Today, it's Publisher's Weekly.

Yesterday Look Me in the Eye appeared in Kirkus Reviews. Today it's in my copy of Publisher's Weekly. Both magazines should be available from well-stocked magazine stands and they're also available by subscription online. Here's what PW said:

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s John Elder Robison, foreword by Augusten Burroughs. Crown, $25.95 (304p) ISBN 978-0-307-39598-6

Robison’s thoughtful and thoroughly memorable account of living with Asperger’s syndrome is assured of media attention (and sales) due in part to his brother Augusten Burroughs’s brief but fascinating description of Robison in Running with Scissors. But Robison’s story is much more fully detailed in this moving memoir, beginning with his painful childhood, his abusive alcoholic father and his mentally disturbed mother. Robison describes how from nursery school on he could not communicate effectively with others, something his brain “is not wired to do,” since kids with Asperger’s don’t recognize “common social cues” and “body language or facial expressions.” Failing in junior high, Robison was encouraged by some audiovisual teachers to fix their broken equipment, and he discovered a more comfortable world of machines and circuits, “of muted colors, soft light, and mechanical perfection.” This led to jobs (and many hilarious events) in worlds where strange behavior is seen as normal: developing intricate rocket-shooting guitars for the rock band Kiss and computerized toys for the Milton Bradley company. Finally, at age 40, while Robison was running a successful business repairing high-end cars, a therapist correctly diagnosed him as having Asperger’s. In the end, Robison succeeds in his goal of “helping those who are struggling to grow up or live with Asperger’s” to see how it “is not a disease” but “a way of being” that needs no cure except understanding and encouragement from others. (Sept.)

The above review is (c) 2007 Publishers Weekly

They even gave me a star for writing an exceptional book. It's quite remarkable, the favorable attention this book is garnering.

Tomorrow I am off to the recording studio to read the abridged version of Look Me in the Eye, which will be sitting on bookstore shelves alongside the print book in just a few short months.

Comments

John, good morning. I'm SO glad you are reading your own book. Hope your voice holds up!
John Robison said…
Well, Kim, we'll see how I hold up on Friday. If I do OK, I'm planning to fly to LA to read the unabridged version at a different studio in two weeks.

I'll let you know how it turns out.
Holly Kennedy said…
They should've given you ten stars for LMITE *smile* A starred review from PW. You're rocking!

Have fun creating the audio version
Trish Ryan said…
Awesome stuff...have fun with the taping!
Maddy said…
Sold! to the lady standing at the laptop in the kitchen. Well done you.
Cheers
Kanani said…
I'm glad to see them recognizing the book & story as your own, and not simply as AB's bro.

So, who is going to do the first AB/JR joint interview?
Sandra Cormier said…
You're on fire! I hope you're holding up under all this attention.
Drama Mama said…
Drink hot water with lemon, warm-up, and if you lose your voice, drink hot grapefruit juice as quickly as possible. Drink as much as you can. Don't buy the chichi stuff, either. Ocean Spray, old-school type grapefruit juice.

Old actor's trick.

Break a Leg. You freaking rock.
The Anti-Wife said…
Your reviews are fabulous. Can't wait for the book to be available. Congratulations, John!
Michelle O'Neil said…
It's just cruel that your adoring blog friends have to wait a few long months.

Sigh.

:)

Congrats on another great review.
Anonymous said…
Congratulations on another great review John. Good luck and have fun recording!

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