Looking for Normal - An Autistic Boy Who Beat The Odds
How an autistic boy became a successful musician, husband and father.
“A wonderful insight into an extraordinary life.” - Peter Holmes PhD
Looking For Normal is the memoir of author, musician and filmmaker Steve Slavin. His obsession with music led to a long career in the creative arts; albeit one defined by depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and cognitive impairment.
In recounting the 48 years that led to his autism diagnosis in 2008, Steve’s darkly humorous memoir will inform and inspire anyone with an interest in mental health and autism. But more than this, Looking For Normal is the story of ambition and courage set against a backdrop of low expectation and the long shadow of traumatic childhood dysfunction.
"Insightful, inspiring, informative and entertaining. Looking For Normal is not just about overcoming the adversities that life throws at you on a regular basis. It is also about someone’s journey of accepting, embracing and celebrating everything that comes with having autism."
- Dr Rai – Senior practitioner Educational Psychologist
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L Bonneville says
I’m a woman with late ASD diagnosis too, and I very much enjoyed your interview with Anna C. Wilson about her book ‘A Place for Everything’. I came across it after hearing Woman’s Hour saying they would be talking to Anna Wilson the next day. Your interview was a revelation, in depth and insightful, which can’t be said for the Women’s Hour interview. I recognized so many behaviours from my own mother, as well as from myself. I feel very resentful over a lifetime (in my own case) of presenting to the medical/clinical profession in distress, often with anxiety and depression, and never, until I was 50, having ASD mentioned by anyone (and even then it was down to my new G.P. having ASD in her own family). It was also only after this that I learned about the connection between digestive / gastric problems and ASD (which Anna mentions her mother had). The lack of connection between, as you say, medical services – even mental health services – and knowledge and experience of autism is astounding, and there is so much hidden torment and suffering due to this I have thought and read and written a lot about the different ways females present with ASD than males – whole articles. Some of this is on Academia.com, and some on the now defunct Verbal Remedy site. After my diagnosis I wrote a novella about a woman getting an ASD diagnosis, and the effects (inc. suicidal impulses) of all the confusion and contradiction this brings to her, and ‘published’ it on Amazon (title: ‘Ta-ra, Alice’), but less than a dozen e-copies have been downloaded. I don’t, and wouldn’t know how, to make people aware of it. Thanks for your work (I can’t buy your memoir at the moment as it’s not available, but would like to in the future).
Steve- adults with autism says
Hi L Bonneville.
Thank you for watching my interview with Anna. Her book will help a lot of people understand their own adult autism.
I can definitely relate to the thing you said about feeling resentful and struggling through to 50 years of age without a diagnosis. Almost identical to my situation. It’s important that we get our stories out there to educate medical professionals, and also other mature people who feel they may have autism.
I will have a look at your book on Amazon. And I will let you know when mine is re-published.
Many thanks
Steve
Mustafa N. says
Hai again, Steve. Thanx for letting me know your book is back in stock at Amazon—I just purchased both a paperback and kindle edition. Btw, I have you beat: I received an ASD diagnosis at age 56—not so much a “very late diagnosis” as it is a TOO late diagnosis. 😉
Steve- adults with autism says
Hi Mustafa
Thank you for purchasing my book. I really appreciate this. Yes, you definitely beat me in age to a diagnosis! I don’t think 56 is too late though. I’ve just hit 60, and life is just beginning!
Best wishes
Steve
Mustafa N. says
Hai. I read an article in Spectrum which mentioned your recently published book, soI did a search on Amazon but it is listed as not available. Just wondering if that status will change. Thanx.