.

Drawing on case studies and personal accounts from Attwood's extensive clinical experience, and from his correspondence with individuals with AS, this book is both authoritative and extremely accessible. Chapters examine: causes and indications of the syndrome; the diagnosis and its effect on the individual; theory of mind; the perception of emotions in self and others; social interaction, including friendships; long-term relationships; teasing, bullying and mental health issues; the effect of AS on language and cognitive abilities, sensory sensitivity, movement and co-ordination skills; and career development.

There is also an invaluable frequently asked questions chapter and a section listing useful resources for anyone wishing to find further information on a particular aspect of AS, as well as literature and educational tools.

Essential reading for families and individuals affected by AS as well as teachers, professionals and employers coming in contact with people with AS, this book should be on the bookshelf of anyone who needs to know or is interested in this complex condition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 397 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (May 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843106698
• ISBN-13: 978-1843106692
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,984 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Asperger's Bible - Truly a Godsend, January 31, 2007

By	BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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This review is from: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Hardcover)

Dr. Attwood is the leading expert on Asperger's Syndrome (AS) which is the spectrum partner to autism. This book is, at the time of this review his most current work. It is a shining gem and one of the standouts in autism/Asperger's (a/A) literature. If you are on the a/A continuum or know somebody who is, this book is your best friend. You will refer to it many times.

What makes this book all the more excellent and distinct is that Dr. Attwood discusses adults on the a/A spectrum as well. Autism in its myriad forms including AS does not clear up once a person hits adulthood. If you have it, it is with you for the long haul. Dr. Attwood's book and words of wisdom help lighten the load.

I have bought several copies of this book and have kept one for myself and gave the others to professionals in dire need of it. This book deserves a place of high honor and no parent; professional; person on the spectrum; anybody involved with a person/people on the spectrum should go without this book.

I was delighted to see a section devoted to intersensory marriage, that is of a neurotypical (NT) person to somebody on the a/A continuum. I would like to see more coverage of this much needed topic as AS presents a wide array of social challenges. Still, it is heartwarming; uplifting and encouraging to see more information devoted to intersensory marriages.

I agree with other reviewers who say Dr. Attwood is the best - I think we should propose a toast and raise our glasses to Dr. Attwood!

79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just one book... make it this one., February 2, 2007

By	Suz "treadingwater" (Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Hardcover)

I have read lots of books on AS and reviewed many of them. What I am always warning is that in most cases any one book never gives a complete picture.

Tony Attwood's book though is about as complete a picture as you could get right now and is not only far superior to his first guide to the subject but to many others on the market.

If you read just one book on AS this should be it. It is easy to read, packed with information, and the author's respect and appreciation for people with Asperger's is evident on every page.

It's professional, it's factual, it's understanding, it's worth owning a copy.

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful, compassionate, accessible snapshot, February 13, 2007

By	Douglas Bass (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Hardcover)

This book is considerably different from Attwood's 1998 book, in that it's more addressed to the general public, and has much more material about adult Aspies. A great many scholarly papers and books have been distilled to make up a good portion of the material. There is a great deal of encouraging material about materials developed to help Aspies navigate society, such as the Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations of Carol Gray, and the Interactive Guide to Emotions by Simon Baron-Cohen and his associates. Another stream of material is from the autobiographies of Aspies such as Liane Halliday Willie, Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, Luke Jackson and Nita Jackson. It's great to have a human face on the phenomenon of AS.

There seems to be a running thread through the book that sensory sensitivity is a bigger deal for Aspies than previously considered. When I read the chapter on sensory sensitivity, I recalled autism books that suggested autism was a response to body chemistry equivalent to a non-stop drug trip. I grasped that the sensory sensitivity that Aspies feel is a milder version of what autistic people feel. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I grasped.

This book has a few chapters near the end dealing specifically with adult Aspies, chapters on career prospects and long-term relationships. This is a welcome addition.

This will be a good first book for some time to come for anyone with an Aspie in their life. It's not the last book, but it isn't really meant to be the last book. It's meant to be the State of the Aspie Union address for 2007. The message of the book is "We know more about AS than ever before. We know more about what works for Aspie kids than ever before. With a little help, Aspies can get along with society, leverage their talents and interests, and work around their weaknesses."