The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

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."

Tony Attwood's latest is once again a singular source on understanding the minds and hearts of those impacted by this different and fascinating way of being. Based upon current theory, research, clinical experience, and the first person life stories, this book is unequaled in the literature and accessible to many audiences. If your child just got a diagnosis of Asperger's, if anyone in your family has this condition, or if your professional life brings you into contact with children or adults with these unique skills and challenges, this book belongs on your shelf to be read and referred to over and over. --Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D., psychologist, author of Special Children, Challenged Parents, and co-editor Voices from the Spectrum Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People With Autism, And Professionals Share Their Wisdom Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability Living Along the Autism Spectrum: What Does It Mean to have Autism or Asperger Syndrome?

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.

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!

As a parent of a 9 year-old Asperger's child and a 7 year-old PDD-NOS child, I can say I have read a multitude of books and articles on Asperger's and autism. This book is by far the best, comprehensive book I have ever read regarding the subject. It is easy to read, yet comprehensive, including strategies for parents and educators alike. I was particularly impressed with the chapter explaining "Theory of Mind". For those that don't understand the nature of Asperger's and High Functioning Autism, this chapter is very succinct in explaining how the brain of an Asperger's child or adult operates. I immediately copied this chapter (is that allowed??) for my son's new teacher and begged the principal to order a copy for the school!! Thank you Tony Attwood for writing such a tremendous book that will certainly go a long way to shed light on Asperger's for educators and caretakers alike!!