Books in Our Library

The books in our library were donated by family and friends of Asperger Works. Some we love; others, not so much. We present all of them here; the rest is up to you.

If a title or topic interests you, just click it on the slider and read a short synopsis below. Or just scroll down and find a book that appeals to you. We now have 40 books to choose from in three different categories: scientific research, first-hand accounts, and fiction.

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**Have you read a book that you think we should add to our library, please contact us and let us know.**

Asperger's on the Job

ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
Theoretical and Practical Perspectives

edited by Noël Gregg, Cheri Hoy, and Alice F. Gay

A comprehensive review and critical evaluation of the literature on learning disabilities in adults, this book outlines a conceptual framework for diagnosis and intervention and provides detailed guidelines for practice.

Issues covered include:

  • Models for service delivery
  • The perceptions of employers, counselors, and consumers
  • the co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders with learning disabilities and
  • the role of public policy
Asperger's on the Job
ASPERGER’S & GIRLS
World-Renowned Experts Join Those with Asperger’s Syndrome to Resolve Issues That Girls and Women Face Every Day!

by Tony Attwood, Temple Grandin, Teresa Bolick, Catherine Faherty, Lisa Iland, Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Ruth Snyder, Sheila Wagner, and Mary Wrobel

Winner of the Gold Award in the 2006 ForeWord Book of the Year competition, this groundbreaking book describes the unique challenges of women and girls with Asperger’s Syndrome. In it, you’ll read candid stories written by the indomitable women who have lived them. You’ll also hear from experts who discuss

  • whether “Aspie girls” are slipping under the radar, undiagnosed
  • why many AS women feel like a minority within a minority (outnumbered by men 4:1)
  • practical solutions school systems can implement for girls
  • social tips for teenage girls, navigating puberty, the transition to work or university, and the importance of careers.
Asperger's on the Job
ASPERGER’S FROM THE INSIDE OUT
A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger’s Syndrome

by Michael John Carley

Michael John Carley was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at thirty-six-when his young son received the same diagnosis. This fascinating book reveals his personal experience with the confusion and trauma associated with this condition-and offers insights into living an independent and productive life.

In this book, Carley helps readers in such areas as:

  • Social interactions
  • Nurturing interests
  • Whom to confide in and how
  • Dealing with family and loved ones
  • Finding work that suits your strengths and talents
Asperger's on the Job

ASPERGER’S ON THE JOB
Must-have Advice for People with Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism and their Employers, Educators, And Advocates

by Rudy Simone

Did you know that up to 85% of the Asperger’s population struggle to find full-time employment, despite their above-average intelligence? It’s a staggering statistic. But fear not, because Rudy Simone, an accomplished author, consultant, and musician with Asperger’s Syndrome, has crafted an incredible resource to help employers, educators, and therapists better understand and support this growing population.Whether you’re an employer looking to create an inclusive workplace or an individual with Asperger’s seeking gainful employment, this insightful guide has you covered.

Drawing from personal experiences and the stories of over 50 adults with Asperger’s from around the world, Rudy offers candid advice that is both practical and empathetic. You’ll find detailed lists of the unique strengths and talents individuals with Asperger’s bring to the table, along with expert guidelines for success. And that’s not all – Rudy’s Interview Tips and Personal Job Map tools will help you navigate the employment landscape and find your perfect fit. Because let’s face it, a job is much more than just a list of tasks.

From navigating social challenges to managing sensory issues and dealing with workplace bullying, Rudy presents tried-and-true solutions to help you overcome any obstacle. Get ready to be inspired, empowered, and equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the workplace.

Asperger's on the Job

ASPERGER SYNDROME & EMPLOYMENT
Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome

edited by Genevieve Edmonds and Luke Beardon

Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 percent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, providing advice and insights for others with AS, as well as their employers and colleagues.

Drawing on personal experience and lessons learned, Asperger Syndrome and Employment looks at:

  • the transition from education to employment,
  • the importance of matching skills to career choices,
  • practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace,
  • advice for employers, including the need to make “reasonable adjustments” to avoid discrimination, and
  • ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS.

This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with AS.

Asperger's on the Job

ASPERGER’S SYNDROME EMPLOYMENT WORKBOOK
An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome

by Roger N. Meyer

This practical manual will enable people diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism to deepen their self-understanding and appreciate their value as working individuals. Through step-by-step self-assessment, the reader is encouraged to engage actively in a self-paced exploration of their employment history, and ultimately to identify the work best suited to their personal needs, talents, and strengths.

The workbook contains practical exercises, with clear explanations and examples of how to use them. The book is also an essential guide for professionals, career advisors, and vocational counselors as it provides in-depth guidance and research on fulfilling employment for adults and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

Asperger's on the Job

AN ASPIE DOES BASIC… BARELY
1971-Peace, Love and Learning to Use the Front Sight of the M-16

by Garret Mathews

In 2016, Garret Mathews discovered that he had Asperger’s Syndrome. Like many Aspie adults over 30 he knew that something was not quite right throughout his life, but neither he nor those who loved him knew what that something was. “It was a great relief,” says Garret, “to finally put a name on this ‘thing’ that has sat on top of my head for so long.” Mr. Matthews is a retired newspaper man and author of twelve books. He also maintains a blog An Aspie Comes Out of the Closet.

Workplace Survival Guide
ASPERGER’S SYNDROME WORKPLACE SURVIVAL GUIDE
A Neurotypical’s Secrets for Success

by Barbara Bissonnette

Navigating the workplace can be challenging for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), often hindering their ability to tap into their full potential and find meaningful employment.This all-inclusive guide is your ultimate companion to not just survive, but thrive in the workplace when you are an Aspie.

Discover practical strategies to meet and exceed employer expectations, foster harmonious relationships with colleagues, excel as a valuable team player, effortlessly juggle multiple tasks and projects, effectively manage anxiety, and skillfully overcome any obstacles that come your way.

Drawing upon the author’s wealth of experience in coaching individuals with AS across various job levels, from entry-level to managerial and professional positions, this book brings to life the most common employment challenges and offers pragmatic recommendations to conquer them.

Whether you’re just entering the workforce, facing hurdles in maintaining employment, or aiming to enhance your performance and advance your career, this comprehensive guide has got you covered. 

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum book cover
AUTISM IN HEELS
The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum

by Jennifer Cook O’Toole

Autism in Heels, an intimate memoir, unveils the true essence of Jennifer O’Toole, one of the most influential figures in the world of autism. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) at the age of thirty-five, Jennifer finally found clarity and understanding.

In her candid and powerful memoir, she delves into the constant struggle between her carefully crafted persona and her authentic self. With wit, passion, and courage, Jennifer redefines the autism narrative.

But beyond being a memoir, Autism in Heels is a heartfelt tribute to women everywhere. It ignites conversations, revolutionizes perspectives, and offers a firsthand account of what it means to walk in Jennifer’s shoes, especially those iconic red stilettos. Jennifer’s journey, encompassing challenges with self-image, sexuality, and self-esteem, is not solely a story of autism, but also a profoundly human experience.

Unfortunately, because autism “looks a bit different in pink,” many girls and women who fit the profile remain unidentified, enduring unnecessary anxiety, eating disorders, tumultuous relationships, self-harm, and limited independence. Jennifer understands these struggles firsthand. Autism in Heels aims to bring this message to the forefront.

Through her own personal growth and self-discovery, Jennifer has created a powerful movement of empowerment, inspiring women around the globe to embrace their true selves and recognize that they are not mistakes, but rather misunderstood miracles.

Asperger's on the Job

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO ASPERGER’S SYNDROME

by Tony Attwood

The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome is the definitive handbook for anyone affected by Asperger’s syndrome. It brings together a wealth of information on all aspects of the syndrome for children through adulthood. 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. Chapters examine the following:

  • 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
  • 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.

Workplace Survival Guide
CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

by Mark Haddon

Christopher John Francis Boone, a fifteen-year-old boy, stands beside the lifeless body of Mrs. Shears’s dog. Violently impaled by a garden fork, the ghastly discovery occurs precisely seven minutes past midnight, casting a dark cloud of suspicion upon Christopher himself.

Fueled by an insatiable thirst for the truth, each meticulous detail is etched within the pages of his investigative chronicle, as he strives to unravel the sinister mystery behind Wellington’s untimely demise. Endowed with an extraordinary intellect and unparalleled proficiency in mathematics, Christopher’s brilliance is juxtaposed with a poignant vulnerability, leaving him ill-equipped to decipher the nuances of everyday life.

Shackled by fear and restricted within the confines of his familiar street, he recoils from any form of physical contact and harbors a deep-seated distrust towards unfamiliar faces. Against the stern directive of his father, Christopher embarks upon a perilous journey through the shadows, where his clandestine detective work unravels the very fabric of his existence, turning his once-familiar world completely upside-down.

Everyday Aspergers
EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME or NON-VERBAL LEARNING DISABILITY
Stories and Strategies

by Yvona Fast and others

Most individuals with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD) and Asperger Syndrome (AS) often find themselves being underemployed. This book aims to break this pattern and chart a new path. Packed with practical and technical advice on various aspects such as job hunting, interview techniques, workplace integration, and whether or not to disclose a diagnosis, this resource serves as a trusty guide through the complex world of employment for people with NLD amd AS.

The book also delves into the perspective of employers, agencies, and career counselors, shedding light on AS and NLD as ‘invisible’ disabilities. It offers a detailed analysis of the unique strengths that individuals with NLD and AS possess and how these qualities can be harnessed positively within the workplace.

Alongside practical information and lists of valuable career resources, you’ll find a wealth of inspiring case studies that provide guidance and motivation. This invaluable resource is a must-have for individuals with NLD and AS who are seeking employment or are already employed, as well as for their current or prospective employers.

Everyday Aspergers
EVERYDAY ASPERGERS

by Samantha Craft

Samantha Craft presents the life and the everyday adventures of a woman with Asperger’s Syndrome. Ms. Craft is a former teacher, is married, and is the mother of three boys. She doesn’t experience ordinary everyday happenings like most neurotypicals (a term widely used in the Autistic community as a label for people who are not on the Autism Spectrum). In her world, nothing is simple and everything appears pertinent.

From being a dyslexic cheerleader with dysgraphia going the wrong direction, to bathroom stalking, to figuring out if she can wear that panty-free dress, Craft explores the profoundness of daily living through hilarious anecdotes and heartwarming childhood memories.

Mother Warriors

The book shares the personal stories of several families fighting autism. These stories focus on alternative autism therapies with which parents try to heal their children, as well as McCarthy’s own reminiscing about her autistic child and her outspoken and contentious activism.

The book includes the daughter of the founder of Autism Speaks, who claims to have changed her son’s diet and improved his autism despite conspiratorial resistance from the organization, which, the book claims, until recently, rejected research into biomedical treatments; a mother who claims to have “healed” her son of his autism while taking on breast cancer; a father whose son was officially undiagnosed after allegedly undergoing treatment for a laundry list of debilitating autism symptoms and regressions; and a sixty-year-old woman who made attempts to fight to save her son (now thirty) in the 1980s. The book claims that she paved the way for the parents of today.

The book also features a list of controversial autism resources and a directory of DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) doctors who are sympathetic to the widely discredited theory that autism is caused by mercury in vaccines.

NeuroTribes

What is autism? A lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more—and the future of our society depends on our understanding it. Wired reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the crucial question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years.  Going back to the earliest days of autism research, Silberman offers a gripping narrative of Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, the research pioneers who defined the scope of Autism in profoundly different ways; he then goes on to explore the game-changing concept of neurodiversity. NeuroTribes considers the idea that neurological differences such as autism, dyslexia, and ADHD are not errors of nature or products of the toxic modern world, but the result of natural variations in the human genome. This groundbreaking book will reshape our understanding of the history, meaning, function, and implications of neurodiversity in our world.

Taking Off the Mask: Practical Exercises to Help Understand and Minimise the Effects of Autistic Camouflaging book cover
TAKING OFF THE MASK
Practical Exercises to Help Understand and Minimise the Effects of Autistic Camouflaging

by Dr. Hannah Betcher

Growing up with autism, Jeannie’s unique journey remained hidden from those around her. Step into her world through Twirling Naked in the Streets, a memoir that delves into the mind of a child on the autism spectrum. From adolescence to adulthood, Jeannie emerges as a wife, mother, student, and writer, all while navigating the challenges of autism.

Discover the captivating story of a gifted yet peculiar child who never quite found her place in the world. It took 38 years for Jeannie to unravel the mysteries of her experiences, finally understanding that she had Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), a high-functioning form of autism.

Starting at the tender age of three, the narrative carries you through her remarkable journey towards diagnosis. Along the way, Jeannie offers a profound glimpse into the world of autism, evoking tears of joy and understanding from fellow Aspies and deepening the comprehension of neurotypical individuals regarding the daily struggles faced by autistic individuals.

Brace yourself for an extraordinary tale that challenges perceptions and embraces the power of acceptance.

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism book cover

You’ve never encountered a book quite like The Reason I Jump. Penned by Naoki Higashida, an incredibly intelligent, self-aware, and endearing thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it stands as a truly unique memoir that grants us a glimmer into the mind of someone on the Autism Spectrum. With remarkable insight, Naoki unveils how his autistic mind perceives, thinks, feels, and responds in ways that may be difficult for us to fathom.

For parents and family members seeking to understand their loved ones with autism on a deeper level, this memoir offers a gateway into their curious, nuanced, and intricate inner world. Communicating through an alphabet grid, Naoki painstakingly constructs words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to vocalize, addressing even the most delicate inquiries. Questions like, ‘Why do individuals with autism have unconventional speech patterns?’ ‘Why do they arrange toy cars and blocks in specific orders?’ ‘Why is it challenging for them to make direct eye contact during conversation?’ and ultimately, ‘What motivates them to jump?’

Naoki’s response is both poetic and profound: ‘When I’m jumping, it’s as if my emotions soar towards the heavens.’ With unabashed honesty and a generous spirit, Naoki shares not only his insights on autism but also his perspectives on life itself. His observations regarding the power of words, the beauty of laughter, and the elusive nature of memory are so astonishing, peculiar, and impactful that they will forever change your perception of the world around you.

In the introduction, bestselling author David Mitchell reveals how Naoki’s words granted him a newfound understanding of his own child with autism, as if his child were finally articulating what lies within his mind.

The Reason I Jump has been brought to life through the devoted efforts of David Mitchell and KA Yoshida, a labor of love aimed at sharing this transformative experience with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naoki’s book, with its exquisite beauty, unwavering truthfulness, and humble simplicity, is a precious gift meant to be shared.

A gray-scale picture of a little girl with curly hair

VACCINATIONS DID NOT CAUSE RACHEL’S AUTISM
My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad

by Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD

In 1994, Peter J. Hotez’s daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with autism. As a pediatrician-scientist, Dr. Hotez was deeply troubled by the influential anti-vaccine community’s narrative linking childhood vaccines to autism.

In his book, “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism,” he draws on his experiences and expertise to present the scientific evidence refuting these concerns. Dr. Hotez also debunks conspiracy theories, criticizes the scientific community’s communication failures, and shares his journey of raising an autistic child.

This critical book convincingly highlights the genetic basis of autism and the early neurodevelopmental pathways. While celebrating the triumphs of vaccines against diseases, Dr. Hotez warns about the growing dangers posed by the anti-vaccine movement, particularly in the United States and Europe. With the reenergized anti-vaccine movement in our current COVID-19 era, this timely book is a must-read for various stakeholders, including parent groups, child advocates, teachers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and anyone supporting individuals with autism.

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