John Robison Speaks
August 8, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
“Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s” (John Elder Robison), John Elder Robison’s memoir of growing up with Asperger’s (before knowing that he had Asperger’s), appears in bookstores September 25. In the meantime, the July 31st Library Journal interviews the author; here are some of his Robison’s views on Asperger’s as a “positive character trait for someone in business,” his favorite car to fix (Robison owns a successful repair business in western Massachusetts), and what is normal.
Asperger’s as a “positive character trait for someone in business”
People with Asperger’s can do really well in many highly technical occupations. Car repair (my field) is a good example. Software engineering is another. Some experts refer to Asperger’s as “the engineer mind.” I’m driven to know everything there is to know about the machines I work with. I’m also very direct and good in situations where I have to explain how something works or how it failed or broke. I’m very precise and detail-oriented. There are many, many work situations where these traits would be beneficial. To me, Spock on the original Star Trek is a great example of a functional Aspergian in the workplace.
(If I may interject: It occurs to me that my son Charlie may one day do well in a job because he will never fail to show up for work—-right now, he hates to miss a day of school, and I suspect he will transfer his desire for perfect attendence to a job.)
Robison’s favorite car to fix
Probably classic Land Rovers because they are such rugged, simple beasts. My next favorite would be the old Rolls Royces because they have such beautiful craftsmanship. And I like the newer BMWs because they are just such technological masterpieces.
(Charlie would enjoy rides in all three, I have no doubt.)
What is normal?
……… In some cases, things are absolute. A particular radio wave may have a wavelength of 2.2 meters. And that’s it. It’s not 2.1, and it’s not 2.4. But when we move away from measurable absolutes, things get harder. Do you like the way I act? Which painting do you like better? For those things there are no absolute answers, only opinions. My book discusses this question at some length. For what I am, I’m normal. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by mental health workers, I’m Aspergian.
(Normal is as normal does…….)
Go here read more about Look Me In the Eye.
what I love about that interview is that robison consistently uses the term aspergian and the interviewer ignores it. and doesnt even ask what it means or why he uses it.
it is like 2 people talking at each other from different world views.
from the interview
>>>My brother did. I dressed like a barbarian and retreated to the woods as a feral child. But look at us now. Functional, but different.
I noted the “feral” reference too—–who’s the most “different”…… and the interviewer might expand their vocabulary!
It is my hope that Look Me in the Eye will show a large slice of society what it’s like to be Aspergian, and in doing so, it will show that we and they are not really so different after all.
Beyond the message that Aspergians can be successful, some of which you excerpted above, there’s a stong call for tolerance and understanding.
It’s really amazing and touching, the way the reading public is receiving my book.
But Christina . . . you left out the best part of the interview . . . the bizarre last question about guitars . . .
And one more thing . . . I will be travelling the country starting Sept 25, and I’d love to meet any of you. Check the Appearances page on johnrobison.com as events may be added on short notice. The publisher is waiting to see what kind of turnout we get on the first events to decide where to go next.
The Asperger’s Association of New England has a meeting with Tony Attwood in Boston Sept 28, and the day before I’ll be appearing in Brookline (next to Boston) Come see me at both if you’re nearby.
Aspergians Arise!!
best wishes,
John
I was hoping that readers might follow the link and read the guitar part! How about in another post…….
Are you in New York, Christina? If so, I surely hope you’ll come to my opening Sept 25 at the Union Square Barnes and Noble flagship store.
Here’s the whole interview on my blog:
http://jerobison.blogspot.com/2007/08/conversation-with-library-journal.html
And while we’re on the subject of bizarre Aspergian behaviour, here’s a story on pet names:
http://jerobison.blogspot.com/2007/07/some-thoughs-about-pets-for-tuesday.html
I am putting your reading on my calendar—-am very fond of names and what goes into a name…..
Sorry to get that Kristina/Christina thing mixed up. I write Christine and Christina already, at my publisher. And you too, with a K
Anyway, hope to see you in New York.
Oh, I hope Dallas is on the tour! I would love to have my Aspergian son meet you, talk with you, and I get to have a feeling of what life would be like with a grown-up Aspergian!
I can only imagine it’s a life full of fun….someone smarter than me!
AJ
No offense to Mr. Robinson, but his web site describes him as a self-diagnosed Aspergerian. Here is the criteria for various DSM versions since 1980 which shows how ambiguous the criteria for a PDD diagnosis has become based on psychological theories promulgated by child psychiatrists such as Edward Ritvo and Fred Volkmar who led the APA study groups charged with introducing newer versions the the DSM.
http://www.unstrange.com/dsm1.html
According to the latest (DSM-IV) criteria well known public figures can be described as being ‘on the spectrum’ .
The new PM of Britain, Gordon Brown has been described in the British tabloids as being ‘Aspergerish’ for his well documented ’social akwardness’. President Bush is well known for his communication impairments and ex-President Clinton’s compulsive womanizing has been thoroughly documented.
When did normal variants of human behaviors become a label?
RAJ . . . no offense to you, but Aspergians are far better at recognizing their own “Syndrome” traits that the self-proclaimed experts who write the DSM-IV criteria can, especially when those “pros” have not spent one day in the life of Aspergia . . . especially when they’ve lived a few decades!
The only thing Aspergians needed was that jump start of learning about other people in existence who share their common characteristics.