Our Top Ten Books on Autism and Aspergers

 

Emotional Mastery For Adults with Asperger’s

This book was written in response to many of the questions about anxiety, depression and the frustration of living with Asperger’s that we received from readers of this website. One of the things that people with Aspergers struggle with is their emotions. This book gives a lot of practical advice that you can follow in your daily life. Since its release it has received 34 stunning reviews.

You can check it out below.

Emotional Mastery For Adults With Aspergers: practical techniques to work with anger, anxiety and depression

Emotional Mastery For Adults With Aspergers

Autism Parenting Magazine

Not quite a book, but this monthly publication gives the latest solutions, news, research and advice that parents need to be aware of. There are also articles written for adults. Its currently available on a monthly basis. Get a FREE copy of Autism Parenting Magazine.

 

Emergence: Labeled Autistic by Temple Grandin

Emergence: Labeled Autistic Publisher: Warner Books

Emergence is one of the true stories about Temple Grandin’s struggles with Asperger’s Syndrome.  In this book she explains how she longed for her mother to hug her but couldn’t handle physical contact.  She talks about being sent to boarding school and then on to college.  Her explanation of her quick reactions to anger and why she had nerve attacks was insightful.  It’s inspiring to know that with time things get easier to manage.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin

Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism

Thinking in Pictures is another true story about Grandin’s struggles growing up as an Aspie.  She tells how she designs a “squeeze machine” based on the cattle mechanism at her aunt’s farm.  The book goes on to tell the difficulties faced when trying to get ranchers to believe her cattle handling designs will work. She uses her visual thinking skills to her advantage and inspires others to draw on their individualized talents to do the same to make their own successful life.

Different …Not Less by Temple Grandin

Different . . . Not Less: Inspiring Stories of Achievement and Successful Employment from Adults with Autism, Asperger’s, and ADHD

A book with inspirational stories of people that have autism, Asperger’s and ADHD and how they used their strengths to become successfully employed adults.

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by John Elder Robison

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s

An interestingly sad, but true story about Robison growing up with a dysfunctional family, while struggling with his quirks of being an Aspie years before there was an Asperger diagnosis.  Robison struggles socially throughout his life but finds a useful means to his talents by building outlandish guitars for the band Kiss.  Later in life he steers his career towards a more stable job as a toy maker.

Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Tony Attwood

Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

This is “THE GUIDE” most professionals use to learn about Aspergers.  It tells how Hans Aspergers noticed the same traits in a group of kids.  It has diagnostic questions to help pinpoint Aspie traits.  It is all about Aspergers and how the label came to be and when.

Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships by Ashley Stanford

Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships

An inspirational read by a Neuro-Typical woman that is married to a man with AS.  She gives an honest view of what a relationship is most often like with an AS person.

 

Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome? A Guide for Friends and Family by Jude Welton

Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?: A Guide for Friends and Family

A helpful, short read for friends, family and coworkers of an Aspie to better understand the struggles they deal with on a daily basis. Please note that this is small (pamphlet size) read.  For a more detailed read with a similar motive try Business for Aspies: 42 Best Uses of Asperger Syndrome Traits in the Workplace by Ashley Stanford. Business for Aspies: 42 Best Practices for Using Asperger Syndrome Traits at Work. It gives an employee and employer perspective on using Asperger traits to the advantage.

Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome by Rudy Simone

Aspergirls: Empowering Females With Asperger Syndrome

Finally, a book that discusses the different AS characteristics in females with Asperger Syndrome, instead of only noting the characteristics of male Aspies.

A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: How to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive by: Sally Ozonoff, PhD; Geraldine Dawson, PhD; and James McPartland

A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: How to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive

This book is helpful for parents that are looking for facts and help for their child.  It walks you through how to get a diagnosis, getting your child help at school, not avoiding important topics (ie. explaining sexuality), channeling their strengths, all the way to discussing Asperger’s in adulthood.  It is one of the most detailed books about AS for parents in print.

Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues: Practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World by: Brenda Smith Myles, Katherine Tapscott Cook, Nancy E. Miller, Louann Rinner, Lisa A. Robbins

Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues: Practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World

A realistic read about what sensory issues are and interventions to help ease them in an easily understood chart

 

Mark Blakey

Mark Blakey is the founder of the Aspergers Test Site, after a successful career working in IT Mark wanted to share what he learned from his own diagnosis. He is the author of "Emotional Mastery for Adults with Aspergers" and "An Introduction to Aspergers Syndrome". Having received lots of questions from parents with autistic children, Mark went on to found Autism Parenting Magazine. The magazine has become an essential resource aimed at improving the quality of life for families effected by Autism. Its a monthly publication containing lots of helpful articles to help develop social skills, manage challenging behavior and improve communication.

  • Lisa Jo says:

    I would like a book about Adult woman diagnosed with very minimal Aspergers. Not everyone with Aspergers has all the symptoms and not all are in such an exaggerated form. I even feel that I don’t fit into what the world precieves as Aspergers either.

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