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A review by simo_
The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood
3.0
This book is called The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, but, although it does cover a broad spectum of themes, it focus mainly on children and adolescents experiences. Which is not a bad thing at all, I'm sure a lot of parents and teenagers could use this guide, as it's written in a very understandable language.
Chapter 13, however, talks about "Long-term Relationships" and it focus mainly on adult (heterosexual) romantic relationships . Unfortunately, it has some questionable passages like:
"Children with Asperger’s syndrome are often perceived as having angelic faces, and as adults may have symmetrical facial features that are aesthetically appealing. The person may be more handsome than previous partners and considered a good ‘catch’ in terms of looks(...)"
An autistic person may be good-looking or not, but autism has nothing to do with how a person looks.
The following quote is even worse, as it basically states that it's better for a child to be in the adoption system than being raised by an autistic parent:
"Sometimes a woman with Asperger’s syndrome who is single and pregnant may acknowledge her limited maternal instinct and, for the benefit of the newborn child, the baby becomes available for adoption."
This may be a case of poor wording because Atwood follows by saying that "(...) a mother or father with Asperger’s syndrome can learn how to become a good parent. " But still, it's a disturbing quote.
All in all, it's not a bad book, but it's a bit outdated: for starters people are no longer diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, the DSM-V (2013) reclassified it as autism. So some of the thing it says should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Chapter 13, however, talks about "Long-term Relationships" and it focus mainly on adult (heterosexual) romantic relationships . Unfortunately, it has some questionable passages like:
"Children with Asperger’s syndrome are often perceived as having angelic faces, and as adults may have symmetrical facial features that are aesthetically appealing. The person may be more handsome than previous partners and considered a good ‘catch’ in terms of looks(...)"
An autistic person may be good-looking or not, but autism has nothing to do with how a person looks.
The following quote is even worse, as it basically states that it's better for a child to be in the adoption system than being raised by an autistic parent:
"Sometimes a woman with Asperger’s syndrome who is single and pregnant may acknowledge her limited maternal instinct and, for the benefit of the newborn child, the baby becomes available for adoption."
This may be a case of poor wording because Atwood follows by saying that "(...) a mother or father with Asperger’s syndrome can learn how to become a good parent. " But still, it's a disturbing quote.
All in all, it's not a bad book, but it's a bit outdated: for starters people are no longer diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, the DSM-V (2013) reclassified it as autism. So some of the thing it says should be taken with a pinch of salt.