Book Review: My Autistic Awakening: Unlocking the Potential for a Life Well Lived by Rachael Lee Harris

There are a lot of "Autism Biographies" around these days and they mostly follow the same patterns; Childhood difficulties, school bullying, addiction to "alone-time", workplace bullying and finally the discovery of autism and acceptance of one's place in the world.

This story is quite different. 
This is a story about someone who didn't struggle quite so hard  Autism plays a part in this story but it doesn't have the starring role. This time, the star is Rachael, not her diagnosis.  It's definitely about a life well-lived.
Of course, there are plenty of moments throughout this book where it's clear that some of the qualities of Autism are affecting events for better or worse but for the most part, Rachael presents as a capable and occasionally "otherworldly" member of society.
If you've ever read a book or seen a film with a lead character who is defined by their autism and thought; "that's a bit excessive. I'm not like that. Maybe I don't have Autism after all..." Then this is the book for you.
It demonstrates how perfectly the traits of autism can hide in individuals, particularly in females on the spectrum.
The book is a breeze to read too because unlike some biographies, it reads more like a novel than a resume. Rachael tells the story with enough description for you to imagine yourself in the places she describes.
I found this book particularly interesting because we were born in the same month of the same year- and only a state away. Having spent many of my childhood summers in Queensland, I found many of the Australian cultural references very familiar.
As the story unfolds we follow Rachael overseas and into a nunnery - and it's a fascinating insight into how well the routine of these places fits with Asperger's syndrome.
In the later chapters, autism begins to play a much bigger role but I don't want to spoil anything- you can read it for yourself.
This book is a great read , particularly for mothers and daughters on the autism spectrum and for those interested in the way autism presents in females.
It's well worth reading and highly recommended.
My Autistic Awakening: Unlocking the Potential for a Life Well Lived by Rachael Lee Harris is published by Rowman & Littlefield and is available on Amazon in Kindle and Hardcover versions. It's also available as an eBook on Google Play.
Rachael Lee Harris is now a psychotherapist who is highly recommended by top Asperger's Syndrome Psychologist Dr . Tony Attwood, You can visit her web page here and her facebook page here. 
Honesty clause; I was provided with a copy of this book free of charge for review purposes.