The Journal of Best Practices
A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband
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4.4 • 220 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
*A New York Times Bestseller*
A warm and hilarious memoir by a man diagnosed with Asperger syndrome who sets out to save his relationship.
Five years after David Finch married Kristen, the love of his life, they learned that he has Asperger syndrome. The diagnosis explained David’s ever-growing list of quirks and compulsions, but it didn’t make him any easier to live with.
Determined to change, David set out to understand Asperger syndrome and learn to be a better husband with an endearing zeal. His methods for improving his marriage involve excessive note-taking, performance reviews, and most of all, the Journal of Best Practices: a collection of hundreds of maxims and hard-won epiphanies, including “Don’t change the radio station when she’s singing along” and “Apologies do not count when you shout them.” David transforms himself from the world’s most trying husband to the husband who tries the hardest. He becomes the husband he’d always meant to be.
Filled with humor and wisdom, The Journal of Best Practices is a candid story of ruthless self-improvement, a unique window into living with an autism spectrum condition, and proof that a true heart is the key to happy marriage.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Few people would consider the moment they are diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome as a positive moment in their life, but for Finch it was a blessing in disguise. At the point he found out about his condition, which he describes as "a relatively mild form of autism," his five-year marriage to his wife, Kristen, was crumbling under the weight of his idiosyncrasies ("lining certain items up," "lightly touching objects in a particular way," needing "things to go as planned") that controlled Finch's daily life and made it impossible for him to be the type of father and husband he or his family wanted him to be. But after gaining an understanding of what he needed to "overcome," Finch, who wrote a well-received article for the New York Times about his disorder, begins the long process of learning how to manage the "egocentricity" and "relationship-defeating behaviors" associated with Asperger's. Finch's main weapon in his fight against his own brain is what he calls "The Journal of Best Practices," a notebook in which he keeps track of concepts, hints, lessons, and reflections that help him deal with and even conquer the manifestations of his disorder. In relating his story, Finch is compellingly honest, a trait that works well with his self-deprecating humor. There are points when the "best practices" are repetitive, but of course that is the nature of Asperger's syndrome, and Finch's ability to put his experiences on paper will no doubt help more people and families understand this oft-misunderstood disorder.
Customer Reviews
The Journal of Best Practices
On every page I could find something to relate to! We have struggled in a similar situation for twenty years and finally David's descriptions of himself make sense to me. His story helps me understand my husband's behavior. Now I hope my husband will be similarly motivated to work on some things. I thought some of his behaviors were willful, now I understand them differently. Is there a source for more help?
The Journal of Best PrActices
Best book I have read this year. I do not have the disease, Aspurger syndrome but this book improved my marriage. Thank you!
The Journal of best practices
This very funny and insightful book was introduced to me by a client. I am a therapist and this client was a couple struggling with a husband with Asperger's syndrome. They gained insight into their relationship and improved their communication just by practicing the "best practices" of this book.