Product Description

"I usually say to the child, "Congratulations, you have Asperger's syndrome", and explain that this means he or she is not mad, bad or defective, but has a different way of thinking." - from "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome". "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" is the definitive handbook for anyone affected by Asperger's syndrome (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 Attwood's extensive clinical experience, and from his correspondence with individuals with AS, this book is both authoritative and extremely accessible. The chapters examine: causes and indications of the syndrome; the diagnosis and its effect on the individual; theory of mind; the perception of emotions in self and others; social interaction, including friendships; long-term relationships; teasing, bullying and mental health issues; the effect of AS on language and cognitive abilities, sensory sensitivity, movement and co-ordination skills; and, career development. There is also an invaluable frequently asked questions chapter and a section listing useful resources for anyone wishing to find further information on a particular aspect of AS, as well as literature and educational tools. Essential reading for families and individuals affected by AS as well as teachers, professionals and employers coming in contact with people with AS, this book should be on the bookshelf of anyone who needs to know or is interested in this complex condition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49836 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 397 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781843104957
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"'I usually say to the child, 'Congratulations, you have Asperger's syndrome', and explain that this means he or she is not mad, bad or defective, but has a different way of thinking.' - from The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome"

From the Publisher
"The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is flawless in its ability to ease the trepidations, answer the questions, buoy the spirits, and encourage the dreams of those who walk with AS. Attwood and his insights are golden!"
--Liane Holliday Willey, EdD, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living With Asperger's Syndrome

"An encyclopedia on Asperger's syndrome written in easy-to-read non-technical language. It will be especially useful for helping individuals with Asperger's, parents and professionals understand the social difficulties. There is a good mix of research information, first person reports and clinical information. The section on sensory over-sensitivity is excellent. Sensory issues prevent many people on the autism/Asperger's spectrum from participating in many social activities because stimuli that do not bother most people are intolerable."
--Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation

"Grounded in research from close to 30 years of direct experience, yet very accessible, Dr Attwood brings understanding of Asperger Syndrome to new heights. Peppered with personal accounts and clear explanations...this book is a "must have" for everyone, including those with Asperger Syndrome."
--Stephen Shore, AbD, author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome

About the Author
Tony Attwood is a practising Clinical Psychologist who specialises in the field of Asperger's Syndrome. For the last 25 years he has met and worked with several hundred individuals with this syndrome, ranging widely in age, ability and background.

Customer Reviews

The Asperger's Bible - Truly a Godsend
Dr. Attwood is the leading expert on Asperger's Syndrome (AS) which is the spectrum partner to autism. This book is, at the time of this review his most current work. It is a shining gem and one of the standouts in autism/Asperger's (a/A) literature. If you are on the a/A continuum or know somebody who is, this book is your best friend. You will refer to it many times.

What makes this book all the more excellent and distinct is that Dr. Attwood discusses adults on the a/A spectrum as well. Autism in its myriad forms including AS does not clear up once a person hits adulthood. If you have it, it is with you for the long haul. Dr. Attwood's book and words of wisdom help lighten the load.

I have bought several copies of this book and have kept one for myself and gave the others to professionals in dire need of it. This book deserves a place of high honor and no parent; professional; person on the spectrum; anybody involved with a person/people on the spectrum should go without this book.

I was delighted to see a section devoted to intersensory marriage, that is of a neurotypical (NT) person to somebody on the a/A continuum. I would like to see more coverage of this much needed topic as AS presents a wide array of social challenges. Still, it is heartwarming; uplifting and encouraging to see more information devoted to intersensory marriages.

I agree with other reviewers who say Dr. Attwood is the best - I think we should propose a toast and raise our glasses to Dr. Attwood!

Just one book... make it this one.
I have read lots of books on AS and reviewed many of them. What I am always warning is that in most cases any one book never gives a complete picture.

Tony Attwood's book though is about as complete a picture as you could get right now and is not only far superior to his first guide to the subject but to many others on the market.

If you read just one book on AS this should be it. It is easy to read, packed with information, and the author's respect and appreciation for people with Asperger's is evident on every page.

It's professional, it's factual, it's understanding, it's worth owning a copy.

A thoughtful, compassionate, accessible snapshot
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 and his associates. Another stream of material is from the autobiographies of Aspies such as Liane Halliday Willie, Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, Luke Jackson and Nita Jackson. It's great to have a human face on the phenomenon of AS.

There seems to be a running thread through the book that sensory sensitivity is a bigger deal for Aspies than previously considered. When I read the chapter on sensory sensitivity, I recalled autism books that suggested autism was a response to body chemistry equivalent to a non-stop drug trip. I grasped that the sensory sensitivity that Aspies feel is a milder version of what autistic people feel. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I grasped.

This book has a few chapters near the end dealing specifically with adult Aspies, chapters on career prospects and long-term relationships. This is a welcome addition.

This will be a good first book for some time to come for anyone with an Aspie in their life. It's not the last book, but it isn't really meant to be the last book. It's meant to be the State of the Aspie Union address for 2007. The message of the book is "We know more about AS than ever before. We know more about what works for Aspie kids than ever before. With a little help, Aspies can get along with society, leverage their talents and interests, and work around their weaknesses."