Q&A with John Elder Robison Autism Author

May 20, 2012 Margalit Sturm Francus

John Elder Robison is the author of the NY Times bestseller, Look Me in the Eye -My life with Asperger’s and Be Different, Adventures of a free-range Aspergian.
John’s books have been translated into 18 languages and sold in more than 60 countries. John’s next book, The Best Kid, is scheduled to be published in the Fall of 2013. He is a popular public speaker, an active advocate for people with neurological differences (including autism) and serves on multiple advisory boards for autism research.

In addition to raising autism awareness and managing his luxury-car restoration business, he enjoys hiking, photography, music, and is a world-class champion eater.

Q&A with John Elder Robison author of 'Look me in the eye' TORONTO — Descending into Toronto photo credit J.E. Robison

How has travel contributed to your life?.

I have gotten to see people and places I’d never have known had I stayed home. Plus, I have encountered curiosities.
There was the Giant Sumatran Rat that I sold to the circus. And I got a genuine Akubra hat in Australia.
Best of all, I got a real Imperial War Pug from China.

When and where did you introduce your own child to travel?.

I was not in a traveling phase when my son was born.
At that time, I was focused exclusively on building up my business to support us. My first wife, Little Bear, introduced Cubby to travel by taking him to Disney World and then to Mexico when she went there to study for her doctorate in Anthropology.

Q&A with John Elder Robison author of 'Look me in the eye' HIGHTIDE — Watching the tugs in Galveston Photo credit J.E.Robison

What’s the one thing you would never leave home without?

My phone, camera and I-pad (three things.) I can get clothes on location.

Describe a unique method of transportation you’ve used during your travels so far

When I was in the rock and roll business, I got to fly in the front seat of a Lockheed L1011 that we had chartered as we flew to New York to load gear and crew.

The pilot was proud of his plane and eager to demonstrate its abilities, especially when there were no passengers on board.

What is your preferred seat on a plane and why?

I always get aisle seats within five rows of the exit.
Aisle seats because I am tall, and less than five rows from the exit because studies show those seats to be the ones from which the majority of survivors emerge if there is a mishap.

One food you refuse to eat and why?

Guts, brains, and organs.
I would hope their undesirability as human food would be universal and self-evident, but it’s not.

If I ever go back to….this time I will….

If I ever go back to Montserrat, I will check more carefully for contraband and be more vigilant around the police.
Also, I will keep my motor vehicles out of the ocean.

Describe the oddest souvenir you’ve brought home

A dried toad from Australia.
Two crazed Russians had made the toad into a purse, and I bought it from them in a backcountry gypsy market. Bringing it home, I gave it to Cubby’s mom because she is a freak herself and appreciates strange stuff like that.

Q&A with John Elder Robison author of 'Look me in the eye' ROAD — Looking where the road used to be photo credit J.E.Robison

What’s your ‘must have’ feature when choosing a hotel to stay in?

Beds to sleep in.
It’s very disturbing to walk into a room, dog-tired from a long day of travel, only to find a cheap blanket on the hard concrete.

Given the opportunity to travel through time where would you go and who would you like to meet?

I would go back a couple of hundred years, and look for Colonel Albert Ferguson whose Ferguson Hair Counter revolutionized the packing and sorting of wool, having the same effect on sheep ranching that Eli Whitney’s cotton gin had had for planters a few decades earlier.