REVIEW: Funny, You Don't Look Autistic ⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5)

“What we have to do is be understanding of one another, not judge others exclusively by our own experience, and, to quote my mom, shut up and listen.”
― Michael McCreary, Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum

This book has been on my TBR list for a while now, so I was very excited to see an ARC released for the audiobook. It was originally published on March 12, 2019.

Michael McCreary is a young comedian sharing his story that started when he was five and was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). He talks about his testing and how it all affects his and his family's lives. My eight-year-old son has ASD, and lately, I have been feeling like I have it as well. It was great hearing the experience through an individual on the spectrum and not just someone who is neurotypical talking about it. There are many different aspects of ASD, and it was very interesting to hear how Michael’s childhood was impacted. Michael shared his story in a fun and amusing way, which I wouldn’t expect anything less from a comedian.

There were just a few things I didn’t like as much in Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic. It was pretty short, making most of the information and stories shared pretty basic. I would have liked a little more details, especially about his comedy career. Also, due to its organization, the story wasn’t always easy to follow.

Overall, I enjoyed Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic as an audiobook. I love listening to the stories of others through their own voices.

Thank you, Netgalley and Annick Press Audiobooks, for the free advanced audio copy for my honest review!

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I love it when comedians read their own audiobooks. They’re performers for a living so it’s always fun to hear them tell their story. Despite being only 23 at the time of writing, McCreary has a story to tell.

Being autistic and a comedian makes him a great person to talk about his personal experiences and the realities faced by everyone in the ASD community. I imagine some realities (bullying) are fairly common across the spectrum. I appreciated the short and casual education McCreary provided about the disorder along with personal stories.

McCreary and his younger brother are excellent examples about how 2 people can have the same disorder manifest in wildly different ways. I know a little and I still learned things.

I’ve only got one complaint. This is the first audiobook with visual elements that insists I visit a website. The others came with downloadable PDF attachments. That is a much better idea.

The biggest reason why a short memoir by a young guy is worth reading? “To my autistic readers, you are not alone.” I look forward to more from Colin in the future.

I enjoyed this memoir about the author and his experience of having autism and finding his way to comedy. The story wasn’t hilarious, but it was lighthearted and endearing. I enjoyed his perspective and experience being shared. Worth reading for those on the spectrum, those neurotypical that work with those on the spectrum and anyone wanting to gain some insight into the autism journey. 3.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for their free audiobook for my review. Also thank you to the author for being brave and sharing his experience!

As a mom to a child on the spectrum I found this a refreshing 1/4 life memoir. Many books that discuss autism contain are very heavy topics or are more encyclopedic. I just wanted a personal retelling and experiences and that’s what I got. The audio was great and I liked the personal antecedents throughout. Highly recommend.

I was able to listen to this book as an ARC audiobook thanks to NetGally.
Since I work with autistic children, this caught my attention. I loved this memoir so much and it was a fun read. Now I want to immediately find Michael on his socials and follow his life here on out! Highly recommend this book to others!

Before stumbling onto the audiobook, I've never heard of Michael McCreary, but for Autism Acceptance Month, I wanted to at least check this out. And I came away with a few laughs and some interesting insights of someone that is far from the typical autism stereotype you see in most mainstream media, and he also talks about his autistic younger brother, who presents differently than him, to show that the spectrum is varied. My favorite stories were the ones that involved his short acting career. There's some heartbreaking stuff too. However, he tells almost all of these tales with his brand of humor and in between, he would describe an aspect of autism that might have contributed to the differences between this and what a neurotypical person might have encountered, and those were funny too. I do like that the publisher had easy to find audiobook inserts weren’t too hard to find, and I welcome them for the things that would be difficult/impossible to describe with words only. McCreary narrates the book very well. It's on the shorter side, less than four hours. This is mostly a memoir/autobiography with some insights on the autistic mind and his life experience as an autistic man in Canada. He even says that if you're looking for an in-depth autistic how to, you're better to look somewhere else. But if you're looking for a peek into an autistic comedian's life with some humor, this is a good pick.

Overall enjoyable, but not super deep. I had no prior knowledge of the author, but still enjoyed his story.

***I want to thank NetGalley, Michael McCreary, and Annick Press Audiobooks for sending me a copy of “Funny, You don’t look Autistic.”***

Insights from a Late-Diagnosed Autistic Woman-

In "Funny, You Don't Look Autistic" by Michael McCreary, the author's lifelong awareness of his autism offers a unique perspective that resonates deeply with late-diagnosed individuals, who often find themselves grappling with the misconception that they "don't look autistic." Despite the disparity in diagnosis timelines, McCreary's candid anecdotes and astute observations bridge the gap between early and late diagnosis, fostering a sense of connection and understanding.

Late-diagnosed individuals frequently encounter disbelief or skepticism due to their ability to camouflage autistic traits, leading to a profound sense of alienation. McCreary's title encapsulates this experience, acknowledging the pervasive stereotype that autism has a singular appearance or presentation. Through humor and vulnerability, he sheds light on the complexities of navigating a world that often fails to recognize the diverse manifestations of autism.

Despite McCreary's lifelong awareness of his autism, his experiences navigating social interactions, sensory sensitivities, and societal expectations mirror those of late-diagnosed individuals. Through engaging storytelling in the audiobook format, McCreary invites listeners to join him on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, fostering empathy and understanding along the way.

"Funny, You Don't Look Autistic" transcends entertainment, serving as a beacon of acceptance and celebration of neurodiversity. McCreary's narrative challenges stereotypes and encourages listeners to embrace the diverse experiences of autism with compassion and curiosity.

In conclusion, "Funny, You Don't Look Autistic" offers a compelling perspective that resonates with late-diagnosed individuals, validating their experiences and celebrating the beauty of diversity across the spectrum.


I would give this book a 3.5/5 stars.

I think this is another book where the blurb does a disservice to the actual story, leading readers to expect something different than they will receive... From the description, I was anticipating hilarity - it's right there in the blurb. There was humor, don't get me wrong, but mostly this was a pretty straightforward memoir - from a 22 year old - with some "tips" on dealing with those with ASD (or, actually just dealing with people) thrown in for good measure. As such I kept waiting for laugh-out-loud moments, and there weren't many of those. It was interesting (well, as interesting as a memoir of someone who had a supportive, happy and well-adjusted childhood, and is in fact barely out of that childhood), and there are definitely some tear-jerker moments (yes, epilogue, I'm talking to you), and if it had been billed as a standard memoir, my expectations would have likely been better met, with a higher rating as a result.

I did enjoy the author doing his own narration, as I think no one tells their own life story as well as the person living it. His timing and delivery are polished, as you'd expect from a professional comedian, and I found that to add a layer of depth to his stories about growing up on the spectrum.

I wish I had realized this was YA before listening, it probably would have set my expectations correctly. Overall this was a great, fun, quick audiobook to listen to as someone who is also on the spectrum. Just felt a little more juvenile than I felt it was advertised to me.

This was a great, quick, light hearted read about the life of a young comedian with ASD. His comedic delivery and the light way in which he tells his story is refreshing and very entertaining. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook.

In sharing his story. Michael sheds light on the vast differences in how autism affects individuals, how ASD shaped his life, his upbringing, and the juxtaposition of his ASD with that of his brother. His love of theater and performing has served him well, and he is a captivating storyteller.

I don't even know where to start. Just looking at this as a memoir, I find it weird to call it that. But this book made me cry and laugh and feel like someone took all the words I never knew how to say and wrote them down. I felt so seen for the first time in my life.
But not just that as a parent to autistic kids, this book I wish I knew the words. I'm still sitting here with tears in my eyes realizing this is exactly what I needed today

I adored this audiobook. Written and narrated by Michael, a comedian that happens to have autism, it was raw and real. I have been a special education teacher for 20 years and have had many students on the spectrum. I loved hearing his experiences in his own words. If you know someone with autism or just want to learn more about autism, check this out!

I wanted to listen to this as my brother is on the spectrum. Once I started this audiobook I could not stop listening. I understood *the best I can from a sisters perspective* everything he was saying. Even some of the stories he told were things that happened to my brother and it brought me right back to those times. It helped me see things from his eyes a little bit more and understand a little bit more while also getting a chuckle out of all of it. If you or someone you know is on the spectrum I highly recommend this book. It puts it all on the lighter side and I really enjoyed it.

It was fine. It was a quick and pretty funny read. I didn’t feel like I gained anything special by reading it.
I do also love when the book is narrated by the author!

I loved this book! I’m in the process of being diagnosed and sometimes I get stuck thinking about growing up & how a lot of the time I felt like I missed the classes on how to be a human being. It was nice to hear someone talk about the humor in those experiences.

This was a quick entertaining book that gives a different perspective on autism since it has been written by a person on the spectrum. At times I did think that it did ramble a bit and did get on a few tangents regarding his life experiences but overall this was a good read. I did stress that not everyone is the same on the spectrum while at the same time only talked about himself and not that much about his autistic brother.

This was light and cute. It was a very fast listen, though it wasn’t particularly funny, but as a special education teacher, I have known a lot of people who have had similar experiences as Michael’s and his brother’s. And actually, since I primarily work with students with more extensive needs, my favorite parts of the book were in hearing about his brother, and was so sorry to read about his untimely death. Overall, I think it would be a nice read for an autistic teen who is having some social challenges with neurotypical peers, or for the family members of someone like this.

🎧Funny, You Don't Look Autistic
A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum
📝Michael McCreary
🎤 Michael McCreary
🗓️ Mar 12 2019
✍️Annick Press Audiobooks

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

I work with people on the spectrum, so I always like to be informed. I enjoyed that the author is on the spectrum himself. I work with people on the spectrum who have additionally mental disabilities and behaviour disorders. Most of my patients do not speak, but I recognised so many of the things Michael talked about.
I loved his narration and style of communication. The book was not only informative but also entertaining. I’d say I’d definitely enjoy the audiobook more than the physical book, so kudos for the narration.

I do have to say that story felt unfinished, mostly because Michael hopefully still had many years ahead of himself. Do I dare to say that the pacing was off? I felt like he pulled the rug out under my feet and bam, it was over. But as said, I enjoyed the content a lot.

I found the Humor spot on, as I can relate to it.

So yeah, definitely recommendation!

I listened to this book as an audiobook, which was well done with a humorous, but informative tone. I thought Michael did a great job with his speed and making it interesting and personable. Though I am someone with an "Autistic accent," so I'm drawn to quick readers who are tangential. I did find it a bit distracting when he directed audiobook listeners to the website for more information for graphics and other resources that didn't translate in this way.

I was drawn to this book as an Autistic person who has been told this on many occasion since realizing this about myself two years ago. I found many of Michael's anecdotes resonating and nodding along in my car while listening. There was a story he told about taking things people say about you personally. For example, being told that someone looks like a badger with streaks in their hair. That was wildly familiar as I just had someone compare my dyed hair to that of a hedgehog recently. It felt like he was inside my actual brain a few times during his stories, especially those centered around feeling different in his childhood and through his early career. I do agree with some other reviewers that it is such an undertaking to write a memoir at the age of 22, so it did feel a bit rushed and unfinished toward the end. I found the epilogue to be incredibly moving and think there could be a lot there for follow-up memoir work or essays, if he felt comfortable sharing.

He did a nice job blending personal stories with informative, easily digestible information surrounding Autism and many stigmas, myths, and stereotypes surrounding it. I wish he dug into that a bit further, especially around why terms like Aspie can be problematic due to their history (not to take away from any Autistic people who identify that way).

It was easy to get through and a quick "read" overall.

#FunnyYouDontLookAutistic #NetGalley