“The Journal of Best Practices is a quirky heart-warmer about [David's] valiant,
stumbling, ultimately winning quest to rebuild his crumbling marriage after being
diagnosed at 30 with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. “Loneliness,” he writes,
“is being the only guy in the pub who might honk like a goose at the bartender,
and knowing you’re that guy.”
—Lisa Shea, ELLE

“Self-centered, short-tempered and oblivious to all the useful things he might be
doing around the house if he weren’t such an inconsiderate boob—that could describe
any number of about-to-be-ex-husbands. But amp up the bad behavior and add a few
warning bells and whistles (phobias, fixations, a tendency to quack), and you may
have a guy with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Luckily, Finch’s wife, who
works with children on the spectrum, caught on to the fact that her husband’s brain
was simply wired differently—and together they set out to rescue their teetering
marriage. In this funny, endearing, lesson-packed memoir, Finch shows what a couple
can accomplish with acceptance, forbearance, determination and love.”
—Amanda Lovell,
More Magazine

“A wry self-awareness permeates Finch’s methodical recounting of the steps he took
to address the behaviors that sprang from his Asperger’s syndrome and their effect
on his marriage to a “neurotypical” woman. Attacking the issue with the zeal usually
reserved for video games and music-geek minutiae, Finch absorbs lessons about life
and personal organization skills that could benefit even the most typically wired
among us. Finch’s repetition of common self-help themes will appeal to seekers of
both happy endings and practical memoirs.”
—Therese Purcell Nielsen, libraryjournal.com

“Few people would consider the moment they are diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome
as a positive moment in their life, but for Finch it was a blessing in disguise.
At the point he found out about his condition, which he describes as “a relatively
mild form of autism,” his five-year marriage to his wife, Kristen, was crumbling
under the weight of his idiosyncrasies (“lining certain items up,” “lightly touching
objects in a particular way,” needing “things to go as planned”) that controlled
Finch’s daily life and made it impossible for him to be the type of father and husband
he or his family wanted him to be. But after gaining an understanding of what he
needed to “overcome,” Finch, who wrote a well-received article for the New York
Times about his disorder, begins the long process of learning how to manage the
“egocentricity” and “relationship-defeating behaviors” associated with Asperger’s.
Finch’s main weapon in his fight against his own brain is what he calls “The Journal
of Best Practices,” a notebook in which he keeps track of concepts, hints, lessons,
and reflections that help him deal with and even conquer the manifestations of his
disorder. In relating his story, Finch is compellingly honest, a trait that works
well with his self-deprecating humor. There are points when the “best practices”
are repetitive, but of course that is the nature of Asperger’s syndrome, and Finch’s
ability to put his experiences on paper will no doubt help more people—and families—understand
this oft-misunderstood disorder.”
—Publishers Weekly

“The Journal of Best Practices, David Finch’s wonderfully insightful memoir, is a story of marriage and of Asperger Syndrome. But it’s also a story of love at its most generous, the give-and-take that ultimately defines the most rewarding relationships. The tale begins on the day that Finch, with his wife’s help, is led belatedly to a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder noted for its often troubling effects on social cognition. Their five-year-old marriage is in trouble and he comes to appreciate how much Asperger’s has affected the relationship. Determined to improve, he begins a literal journal of best practices, analyzing his behaviors, charting ways to do better by people he loves, everything from folding laundry to learning how to listen.

As a science writer who’s written about the psychology of love and affection, and as a parent of a child with Asperger’s, I was struck by the clarity and honesty that illuminate this work. Finch provides a clear and unflinching look at the ways that this disorder leaves a person struggling to navigate through the complexities of our “neurotypical” social world. But he tells his story with humor – a rather hilarious and familiar struggle with holiday lights comes to mind – with affection for others, and without self-pity. The reader can’t help but cheer him on, hope for his success – and along the way gain a new and sympathetic understanding. But I don’t want to leave you thinking that his book is only for people concerned with Asperger’s. In his deep desire to be a good husband, a better father, a decent human being who connects with and cares for others, Finch tells a universal tale, a fulfilling and even inspiring story of the difference that love – genuinely giving love – can make in our daily lives.”
— Deborah Blum, author of The Poisoner’s Handbook

Book reviews

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“O” Magazine review
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