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A review by rockythefreak
Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.75
A lot of reviews for this memoir are super harsh, and I can't really see why. I thought it was well funny. Not laugh out loud, but "exhale out of your nose" funny. A lot of negative reviews seem to lean towards the political correctness of the author, and his presentation of his experience with autism.
For example, someone seemed upset that Michael (correctly) asserts that someone can't be "a little autistic". The spectrum isn't a line from a little to a lot, but more of a circle where some symptoms are present and others aren't. Michael explains this and other information about autism and his experiences clearly. Other people are upset when he uses identity or person first language— even though he specifies at the beginning that he will do both. Michael also specifies that only a doctor can diagnose autism— I don't think he does this to gatekeep. I think it's to cover his ass so he doesn't get sued when he later talks about suspecting his friends of being autistic.
Reviews explaining their dislike of the author really feel like a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If you expect the author to be human, trying his best but not perfect (and not a voice for all autistic people), you'll enjoy this memoir. Leave any autism infighting or gatekeeping at the door. I really appreciated Michael's respect for those of us with autism who cannot be as independent as him. Even though his perspective is more common than others as an early diagnosed white man with support, I still found value in his story.
In Michael's words from the Resources section: "Do what I did: I had a look, applied some critical thinking to what I found, and decided to use what worked for me."
If you listen to the audiobook, download the supplemental material ahead of time. I wish that it was presented as a PDF /ATTACHED/ to the audiobook like other audiobooks I have read. (It may well be— my copy came from the library, though.) Having it hosted on the publisher's website is just asking for it to become lost media. That's the only reason it loses .25 stars.
For example, someone seemed upset that Michael (correctly) asserts that someone can't be "a little autistic". The spectrum isn't a line from a little to a lot, but more of a circle where some symptoms are present and others aren't. Michael explains this and other information about autism and his experiences clearly. Other people are upset when he uses identity or person first language— even though he specifies at the beginning that he will do both. Michael also specifies that only a doctor can diagnose autism— I don't think he does this to gatekeep. I think it's to cover his ass so he doesn't get sued when he later talks about suspecting his friends of being autistic.
Reviews explaining their dislike of the author really feel like a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If you expect the author to be human, trying his best but not perfect (and not a voice for all autistic people), you'll enjoy this memoir. Leave any autism infighting or gatekeeping at the door. I really appreciated Michael's respect for those of us with autism who cannot be as independent as him. Even though his perspective is more common than others as an early diagnosed white man with support, I still found value in his story.
In Michael's words from the Resources section: "Do what I did: I had a look, applied some critical thinking to what I found, and decided to use what worked for me."
If you listen to the audiobook, download the supplemental material ahead of time. I wish that it was presented as a PDF /ATTACHED/ to the audiobook like other audiobooks I have read. (It may well be— my copy came from the library, though.) Having it hosted on the publisher's website is just asking for it to become lost media. That's the only reason it loses .25 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism