The Glass Monolith
A Memoir of Life, Struggle, and the Journey to Understanding Autism
Some people hit a glass ceiling. Jon Keith Evans kept running into something more fundamental: a glass monolith that blocked his path at every turn, invisible to others but impossible for him to break through.
The Glass Monolith chronicles 47 years of hitting that barrier without understanding why. It’s a memoir of persistence, confusion, and eventual revelation: the story of living with undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome from childhood through middle age.
What's Inside
The book spans Jon’s life from the time he earned his Undergraduate degree in 1982 through his disability benefits approval in 2002—organized around the areas where autism created the most challenges.
Academic Struggles
Jon entered college with 21 credits already earned. Eight and a half years later, he graduated with a degree but without the technical skills industry wanted. The book details his time at four universities, including an “academic lynching” at University of Detroit’s engineering program and his eventual completion of a Bachelor of General Studies at Roosevelt University—a degree he calls “plodding along” that left him without career direction.
Career Monolith
From Illinois Bell to Underwriters Laboratories, Jon held positions where his technical skills were valued but his presence created friction. The book documents:
- Nine years at Illinois Bell, where complaints about his “loud” voice overshadowed customer service commendations
- A brief stint at IRS where he excelled at processing but struggled with unspoken social norms
- Various technical writing and data entry positions that ended unexpectedly
- The near-termination at Underwriters Laboratories that finally led to diagnosis
The Concept of the Logic Error
Jon borrows a term from his COBOL programming training to describe his experiences: a logic error occurs when “everything is just totally wrong, and you’re way out in left field somewhere.” The book details countless instances where his logical approach clashed with unstated social expectations.
Interpersonal Relations
Four chapters examine Jon’s relationships:
- Outside the Family: Workplace conflicts, accusations of being “gay” at Hertz Rent-a-Car, and the challenge of being perceived as threatening or strange by coworkers
- Speaking Voice: Documentation of Functional Hypertensive Dysphonia and how his voice became a target for criticism despite medical evaluation
- Sexuality: Jon’s decision to remain what he terms an “economic asexual”—his belief that poverty and underachievement made relationships irresponsible
- Within the Family: Complex dynamics with parents who couldn’t understand his difficulties, siblings who supported him, and a sister who insisted he seek autism evaluation years before diagnosis
Health Journey
The book documents Jon’s extensive medical history:
- Multiple sleep studies revealing sleep disorders
- Speech pathology evaluation diagnosing voice disorder
- Neuropsychological testing that found information processing difficulties
- The final evaluations that confirmed autism spectrum disorder
Sometimes, I Got It Right
Not everything was struggle. Jon successfully:
- Completed his post-baccalaureate certificate while working full-time
- Attended multiple world-class sporting events through careful planning
- Maintained a daily swimming routine that dramatically improved his cardiovascular health
- Found Johnny Mathis’ out-of-print album for his mother, breaking her “glass monolith”
Final Justice, Final Vindication
After three denials, Jon’s fourth application for Social Security Disability succeeded. The book details the administrative hearing where expert testimony confirmed what he’d suspected for years: his difficulties weren’t character flaws, personality problems, or lack of effort—they were symptoms of a neurological condition that had gone unrecognized his entire life.
What Makes This Book Different
The Glass Monolith doesn’t follow the typical autism memoir structure. There’s no early diagnosis, no special education intervention, no childhood support system designed for his needs. Instead, it’s the story of someone who:
- Graduated high school and college without anyone suspecting autism
- Held professional and para-professional positions despite significant challenges.
- Spent decades being told he was “too sensitive,” “lacked common sense,” or “needed to grow up”
- Finally received diagnosis only after a work crisis forced medical evaluation
The book is detailed—perhaps exhaustively so for some readers. Jon documents conversations, includes correspondence, and provides extensive context for his experiences. This level of detail serves a purpose: it demonstrates the cumulative effect of repeated misunderstandings and the difficulty of recognizing autism when no one is looking for it.
Who Should Read This Book
The Glass Monolith offers value to several audiences:
Adults Seeking Diagnosis: If you’ve always felt “different” without knowing why, this book provides a roadmap for the evaluation process and validation that your struggles are real.
Parents and Educators: The book shows what happens when autism goes unrecognized, emphasizing the importance of proper evaluation and support.
Employers and HR Professionals: Jon’s workplace experiences offer insight into accommodations that could have prevented job losses and the importance of recognizing invisible disabilities.
Disability Advocates: The detailed account of Jon’s disability benefits application—including three denials and the factors that led to eventual approval—provides practical guidance for others navigating the system.
Anyone Interested in Autism: This book demonstrates that autism doesn’t always look like the stereotypes suggest. Jon held jobs, completed education, and functioned in society—but at significant cost.
The Glass Monolith is not a story of triumph over adversity in the conventional sense. Jon didn’t “overcome” his autism or achieve conventional success. Instead, the book’s resolution comes from understanding—from finally having an explanation for decades of unexplained difficulty.
The vindication Jon found wasn’t in proving himself to doubters. It was in knowing that his struggles were real, that they had a name, and that they weren’t his fault.
For readers who’ve felt similarly invisible while being constantly scrutinized, this book offers validation. For those trying to understand autism in adults, it provides a detailed case study. And for anyone who’s ever wondered why life seems harder for them than for others, it’s a reminder that invisible disabilities are no less real than visible ones.
