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The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

Tony Attwood

4.24 · Rating details · 3,237 ratings · 199 reviews

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is the definitive handbook for anyone affected by Asperger's syndrome (AS). Now including a new introduction explaining the impact of DSM-5 on the diagnosis and approach to 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

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Hardcover, 396 pages

Published September 28th 2006 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd

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Feb 21, 2009 Aaron Miller rated it really liked it

I read this after I was diagnosed with AS at the age of 25. It's an excellent source of information on how AS manifests itself and issues surrounding the condition.

My only problem with the book is that Attwood babies Aspies too much, commonly suggesting that they should make everyone aware of their condition and expect both understanding and allowances. If a person with Aspergers ever hopes to live a full life, he or she needs to accept that not every situation can be planned or controlled. The ...more

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Jun 06, 2011 N rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology, non-fiction, library

Ooh, you’re always setting yourself up for a fall when you call your book The COMPLETE Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome. You may as well call it the ONLY Guide or the BEST EVER Guide. *wince* Maybe I should cut Tony Attwood some slack; the title was probably his publisher’s idea.

Nonetheless, I found this book slight lacking. One might even say... incomplete. *rimshot*

It’s particularly poor when it comes to strategies for dealing with Asperger’s. Almost all the suggestions are aimed at children (“dra ...more

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Nov 17, 2008 Kassy added it

For a guide to Asperger's this is quite good. Upon reading it, I knew that this pattern fit me very well, and promptly got diagnosed. Alof of the patterns, repetative thoughts, behaviors, pedantic speech, idiosyncratic interests, skill with words, trouble with non-verbal communication (including flirting). Ex: 29, never had a romantic relationship, or had much in the way of that connection. That's been the most devestating effect. That's mainly because even if someone is flirting me, I can't rea For a guide to Asperger's this is quite good. Upon reading it, I knew that this pattern fit me very well, and promptly got diagnosed. Alof of the patterns, repetative thoughts, behaviors, pedantic speech, idiosyncratic interests, skill with words, trouble with non-verbal communication (including flirting). Ex: 29, never had a romantic relationship, or had much in the way of that connection. That's been the most devestating effect. That's mainly because even if someone is flirting me, I can't read impressions. When I've "done" something about it, it's all wrong. So then most often I'm overly cautious, and nothing can happen that way either. That's the truth, depressing, but the truth. Physical disabilities are hard, to not be able to take care of oneself with ease, and to have the discrimination that comes along with it, especially when it's more severe. Mental disabilities, such as Asperger's and others, can cut one off from the necessary social support that keeps a person alive as well, but for different reasons. In my case I'm cut off because of an inability to understand others intentions. I've found that my life has been very difficult, and arduous sometimes to make life meaningful in light of the difficulties, the awkwardness, the rejection, the mistakes, the isolation that seem neverending. In my case, I know that the compassion it has aroused in me, the empathic-ness, because of knowing intense, difficulty just getting by, doing the basics, just remotely keeping friends, has been the most humbling experience I can imagine. Many of the people I have known who have not known such hardship in their lives, are sometimes much more conceptual, and 2-dimensional and how they view others able to exist at a more superficial level (in that sense any humbling traumatic hardship can be a blessing in character developement), most people I know rely psychologically on the benefits of having romantic partners throughout their lives. That too is something, that it is possible I may never get to rely on, or enjoy. Or even physical affection, I don't really understand the subtle cues that would lead to kissing, and being forthright really has not worked. I'm like everyone else, just as selfish and concerned with meeting my needs, but this has forced me to question everything down to the foundation. I don't believe ideologies, and dogmatic opinions, because they fall apart, ground down by exhausting psychological hardship, and loneliness. Most recently in the last few years I've stumbled upon the sage Ramana Maharshi and his method of Inquiry has given me a sense of bliss and connection to everything at times unparalleled. And so when the mind goes out to desires and fears I redirect it toward the I that is seeing, the I that is experiencing, who is that I? Continual dismantling of the self-image through every experience. Obviously in this I've been using the self-concept, so I'm not free of it. But maybe one of these days. In some ways, I wish people would be more forgiving toward me, of subtle mistakes, but not in a way where they don't treat me with respect, but value that my way of processing the world is cool, and interesting too. So far it is rare. This is a cruel, oppressive collective conscience at this time, but certainly my difficulties with Asperger's Autism have granted insights into a deeper level, sometimes missed by my anarchist, feminist, gender queer, ideological comrades, that of how psychologically our egos, are creating this unliveable environment, where we are all depressed all the time, especially those of us who can't compete in the mean social competeitions. ...more

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Nov 21, 2013 Niall rated it really liked it

I read this book hoping, like many others, to gain a grasp of my own responses to the neurotypical world, and its responses to me.

In that, I would consider it successful. It spent perhaps too much time discussing children, but it is supposed to be "complete", and this information would undoubtedly be of use to many parents finding these characteristics in their offspring.

The book describes Asperger syndrome, and goes on to talk about differences between aspies and neurotypicals in social underst I read this book hoping, like many others, to gain a grasp of my own responses to the neurotypical world, and its responses to me.

In that, I would consider it successful. It spent perhaps too much time discussing children, but it is supposed to be "complete", and this information would undoubtedly be of use to many parents finding these characteristics in their offspring.

The book describes Asperger syndrome, and goes on to talk about differences between aspies and neurotypicals in social understanding (with a specific chapter on bullying), Theory of Mind, emotions, special interests, language, cognition, coordination, and sensory sensitivity, from early childhood to adulthood It then goes on to discuss college (Asperger syndrome tends to come with heightened intelligence, so we have a higher average educational attainment than the general population) and the fraught question of long-term relationships. He also covers some of the issues surrounding some of the more common questions - including crime, which may help to set the minds of some readers at rest: we have no higher a rate of offending than the rest of you, and convictions for violent crime are lower than in the general population. The aspie population does have a different profile of offending, often involving the morally right (or at least, to the aspie mind, defensible, which isn't necessarily the same thing) colliding with the legally wrong: think Lisbeth Salander. An awareness of this may help at least some of us stay out of jail - a place we are less able to handle than most neurotypical crooks.

It is a very practical book, although it perhaps didn't come down strongly enough against the seal-training "therapies" of ABA and IBI, and will certainly be of great value to parents, among others.

As someone who was diagnosed as an adult, I found myself recognising - and sometimes wincing at - many of the descriptions of the aspie child. It is possible to gain important insights into this from reading the assorted blogs on the subject, and engaging with online communities such as Wrong Planet, but Attwood's book is deliberately comprehensive, discussing subjects and placing them into contexts that I might not otherwise have considered. It is, however, somewhat less practical for those identified as adults. I don't think this is the author's fault - the interventions simply are not there and, as I've found the hard way, trying to implement what might otherwise be sensible strategies tend to fail in the face of neurotypical aversion to the unfamiliar. In this sense I think the author overestimates the capacity of your average NT to accept anyone who is "different".

It was however a refreshing change from the perspectives offered by scientists like Simon Baron-Cohen. Baron-Cohen's work is of value, but I found his somewhat artificial distinctions between "male" and "female" brains somewhat oversimplistic, and Attwood successfully overcomes this.

It's not what I would call complete. The Markrams' Intense World Theory was proposed after this book was published, and I would hope a second edition would discuss this. Perhaps of greater concern is that there is no proper discussion of the problems of shutdown and meltdown, characteristics that can cause problems and, in the case of meltdown, even be potentially dangerous if mishandled. Attwood comes very close to comparing meltdown to the temper tantrum that it superficially resembles. I suspect, given the paucity of research on the subject, that he doesn't know much about it, although it is well documented, indeed intensively discussed, within the community.

All in all, however, I would recommend this book, particularly to parents and teachers (I wish both my parents and my teachers would have had something like this when I was growing up. It will also have value to adolescent and adult aspies as well as to spouses and to those wishing to gain a better understanding of the aspie in your life. ...more

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Sep 01, 2015 Robert rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: autism, biology, non-fiction, science

Tony Attwood is a therapist rather than a researcher and that is reflected in this somewhat incomplete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. If you want a comprehensive description of the Syndrome, the ever-changing diagnostic guidelines and the individual symptoms, this is the book for you. If you want an extremely thorough over-view of all available therapies/interventions/support services and their efficacy this is most certainly the book for you. If you want a summary of the current state of researc Tony Attwood is a therapist rather than a researcher and that is reflected in this somewhat incomplete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. If you want a comprehensive description of the Syndrome, the ever-changing diagnostic guidelines and the individual symptoms, this is the book for you. If you want an extremely thorough over-view of all available therapies/interventions/support services and their efficacy this is most certainly the book for you. If you want a summary of the current state of research into causes of autistic behaviour, you will need to look elsewhere as there's a total of less than two pages on the subject.

The book focuses heavily on childhood and adolescence but does not completely ignore adulthood; I think this just reflects where the effort has been put with regard to helping Aspies - there's just much less support for adults available. Because of the focus on ways of helping Aspies with their social problems, there is comparatively little discussion of their strengths, but Attwood is clearly aware of these strengths, appreciative of the positive things Aspies can offer society and sympathetic to their cause. Nevertheless, particularly early on he does make quite a few value-judgements that I feel are entirely subjective and out of place. He also use "empathy" in a technical sense that is not what non-psychologists would generally assume it means - but doesn't explain this specialised usage for several more chapters. This potentially helps fuel an incorrect and very negative stereotype about Aspies - that they have no empathy - which is completely without foundation.

The tone is quite dry, somewhat academic, but not excruciatingly dull. It is heavily referenced for those who wish to dive into the research literature. Various case histories and anecdotes leaven the text and for the most part I think it's readily accessible to the general reader. The book will be of most use to parents of Aspies and I believe Attwood had that readership in mind when he wrote it. ...more

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Jan 04, 2019 Joseph Sciuto rated it it was amazing

Tony Attwood's "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" is more like a textbook, than a guide, beautifully written and easy to understand. I cannot recommend this book more highly, especially for children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, parents, relatives or friends who suspect someone close to them as possibly having Asperger's syndrome, teachers, educators, medical and psychological professionals, criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, and people simply ...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Sibyl rated it really liked it

I read this book in the hope that I would gain a clearer understanding of two people in my circle. I wanted something a bit more detailed than the (helpful) information I had been given by the National Autistic Society - that would include references to the research findings into this condition. I was also hoping to avoid a book that made a lot of assumptions about what 'masculinity' and 'femininity' might be. I have read one of Simon Baron Cohen's books on autism and felt somewhat irked by his ...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Roberta rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction

I thought this book was very detailed in regards to Asperger's Syndrome. I bought it to learn about the condition because my son was recently diagnosed with it. I read it seeing myself lurking through the pages. I had hoped to find out how to cope with someone who thinks differently than other people do. I figured out there was a reason why my son and I are so close.

If you are looking for a complete guide to understanding Asperger's I recommend this book. You will learn how it is diagnosed, theo ...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Laura Cushing rated it it was amazing

A complete guide to Asperger's system, just like the title says. I'm sure it's not 100% complete, nothing ever is - but it's as close as you're going to get. Attwood discusses every life stage from early childhood to adulthood, and gives strategies for working with aspergers and overcoming some of the challenges those on the autistic spectrum face.

I learned a lot about my aspergers from reading this book, and have been working on a few new strategies based on the reading. I also found the resour ...more

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Jul 17, 2015 Gaby rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Therapists, mental health professionals, neurotypicals in general,

I have read many books on the autism spectrum, but had difficulties at times relating to some of them as most tend to be written on just diagnosed children whereas I was diagnosed in my early twenties (I was actually diagnosed after the removal of Aspergers from the DSM with autism spectrum disorder, but the original referral was for Aspergers and I felt it always fit me better).The book's weaknesses , though were mainly on how again it's usually those diagnosed in childhood who still receive mo ...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Donna Parker rated it it was amazing

Shelves: asperger-s

I don't know if I'd say this is the only book on Asperger's Syndrome I'd recommend, but it's certainly a great place to start. Lots of information, easy to read, and doesn't make you wince. There's no complete guide mostly because just as every person is unique, each person's experiences with AS are unique. ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Sarah Whitney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, aspergers, parenting, non-fiction, library

MY NOTES/QUOTES/AND USEFUL BITS:

Asperger considered that the characteristics could be identified in some children as young as two and three years, although for some children, the characteristics only became conspicuous some years later. He also noticed that some of the parents, especially the fathers of such children, appeared to share some of the personality characteristics of their child. He wrote that the condition was probably due to genetic or neurological, rather than psychological or env ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Jigme Datse rated it did not like it

Shelves: mental-health, non-fiction, own, asd

This was absolutely horrible. Well, it was for me. Apparently the person who recommended it thought it was great, and thought it was a great fit for me. After having followed every single recommendation that person has given me, I can say very clearly this person either has insufficient knowledge of the "field" of Autism Spectrum Disorder resources, or honestly has/had no clue whatsoever about what would work for *me*.

Let's start with formatting. Clearly the author, his editors, the publisher, This was absolutely horrible. Well, it was for me. Apparently the person who recommended it thought it was great, and thought it was a great fit for me. After having followed every single recommendation that person has given me, I can say very clearly this person either has insufficient knowledge of the "field" of Autism Spectrum Disorder resources, or honestly has/had no clue whatsoever about what would work for *me*.

Let's start with formatting. Clearly the author, his editors, the publisher, well quite literally everyone couldn't figure out if they wanted to say, "quotation marks belong on the outside of punctuation," or "quotation marks belong on the inside of punctuation". While I can't say I saw both formats used on the same page, I can say in *very* close proximity they used both.

Really, I probably wouldn't really have noticed that if I didn't keep reading it and going "Clearly I am not the person he is describing, nor are most of the aspies, autistics that I interact with."

I did find a few sentences in the book that taken out of context could be *hugely* inspiring. But I am pretty sure the total count in the over 350 pages was about 3.

Goodreads calls a 1 star "I did not like it." Saying I did not like it, is a bit like saying that I did not like eating excrement. That I did not like going through months of periodic shaking from psychiatric drugs. I have been told that "hate is a strong word" (by people who were using "love" for the same "activity" but that wasn't at all a strong word), I'm not sure hate is exactly an overstatement for this book.

As an example (warning spoilers...) he has a section about criminal activities. This section he spends about the first 100 or so words saying quite clearly "no" to criminal activities being more common. The next 8 pages? All the problems that lead aspies to commit crimes, and the types of crimes they commit. And just how horrible aspies are in terms of their criminal behaviour.

I am exaggerating somewhat in "how horrible aspies are in terms of their criminal behaviour," he presents what he is saying as "neutral fact" and would probably say that he's not promoting the idea that criminal behaviour is a *common problem* but rather that when it does come up, that people should be aware of these things.

The "problem" with how he presents it? This is common throughout the whole book, he spends a little bit being explicate about "things are good" then spends 4 to 40 times as much time talking about the "problems to look out for."

I could well write more. I'm not sure if I could say anything more that would be helpful. ...more

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Mar 01, 2008 Douglas rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: anyone wanting to know more about Asperger's Syndrome

Recommended to Douglas by: no one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 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 a ...more

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Jun 10, 2017 Lauren rated it it was ok

Shelves: autism-adhd, non-fiction, 2017-reads, i-own

A bit dry, very heteronormative, and mostly focused on children and teenagers, but adults are not completely ignored. I learned some things, about alexithymia and apraxia especially. I'm glad dyscalculia was mentioned because I've never read about it in combination with Asperger's before.

Author used the word 'asexual' when he should have used 'celibate', which bothers me greatly as an asexual person.

Overall, this guide is not very complete (as the title implies), and a bit outdated. Also, I ment ...more

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Jul 17, 2016 Alice Lemon rated it really liked it

Shelves: category-reference, topic-neurodiversity

I decided to read this book because of my suspicions that I have Asperger's. I did find that it contained a decent amount of useful information, though it definitely seemed far more focused on children---and far more addressed to the parents of children---than I would have liked.

I also got the definite impression from the chapter on romantic relationships that his impression is that people with Asperger's shouldn't have romantic relationships with neurotypicals, though I'm not sure that's the a ...more

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Apr 28, 2019 Renata rated it really liked it

I'm not going to lie, some of this went over my head. It's a lot to process, but I'm sure as the parent of someone with Asperger's, it will make more sense with time and effort to understand and create the right environment for him.

Some parts were electrifyingly enlightening, answering some mysteries no one had identified for me as yet. Or maybe they had but it just didn't click until I read certain parts of this book. I hear there are courses that Tony Attwood runs on Aspergers, and I'm definit ...more

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Mar 29, 2018 Brittany Osborne rated it liked it

This book is very informative but it was difficult for me to read on many levels because it is written like a textbook. The long lengthy sentences and the repetition of the word Asperger's Syndrome in basically every sentence contained in the book made my brain want to scream. The book was also very depressing. It puts Asperger's Syndrome in a very bad light and stressed the negatives of the condition. ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Karen Barber rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-kindle-copy

Definitely not a ‘read-through’ and not every aspect will be relevant.
Having just received a diagnosis for son, this was a good starting point. Plenty of information and some useful pointers to consider.
Unfortunately the style was a little academic for a complete starter into the process. Don’t think you’ll ever cover everything, so this is more of a comprehensive guide in my mind.
Did think the links to other texts was a good idea.

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Dec 03, 2017 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: asd

My copy from the library must have been an older edition. It didn't have the introduction about how Asperger's fits into the new diagnostic criteria for ASD in the DSM-V. I was curious about that exact topic the entire time that I was reading the book. It had a lot of great information and I loved that it talked specifically about girls with the diagnosis and what to expect beyond childhood. ...more

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Apr 04, 2017 Stephany Wilkes rated it really liked it

This review feels a bit like coming out, but so be it. First, some background in case there are other adult readers like me (diagnosed in adulthood and/or some time ago), who may find this context helpful.

My husband recommended I read this after seeing it referenced in one of his video games. For 20 years (yes, really), I've basically ignored an ASD diagnosis I received because I received it in totally unplanned fashion in college. Briefly, a psychology professor told our class we could receive This review feels a bit like coming out, but so be it. First, some background in case there are other adult readers like me (diagnosed in adulthood and/or some time ago), who may find this context helpful.

My husband recommended I read this after seeing it referenced in one of his video games. For 20 years (yes, really), I've basically ignored an ASD diagnosis I received because I received it in totally unplanned fashion in college. Briefly, a psychology professor told our class we could receive extra credit by taking IQ tests administered by the grad students in the Psych department, who needed to do however many of these during the course of their studies. I didn't need the extra credit, but thought I might later. I also hadn't had an IQ test since before kindergarten, and was curious to see if my number would change.

I took it and, when the school called with my results, they asked if I wanted to come in for a follow-up test. They did not tell me anything about it but said it was "similar" to the IQ test. I don't recall many details of the test itself. I remember that it was primarily comprised of interview questions, took a few hours, and was conducted not just by the grad student but with one of his advising professors as well. It took place on another campus where I had an evening class, and I went directly from the test to class. That was that.

At some point they called, and I received my diagnosis in person, from the professor who had helped administer the test, right before my evening class. I don't remember much about this aside from the anger in my own head. I was confused, and I remember writing them off (as Attwood notes is a typical response, by the way) as not knowing what they were talking about. They weren't exactly helpful. I felt surprised and I HATE that; I had no health care at the time and did not know what was I supposed to do with a diagnosis anyway (who, exactly, would be footing a therapist bill?). I was already weird enough without any label implying disability attached to me, I was very worried about being saddled with a pre-existing condition that would prevent me from getting insurance at a later date, and I was barely on the spectrum anyway. If I told anyone (and I'm honestly not sure I did), I probably told the woman I was living with who is still one of my nearest and dearest friends.

Fast forward 20 years, though, and a lot has changed. So, based on my sweet husband's advice (he's in a similar boat but had many more and better resources during his life), I picked up this book to see if there might be anything to my husband's thoughts and that past diagnosis. It was illuminating, and upsetting. Which brings me to a note of caution to other adults who might read this book: You may find that this book describes you, and worse, the parts deep inside your brain that only you experience, to such an uncomfortable level of detail that it feels violating, while also feeling like a relief.

I was not prepared to read about how many aspects of my brain, physiological perceptions, and life ASD could be responsible for. It was very... jarring. After reading a few chapters, I felt like there was none of "me" left, or rather, as if all of me was due to ASD: my almost maddening verbal ability, my love of knitting (so wonderfully repetitive and soothing), the extreme intolerance of noise that I struggled to hide forever so I could have a social life, having utterly no idea what is happening in business meetings and other strange social situations, and myriad other "quirks" that I thought made me who I am... Now, these all feel more like a disease profile now than what I thought was my personality.

All a long way of saying that the flash of recognition can be somewhat brutal (though I am certain Attwood does not intend it), and that it is something to be prepared for that I was not, at all.

I am particularly grateful to Attwood for taking the time to point out how ASD can vary in women; how women cope differently; the extensive resources at the back of the book; and for his explaining the specific aspects of IQ tests that can point to possible ASD. I now understand what it was about mine that flagged me for further testing, and not knowing has always bugged me. As others have noted, the book is more heavily focused on children, but I skimmed some of those sections. I found others interesting, however, especially as they pertained to issues my parents and I had with teachers and certain school subjects when I was younger. Sharing some of those points with my parents also helped them, who did not have an easy child to deal with in some ways (please, no zoo or children's birthday parties -- I smiled at Attwood's advice on the latter!), and were first-time parents. I believe one of my parents has since gotten this book from the library.

I still don't know what, if anything, I will do with all of this information or if there's any good in doing so, but it is a relief to have more clarity on some many things about my brain that have seemed insurmountable.
...more

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Oct 07, 2016 Michelle Llewellyn rated it liked it

A developmental brain disorder for a person unable to socialize, converse and understand the thoughts and feelings of others. A person unable to accurately express their own thoughts and feelings but with considerable intellectual ability that is not autistic-no delays in cognitive or language development.
Unlike normal people, a person with Asperger's was born with an inability to read people and their facial expressions. They can't look people in the eye so they miss those cues or, if they do, A developmental brain disorder for a person unable to socialize, converse and understand the thoughts and feelings of others. A person unable to accurately express their own thoughts and feelings but with considerable intellectual ability that is not autistic-no delays in cognitive or language development.
Unlike normal people, a person with Asperger's was born with an inability to read people and their facial expressions. They can't look people in the eye so they miss those cues or, if they do, they are "blind" to them due to an inability to focus.
They have an unusual fascination with particular subjects that they just won't shut up talking about with a tendency to use advanced vocabulary. Because they are on the High Functioning Autism end of the spectrum, they are often described as being very bright but they just don't fit in. They always seem to be one step behind everyone else in social circles. This makes them an easy target for bullying. People with Asperger's Syndrome have difficulty in making friends because their condition hinders empathetic thinking. They don't realize their tendency to prattle or talk out of turn or always speak their mind, might be rude. They are honest and expect everyone else to be the same, hence they are easy to "set up" for a joke or be the scapegoat in criminal activity.
Those with Asperger's often find themselves being isolated by peers, yet, when a person with Asperger's entire day is spent in a constant state of anxiety trying desperately to figure out these mysterious social cues while avoiding ridicule and failure at school or work, solitary confinement is actually a blessing in disguise!
Yet, people with Asperger's syndrome know they are different. That something is wrong with them. That they don't and just can't seem to belong anywhere. They want desperately to fit in and have friends, be popular, happy and successful in feeling good about themselves, but, without a support network of family and friends, understanding teachers and employers or a spouse who "gets" them, that's not going to happen.
This can lead to increased depression, low self esteem, difficulty forming lasting relationships and employment problems.
It might even lead to attempted suicide.
For someone who has never heard, until recently, of this distinct group of eccentric, autistic characters, this is a good place to start. Fifteen chapters later, you will come away with a greater understanding of Asperger's Syndrome.
I read this book because it was suggested I may be on the Autism spectrum for Asperger's. This book made so much sense to me. It opened new doors I'd never considered. Made me wish someone had told me about this disorder years earlier as Tony Atwood gears much of his narrative toward helping children with Asperger's.
But, even as an adult, some of those questions that troubled me in my teenage years have finally been answered-What's the matter with me? Why am I such an easy target at school? Why do my parents and peers keep insisting I'M the one who needs to change before they'll accept me?
Well, guess what world, I'm NOT defective. I never needed to be "fixed." I just needed to understand, when it comes to communication, an "Aspie" brain is wired differently than yours. Over the years, I learned how to manage, even camouflage, my unique differences. Learned to pay attention to those conversational cues so I can be a better friend and conversationalist. Trained myself to look people in the eye to make the appropriate social response.
As a socially isolated child and teen I would lose myself in fantasy worlds where I was accepted, loved and appreciated. As an adult, I gradually understood there was a time and place for my special interests so I could go out and find real life (not fantasy) friends who accepted me and my unique talents. I learned how to focus so I could be successful at keeping a job.
"Our civilization would be extremely dull and sterile if we did not have and treasure people with Asperger's syndrome." (345)
Thank you, Tony Attwood, for writing this book.
...more

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Sep 29, 2020 T. Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

After reading several books on Asperger’s, with each book referencing this book, I just had to read it. This book definitely contained much information on Asperger’s that was helpful in my research of the subject. I found this book very helpful, well written and a good value. No book is the only or complete source on a subject, but this book would be a great start because it is fairly comprehensive.

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May 21, 2013 Daniel A. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Aspies and those who love them

Shelves: nonfiction, reference, psychology, esoteric-reference, self-help, aspergers-related

Well, it took long enough, but it was eminently worth it.

I finally finished The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, the primary work on the subject of Asperger's, written by Tony Attwood, the clinician (in my opinion) most influential and knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of it, after "only" five-odd months spent reading it, off and on. While often difficult to process and dense in the information it conveys, The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is one of those rare books w Well, it took long enough, but it was eminently worth it.

I finally finished The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, the primary work on the subject of Asperger's, written by Tony Attwood, the clinician (in my opinion) most influential and knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of it, after "only" five-odd months spent reading it, off and on. While often difficult to process and dense in the information it conveys, The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is one of those rare books whose title conveys exactly what is on the inside. It is an invaluable reference for those of us with Asperger's and for those of you who love and care for people like us.

While personal memoirs such as, say, John Elder Robison's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, offer a more individualized perspective on what it's actually like to live with Asperger's, the benefit of Attwood's work is that it's truly comprehensive. Attwood describes, with references to dozens, if not hundreds, of studies on the subject—as well as with many, many quotations from Aspies themselves (such as Temple Grandin and Liane Holliday Willey)—virtually every recognized clinical aspect of an Asperger's diagnosis, from the basic inability or difficulty to gauge others' emotions to the sensory sensitivity common amongst Aspies but not within the DSM-V diagnostic criteria. Add to this that Attwood offers gentle encouragement, support, and strategies for success with Asperger's—as well as a notation that every Aspie is different—and The Complete Guide genuinely becomes indispensable.

Other works I have read, such as Maxine Aston's Aspergers in Love: Couple Relationships and Family Affairs, deal with Asperger's on a more particularly practical level—i.e., with some specific aspect of Aspergian behavior—but for a thorough, general resource, The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome can't be beat. That Attwood, despite being a skilled clinician, writes for a general audience, is a bonus, and overall the book resonated on multiple levels with me.

As I wrote above, I highly recommend The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome to Aspies—both newly-diagnosed and old hats—those who love and care for Aspies, and to anyone else who wants to learn more about this still-misunderstood diagnosis.
...more

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Sep 27, 2013 Cynthia Kim rated it really liked it

Shelves: autism

The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome was the first book I read about AS and it’s still the best I’ve come across. Dr. Tony Attwood takes a no-nonsense approach to explaining what Asperger’s Syndrome is and how it affects people at all stages of life. He writes in a conversational style that makes some of the more technical aspects of AS easy to understand for the layperson without “dumbing down” the subject matter. He addresses the symptoms of AS as they manifest in both children and adults ...more

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May 17, 2016 Marc rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the book I recommend to anyone interested in wanting to understand Asperger's Syndrome (now not referred to as such, but included under the Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis). Tony Attwood writes clearly, with understanding, knowledge and clinical experience, empathetically, but also with ready willingness to step back and let people with the disorder speak for themselves. It is also replete with strategies of management, development, social intersection, self-care, education, and more, ...more

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Mar 16, 2018 Lambda Moses rated it really liked it

Shelves: autism

This book presents some interesting and indeed quite comprehensive observations on Asperger's syndrome, showing Dr. Attwood's extensive clinical experience. Asperger's syndrome can indeed be manifested in such diverse ways. However, I did not give it 5 stars because it has limited help for adults, as when it comes to coping strategies and therapies, it mainly talks about children. It may be helpful if my future kids are Aspies.

Moreover, in spite of Dr. Attwood's emphasis that Asperger's is not ...more

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Apr 22, 2019 Barbara rated it really liked it

A very interesting, complex, detailed guide for anyone affected by Asperger's Syndrome. There are chapters on What is Asperger's Syndrome?; The Diagnosis; Social Understanding and Friendship; Teasing and Bullying; Theory of Mind; The Understanding and Expression of Emotions; Special Interests, etc. etc. There is information regarding both children and adults.

There are many tips, tricks and strategies detailed. Best of all there is a chapter at the end containing Frequently Asked Questions.

The b ...more

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Jun 25, 2013 Doan Huong rated it it was amazing

Shelves: autism

There are some books that can change your life forever. "The complete guide to Asperger's syndrome" is one of those books.

It is not until I graduated college that I've discovered the concept of Asperger's syndrome. Almost every detail in the book describe my life precisely including my school life, social life, college life, and problems at work.

The book is like the Bible for people with Asperger's syndrome and those who want to learn more about the issue.

So far, I haven't personally know any ...more

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Feb 24, 2014 Erin rated it liked it

Shelves: mental-illness

The title is a bit misleading because it is not the "complete" guide to Asperger's. The main focus of the book is on children and is geared more for parents that have children with Asperger's. There is one good chapter ( Ch. 13) on Long-term relationships about how being married to an Aspie is difficult. I appreciate the discussion on why strong willed women are often initially attracted to an Apsie man and then why the relationship is hard. It is not possible to be "partners" in an Aspie marria ...more

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About Tony Attwood

Tony Attwood

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Tony Attwood is an English psychologist who lives in Queensland, Australia and is an author of several books on Asperger's Syndrome. He received an honours degree in psychology from the University of Hull, an M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Surrey, and a Ph.D. from University College London under Uta Frith. His book, Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, pr ...more

Books by Tony Attwood

Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Asperger's and Girls: World-Renowned Experts Join Those with Asperger's Syndrome to Resolve Issues That Girls and Women Face Every Day!

Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth

Exploring Feelings: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Manage Anxiety

Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger Syndrome: A Workbook for Individuals on the Autistic Spectrum, Their Families and Helping Professionals

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“Universities are renowned for their tolerance of unusual characters, especially if they show originality and dedication to their research. I have often made the comment that not only are universities a 'cathedral' for worship of knowledge, they are also 'sheltered workshops' for the socially challenged.” — 20 likes

“It seemed that other people’s “normality” was the road to my insanity” — 6 likes

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