Customer Reviews
Great for all special needs parents 
2008-05-11
I found this book extremely insightful for all special needs parents, not just parents of children with autism. The stories about hospitalizations, meds, searching for information are universal. My son doesn't have autism, he has a very rare disorder, but I was touched by this book. The bad language didn't offend me like it did others--it's Jenny McCarthy, I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. I thought it actually lent some authenticity, same Jenny, fighting the battles we all fight. Keep on fighting for your child and ours, Jenny!
Don't waste your money or your intellect on this book 
2008-05-07
I've used Amazon for years, and this is the first review I've ever posted. Halfway through this book I wondered if others were as appalled as I was by this horrible book, so I came to Amazon to read reviews, and I was SHOCKED to see the 4+ stars rating on this book. I felt compelled to post in the hopes of saving others from wasting their money and their minds on this horrible book. I can't believe anyone ever agreed to publish this book. I wish there were more I could do than just post here to warn others off.
Please note that a surprising number of people who gave this book high ratings don't have or know a child with autism. Maybe if you're not familiar with it this book helps you understand it, but unfortunately you'll learn that autism is something to be ashamed of and to hide, and can be easily cured. That's just wrong. Anyone with the briefest exposure to a child with autism will find this book useless and offensive. My niece has autism, and I would never in a million years subject my sister to a book this poorly written, this uneducated, and this useless. There is no quick fix to autism. Don't you think if there were that every parent of an autistic child would be doing it, rather than struggling year after year with helping their child exist in a world that doesn't make sense to them? Autism is a very broad diagnosis, it covers lots of different people with lots of different behaviors and needs. Very smart people agree that there is still a lot to learn about autism, and that there is no one solution that will help all autistic people. Trust me, Jenny is not smarter than these very smart people. Far from it.
As a writer, her book reads like an email message to her best friend. It's train-of-thought writing, it makes her come across as bratty and uneducated, and I suspect the only reason it's not full of typos and poor grammar is because she's rich enough to have a good editor.
I'm appalled that this book was ever published. I'm a huge book lover, I read all the time, anything I can get my hands on. I love most of what I read, but I've read plenty of books that I couldn't finish because they didn't interest me, or they were poorly written. This is the first book I've ever put aside because it was SO BAD I wanted to call the publisher to ask them what they were thinking. I wanted to find a way to make them take this book off of shelves everywhere.
Please, don't buy this book. Don't read this book. Don't listen (ever) to Jenny McCarthy.
Perspective of a mom not dealing with autism 
2008-05-06
I will say up front that I cannot speak about this book from the perspective of someone affected by autism, because I am not. I am the mom of a nearly 2-year-old son and like almost all moms these days, I am concerned about autism. I wanted to know more about it, and so I read this book along with several others by parents talking about their experiences with autism.
First off, I have to say it cannot be more obvious that Jenny is a loving mother who would do anything for her son. She doesn't have the best writing style I have ever read, but she does have a very forthright way of writing that accurately conveys her emotions along with the facts of a situation. I cried when she described being alone in the hospital with her son, watching doctors do nothing, having no idea what was wrong with him and no one to back her up. I feel fortunate I have never had to live through the things she lived through but there is an overarching sense of survivalism here. Rather than sit back and take the victim's role, she aggressively tries to get help for her son, any way that she can. While I am not sure screaming obscenities at people is the best way to motivate them to help you, I don't know that in her situation - having a desperately ill child, not knowing what is wrong with him or how to fix it - I would have acted any better. When something is wrong with your child, people's excuses about why they cannot do this or that ring pretty hollow, and maybe instead of criticizing Jenny for her behavior, people should be asking how the medical community could be more responsive to parents in crisis.
There were many parts of the book I thought were poignant or interesting. I do agree with some other reviewers that McCarthy seems a little histrionic in parts. But overall you get the sense that this is a mom who cares deeply for her child and at the core is just trying to communicate information she found helpful to other people who may need it.
That being said, I do think that there is some specious information in the book, and also parts that are not helpful. Jenny obviously isn't working a regular desk-jockey job with semi-pathetic benefits and so can afford to spend multiple thousands of dollars on the latest treatments - many people can't, and may feel bad reading this because they will feel they aren't doing everything they can to help their child, which is not true. I also have a major issue with the way McCarthy addresses the vaccine issue in the book. Not wanting to engage in a vaccine debate - but McCarthy blames her son's autism on vaccines, but then doesn't present any evidence (despite her obsessive Google searching) of why she drew that conclusion. I also have a small problem with McCarthy blaming her son's autism on an immune crisis triggered by vaccines when, in fact, she did not do the one thing that is known without a doubt to strengthen a baby's immune system: breastfeeding. She discusses this at length in Baby Laughs - that she could have breastfed, but chose not to because of her breast implants (a non-issue when it comes to breastfeeding, for most) - and while I think breastfeeding should absolutely be a personal choice, it irks me that she attributes autism to immunity difficulties without then also conceding it might have helped if she had breastfed her son. I realize not everyone is able to breastfeed, and many breastfed babies are autistic also. But to me there's a logical conclusion here that doesn't get drawn, probably because she didn't want to address it. Maybe vaccines cause autism and maybe they don't, but since she brought up the idea I think it could have been discussed in a little more depth here - at least shared more about her "research findings" and thought process leading to her conclusion, rather than leaving people wondering (as I did), well, if vaccines are the problem, what is the solution? (For our family it was to vaccinate on an alternative schedule, something McCarthy doesn't address either).
As someone not parenting an autistic child, I think the book was engaging and it was interesting, mainly because it really does convey the idea that just because someone is beautiful and famous, it does not mean their life is perfect. McCarthy seems to be a very hands-on mom and her descriptions of her exhaustion, frustration and sadness rang very true for me. Her anger at her husband and her despair as their marriage fell apart because he was not able to deal with their son's problems also rang true. But all in all I am not sure how useful this book is as a helping aid to a family with an autistic child, and I am not sure it really contributes anything of value to the discussion about autism in the larger world. I also have to ask the question other reviewers have asked - maybe the problem is not so much that autistic people are "abnormal" but that the range of what is "normal behavior" is so narrow. If someone is able to live a life that is fulfilling to them, does it really matter that they cannot speak, or that they enjoy spinning objects, or that they stim? I think one thing that the autism "epidemic" is creating is a discussion about how poorly our society has handled "different" people in the past and how we might do better in the future. I wholeheartedly agree with McCarthy that I would not want my son trapped in his own mind, unable to communicate with anyone or have satisfying human relationships, but I also don't know that I would want to "fix" him to the point that anything quirky or iconoclastic about him would disappear. It is a tough line to walk, and my heart goes out to those parents who are trying to walk it, every day. In the end, I gave this book 4 stars, because I did enjoy reading it, but the issue is not as close to my heart as it is for some, and that may change another person's idea about it.
Touching read @}->--- 2008-05-06
While I don't have children yet, I wanted to read this because firstly I like Jenny, and secondly, Austism isn't something I understand well and thought that a mother of a child with it, would have a good angle on this horrible condition. I was really moved reading her story (which must be so similar to many many families out there) and thought she wrote well about her own situation. She writes something very profound and true in the forward, saying - "When your child is diagnosed with cancer, neighbors stop by your home bringing pre-cooked meals, hugs and support, but when your child is diagnosed with autism, families who see you in the supermarket will slip away down another aisle". I thought that summed up clearly the way life must be for so many people. People are scared of the unknown.
She had what she called Mommy instinct when Evan, who never slept in, was not up at 7am one day. She found him in his crib convulsing and struggling to breathe. The hospital called it a simple seizure instead of looking further into possibilities. Her second wave of instinct that something was wrong was when another seizure occured that was very different to the first. His heart stopped yet Jenny instinctively knew everything would be OK. After more and more seizures, knowing something wasn't right, she was told it was epilepsy and was discharged from the hospital. She stuck to her guns and believed it wasn't epilepsy and went to a top neurologist who right off the bat said that Evan has autism and she knew he was right.
She writes very candidly about seeking cures and all the trials and tribulations with the diagnosis etc. And while she never mentions Jim Carey directly, she refers to him as the cute funny guy. It's so interesting and informative and must be very comforting to families who have austistic children. For that alone, I highly recommend it.
My child is not austic but this was a very informative book for me! 2008-05-04
First, my heart and prayers go out to any mom or dad who is struggling with autism or any other NSD. Second, this book is all about HOPE, FAITH, and DETERMINATION. I read it in a couple hours. I went from crying to laughing, to saying AMEN! Jenny McCarthy should be applauded for writing such an honest, courageous, heart-lifting book. My son is 21 months and I was always afraid of the "A" word. He got a near fatal ear infection when he was 17 months and I have been pro-alternative therapies since then. Reading this book helped me trust my mommy instincts, and allowed me to feel good about alternative ways to boost his immune system. Also, very recently a dear friend of mine was told that her son has High- Functioning Autism and I wanted to be able to support her in every way possible. Jenny's book helped me to avoid saying stupid, insensitive things and really help a friend by keeping her hope, and spirits up.
Also, some reviewers were very negative about the foul language in the book and her negative view of husbands. I curse maybe once a year, but I found every "F" word completely appropriate given Jenny's situation. And as for the negative view of husbands, it was just truth, plain and simple.
All in all, this book is worth double what you could get it for and everyone should read it.
An easy read 2008-05-03
If someone you love is diagnosed with autism, LOUDER THAN WORDS is the first book you should read. One morning, Jenny McCarthy was having a cup of coffee when she sensed something was wrong. She ran into her two-year-old son Evans room and found him seizing. In that moment, Jenny went from being the mother of an average toddler to being in the midst of a medical odyssey. Doctor after doctor misdiagnosed Evan untilafter many harrowing, life-threatening episodes laterone amazing doctor discovered that Evan is autistic.
Though Evan finally had a diagnosis, Jenny didnt know what to do next and she soon found herself alone without any resources except for her determination to help her son. Jenny eventually realized that shed have to become a detective. She spoke with many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, private foundations, and essentially earned a Phd in Google Research. At last, she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from autism. And, now in this book, she creates a roadmap for parents who are concerned about their own child.
Jenny does more than just reveal the winning formula that worked for Evan. Her story shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and shows how with love and determination a parent can shape their childs life and happiness.
Interesting 
2008-04-27
It's a interesting read. I just wish she had talked more about the diet she had her son on and less about herself.
Easy reading & very good!! 2008-04-27
I originally got this book from the library. It was so good that I bought it as a gift for my sister who works with autistic children. I found it very interesting & I read it in a weekend.
Very well done 2008-04-27
It was helpful to hear someone else going through a very similar life changing moment. It was also helpful to hear about the different therapies to help her son.
Great book for Parents needing hope 2008-04-21
Jenny McCarthy's book is well written. While difficult to read the struggles she faced as a Mom to a child with autism and all the terrifying events that led to his diagnosis, it is comforting to see that there are treatments that are out there that work for some kiddos. As a parent of an son living with autism, I found hope that the things I am doing may work with him and I also found information on treatments I had not yet researched for him. Jenny's story should be read by all parents with kids living with autism.
