Customer Reviews
Mooney is on the Money 
2008-08-01
I picked up this book almost as an afterthought. The topic looked interesting and I thought it would make a good quick read...instead I was enthralled with each story and found that after every chapter I needed to take a little time to digest what I had read.
The Short Bus is an excellent read...a story of a journey for one man to understand himself through traveling in the very symbol of his own "imprisonment" He gains insights which come from looking at and examining the idiosyncrasies in the lives of others. Mooney is honest about himself..his own prejudices and judgements..each story enlightened me about various learning disabilities..and demonstrated how categorizing can easily limit people or cause them to be ostracized. While I felt saddened by the treatment of many of the people Mooney visits, none of them caused me to feel anything but hope and amazement at the power of the human spirit to survive. Mooney is insightful and humorous while honoring each of his stories with truth and compassion.
Grateful! 2008-07-30
So thrilled to have randomly come across such an entertaining, inspiring, and truly engrossing story that is both refreshingly honest and open heartedly spiritual, (in the best sense of the word.) The message of unconditional love and acceptance for those different then ourselves, while acknowledging his own and society's past shortcomings in this regard, needs to be heard! A hoot besides: despite my own unique wiring, I zipped through the book- allowing no distractions and laughing heartily all the way. from Suzi in Rye, NH
A long journey for a short trip 
2008-02-05
I thought this book was going to offer some hope and practical wisdom.
Rather, its a chronicle of the author's search for validation that offers no real insight into how one can deal with ADD (unless railing against norms helps.) Though the heart of his "success" story is to have graduated from Brown, he does not actually seem to have overcome anything to do so - its just another adventure on his way to who knows where. He's a likeable character and the stories of his trip across country are amusing enough. But I was pretty sick of his obsessive musings about his girlfriend and seriously worried about the families that reached out to him for advice and encouragement for their own "beyond normal" children. He was admittedly not equipped for either, other than to say: I was once a "tard" on the short bus but now I'm here!! I wish him all the best anyway.
Thanks from all of us. 
2008-02-01
I didn't ride the short bus; I came from a previous generation. However, Jonathan's experience rang true. I didn't hear any false notes. Getting my doctorate didn't take away the scars from the educational system. But I came from a different era. That's why I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the one negative review posted by J O'neil.
Certain words have an emotional impact and are only said to hurt. To publically shame a LD person for mispelling something is familiar and one of the most abusive things we can experience. It's a not-so-sublte way in our culture to win an agrument or to announce to the world that you think someone is stupid. Spelling is a gift that many LD people don't have, even though we possess many marvelous gifts. Yet O'Neil, a principal of a LD program no-less, did this. What is most disturbing is that this person seems blind to the irony. There are good teachers who fight this sick system, where these attitudes are tolerated. Thanks to J O'neil, the problem is all there in a paragraph--everything that Jonathan articulated. As I said, I found his insights about school true and I thank him for expanding the conversation.
Jonathan also takes on the issue of "normal," something that gets kicked around loosely but seldom discussed in depth. His reflections allowed me to look beyond myself, again, to the bigger question of how we all fit in this larger community. He does this in a way that's both fair and sensitive. Thanks.
The Short Bus is ultimately a celebration of life, providing a roadmap to empowerment and a deep appreciation for diversity. 2007-11-21
What a must-read for all of us! And I do mean all of us. In The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney travels far outside his own experience and across America to discover for himself (and us) what it means to experience life in America if one is not "normal." His journey and the conclusions he draws from it provide profound contributions to America's self view as a society and culture. It offers a much needed look in the mirror.
The short bus for Jon, and for all students labeled LD, symbolizes the well intentioned but nonetheless painful humiliation administered daily to the children relegated to it. Our children were labeled and then separated from their peers and their classroom because they didn't fit or belong in the classroom with the "normal" kids. Hoping to rediscover and heal from the pain inflicted by these experiences, Jon tours some of America's other labeled individuals: a deaf and blind student who curses her teachers in sign language, an eccentric man with Aspergers who creates his own community connections in remarkable ways, and a young woman with Down Syndrome who is so unforgettable, her story continues to both haunt and comfort me long after putting the book down. With each individual, Jon explores his own feelings of wariness, prejudice and confusion that most of us experience but rarely admit when we confront folks who are clearly "not normal" or "disabled." He comes to know each of them, overcoming his feelings and soon understands their incredible gifts and how important they are to us as a community. We see, as he sees, the important and precious place each holds in the fabric of society. As we become increasingly engaged with our new acquaintances and learn to appreciate them in inimitable ways, we begin to cry out against "the tyranny of normalcy" because we discover how thoroughly the notion of "normalcy" threatens the heart of humanity.
It is a coming of age story, to be sure, but The Short Bus is far more important and much bigger than a personal journey. In addition, Jon's research and analysis provide us with a historical, medical and sociological context for the labels assigned to each of the marvelous individuals we meet on the short bus. Jon's voice is always honest and questioning, his insight intelligent and boundless, and of course, the book, like the author, is rich in humor.
The Short Bus is ultimately a celebration of life, providing a roadmap to empowerment and a deep appreciation for diversity, underscoring society's need to do so. It's an honest, painful, humorous and always engaging journey, and it's well worth the ride.
Should be required reading for everyone working in Special Programs in the Public School System 2007-11-06
“What makes this journey so inspiring is Mooney’s transcendent humor; the self he has become does not turn away from old pain but can laugh at it, make fun of it, make it into something beautiful.”—Los Angeles Times
Labeled “dyslexic and profoundly learning disabled,” Jonathan Mooney was a short-bus rider—a derogatory term used for kids in special education. To learn how others had moved beyond labels, he bought his own short bus and set out cross-country, looking for kids who had dreamed up magical, beautiful ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.
The Short Bus is his irreverent and poignant record of that odyssey, meeting thirteen people in thirteen states who taught Mooney that there’s no such thing as normal—and that to really live, every person must find their own special way of keeping on.
The Short Bus is a unique gem, propelled by Mooney’s heart, humor, and outrageous rebellions.
2007-10-01
I rarely have any time for reading, but I made the time for this book. I finished it last night around 3:00 am. Jonathan Mooney is honest and insightful and isn't afraid to set aside his perspective in order to uncover the capacities and beauty and communal connection of others. Ok, now that I have waxed philosophical, let me say that I have a child who has Down Syndrome and this book made me a better parent, not necessarily because of my child's "disability", but because I now have a better understanding of every person's right to a place in my community, in your community all over the world, every person. After reading this book it will be harder for anyone to justify extreme prejudice or segregation, which is more alive and well in our country and any of us would care to admit. Thank You Jonathan.
The Short Bus Ran Full Circle...Stay on Board for the Full Ride 2007-08-31
When I initially started the book, I was disappointed that the author seemed to be judging or putting into hierarchy learners such as himself above those with more severe disabilities, HOWEVER, once the bus ran full circle, so to speak, I think so,too, did the author. I felt like I was on the bus driving in a documentary which I found unique and educational. Not only did Mr. Mooney describe the diagnosis of each visitor, he described the history behind the diagnosis (good and bad...showing cultural influences on a diagnosis). I like how Mr. Mooney met a wide variety of people all over the country. As a special education instructional aide, I found once I read the entire book, it had some really key statements about life and society. I found myself marking the pages and will type them up for reference. I recommend the book, Joanna Keating-Velasco, AUTHOR - A IS FOR AUTISM, F IS FOR FRIEND...A Kid's Book on Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism.
Teachers and parents must read this!! 2007-08-05
I read this book in three sittings! I have ADHD and I never read like that! (I can't!) That's how much I loved it. I had read "Learning Outside the Lines" and it helped me start getting "A's" on all my papers. So I picked up this book. If you are a parent of a child with ADHD or a teacher you have to read this. It puts you inside the lives of people with ADHD and other disabilities. This book inspired me. I gave me courage to tell myself that I am who I am and the world will just have to deal with me as I am!! That's powerful! Get this book. It would be good to read if you don't have a disability but live with people who do. Provides insight into their daily lives.
Simple And Great 2007-08-04
Jonathan Mooney's book was a gift from a former teacher of young children, Marcia Makepeace, or else I would have missed it, as I have no first hand experience with the subject matter, or a particular interest in it. However, from that viewpoint, I can say that The Short Bus is a great way to understand not only the standardization of American education, and, by extension American society, but also the plight of students labeled as not fitting into our modern definition of "normalcy". It points out the terrible unconscious lie we fall into that "...back then they had nothing for my brother, but today they have all kinds of programs". The miracle of so many of these children prevailing against these odds, and the heart-wreching horror wrought by the champions of "standardization" and their beliefs on what constitutes "normalcy" in our society, is astounding.
Most importantly, The Short Bus graphically, and in a very simple way, points out that we are all worthy of love. I am passing this on to my teacher friend Ana Garcia. I highly recommend the book to educators and lay people like myself. It truly sparked an understanding of a vital topic for me.
