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Pretending to Be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome
Pretending to be Normal tells the story of a woman who, after years of self-doubt and self-denial, learned to embrace her Asperger's syndrome traits with thanksgiving and joy. This positive and humane book provides insight into the Asperger world as well as hope and encouragement for other people with Asperger's Syndrome, their families, and their friends.
Paperback, 175 pages
Published
July 28th 1999
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
(first published June 30th 1999)
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This book was a fast and good read. It gave me an insight into how a person with Asperger's Syndrome really sees the world and deals with situations around them. Even though there is criticism of the author writing a book so far from when the events happened I believe she explained the events well and even if she didn't remember the exact events to a T, she still never forgot how she felt at the time the events happened and how she dealt with them. I think the author does a great job explaini...more
Good book. A bit of light reading with some interesting thoughts. The title was awesome: "Pretending to be Normal". Ahhh......seems like the perfect description of my life in general. LOL. Gosh, when I think back........When was I not pretending to be normal? LOL.
One favorite quote: "Too often those with AS get lost in a world of discouragement and damaged self-esteem, and in that world there are few avenues for happiness. I try, at every opportunity I am gi...more
One favorite quote: "Too often those with AS get lost in a world of discouragement and damaged self-esteem, and in that world there are few avenues for happiness. I try, at every opportunity I am gi...more
This may be the most personal review that I ever contribute to Goodreads. During the past year, I have read most of the significant biographies written by Aspies. I have also read the more formal literature on Aspergers and Austism by Tony Attwood and others. I chose to do this in an attempt to understand my own life experience and to compare it to those with AS who have published. I rate Liane Holliday Willey's book as one of the two best, the other being Temple Grandin's "Thinking in ...more
Willey has Asperger’s syndrome, but never knew it until her daughter was diagnosed with it. She knew she was different from most people, and that some things were harder for her, but that was as far as it went. She was a high achiever in school, went through college and got her doctorate, married and had children. Asperger’s did not stop her, and now, knowing why she is different, her past makes sense to her. This is her story of what life is like with Asperger’s.
This is a very short...more
This is a very short...more
I found this book to be very interesting, though frustrating. Unless I missed it, Liane doesn't make it clear if she was actually disgnosed with Aspergers, or even if her daughter was, or whether they have self-diagnosed from their reading of the subject.
This doesn't help me be clear about what Aspergers is. An awful lot of Liane's descriptions of the problems that she suffers rang bells with me, either of problems I have, or that people close to me have. So where is the line drawn ...more
This doesn't help me be clear about what Aspergers is. An awful lot of Liane's descriptions of the problems that she suffers rang bells with me, either of problems I have, or that people close to me have. So where is the line drawn ...more
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Though it is curious that Willey wrote a whole book about living with Asperger's Syndrome without ever being diagnosed with AS herself, the book is a quick read and gives brief introduction into the frustrations such people face in neuro-typical surroundings. It also highlights points where deficits in social skills can prove to be a real danger for the AS person (the author talks being assaulted by an ex-felon). Despite the author's assertion in the final pages of the book that she does not wis...more
This is a book about Asperger's syndrome penned by one suffering from it. However the author's Asperger's syndrome was not diagnosed (if it ever was) until one of her own children received this diagnosis.
What shall I say? The author is exceedingly articulate and expresses in detail whatever she wants to say. The book was a bit too intense for me (who apparently have many of the symptoms of AS as do practically all of the reviewers on this site.) She tells us about the problems she ha...more
What shall I say? The author is exceedingly articulate and expresses in detail whatever she wants to say. The book was a bit too intense for me (who apparently have many of the symptoms of AS as do practically all of the reviewers on this site.) She tells us about the problems she ha...more
This book was a quick read and a great insight into the world of Asperger's Syndrome. Since I currently have a student with AS in my classroom it was very helpful for me to get a look into what might be going on inside her head and strategies for working more effectively with her.
This book was written by a woman who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome as an adult after her daughter was diagnosed with the same condition. It should be an essential on the reading list of someone who truly wants to understand Aspeger's Syndrome. It may be useful to read books written by psychologists and "experts" on the topic, but a study of the syndrome cannot be complete without looking at it through the eyes of a true expert--one who actually has Asperger's.
"...more
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I believe this is the book that started the current Asperger's "lite" diagnosis trend, by expanding what was a fairly rare and strictly scrutinized Autism-spectrum disorder into the new ADD. Check out some movies or books portraying actual Asperger's individuals - they do not merely find it hard to connect with others or to understand what others are trying to communicate; it goes far deeper. However, in the last 5-10 years, AS has become a catch-all for kids who haven't been taught ...more
While I like this book, the author is kind of a jerk.
She acts like she's doing her husband a favor tolerating him at times.
She acts like she's doing her husband a favor tolerating him at times.
Add an extra 0.5 of a star to this review. One of Nathan's clients recommended this book, and after reading it, I ahve gained a better understanding and appreciation of people (adults and kids I know) who have Asperger's Syndrome. It can be terrifying to the person who doesnt understand why they feel what they feel, and frustrating to those around them who simply cannot relate. The author suffers from AS herself and has been blessed with the ability to write well. It makes the book read smoothly...more
Willey was diagnosed by Tony Attwood (and a few other psychologists she has gone to over the years) immediately after she wrote this book. I think her insight is interesting and spot on for many women who weren't diagnosed until they were adults. I love all her books and believe them to be filled with hope and positive ideas, while not downplaying the complications life with ASD can bring.
This book was fascinating. It was really interesting to learn so much about Asperger's Syndrome from someone that has it. It was a very hopeful book, especially for anyone that has issues like that in their family. It also made me think about how I relate to others that are different and how I could do better.
Somewhat questionable in that author has never technically been diagnosed with AS. But offers an interesting glimpse into a world that is unknown to many of us and isn't readily understood. I read it because she was on NPR as she had inspired the director of the movie Adam.
I'm always looking for adult/older adolescent books by those with Asperger syndrome in the hopes that I gain knowledge to better understand and help my son. I am equally inspired by their level of functioning despite them seeming to be even more impaired than my son!
Gracielou
rated it
Recommends it for:
any one dealing with Aspberger's Syndrome
Recommended to Gracielou by:
Liane Holliday Willey
Liane is a family friend and a great crusader for children and families with emotional disabilities. Her heart-rending account of what it was like to grow up with Asperger's Syndrome is a must read for any family who deals with with a family member who's been diagnosed with this form of high functioning Autism.
Liane allows the reader to walk a mile in her shoes and it's most enlightening and prepares you to be more sympathetic and empathetic for those that suffer with this syndrom...more
Liane allows the reader to walk a mile in her shoes and it's most enlightening and prepares you to be more sympathetic and empathetic for those that suffer with this syndrom...more
This is a must read for anyone who has an "aspie" in his/her life. The book is at once hopeful, poignant, and inclusive. While I don't think it's the best written book I've ever encountered (it could have benefited from better editing that would have corrected some glaring grammatical errors), it compensated with its honesty. I don't know that this would appeal to a general audience, but if you are a parent or teacher of, or person with Aspergers, I recommend this.
I'd be interested to read other AS memoirs since this was published 10 years ago. I have to professionally disagree with the author's listing of Librarian as a profession not requiring interpersonal communication.
As I read this, it's like someone else wrote a biography on my life! It's really nice knowing I'm not the only one who thinks this way...and apparently some people are worse off than I am.
What I learned: That I have many of the same asperger's tenancies that are mentioned in this book. Maybe I am and maybe I am not or maybe aspies are more normal than we think.
Overall, it was pretty good as an autobiography.
Michael Weaver
added it
very insightful, helped me identify a few things.
This is a well-written memoir of a woman who grew up with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome (an autistic spectrum disorder.) It wasn't until one of her daughters was diagnosed with AS that she was able to put a name to why she, herself, had always felt she didn't quite fit in.
The memoir is followed by appendices, giving specific suggestions for coping skills for people with AS & their family members. This is an extremely useful section, covering all aspects of life - personal, social, ...more
The memoir is followed by appendices, giving specific suggestions for coping skills for people with AS & their family members. This is an extremely useful section, covering all aspects of life - personal, social, ...more
Interesting autobiography with a very apt title. I speculate that a lot of people have Asperger's but neither they nor the people around them know it. They have learned to act "normal" so that neither they nor others realize that what is going on inside their head is actually not typical.
I think this was an excellent personal first hand look at what one might feel struggling to understand their own asperger's syndrome. I would recommend this book to anyone that feels they may be wired differently, or anyone who has a loved one that lives everyday with asperger's.
This is an excellent book. When the author's child was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, she saw her life explained. She then shares situations and how as an Aspie, she handled them over the years. There are also wonderful tips for family and friends of Aspies.
Intéressant, je découvre
Tanya Hakala
marked it as to-read
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