Faking It: A Look into the Mind of a Creative Learner

by Christopher M. Lee, Rosemary Jackson

"Faking It" is Chris Lee's story of almost two decades of academic frustration, matched by remarkable persistence, resilience, and ingenuity. It is a moving account of how people with his problems can be helped to overcome them. The story Chris tells of what happened to him when he wound up in the University of Georgia Learning Disabilities Adult Clinic, where he met Rosemary Jackson, is both a moving account of how people with his problems can be helped to overcome them and, at the same time, a powerful indictment of the system--and it is nationwide--that leaves people like Chris feeling incompetent and stupid.

Chris was considered 'disabled' because he could not see or hear letters correctly; his processing of written language interfered with his ability to use both written and spoken English, and for this reason the system labeled him handicapped. He labeled himself as stupid. Fearing every encounter with the English language, he devised his methods of faking his way through school sufficiently well to be admitted to the University of Georgia. There he found his faking wouldn't work--he had to recognize and deal with his problem. But he also found support and encouragement from people who not only understood his problem, they understood him. After five years of intensive work with Rosemary Jackson at the Clinic, he graduated from the University. He lost the need to fake it, And he wrote this book.

Genres: Education

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 1992

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was book would be good for someone who does not have experience with Learning Disabilities. If you are unaware of the struggles students go through or what teachers need to do for the students - this would be a good for them. Since I work with LD students every day and have my Master's degree in Special Education: Learning Disabilities, it was not very interesting for me. I was hoping for new information or a more personal story.

[Hillary S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my Special Education course. I have to admit that it was hard to read because nothing in it made me want to read more. It wasn't inviting and I felt a lot of it was repeated. On a brighter note, I did learn a lot about how learning disabilities effect the lives of individuals and the struggles they face on a daily basis. It's a good book to gain information on a personal level.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insight to what it is like to live with a learning "disability." I have recommended this as a teacher to parents of children overcoming learning challenges.