A review by ceilingghostreads
Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism by Jenny McCarthy

1.0

Please don't read this book.
This book only perpetuates dangerous stigma around autism and dangerous misinformation. It makes many absurd claims that are far removed from science. As written I the introduction (not by her but obviously supported by her):
Autism, as I see it, steals the soul from a child; then, if allowed, relentlessly sucks life’s marrow out of the family members, one by one
The way she describes her son is also upsetting
He was still acting a bit kooky—and borderline annoying
And:
I’m happy to report that the psychotic portion of Evan disappeared completely.
Describing someone as psychotic is incredibly offensive to begin with let alone an autistic child.
She claims to deserve a google doctorate but if I presented the level of misinformation she shares I would have failed my classes automatically.
I decided to start doing some research—and by research, I mean Google. By the end of the book, you will see that I should have a doctorate in Google research
She also uses the r word (a slur for people with mental disabilities) multiple times and has a real disdain/hatred for disabled people.
My father was also still living in Chicago but was blind in one eye, and I didn’t want two special-needs people living in my home.
She also thinks autistic people can't or shouldn't reproduce (wtf) and says it's an epidemic akin to cancer or aids (it's not) which is harmful and scary to see written in a book meant for parents of children diagnosed with autism. Just a reminder autistic kids grow up to be autistic adults!! And they can have their own kids (and they can have sex).
I have so much more to say but this review is already to long. PLEASE please look elsewhere. Listen to autistic people themselves and doctors!
Someone I love: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLsNday8/