Understanding NTs: An Aspies Guide

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Understanding NTs: An Aspies Guide <------ I wish this book existed.

I am an NT who has had a relationship with an Aspie since 2007. We have had many many ups and downs. We have broken up and gotten back together more times than I care to remember. About a year ago he discovered that he has Aspergers. In May of this year, he approached me to help him discuss/understand Aspergers and the differences between Aspies and NTs. After a quick look at some youtube videos and the wikipedia page on Aspergers, I decided to buy the book The Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome by Tony Attwood. I bought a copy for myself and I sent him a copy as well. Since July, we have been slowly reading through it and discussing it whenever we get a chance. It's been a slow process but we have made some interesting discoveries.

About a week ago I asked him if this was helping him at all. He told me that for him, reading through Attwoods' book is kind of the same experience as me reading through a biography written about me. From his point of view, there's really no new information for him and it's a bit boring because he knows about all the things that Attwood is explaining. He says that it's only when he discusses the book with me that he makes interesting discoveries. This is because he gets to receive input from me about how NTs process the same experience in a different way. Also, during discussion, discovers the difference in the way NTs think and how they are wired differently.

This brought us to an interesting conclusion: It would be more helpful for him to have a book like Attwoods that explains NTs from an Aspie perspective, in a general way. While it has been incredibly revealing to me to read through Attwoods book, it has been unhelpful to him to read through the book. He would benefit more from a book that explains (in a general sense) NTs and their behavior the way Attwood explains Aspies. My question is: is there a book out there like this? Any insight or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Great idea! Maybe we can write one on WrongPlanet!

Well there is "The Asperger Social Guide: How to Relate with Confidence to Anyone in Any Social Situation as an Adult with Asperger's Syndrome". Its supposed to be good but its short 111 pages and expensive for what you get.

I agree with the original poster that such a book is really needed, although I personally found Tony Attwood's book very helpful for someone with aspergers who has just been diagnosed, etc like I was, but we do need a book that explains things from the other perspective, I know there is a section of the forum devoted to social rules etc, maybe as the other poster commented we could do it here on Wrong Planet..

The Wrong planet guide to strange NT species for the aspie

Well, I'm a writing major so I can help with the development of said book, if you'd like.

This would be a fantastic guide to have, something I really could have used back in middle school. Instead, I've learned via trial-and-error and, more recently, befriending NT psychology majors. So I'm for it!

Someone (or two someone) wants to make a good business.