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Weirdo 2.0

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Loved it! 😍

An eye-opening, heartfelt real story about being the weirdo and surviving the bullying and more.

Weirdo 2.0 by Christopher Wheat, aka Xander Bell, was not the type of book I expected it to be – and this before I even read the synopsis. The cover image and title was unusual for sure, but the book – well, the book was so realistic, and had such a personal touch.


I could relate a little bit. Wheat is an educator. He also has Asperger’s Syndrome. From what I gathered over the years, Asperger’s Syndrome is like, as Wheat explained, “highly-functioning autism.” In these pages, and through the 60,000 plus words, Wheat expresses, quite passionately and articulately his own struggle with the condition, and be accepted as a child and as an adult.


This heart-breaking, and at the same time, heart-lifting, tale begins simply with Wheat discussing a quote, “If there is no fight, there is no change.” This has almost been a mantra for his life.


“A person with Asperger’s has underdeveloped social skills and communication abilities. Some of us may have touch issues, disorganized thought processes or visual-spatial organizations, meaning we have trouble visually putting things into place" is how Wheat begins to explain the condition. Then he takes this story beyond just a book to make us aware of Asperger’s Syndrome… He pulls each one of us into his circle, sharing that what he felt could be similar to things many of us have felt as per being different – being a female, having a condition, not rich enough – from others. He talks about being bullied by coworkers and employers. And today, that is something very hard to deal with, but evidence appears daily all over the world of adults being bullied just because someone thought they were a ‘weirdo.’


Wheat encourages and inspires with this very revealing, personal account of his journey, and even though, no one would have blamed him if he had, he never gave up. And he encourages his readers to not do the same. The rawness, the honesty, the behind-the-scenes look… your eyes will be open wide, and hopefully your heart will be too.


I read this book in one sitting on a rainy Sunday. For most people in their mid-20s and above, professionals, they could do the same. It would also be a good read for a support group or a therapist could assign it for ‘homework’ with a client. Weirdo 2.0 would be a welcomed addition on a school counselor’s shelf as well.

Reviewed by

Rebecca has the experience - as an award-winning newspaper editor and credentialed book blogger - to help you help your book be a book. Her love of affair of stories - books started at age five, and led her in her career and to college & grad school (English/journalism and psychology)

The Curtain Rises

About the author

Christopher Wheat is married to his lovely wife Jaimee. They have 4 children and 2 grandkids. He enjoys sports and online games. He is a special teacher with Asperger's Syndrome. His goal is to educate people about the condition and the struggles they face. view profile

Published on January 02, 2020

Published by

60000 words

Genre: Biographies & Memoirs

Reviewed by