Life, Animated

A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism

By: Ron Suskind

Narrated by: Ron Suskind

Imagine being trapped inside a Disney movie and having to learn about life mostly from animated characters dancing across a screen of color. "A fantasy? A nightmare?" This is the real-life story of Owen Suskind, the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife, Cornelia. An autistic boy who couldn't speak for years, Owen memorized dozens of Disney movies, turned them into a language to express love and loss, kinship, brotherhood. The family was forced to become animated characters, communicating with him in Disney dialogue and song; until they all emerge, together, revealing how, in darkness, we all literally need stories to survive.

©2014 Ron Suskind (P)2014 Recorded Books

Real, Raw, and Refreshing

As a special educator for almost 30 years, I read as many books like this as I can. I found "Life..." refreshingly real. Suskind shares the difficulties of understanding people with autism, but skillfully weaves those feelings into the story in a way only someone who has been there can. At times I felt I could feel the still raw memories of watching your own child struggle. I go back to work with a renewed respect for parents of children (no matter what age) with special needs. One thing that I did notice throughout the book, which always caught my attention, is the phrasing that puts the disability before the person, i.e. autistic kids, Down Syndrome kid. Perhaps it's due to the time it was written and recorded, but I favor person first language. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning about autism.

Amazing. Best experienced on audible.

This book was beautifully written and very insightful. It is a must listen on audible. The actual author doing the voices paints puts you right in those same moments with his son.

All so familiar, but in different form.

Where does Life, Animated rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best because it was so personal.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not really applicable.

Which character – as performed by Ron Suskind – was your favorite?

Not really applicable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How the parents deal with their son on the spectrum. That internal battle you continually have and feel.

Any additional comments?

Full disclosure - I have a 10 year old son on the autism spectrum. He's "probably" a bit less impacted than Owen Suskind is, but it's similar. We always had speech, but the echolalia and use of scripted language from movies and TV shows was our norm and still can be.

The main takeaway of the book for me is that the parents are trying to reach Owen. And Owen is trying to find is voice to reach the outer world and together they find it - it can be fleeting, and Owen has to be motivated to want to work on it and it's expensive at $60,000 a year in therapies.

And I wonder, does the therapies help? Or is it that Owen figures it out on his own (and the parents follow the lead he's showing them). That's been my experience with my son - he finds the way to rewire his brain to communicate with the outside world. Therapies are hit or miss - mostly miss. Education is mostly miss (unless I guide and teach the schools what to do, but they can't do it as well as I can - which is why we are probably going to home school soon).

The parent's love and commitment to Owen (and to Walter) trumpets throughout the book and it can feel disheartening to think that you need to spend so much $ to "fix" autism. My take away? You don't have to have the same resources to spend. I don't think it's the $$$ in therapies that helped Owen. It was having parents who had the luxury to take the time to observe and listen and to work with him. Eventually they learned/figured out that they couldn't "fix" him (nor should they want to or need to).

I may not agree with the special college and the massive "team Owen" as being intregral, but I get it. If I had the same funds, I would probably do all of that too. I'll be curious to see if the sidekicks movie ever gets made. That would be amazing!

This book basically, was refreshing as it's my life. MILLIONS of our lives - or a variation of it. It's relatable. It's honest. It's our lives as parents and it's a rare glimpse at how another family struggles with something we are still trying to understand.

Love comes in many forms

This is a spell bounding true story of a family who brings up a talented son with Autism and figure out how to communicate with each other in a meaningful way.

Enlightening

A well written and well narrated chronicle of the commitment of an open and enlightened family to support their son with autism in the ways that worked for him. Thought provoking.

amazing

Loved it and the narrators were great. Hits every emotion, has you crying and laughing. Helps understand what family and Owen went through.

A Guidepost!!!

By sharing Owen's journey and the first person narrative of a father and mother and brother, Ron Suskind has written a book that is a true guidepost for other families traveling through life with children (and others) on the Autism Spectrum. Thank you, Owen, for sharing your life with us and all the trials and truths you passed through! So many insights that will help me with my seven year old son on the spectrum. You have given us more tools for our toolbox! Long live Sidekicks!
Christian's Mom in Montana

Masterful writing. Worth listening to every word.

Thank you to the Suskinds for helping the rest of us understand.
Spectrum kids Are different not deficient.

Dewey McConville

an amazing, moving and enjoyable read!#

I can't say enough about this book! there were times it felt like they were looking in my window and writing about my sweet son who is on the spectrum. while listening I felt like I was part of the family! I couldn't believe the amount of emotion brought on by this book and narrator! ! I cheered with them during the good and cried during the hard. and when, Owen, his son came on to read his book I had goosebumps and was so proud of how articulate and what a wonderful job he did. any person reading a book on autism and needs a break this book couldn't be any better! !!! I just finished listening and started again because I enjoyed it that much :)
I pray I will have 1/2 the strength the parents have in this book. the sibling love was uplifting!! the fight they have fight their son and brother of contagious. thank you fior writing and narrating your amazing journey. I wish the best for you and your family.

One of the book I've heard this year

I'm in awe! I loved the whole book but the ending with Owen's story was my favorite part. I've already listened to Owen's story twice.