Funny, You Don't Look Autistic
A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum
Ratings13
Average rating3.5
Like many others on the autism spectrum, 20-something stand-up comic Michael McCreary has been told by more than a few well-meaning folks that he doesn’t “look” autistic. But, as he’s quick to point out in this memoir, autism “looks” different for just about everyone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Diagnosed with ASD at age five, McCreary got hit with the performance bug not much later. During a difficult time in junior high, he started journaling, eventually turning his pain e into something empowering—and funny. He scored his first stand-up gig at age 14, and hasn't looked back. This unique and hilarious #OwnVoices memoir breaks down what it’s like to live with autism for readers on and off the spectrum. Candid scenes from McCreary's life are broken up with funny visuals and factual asides. Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic is an invaluable and compelling read for young readers with ASD looking for voices to relate to, as well as for readers hoping to broaden their understanding of ASD.
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I have to admit I had no idea who McCreary was when I picked up this book, so I went in without expectation.
Even without expectations this book managed to be a letdown, it wasn't funny and even for such a young writer it completely lacked depth. Might there be a small subset of the autistic community who would benefit from reading this book? Maybe the white boys with an early diagnosis, a supportive family and fairly low support needs?
There is an overabundance of links which made me feel like I was dealing with a collection of blog posts and not an actual book.
This one might not be entirely fair because when the book was written the autism community definitely wasn't quite where it is today on the topic but the constant use of the term aspie was jarring.
The name dropping and the fanboying over Neil Gaiman was tedious.
3.25 stars Listened to this audiobook while playing Animal Crossing. Some parts were funny, some a little more serious, but overall, for me, it was just an okay read. Disclaimer: I had no idea who Michael McCreary was before I picked this up. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more if I had...
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up–emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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McCreary was five when he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but it had challenged him and his parents far before then. In this short memoir, he talks about growing up with ASD and finding his place in performing and comedy. This wasn't as funny as you might hope from a comedian's memoir, but given that the focus of it was on the way he got through life and learning his craft while learning how to live in a neurotypical world, it'd be hard to be funny. Still, there was a light-heartedness to the entire book that made it pretty appealing.
I had plenty of fun listening to this, and gained some insight (much needed, I expect) into ASD. I think the hard copy might be a bit better because there are charts, graphs, etc. he mentions throughout (yes, there are pdf versions available on the publisher's site, but who listens to an audiobook when they can stop and look at a pdf?).
