Review of Musings of an Autistic Mind
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Vanessa Alobo
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Review of Musings of an Autistic Mind
[Following is a volunteer review of "Musings of an Autistic Mind" by Darryl Jefferson.]
I was looking forward to reading Musings of an Autistic Mind. Seeing the world through an autistic person's perspective has always been intriguing. The book did not disappoint (in that regard). Navigating the world when you’re not on the spectrum is challenging. But when you have autism, the difficulty level goes up exponentially. Darryl Jefferson does an exceptional job at taking the reader through the complexities of developing meaningful friendships and navigating romantic relationships, school, and work.
The best part about the book is that he infuses his personality into the commentary. Although you know from the offset that the book is about someone on the autism spectrum, it’s still clear that the perspective is about one person. Different people on the autism spectrum will have different experiences. I appreciate that Darryl didn’t make the community come across as homogeneous.
The book includes some meaningful definitions at the beginning that help frame the book. I thought this was a great introduction to the book and a fantastic way to get into the author’s mind. It is worth mentioning that Darryl fills most of these definitions with his opinion.
I took issue with the amount of non-borderline profanity contained in the book. It took away from the overall enjoyability of the book. I found the swearing unnecessary. It added nothing to the stories or definitions. However, I will acknowledge that this might be Darryl’s personality. In that case, the book did come across as genuine.
I like how detailed Darryl was in documenting his early years. He provides so much relatable information. Stories such as his memorizing every airplane line by age 5, how he discovered he didn’t like multitasking, and his favorite movies (The Sandlot and Home Alone) allow the reader to get to know the author personally.
The chapter on friendships was particularly a stand out for me. It was one that I could personally relate to. Darryl's and Jon’s relationship is heartwarming. Although Jon was too debaucherous for Darryl’s liking, the two still developed a special friendship.
Even though Darryl was able to build a handful of meaningful friendships, his romantic pursuits weren’t as successful. It was interesting to see him attempt to find meaningful romantic relationships. The author has, without a doubt, been on a chaotic journey. Even Darryl’s inclusion of his one and only “actual relationship” with Maureen gives evidence of the difficulty that comes with maintaining a romantic relationship (for people on the autism spectrum). It puts this statement at the beginning of the book into perspective;
“The most likely reason why many individuals on the spectrum never get married is quite simply that they tend to lack social skills, and being able to attract a life partner requires social skills and an ability to communicate with others.”
There were times when Musings of an Autistic Mind read less like a biography and more like a social commentary. Darryl’s observation about the professor at the beginning of chapter 8 -Autism Practicum was quite interesting. It speaks to the honesty with which Darryl writes his book. The fact that this encounter led him to do “some reflecting on sexual orientations and the behaviors that can come as a result of them” is indicative of how profound that one encounter was to him.
The chapters “Dating and Hookups” and “Escorts” were too candid for my liking. I couldn’t go through the chapter without cringing at every other paragraph. The language used in those two chapters was obscene.
Regardless of how you might think about Darryl’s sexual escapades, you have to admire his ability to overcome various obstacles that come with being on the autism spectrum.
I give the book a rating of four out of five. You might enjoy reading this book if you can stomach the strong language. But Darryl’s vulnerability makes this book a worthy read. He takes you through the most intimate parts of his life. Although you might not agree with his life choices, it’s still admirable how he's managed to navigate life while on the spectrum. Some valuable lessons can be learned from Darryl’s musings, whether you’re on the spectrum or not.
******
Musings of an Autistic Mind
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I was looking forward to reading Musings of an Autistic Mind. Seeing the world through an autistic person's perspective has always been intriguing. The book did not disappoint (in that regard). Navigating the world when you’re not on the spectrum is challenging. But when you have autism, the difficulty level goes up exponentially. Darryl Jefferson does an exceptional job at taking the reader through the complexities of developing meaningful friendships and navigating romantic relationships, school, and work.
The best part about the book is that he infuses his personality into the commentary. Although you know from the offset that the book is about someone on the autism spectrum, it’s still clear that the perspective is about one person. Different people on the autism spectrum will have different experiences. I appreciate that Darryl didn’t make the community come across as homogeneous.
The book includes some meaningful definitions at the beginning that help frame the book. I thought this was a great introduction to the book and a fantastic way to get into the author’s mind. It is worth mentioning that Darryl fills most of these definitions with his opinion.
I took issue with the amount of non-borderline profanity contained in the book. It took away from the overall enjoyability of the book. I found the swearing unnecessary. It added nothing to the stories or definitions. However, I will acknowledge that this might be Darryl’s personality. In that case, the book did come across as genuine.
I like how detailed Darryl was in documenting his early years. He provides so much relatable information. Stories such as his memorizing every airplane line by age 5, how he discovered he didn’t like multitasking, and his favorite movies (The Sandlot and Home Alone) allow the reader to get to know the author personally.
The chapter on friendships was particularly a stand out for me. It was one that I could personally relate to. Darryl's and Jon’s relationship is heartwarming. Although Jon was too debaucherous for Darryl’s liking, the two still developed a special friendship.
Even though Darryl was able to build a handful of meaningful friendships, his romantic pursuits weren’t as successful. It was interesting to see him attempt to find meaningful romantic relationships. The author has, without a doubt, been on a chaotic journey. Even Darryl’s inclusion of his one and only “actual relationship” with Maureen gives evidence of the difficulty that comes with maintaining a romantic relationship (for people on the autism spectrum). It puts this statement at the beginning of the book into perspective;
“The most likely reason why many individuals on the spectrum never get married is quite simply that they tend to lack social skills, and being able to attract a life partner requires social skills and an ability to communicate with others.”
There were times when Musings of an Autistic Mind read less like a biography and more like a social commentary. Darryl’s observation about the professor at the beginning of chapter 8 -Autism Practicum was quite interesting. It speaks to the honesty with which Darryl writes his book. The fact that this encounter led him to do “some reflecting on sexual orientations and the behaviors that can come as a result of them” is indicative of how profound that one encounter was to him.
The chapters “Dating and Hookups” and “Escorts” were too candid for my liking. I couldn’t go through the chapter without cringing at every other paragraph. The language used in those two chapters was obscene.
Regardless of how you might think about Darryl’s sexual escapades, you have to admire his ability to overcome various obstacles that come with being on the autism spectrum.
I give the book a rating of four out of five. You might enjoy reading this book if you can stomach the strong language. But Darryl’s vulnerability makes this book a worthy read. He takes you through the most intimate parts of his life. Although you might not agree with his life choices, it’s still admirable how he's managed to navigate life while on the spectrum. Some valuable lessons can be learned from Darryl’s musings, whether you’re on the spectrum or not.
******
Musings of an Autistic Mind
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Art of Entertaining by Maggie Fleming
