Researching High Functioning, Female Autism (ASD, Asperger) in Audio Books

4 min readApr 6, 2021

Whether you want to understand yourself or a someone you care about better, books can be a good start. I only have time for audio books, but most of these come in e-book and physical versions.

Links below, are affiliate and if you chose to take out a free audible trial and then cancel in before it ends, I get £5 towards my audible subscription, reading more books so you don’t have to :) It also works if you click the link and buy anything at all, you don’t pay anything extra.

Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World that Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg I really enjoyed this, (if you don’t enjoy the beginning skip for chapter 4) it combines personal stories, clinical studies, often it is people doing that research talking about their own traits. It is not the kind of book that insists on everyone seeking a diagnosis (although it does reference research that found that overall quality of life seems to be better after a diagnosis). I would recommend this to a parent who is concerned about a child being on the spectrum as it is full of wonderful examples of people on the spectrum thriving and being very successful. Very nuanced explanations but very easy to understand research intermingled with excepts of interviews. After feeling that I knew everything I could about Autism, this book made me think again and again I feel that jaw dropping realisation ‘doesn’t everyone feel like that?!’ It has gotten me using the term ‘Sensory Processing Difficulties’ in some areas of life.

Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us About Life, Love and Relationships

Odd Girl Out by Laura James. The best book I have ever read. Laura talks about failed marriage, kids, getting a late diagnosis in her 40s. The book even touches on her experience during the brexit referendum as well as people telling her that she can’t be autistic because she is a journalist, practicalities of travel to work. This book changed my life.

22 Things a Woman with Asperger’s Syndrome Wants Her Partner to Know by Rudy Simone. The foreword put me off but it only got better. I think this is something I will revisit every few years, and share with others. She talks about failed marriage, getting a late diagnosis, finding he soulmate later in life, describes every day challenges really well and offers varied practical ideas to try. Every chapter ends with a quote from a partner of an Aspie woman.

Did not enjoy

Adults with Autism: A Guide to Diagnosis, Inner-Acceptance and Prosperity by Una Cuthbert. For my taste it is very generalised, ‘top notes’ resulting in me getting very little out of it. Her diagnosis came late but not something she thought and the book is mainly for that experience, if you never considered that you have autism and you are thinking whether to get a diagnosis this may be helpful. Una shares her experience of not being too interested in dating until she met her wife and happily living together since with their two kids. She talks about her experience being raised by really supportive parents and a lot of emphasis about ‘fixing herself’ and overcoming things. Both of those things may be a trigger if your experience is different.

Do You Have Favourite Headphones?

Do you have any tips to improve one’s listening experience? I have been trying different earbuds for under £30 (in case I loose them) would love recommendations in the comments.

The ones I have are a power bank so only needs to be charged once a month or so. It works with just left or right, and when you put them away, it gives a visual confirmation they each one has made connection and is charging.
The last pair I tried had an option to increase volume by holding an earbud in a particular way (which was never intentional on my part) and the signal to indicate they they are on was way too loud regardless of the master volume and could not be regulated.