Books for seniors, especially about tips with coping in life

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Hi,

I'm an aspie and my father, who is in his 70s, has a strong case of aspieness. He has great difficulty navigating social situations. A few years ago when I told him that I might be an aspie, he ignored it (brushed it under the carpet). I'd like to give him some book(s) to read so he can become aware of his own situation and understand why he has been facing difficulties in dealing with others.

What book would you recommend for a senior?

What would you recommend that has good tips about unwritten rules in life (e.g. Do not offer advice unless someone asks for it.)

Thanks much!

If you recognize this as good advice, then why are you seeking to violate it?

The man has managed to navigate his way through life for more than 70 years. Why do you feel the need at this point to say "Hey Dad, I know you've only got a limited number of years left, but I just felt you should know that you've been an obviously clueless spaz all your life and its time you learned a few new tricks, so as not to embarrass me"?

There's a point in life beyond which diagnosis is pointless, and he's already well past it.

Hi Mimi.

Notwithstanding Willards excellent point about giving unsolicited advice, go ahead and give him a book which YOU find helpful. Perhaps something written for people with AS or written for NT people so that they can relate to people with AS.

Give the book with the explanation that you want your dad to know more about YOU and how you think, process and learn. Give it to him so that he can understand his own child better.

Who knows - if he chooses to read it - he may relate better to you. He might also recognize himself and learn somethings (or not). The point is - the book will be offered for him to understand you, not as a self-help guide to himself.

CanadianRose has suggested a good idea. As you are interested in having him understand you, it is good to give him something that will help YOU out. If he comes to his own discovery, then I have to disagree with Willard. I am only ten years younger than your 70 year old father and was profoundly affected by learning about my Asperger's Syndrome. (The older I get, Willard, the fewer stereotypes I have about the elderly, it will probably be the same for you, too

I would say to let him make his own discovery. When I learned late in life, I had to confront my own prejudices about how I felt about the autistic in general and in particular and re-evaluate my own understanding of my life as 'one of those people.' That is no easy or painless task. However I felt it entirely worthy of my time and effort.

Merle

oh, and may I suggest "Look Me In The Eye" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W9 ... 6G6DGZ9X0H