The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband*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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 26
Page 6
... clothes tags, clothes that are too tight or are made in the 'wrong' material? Do you tend to shut down or have a meltdown when stressed or overwhelmed?” All yes. But I was too stunned to answer aloud. “How about, do people think you are ...
... clothes tags, clothes that are too tight or are made in the 'wrong' material? Do you tend to shut down or have a meltdown when stressed or overwhelmed?” All yes. But I was too stunned to answer aloud. “How about, do people think you are ...
Page 12
... clothes, and completely redress myselfbecause my underwear has bunched up, or my socks have twisted around my shins, or, heaven forbid, my shirt has static buildup. My solution is to buy several identical garments that feel all right ...
... clothes, and completely redress myselfbecause my underwear has bunched up, or my socks have twisted around my shins, or, heaven forbid, my shirt has static buildup. My solution is to buy several identical garments that feel all right ...
Page 14
... clothes. Ifshe doesn'tfeel like eating hamburgersfor dinner, just be okay with it and don't flip out. When I slipped, she seemed to find my eccentricity endearing. I remember her laughter upon discovering dozens of pictures I had taken ...
... clothes. Ifshe doesn'tfeel like eating hamburgersfor dinner, just be okay with it and don't flip out. When I slipped, she seemed to find my eccentricity endearing. I remember her laughter upon discovering dozens of pictures I had taken ...
Page 30
... clothes, or how she would ask me to steer while she re-formed her ponytail. Things that themselves were not new to me but that I had begun noticing more. Things that I'd think about long after we'd said good night. We began talking on ...
... clothes, or how she would ask me to steer while she re-formed her ponytail. Things that themselves were not new to me but that I had begun noticing more. Things that I'd think about long after we'd said good night. We began talking on ...
Page 31
... clothes, though, were no match for her suntan, which she had gotten on her trip to San Diego. When I commented on it, she gently pulled aside the neck of her sweater and used her fingertips to trace the narrow tan line along her ...
... clothes, though, were no match for her suntan, which she had gotten on her trip to San Diego. When I commented on it, she gently pulled aside the neck of her sweater and used her fingertips to trace the narrow tan line along her ...
Contents
| 1 | |
| 21 | |
| 39 | |
Chapter 3Get inside her girl world and look around | 57 |
Chapter 4Just listen | 69 |
Better tofold and put away than to take only what you needfrom the dryer | 89 |
Chapter 6Go with theflow | 105 |
Chapter 7When necessary redefine perfection | 123 |
Chapter 8Be loyal to your true stakeholders | 141 |
Chapter 9Take notes | 159 |
Chapter 10Give Kristen time to shower without crowding her | 171 |
Chapter 11Be present in moments with the kids | 185 |
Chapter 12Parties are supposed to be fun | 197 |
The Final Best PracticeDont make everything a Best Practice | 217 |
Acknowledgments | 223 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Andy and Mary Asperger syndrome Asperger’s autism spectrum conditions bathroom bedroom behaviors Best Practices better can’t Clint clothes conversation Dave David David Finch Deadliest Catch Delemont diagnosis doesn’t door eight thirty Emily and Parker emotional empathy everything eyes feel felt folded friends fucking girl going hadn’t hand happy hour Hugh Grant husband I’ve Journal of Best kids kitchen knew Kristen asked laugh laundry learned listen living look Lucky magazine marriage married Mary’s Meredith minutes morning neurotypical never night nodded Nora Ephron notebook o’clock obsession Okay parents parties perfect performance review person play relationship routine Scattergories seemed she’d shit shower social someone SportsCenter started talking tell there’s they’re things thought told Toyota Camry trying upstairs wasn’t watching We’re week What’s wonder you’re