Women on the autism spectrum are often depicted in the media as a tiny minority, misunderstood and unable to express themselves. Yet a look at the authors of "autiebiographies" in print refutes this idea. Women writers dominate this list; in the print world, autistic women seem just as eager, if not more so, than men to speak out and tell their stories.
The short reviews below are meant to introduce readers to the extensive world of writings by and about Asperger's and autistic women. Each of the books below has something slightly different to offer. I hope that women of all ages on the spectrum will be able to enjoy, learn and find a part of themselves in them.
 Asperger's and Girls
Tony Attwood, et al. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons, 2006.
This book attempts to remedy the lack of information on girls and women with Asperger's and to address their unique issues. Its level of success in doing so will vary greatly depending on the reader. The book consists of nine essays, plus an excellent foreword by one of its "Aspie" authors, Jennifer McIlwee Myers. The first two essays in the book, by Tony Attwood and Catherine Faherty, may be already familiar to some readers as they are widely available online.* A number of these pieces, such as Sheila Wagner's "Educating the Female Student with Asperger's," are geared toward parents of school-age girls rather than the girls themselves. Again, readers may find some of this information either helpful, or screamingly obvious; it all depends on one's perspective. I suggest that AS women skip immediately to Myers' "Aspie Do's and Don't's," an outstanding treatise on how to have friends and relationships without trying to pass for "NT." Still, each article has something to offer, which is what really makes this book worth a try.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Lucy's Story: Autism and Other Adventures
Lucy Blackman and Tony Attwood. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley, 1999.
In this memoir, autistic woman Lucy Blackman reflects on growing up in Australia and the process of learning to communicate through typing. With the help of her endlessly tough and inventive mother Jay, she eventually acquires enough understanding of the world to attend a mainstream high school and earn a bachelor's degree in literature. Through this powerful book, Blackman single-handedly shatters the idea that "nonverbal" autistics are unable to think, write, or communicate meaningfully with other people. At the same time, she demonstrates the difficulty of separating "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" autistics. Her wonderfully mischievous intelligence and the ease with which she describes her complex inner life make this a fascinating, wonderfully memorable account. Includes a foreword and afterword by Tony Attwood.
Purchase from Amazon |
 A Real Person: Life on the Outside
Gunilla Gerland. Translated by Joan Tate. London: Souvenir Press, 2003.
This is an account by a Swedish woman with AS of her abusive childhood and strung-out adolescence, years she describes as a constant, frustrating attempt to figure out why she couldn't become "a real person." Being diagnosed with Asperger's in her early twenties helped her better understand the world and herself. In the last few chapters, she reflects on how the diagnosis improved her life, as well as the challenges she continues to face. Gerland's clear, concise prose style quietly frames the often-grim details of her experiences.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism
Temple Grandin. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
Temple Grandin is an autistic author and livestock facilities-designer who has become, at least in the popular media's eyes, something of an ambassador to the world of autism for "neurotypicals." Here she assumes this role in chapters on such topics as sensory and emotional issues, neurology, relationships, visual thinking, and the talents that autistic people have to offer. She enlivens this wealth of information with related stories from her own life. While readers with more knowledge of autism may already be familiar with these subjects, this book is worth reading just for Grandin's lively anecdotes.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Women From Another Planet?: Our Lives in the Universe of Autism
Jean Kearns Miller. ed. Bloomington, Indiana: 1st Books, 2003.
Presented here is an inspiring collection of writings by women with AS about growing up, relationships, gender, motherhood, and the daily struggles they face in trying to fit in while staying true to themselves. Although most of the book's authors are middle-aged or older, Aspie women of all ages will be able to enjoy these stories. The formats of the entries range from essays to poems to a roundtable discussion. Readers may be confused by the table of contents, which does not list the author of each piece. But in some ways, this is in keeping with the book's encyclopedia-like feel; it almost encourages one to open to a random page and start reading.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Freak
Marcella Pixley. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2007.
Although this book, unlike the others on the list, is fiction, I felt it was so uniquely suited to the experiences of AS girls that it merited inclusion. Pixley's first novel deals with seventh-grader Miriam Fisher's struggle to sustain an identity in a world of bullies and shifting loyalties. Although this is a common subject of juvenile fiction, Pixley makes it seem fresh and different though her honest portrayal of Miriam's desires, her emotional pain and her complex relationships with her family and friends. Miriam's voice, as the narrator, is smart but not conventionally snarky, which makes her seem more authentic. As both a warning and a recommendation, this book depicts the emotional pain of bullying with a harsh accuracy that is rare in fiction. Although the narrator does not explicitly have Asperger's, girls and women with AS will be able to identify with her combination of intelligence and social difficulties.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism
Dawn Prince-Hughes. New York: Harmony, 2004.
An author of several books on gorillas, here Prince-Hughes describes how an enduring interest in anthropology shaped her life. After a lifetime of being misunderstood, she discovered that her Asperger's traits helped her connect with the world of the "great apes." Readers may disagree with some of her scientific theories and strange adventures, but this creative, vividly written book about one autistic woman's experiences has a lot to offer for those who like something unique.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger Syndrome
Liane Holliday Willey. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley, 1999.
For much of her life, Liane Willey was continually baffled by her inability to fit in. Why was it that the logic, research, and writing skills that helped her excel academically did not help her make friends as a teenager, a young adult, or a parent? This book deals with her journey to a self-diagnosis in her thirties, when the discovery of her daughter's AS led to a breakthrough of her own. The author's tone perfectly captures the uneasy mix of logic and emotion that many AS women experience. However, some readers may be confused by her "eddying and flowing" writing style, which skims over some events while describing others in detail.
The end of the book contains helpful advice from the author on various topics, including disclosure, college, planning, employment and dealing with sensory issues, as well as some tips for "NT's" on understanding Aspies.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Nobody Nowhere: the Extraordinary Autobiography of an Autistic
Donna Williams. New York: Times Books, 1992.
Donna Williams' first book describes the chaotic time between childhood and her late twenties, when she first became aware of her autism. Sensory difficulties and a troubled home life made functioning in school, relationships, and the workplace a constant battle for her. She was often forced to retreat into her own world or put on "personalities" that presented a false, capable self to others. Fortunately, Williams uncovers the source of her problems and finds solace in writing, and her gloom begins to lift. This book was one of the first in the "autiebiography" genre, and Williams' remarkable inner strength retains its power to move readers.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Somebody Somewhere: Breaking Free From the World of Autism
Donna Williams. New York: Three Rivers, 1995.
Continuing where Nobody Nowhere left off, this book sees Donna Williams trying to navigate the world of work and friendships, understand her autism and deal with the success of her first book. However, she continues to struggle with painful memories of her abusive past and the process of finding the true self behind her "characters," Willy and Carol. Williams' depiction of autism as a negative force that prevents her from reaching out to people, something separate from the positive aspects of her personality, will not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Williams has a genuine talent for making lovely, illuminating moments out of everyday life.
Purchase from Amazon |
 Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults
Zosia Zaks. Shawnee Mission, Kansas: Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2006.
This is a book of survival skills for daily living written by an autistic woman, just for autistics. Zaks' style is refreshingly devoid of the overly theoretical tone that hampers some volumes written by neurotypical writers, and she never tries to push autistic readers into being something they're not. The book is divided into two parts, "Life" and "Love," with important information marked by visual aids such as charts and boxes. The first section covers such topics as work, travel, housing, shopping, dealing with sensory issues and health. The second gives tips for navigating more abstract areas, such as emotions, love and relationships (including Aspie-NT relationships), making friends, staying safe, and gender-based discrimination. Zaks also includes sections on autistic women's issues, sexual identity, and gender differences on the spectrum.
Purchase from Amazon |
