Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum

Volume XXV / Issue 21 - February 8 / 2019

Author:

Michael McCreary

Toronto, ON: Annick Press, March, 2019

166 pp., trade pbk. $14.95

ISBN:

9781773212579

Grades:

Grades 8 and up

Ages:

Ages 13 and up

Review by:

Bev Brenna (Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy)

Excerpt:

Hello! I’m Michael and I do stand-up comedy about being on the autism spectrum. Those two things don’t sound like they should go together, but comedy’s all about breaking the ice on topics that people are too scared to talk about.

I was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. I wasn’t diagnosed as a comedian until much later, though I always loved to perform and make people laugh. When I started doing stand-up in my teens I realized that I could use comedy to help demystify autism and break down stereotypes. Being autistic has its challenges, sure, but it’s not all PSAs of empty swings blowing in the wind set to Sarah McLachlan music. There’s plenty to laugh about, too.

So begins the introduction to 20-something Michael McCreary’s current autobiography, subtitled A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum. Divided into three parts, the book is organized into self-explanatory chapters that include: the “Obligatory Origin Story;” “The Elementary School Doorstop;” “Breaking My Legs;” and “Socially Awkward Man.” An epilogue and a section on Autism Resources conclude the book.

Readers will find a number of interesting directions to follow in this title. One is the journey of a unique individual living his life on the autism spectrum, with age-related anecdotes that offer an incisive first-person perspective into McCreary’s world. Another avenue in the book explores the timeline of McCreary’s coming-of-age as a comedian, narrating his various experiences with stand-up progressing towards becoming a strong voice across North America.

One particularly strong section juxtaposes three meetings between McCreary and Dr. Temple Grandin, an influential figure in the worlds of agriculture and autism. The story of this series of encounters is both original and captivatingly funny, ending with an epiphany for McCreary. “…I saw the line between the autism and comedy worlds instantly dissolve. An advocate can be a carefree prankster, and a comic can be a deep-thinking philosopher. Your job does not define you. A nice lesson, even if it took me three times to learn it.”

The writing is catchy and sophisticated, full of film and other literary references that present McCreary’s inner world as richly connected. Some readers may relate to specific experiences that set neuro-diverse individuals apart from neuro-typicals. Other readers may identify with the kinds of miscommunications many people struggle with at one time or another. Whatever the connection, all readers will no doubt engage with McCreary’s witty style to consider the myriad ways we humans might demonstrate empathy and appreciation for the differences among us.

Highly Recommended

Reviewer:

Bev Brenna is the author of many books for young people including her “Wild Orchid” trilogy dealing with a teen protagonist who has Asperger’s Syndrome. She is also a professor at the University of Saskatchewan where her research interests include literacy and children’s literature.