A Field Guide to Earthlings: An autistic/Asperger view of neurotypical behavior

I was expecting some light humor and fair observations. The author throws out some very contorted and distorted "definitions" as a requirement for you to grasp this book. There is this childish "Play" we were required to crawl through and it was a huge distraction. Any point that was supposed to be pulled from it could have easily been presented in a much clearer (and shorter) form. Somehow the Author forgot that people with Aspergers function through logic and focus on detail. The mind game of having to bounce between the "Play" and the Author's often contrived "Observations" makes this book almost impossible to follow! I am VERY Aspie. I found this book to be over written and it took way too long for a point to be made. As others have observed, all of the material has already been presented in a much neater form many times. It is sad the book did not live up to the title. I know I was expecting some humor pared with keen and fun observations that would allow Aspie's to smile at reality. I would highly recommend anyone interested in reading this stuff, go through first with a black marker and black out all the "Play" material. Then this book would be reduced to simply a small pamphlet and THEN you may get something out of it! I could not put this book down fast enough!

I can't say enough good things about this book. I think it should have gotten more attention than it has so far. I am a female on the spectrum, and this book was immensely helpful in increasing my understanding of the neurotypical world and its inhabitants. This book is absolutely invaluable if you are on the spectrum or are close to someone who is. It will open up whole new world of understanding.I have to say that there were parts of the book that truly saddened me. I had no idea how different I truly as an autistic person until I read this. I was actually quite shocked by NT motivation and behavior. It's so very different from autistic motivation, even if our behavior appears "the same".I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book!

I’m a late dx and I’ve been looking for books to help me understand and reframe my experiences. This book is on a bunch of lists, so I thought I’d try it. The beginning is interesting, the stiff about symbolic vs literal interaction with the world was actually helpful and I think accurate.However, there are numerous moments of discussion group associations that imply they’re all arbitrary rather than in fact, based on shared experiences. As a white man, I can see why the concept might not be glaring, but in fact, if you’ve never been followed around a store because of the color of your skin, you might not understand why that would be a shared traumatic experience for a group of people who have. The idea that that’s a social construct minimizes other peoples lived experiences, in the same way that the impacts of our experiences as autistics are minimized By those who do not share them. That’s called privilege and it’s real and it matters. Context matters.I was already very uncomfortable but I wanted to see what else the author had to say. The chapter toward the end has two glaring points Where this author literally says during flirting women say no when They mean yes. That somehow a woman saying she’s busy and leave her alone doesn’t mean that. That’s wrong and dangerous. If she likes you she will engage. If she says she’s not interested BELIEVE HER! I honestly feel so sick right now I probably won’t finish it. This author needs to update this book and make some real changes to these pieces. He’s doing harm to both NTs and NDs alike with this kind of stuff.

This is one of the most insightful books on the subject I have ever read. I have been mystified my entire life at the behaviour of NTs. This book, I am pleased to say, has done wonders in terms of explaining that behaviour. I found it difficult (more accurately annoying, angering, frustrating) that NTs would talk endlessly about things that bore no relevance, exchange virtually no real information, and laugh mindlessly at things regarding which laughter was not a reasonable or logical response. Ian Ford's book lays it all out there, explaining why they do these things. It has helped me down from what may have seemed my judgemental high horse. I can never be one of them (an NT; I'm just not wired for it) but at least I find them considerably less annoying and easier to be around, having learned that their seemingly illogical and unnecessarily life-complicating behaviours are rooted in an innate comprehension of complex social interconnectedness and non-verbal understandings I lack. I can't claim to understand them, but at least now I know why they do what they do. Thank you, Ian Ford, for having written so insightful a book, one so packed with the most useful and relevant information. It has made a difference.

This is an excellent book. I would highly recommend this for a person who is researching the possiblity of their own place on the autistic spectrum. You will find the observations illuminating and helpful. It makes it clear in which side of the line (autistic or neurotypical) you stand. It is a book that will demystify the range of states of being. This is not like other books. Both worlds are validated and valued. It is a positive view of people, and although it does not shy away from the truth about the hard to understand "neurotypical" world, it treats both with compassion. This is a handbook for a foreign culture. Although the two may never "speak" the same language, there is insight into the difference and how to translate meanings for an autistic mind while being sympathetic to the two world views.

A very well delivered insight into NTs and why they are weird. And so why they don't understand Aspies. If the first chapters are confusing then persevere by the end there is so much insight.

I found the scenarios unnecessary although they may be useful to others.The rest I liked very much. Enlightening.Useful, illuminating and appreciated.

While not always an easy read, this book is a one off. It describes how life, and more specifically neurotypical life, seems to someone on the Autism spectrum. It doesn't just describe, but goes into remarkable detail. I've read a few books about Autism but never one from this extremely interesting perspective..

Interesting idea poorly done.