Asperger Sydrome: Natural Steps towards a Better Life by Suzanne C. Lawton

Summary:
In Suzanne C. Lawton’s book, Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps towards a Better Life, she informs people about Asperger’s Syndrome, a neurological condition. She describes how Asperger’s can be incorrectly labeled as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder. Therefore, many with the disorder are very misunderstood. Lawton describes how those with Asperger’s often have an extensive vocabulary and a high intelligence level, so they often are seen as brilliant. On the other hand, she describes how they possess odd habits—such as obsession over routine, a lack of empathy, anxiety, and an inability to hold eye contact. Though there is no cure, Lawton explains—in this book—that there are things that one can do to reduce—or even remove—the symptoms.

Response:
I believe Lawton’s book, Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps towards a Better Life, is a great source in regard’s to my project. Though this source is a lot more informative and informational than my other sources, I actually really enjoyed reading it. Since I have already read two books and watched a movie related to my topic, I was able to make connections while reading this book. I actually became quite excited whenever I made connections with my previous sources. For example, when Lawton describes how those with Asperger’s have an obsession with “routine,” I immediately thought of Raymond from Rain Man and Mr. Tyree from Dear John (Lawton 14). In Rain Man, Raymond has an exact routine, which he never breaks; if his routine is altered in any way, he becomes very nervous and starts to talk extremely fast (Rain Man). In Dear John, Mr. Tyree, an Aspergian, follows an exact routine as well. His son, John, describes this, when he says, “As my dad cooked, I noted the headlines in the newspaper, knowing he would read the front section first, then metro. He would ignore the sports and life section. A man of routine” (Sparks 122). Another connection I made was when Lawton describes how Aspergians make inappropriate expressions (Lawton 15). In his book, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s, John Elder Robinson describes himself to have that exact trait. For example, when his mother’s friend is describing how a young boy was “hit by a train and killed,” John begins to smile (Robinson 29). His mother’s friend is appalled that he could find such a thing to be funny. Though John seemed to be smiling about the young boy’s death, he was actually only smiling out of relief that he wasn’t the one hit by the train. All in all, I thought this was a good source for my project, for it gave me a better understanding of Asperger’s Syndrome as a whole.

Lawton, Suzanne C. Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps toward a Better Life. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2007.

Rain Man. Barry Levinson, dir. Mark Johnson, prod. Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass, writers. DVD. United Artists, 1988.

Robinson, John Elder. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s. New York, NY:
Crown Publishers, 2007.

Sparks, Nicholas. Dear John. New York, NY: Warner Books, 2006.