Insight and Hope Through Famous Role Models

Asperger's and Self-Esteem
by Norm Ledgin

Binding: Paperback
Pages: 202

Description

The author of Diagnosing Jefferson introduces twelve more high-achieving role models—including Einstein, Mozart, and Darwin—who have made significant contributions to our world. All exhibited traits common to people with Asperger’s Syndrome. Today’s young people and adults with AS can also make a difference if they are given support, opportunities, and the freedom to explore their abilities. Many accomplished people have been loners, self-taught, obsessed by an idea, and known for their lack of social skills. How many of them would be diagnosed with Asperger’s today? Norm Ledgin makes convincing arguments for an Asperger’s role in each of their extraordinary lives.

Meet the Author

Norm and his wife Marsha were professional partners as safety educators, and then business partners in weekly newspaper publishing for fifteen years. With this book, they have renewed their professional partnership, after a hiatus during which they dedicated themselves to full-time parenting. They have a daughter, Stephanie, and two sons, Fred and Nick.

Table of Contents

Foreword (Temple Grandin)
Chapter 1: A Challenge for Parents, Teachers, and Health-Care Professionals
Chapter 2: The Lonely Perspective of the Asperger’s Child
Chapter 3: Dealing with Fixations that Drive Us Nuts
Chapter 4: A Ride in the Time Machine of Logic
Chapter 5: Finding and Offering Relevant Role Models
Chapter 6: A Caring Statesman with a Double-Tracked Mind [Thomas Jefferson]
Chapter 7: A Cuddly Nobel Winner with a Bite [Albert Einstein]
Chapter 8: A Self-Censoring Scientist Who Knew Too Much [Charles Darwin]
Chapter 9: A Showman Who Peaked Too Soon [Orson Welles]
Chapter 10: A Musician/Actor Who Capitalized on Loneliness [Oscar Levant]
Chapter 11: A Double Nobel Winner Who Shunned Fame [Marie Curie]
Chapter 12: A Singer/Actor Who Fought Too Hard [Paul Robeson]
Chapter 13: A Recluse Who Failed Exams and Changed Science [Gregor Mendel]
Chapter 14: A Collector Who Spiced Classical Music [Bela Bartok]
Chapter 15: A Stargazer with Otherworldly Beliefs [Carl Sagan]
Chapter 16: A Performer Who Seemed Wedded to His Piano [Glenn Gould]
Chapter 17: A Lyrical Messenger—An American Orginal [John Hartford]
Chapter 18: A Prodigy and Rebel Who Never Grew Up [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]
Chapter 19: Surprising and Strange Parallels
Chapter 20: A New Look at the Concept of Genius
Chapter 21: Our Discomforts—Their Rights
Chapter 22: Choosing to be Gentle on Their Minds
Chapter 23: Parents as Role Models
Appendix: Asperger’s Traits that Make Us Happy
Sources