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Book reviews for "Williams,_Donna" sorted by average review score:

Somebody Somewhere
Published in Audio Cassette by Audio Literature (1994)
Authors: Donna Williams and Debra Winger
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The sequel I was waiting for...
The first book was an amazing journey for me, and to read the second book was just as wonderful as the first. It left me wondering if there was a third book. A must read!

There is always more to know.
Have you read her first book? You'll be happy to read this one too, and share her experience. Learn more about autism, conquering it, and dealing with it.

Should be A prescribed Text ............
Donna Williams book 'Somebody Somewhere' is one of those books that opens your mind - and makes you want to stand up and applaud human courage. My personal interests include psychology, child development, communication, extra sensory perception psychic ability, and Metaphysics. Donna Williams sharing of her 'world' inadvertently embraced all these subjects, and made me highly aware - not of 'differences' but of 'similarities'. Our human need to be understood, to be treated with dignity, and to be accepted in our individuality.

Donna Williams is truly an Expert on the world of Autism, way beyond the usual sets of clinical observations, and range of treatments designed to 'normalise'. We 'normals' do have to rethink the term 'dis-abled'!


Like Color to the Blind
Published in Hardcover by Times Books (1996)
Author: Donna Williams
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A powerful tale of love and humanity
Before I read this book I didn't know anything about autism, and I didnt even realize what the auther's mental condition was until a fair way into the book. I happened to pick up this book at the library (catchy title, I guess), and loved it. This is not so much a story about autism, but rather a painfully personal account of the difficulties involved in sharing a life with another human being.

Finding and laboriously sticking to the true self.
"Like Color to the Blind" is the third book by Donna Williams, after "Nobody Nowhere" and "Somebody Somewhere" but it could easily stand by itself. Donna, who is autistic, puts forth an amazing effort to break through the socially acceptable masks that she had grown in order to relate to society. She is in a relationship with a man who has similar problems, and they help each other as much as they can. A very important part of this book is the account of Irlen filters, tinted lenses that reduce the many symptoms of visual overload. Anyone who has thought about obtaining these lenses should read this, as it is a very eloquent account of these problems and their disappearance. The author, though going through understandable rough periods, seems to put all of her free effort into retaining who she is. I could use any number of cliche's here (touching, great read, etc) but I will just say that I loved this book and I hope that other people will, too.

A must read for anyone new to the world of relationships.
Having a relationship of any kind can be a journey that takes you to places never before experienced. Add to that relationship another component, as in this case, autism, and you will see just how difficult and joyful the journey can be. Donna Williams in her previous books explains her struggles with autism, and this time she has mapped out for us what having a loving, trusting relationship is all about. For those of us who take our relationships with others seriously, this book will cause you to take a second look and see there is room for improvement on that journey to experiencing the fullest of what being a "couple" means


Contemporary Southwest: The Cafe Terra Cotta Cookbook
Published in Hardcover by Ten Speed Press (2001)
Authors: Donna Nordin and William McKellar
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Southwestern Cuisine With Style
This is an excellent collection of Southwestern recipes with stylistic touches. Especially appealing to me are those with fruit or dried fruit, such as Lamb Chops with Dried Cherry-Chipotle Sauce or Spinach Salad with Figs and Jicama or Tangy Cheese-Stuffed Quail with Mango-Chile Salsa. New discoveries of combo flavors are Muchroom, Jarlsberg and Parsley Salad and Corn Risitto. Also tantalizing is Dessert, Taquito or the Arizona Princess Cake, rich with apples, tequila, chocolate and pecans. Another well done TenSpeed Press output, with sources and nice, large format with super color photos and clear instructions and ingredients. Certainly, those who love Southwestern food will add this to their collection.

Recipes worth the effort
Cafe Terra Cotta is one of Tucson's local treasures. This book provides surprisingly easy directions for a selection of their classic wonderful dishes. The majority of the recipes call for ingredients that are relatively easily available, and the directions are easy to follow. I have had some comments by friends who glanced through the pages and decided that the recipes must be too complicated because of the numbers of different ingredients, but the two factors do not necessarily correlate. Yes, some recipes do call for a fairly lengthy list, but the actual procedures are quite simple, so there's no need to be intimidated. This is a really good little cookbook. I especially like the salsas, sauces, the garlic custard, and relishes. The tortilla soup is a favorite at pot-lucks. Try it!


Ensuring Inequality: The Structural Transformation of the African-American Family
Published in Hardcover by Oxford University Press (1997)
Authors: Donna L. Franklin and William Julius Wilson
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Finally!
A well documented history of today's Black family. Read this book to understand how our family structure has manage to weaken over the last 150 years. This book left me with the understanding that our individaul accomplishments consisting of corporate promotions, new home purchases, and higher incomes don't mean much when our family structure continues to weaken our community towards non-existence.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book!
I don't know Donna Franklin and don't have anything to gain through my comments. This book is one of the best I've read in a LONG time in analyzing the reasons for some of the changes in the black family and suggesting a number of very lucid, rational, and intelligent recommendations. Absolutely terrific, terrific book! Very scholarly, well-researched, and thoughtful but written in non-jargon and extremely accessible to the average reader. Should be required reading in most college courses as well as for our politicians.


Exposure Anxiety - The Invisible Cage: An Exploration of Self-Protection Response in the Autism Spectrum
Published in Paperback by Jessica Kingsley Pub (31 January, 2003)
Author: Donna Williams
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Enlightening
Few other books in my autism library are as marked up with exclamations points and my daughter's name as this one. Finally, finally, I not only have tremendous understanding of many of my daughter's behaviours, but tools to help her as well. It baffles me that exposure anxiety is hardly, if at all, mentioned in the general autism literature; clearly, it is one of the major challenges that are at the core of my daughter's autism. Though not all people with autism suffer from EA, this book is a must read for all professionals in the autism field, and any parents who suspect that this issue applies to their child.

A must-read for anyone that has or knows someone with EA!
I am high-functioning autistic and after learning quite a bit from Williams' earlier books, I bought "Invisible Cage" in hopes of continuing my self-education. Simply put, this book is amazing, one of those rare pieces where every page brings on a new revelation and sense that someone else "finally" understands.

"Invisible Cage" is not like her autobiographies: it is written like a manual for people dealing with EA, either in themselves or in a friend/relative/partner. It is organized into tiny sub-chapters with appropriate headings, with an index in the back for quickly finding information on a particular subject. For each, she describes what the external behaviors are like, the internal emotions/logic causing it, and how to help the EA person feel safe so they don't have to resort to that behavior.

Even if you have EA and have studied it in yourself for years, as I have, this book is invaluable. Williams has researched it not only in herself, but in many other autistics. I was surprised to find many behaviors that I was doing without realizing it, and *very* happy to finally have reasons for some things I could never explain. As EA is rare even in adults with autism, I've felt like a lone freak for a long time, so it was wonderful to finally realize that my brain really is being logical and I'm not just mentally ill or a psycho monster or something.

If you have EA, I highly recomend not only buying yourself a copy of "Cage", but giving one to someone in your life that you think you might be able to trust enough to work with. That way they can see your behavior for what it is and hopefully help you gain that trusting bond that is so hard for us to manage.


Nobody Nowhere
Published in Audio Cassette by Books on Tape (1992)
Author: Donna Williams
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amazing
This is my favorite book. I read it in less than a day wich is rare for me. Some other books I love are Catcher and the Rye, and The Sound and the Furry. Donna Williams is amazing. This book is amazing.

The book is excellent because it relates to my disability!
I think Donna Williams is one of the world's greatest authors. Although she suffers from pervasive developmental disorder, (autism related), she has shown great courage and will be of great benefit in the future for other people with disabilities.

I suffer, myself, from Asperger's Syndrome (I am 23 years old) and I have benefited from Donna's three autobiographies written.

I am trying hard to find information and correspondence with other autistic people like myself; but the process has not been a walover. I recommend reading of the books, from "Nobody Nowhere"(first) to "Like Color to the Blind" (third) because all three books run in sequence.

I have rated Nobody Nowhere a perfect 10!

Adrian Pooley


Autism-An Inside-Out Approach: An Innovative Look at the Mechanics of 'Autism' and Its Developmental 'Cousins'
Published in Paperback by Jessica Kingsley Pub (1996)
Author: Donna Williams
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Extremely recommended reading
Autism: An Inside-Out Approach, has succeeded in telling experts on autism things they didn't know.

Donna is intelligently critical of the popular and professional stereotypes of autism. She demands an end to the professional exclusivism and arrogance of so many proponents of therapies for autism. Donna proposes a "supermarket" approach, where the different therapies work together under the one roof to meet the unique set of problems of each autistic individual they serve.

Autism: An Inside-Out Approach answers the problem of Carol and Willie, Donna's "characters" Oliver Sacks discusses a similar personality phenomenon to Donna's "characters" during his description of Dr Temple Grandin in An Anthropologist From Mars.

The appendix to Autism: An Inside-Out Approach, is full of helpful advice on issues and problems involved in dealing with autism. There is also an international list of organisations and resource people Donna has found useful in her own struggle with autism.

Two quibbles with Donna's brilliant, very readable exposition of autism: The word "refraction" is repeatedly used to refer to "shining", reflected light. Secondly, her useful coverage of nutrition and immunology problems in autistic people does not fully reflect the full raft of problems and issues in this area of autism research.

Autism: An Inside-Out Approach is "extremely recommended" reading.


Educational Technology: Best Practices from America's Schools (The Library of Innovations ; 4)
Published in Hardcover by Eye on Education (1995)
Authors: William C. Bozeman and Donna T. Baumbach
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A wonderful resource for educators, parents and students.
Want to know what's happening in the schools directly from teachers and technology leaders? This book is jam-packed with awesome technology projects from around the country.


The Velveteen Rabbit
Published in Hardcover by Vermilion Inc (1995)
Authors: Margery Williams Bianco and Donna Green
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My daughter's favorite book!
Daughter Anna (now 19 years old) loved this book. It was her favorite above all others. As we sorted through some old kid things for give-away purposes, we stumbled upon this old, well worn copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit." She insisted we keep the book for HER children.

This was her book that Mama (me!) had to read to her again and again and again. As soon as the last word was read on the last page, it was "Mama, please read it again!"

(how I miss those days, by the way!)

The book also has a powerful message about Love that children understand and cherish.

This is a wonderful book. No child should be without their own copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit."

Velveteen Rabbit story good for parents and children
It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

A TRUE CLASSIC FILLED WITH A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE
I seldom write reviews on children's books, although I love them with a passion. My children are now mothers and my grandchildren are past young childhood. However, I believe that somewhere deep inside each of us remains a small child that still loves fairy tales, cotton candy, and walking barefoot in the grass. This book was one of my children's favourites, along with "Charlotte's Web;" both were also my own personal favourites. When my children were six years old reading this book became a nighly adventure until I knew the words by heart. For the reviewer who rated the book with a one star due to a spelling error, my heart goes out to you; you have sadly missed something very important - the message. The book is not about spelling, editing or lack thereof; it is about encouragement and love.

The book tells the story of a toy, sawdust-filled rabbit who wishes with all his heart to become real. The message contained in this book is poignant, heart-warming and touching, and one that you will never foreget as long as you live. It is a story of beauty, wonder and love. Any child who misses out on "The Velveteen Rabbit" is missing out on one of life's greatest lessons. I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful, wonderful book and highly recommend it to children...and the grown-up child in all of us.


SENSUAL CELIBACY : THE SEXY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO USING ABSTINENCE FOR RECHARGING YOUR SPIRIT, DISCOVERING YOUR PASSIONS, ACHIEVING GREATER INTIMACY IN YOUR NEXT RELATIONSHIP
Published in Paperback by Simon & Schuster (1999)
Author: Donna Williams
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Tells truths that need telling
This book seemed like a godsend when I found it just after my most recent breakup -- Williams exactly described the feelings I was having. Working through the book has been a roller coaster ride for me, making me face painful truths about myself and my relationship history but bringing me welcome clarity on some points. I especially appreciate the truth that Williams tells about what it does to a woman's soul to have sex with a man who's not committed to her. I was fuzzy on this concept and lied to myself to keep ahold of exciting sex but never again will I have sex without insisting on a safe context.

Sensual Celibacy: The Sexy Woman's Guide
Wow, is this timely! I'm cute enough, but sometimes male attention comes in huge doses. Now is one of those times. Though I very much enjoy the attention, it is a major distraction! I appreciate the concepts in this book because they help me keep it all in perspective.

I want to be married one day, and it's clear all these guys can't be the one. While I am deciding, I am making major advances with my life and being goo-goo-eyed all day is silly. Sensual Celibacy's guidance helps me keep a clear head while I am enjoying this season of courtship and chosing. I love it. Thanks, Donna Marie.

True Intimacy
I just finished re-reading the book for the umpteenth time and have recommended it to a Celibacy discussion board I belong to. Celibacy as the author discusses does not mean "dead" to life and all it's riches. Ms Williams actually shows that celibacy can bring a person to a greater level of love and understanding and self respect. And I think she is a hero for having the guts to discuss in an open and honest fashion how sex in today's society often leaves a void and a hunger for true intimacy that can only be found when we know love and respect ourselves. This is not an anti sex book. It isn't a book that points fingers. But if you feel like an odd ball because you have chosen to be celibate for any reason you will find a friend in the author. I am going to give copies of the book to women friends, who are celibate due to a spouse being disabled or because they simple want to know themselves better before succumbing to the next guy that comes along. And each time I re-read the book I get more from it. Many of those I know who are celibate have come to realize that they want more from sex. Some have bigger life goals and have no desire to get involved with someone and thus become intimate. Some believe they simply need to concentrate on their college work or profession and that later on when they are emotionally and otherwise ready to get involved that they will. I admit most of these friends are female but I do know some males as well who are celibate and all are very attractive men and successful so it isn't as if they are losers who couldn't get a date anyway. And celibacy is a topic that more and more friends of our with spouse with Alzheimer's are talking openly about.


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