Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy (2007, Hardcover)

I bought this book because my son was diagnosed as autistic this year and I love Jenny McCarthy from her Singled Out days. I laughed and cried reading this book. I think any parent would get something out of it regardless of whether or not their child has autism. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one evening. Jenny is funny, smart and cares for her son so deeply. It is truly touching and will hopefully be the first of many in the genre. Autism is so huge and growing by the day. The awareness Jenny is raising is priceless. So many are going to benefit from this book. She really puts herself on the line sharing her personal story. This subject isnt easy to talk about. I just love this book. I would especially recommend reading it if you are a family member of an autistic child. It will help you understand what parents go through better and foster more support for them. It is not the parents fault that autism exists. It is not the childs fault. They are not being naughty when they are tantruming, etc. They have chemicals reacting inside their little bodies beyond their control. The main thing I got out of reading this is hope for my son. I am doing everything I can for him. I dont know Jenny personally, but I feel like I have an ally now.

Jenny did a wonderful job writing a book that EVERYONE can understand. I have someone very close to me that was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and I see so much of him in Jenny's writing. It gives all of us hope that there is a window that we can help these children crawl through and hopefully lead more fuller lives.

While she had a great reaction to the diet not all children will have the results her little man did. But as any mother will tell you. Why not try it? At least you can say you did rather than regret that you didn't.

I recommend this book to EVERYONE to read. Whether it gives you a more open mind to listening to a child who shreaks because he/she can't use "words" or if it just helps you to understand what a parent is going through.

I was never a "Jenny" fan, but I am now. My hat is off to her for never stopping from finding help for her child. Every child deserves to have all roads open to them, I'm glad that Jenny is helping pave that way for the autists out there.

Kudo's Jenny! ENJOY reading this book. And the information she gives at the back of it are so helpful and informative.

excellent book....read it in 4 hours couldn't put it down. I do not have a special needs child but I saw jenny on oprah and just had to read the book. Her story is so touching and her little boy evan in very lucky to have a mom like her.

This book is an answer to any mothers prayers with a child with Autism. I purchased this book for my best friend. She and her husband just found out that their 4 year old little boy has Autism. I bought this to help them and encourage them that they are not alone in this. And Jenny McCarthy gives great examples of what to expect and things to do to help deal with this disorder. Not all remedies help, but you have to try different ones to see which works for your child. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT TO PARENTS THAT HAVE AN AUTISTIC CHILD AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND AUTISTIC CHILDREN. Just because they are in their own world, doesn't mean that you can't be a part of their world and doesn't mean that they can't be a part of yours. I pray that God will Bless, strengthen and encourage the parents of autistic children and I pray with all of my heart that God, the creator of all the universe will heal and deliver the autistic children of this day. That He will use them to teach us. Just believe and pray! Stay Faithful to God and God will be Faithful to you!!!

We who have children with autism have been bombarded with books like McCarthy's "Louder than Words" and many others over time. Each of these books try to tell us what is THE cause of autism, what THE cure is, etc...and expects a bandwagon to come along.

I personally did not find this book as wonderful as most. Why? I have a child with autism who was born with it. It is not a vaccination thing. It is not a gf/cf diet thing. It is from multi-organ failure and a tramatic birth that left my child without oxygen for looooong periods of time (think weeks, not hours). I also have a step child on the autism spectrum with Asperger's Syndrome, and I myself have Asperger's Syndrome...both of us are not vaccine related--we have shown our symptoms from early early age.

Is there a cure? No. Can people on the autism spectrum learn to handle their sensory issues? Of course. Therapies, such as occupational, physical, speech, etc work wonders. So does one on one work, direct attention, etc. We on the spectrum simply sense things differently than the normal world...we process the world around us a little differently, but like most other folks, we can adapt to our surroundings. It doesn't take high dollar diets, experiemental therapies that are way out in left field...it just takes a loving parent who is willing to spend the time working with their child and stand up and fight for their needs. It takes patience and time. There's no miracle cure, no one treatment that will simply take it all away...but there is hope, there's a wonderful chance at a normal life.

Books such as McCarthy's do not go into all the details of autism....it only goes into her own world. It does not accurately go into the depths...it simply takes one theory and runs.

Before jumping on the McCarthy bandwagon, do research...look at sources with a good reputation. Don't accept each theory as the gospel. Use common sense in tending to the autism spectrum.

Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism
The Entertainment Critic Book Review, By James Myers
LOUDER THAN WORDS: A MOTHER’S JOURNEY IN HEALING AUTISM
By Jenny McCarthy
Published by Dutton an imprint of the Penguin Group USA
Publication Date: September 24, 2007
Price: $23.95
Pages: 202
ISBN-13: 9780525950110
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
SPOKESWOMAN FOR TACA NOW - TALK ABOUT CURING AUTISM NOW
www.tacanow.org
Four Star Rating ****

“The door opened and a sweet, older-looking man walked in the door. He greeted all of us, and I immediately felt good about him. I started telling him about all the seizure activity that had taken place and what had been said so far. He listened closely but had his eyes on Evan the whole time. I could tell he was evaluating Evan’s bizarre behavior. He asked me a couple of questions and seemed very peaceful about the whole thing. I was starting to feel more and more relaxed as he played with Evan. Then he stood up and opened his office door and told his secretary to cancel his next appointment. I thought to myself, “Wow he must really like us. This is some big VIP treatment.” He closed the door and pulled his chair up close to mine and put his hand on my hand. He looked at me with sorrowful eyes and said, “I’m sorry, your son has autism.”



Jenny McCarthy is best known in American as a comedic actress and a beautiful, blonde haired model. She has a brash, outspoken quality in the tradition of Carole Lombard. Funny, and entertaining, she has written 3 other books that appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list, all of which are known for her typical candor and honesty. Louder than Words is by far and away her most interesting and compelling book. Jenny is the mother of a handsome baby boy, Evan. The first two years of his life are relatively uneventful. Suddenly, he begins to have horrible seizures. Jenny’s “mommy instinct” takes over. She realizes something is radically wrong, and begins what her publishers refer to as a “medical odyssey” to try and help her infant son. Jenny is basically alone on this quest. Her husband in not helpful, her doctors misdiagnosis the problem over and over again, and Evan’s has several life-threatening episodes. Jenny may be brash and crude, but she’s on a mission. Her dedication and persistence finally pay off. An enlightened doctor determines that Evan is autistic.

Jenny then makes a commitment to cure Evan of autism. Like a detective, she goggles up everything she can find. She talks to many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, and private foundations. With an intense, ongoing combination of behavioral therapy, diet and supplements she is able to put a serious dent in Evan’s autism.

Jenny’s book is significant because not only does she tell her story in a very candid and open way. (A word of caution here for the faint of reading, Jen uses very tough language in portions of this book. She does not use politically correct language. She is blunt, bold and profane. She gives us a complete, direct, unfettered description of her thought processes and events, right down to the Mormons that keep knocking on her door. The “F” word has a certain prominence in this book.)

Don’t let that bother you. Her honesty is just part of the charm of the book. It is her willingness to put herself out there that makes this book extra special. She gives us a blueprint and some very

I thought Jenny did a great job of making this book reader friendly. Some of the books about autism you read throw a lot of jargon and stuff at you. She doesn't.

I also liked that someone has now said out loud YES it IS frustrating to be a special needs parent! Amen!

I am a teacher of children under the autism spectrum. This book helped me understand what my parents are going through every day. It's amazing how Jenny's description fits the descriptions of some of my parents. I would recommend people in the professional world read this book so that they too can see the other side.

However, I disagree with they 'hype' that has been created since the release of this book. These children will NEVER be "cured." Many times the doctors are hesitant to give the initial diagnosis because it is a permanent label that will never be removed. Our hope for these children is that they will become independent functioning members of our society.

Remember April is Autism Awareness month in the USA.

amazing now that i read this book we see so many signs we missed with my grandson.I have a 4 yr old grandson this was so helpful i can relate to many this in this book. this is the best buy i made in along time thank you so much. i would recomend this book to anyone

The book was a really easy read and I found the first couple of chapters very gripping with Jenny McCarthy's story telling format. It's an encouraging story to read if you know or are dealing with a child with autism and are looking for ways to better their environment. She offers a few ideas.

There was a misunderstanding with the delivery, but eventually everything was straighten out. I decided to purchase this book because I wanted to research another moms experience with austism.

My daughter got the book from her boss who has an autistic grandchild. She loaned it to me to read, since my husband also has an autistic grandchild. It opened my eyes to so much of his behavior, and helped me understand why he acts as he does. I had seen Jenny Mc Carthy on Larry King recently, and was eager to read it after her interview. I returned my daughter's book, and immediately bid on this one so I can have my husband read it, and then send it to his son's fiancee', who also has a hard time understanding what the little 7-year old is made of. Some bad language in the book, but that is totally where the author was coming from. My hat's off to her for all her research. AWESOME findings.

This book is great in that it makes me feel right at home because I also have an autistic son and I'm still going through a lot of what Jenny went through. It gives me hope and it makes me want to work harder on my son. I wish I could contact her directly and compare notes and ask for advice. The only thing that I'm not crazy about the book is that the "f" word is being used too much and in a sense it makes the author look bad. I think she should revise it and take out some. :)

Jenny shared her fears, concerns, and hope in a way that makes you truly feel her story like you are there along side her while it's happening. This is the most honest book about autism I have read yet. Her story is almost word for word mine, and yet she is able to see and bring out her humerous personailty and overcome all these horrifying roadblocks.

Thank you Jenny!

I needed some more information on Autism and heard this book would give me lots of information.I loved the book because Jenny and I are so similar in the ways we think.As she tells her story,I see myself now in the same situations and how the so so answers are not acceptable.I am a mom of 4 boy's and my second to the youngest will turn 3 on the 5TH of Feb.He is the one with the diagnosis.I knew long before just by gathering info.Thanks to Jenny and her wonderful book,I can continue to fight the so-so answers and fight for more research and funding for Autism.Thanks Jenny for your continued support and may God bless you.I will always be thankful for your wonderful book.I am starting to write my own,I would like to call it'My Love for Luke',a never ending journey into the world of a boy with big blue eyes and either Aspergers or Autism or both.The life he sees is the life I help guide him to make and understand.A love that could only continue to be stronger.Thanks,Theresa

Jenny McCarthy's book was extrememely well done for those parents (& grandparents)who have a child with autism. It describes clearly the lack of knowledge held by a typical health provider and the battles needed to gather help for that child. It also holds out hope if one follows her guidelines, though not all children having autism or, in many ways related intractical epilepsy. Notwithstanding, everyone who has a child with these problems needs to get quickly; the older the child prior to treatment, the less like to see response.

dfkeohane

the book was in great shape...my great nephew has autism...it has always been such a mystery...this book is,honest,full of insite and so very helpful..i really get it now and have gained much help from Jenny McCarthy...i hope she stays on the pioneer track for this cause...she reallyknows how to get things done..i got one for my sister in law too..this book is an experience!

I bought this book because I am a teacher of children with autism. I thought her perspective as a parent was great, it gave me a better insight. I would have liked to have seen more details of the process she went through, it almost sounded "too easy." Personally I have not seen the results she described in her son from the dietary supplements, but have definitely seen the positive results from an ABA approach!

I bought this book because I wanted to see a different mothers perspective on things with a child with Autism. I don't speek to other mothers that have children with special needs.(I don't know any) I rated this book as good because once I started to read it I couldn't put it down because there were alot of issues that I could relate to. On the other spectrum it was difficult to relate. I don't see myself barging into hospitals and demanding people around, using the f word, or spending 4,000 dollars a week on a nanny, and music classes...lol. I thought it was interesting how she loved her i pod to escape the tantrums her son would have. She said she didn't know what she would do without it????? UHHHHH Lets see????????

Why does Ms McCarthy feel the need to use the F word to the extreme? This could be a decent book. Parents and others who are reading this book are upset about their child's problems and are looking for help, not filth.

I purchased this book for Camp CARD NE counselors (some of whom are young teens). Unfortunately I did not read (censor) the book prior to donating the book. NOT an appropriate book for young reader's Ms. McCarthy needs to dig out the Thesaurus! Using vulgarity at every turn stays in the problem and places hurtful blame. Very sorry I purchased this "Memoir"! It's definitely NOT a self-help book. I found the book shallow, trashy & unhelp. This book is of NO value what-so-ever.

I am sorry that I spent the money on this book.
I am the step-mon of an autistic child, who I love and adore beyond words.
I have never felt the need or the desire to call any caregiver of this precious young man "BRAINDEAD" or to use any of the vulgarity that she used in her book.
I have worked with children who are differently-abled for twelve years now and choose to embrace who they are and work from their strengths rather than do the blame game, which Jenny has so clearly shouted in her book.
I honor the mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings and any other caregivers who have walked through the pain with love and courage.
I hope that some day Jenny, you will choose to see this in a different light, until then I will no longer be spending any of my money on your books.
A blessed mother of an autistic child

I couldn't put it down!!!
It's a book that every Mother should read (Autisic Child or not)

My friends that read this book encouraged me to buy/read it.