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Book Reviews of Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
Louder Than Words A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
Author: Jenny McCarthy
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ISBN-13: 9780452289802
ISBN-10: 0452289807
Publication Date: 8/26/2008
Pages: 224
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 34

4 stars, based on 34 ratings
Publisher: Plume
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

22 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 68 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
We all know Jenny McCarthy as MTV's crude big-chested blonde. But she's also a loving mother, and "Louder Than Words" is her account of her son's battle against autism. She discusses the events that led to his diagnosis, the therapies that have helped her son's condition improve, and how her personal relationships suffered as a result of her son's illness.

This book was easy to understand, without "dumbing things down."
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 222 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I was not impressed with Jenny McCarthy's writing or her outlook on life. She is foul-mouthed and every chapter has a surfeit of "F" words - totally unnecessary to the telling of the story and just makes her appear cheap and ignorant. Jenny is totally self-focused while proclaiming that she would do anything for Evan and extolling her sacrifices for him. I read the whole book but only because I wanted to find out what happened to her son.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
Helpful Score: 4
Though Ms. McCarthy has some good information to share, it is not worth wading through the F-bombs to glean it. A real pity.
erikausaf avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I saw this book at out local bookstore and sat down to browse it for a few minutes. By page 15, my eyes were tearing up and I felt like I was listening to a hearbreaking story being told to me by my friend. Yes, she does use the F word. Despite the fact that I never ever use it, in the instances when she says it, I was yelling it along with her in my head. You wait two days to see a neurologist while your child is having life threatening and unexplained seizures and "where the F is he?" seems like a reasonable thing to wonder! Of course I bought the book, brought it home and read for the next couple hours nonstop until I finished it. It is certainly an easy and quick book to read, but emotionally it can be very tough. I have had some personal experience with some of her fears and rereading them were quite painful. Does everyone agree with her? Definitely not. Does that make this book less readable? I don't think so. This is a book of hope. A very real look into the emotions of having a child with delays. Despite what you may think about the ideas of her "healing" autism, the statistics she reports are indesputable and at the least, raise awareness into some very serious issues.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is not a book about how to cure Autism, it's a book about faith and listening to your inner voice when you know something isn't right and no one will give you the answers. Jenny McCarthy isn't just the big boobed blonde ditz, she is a mom and when she found her son in the middle of a seizure, her world literally came to a crashing halt and all of her energy was devoted to getting the best care for her son. Whether that meant fighting the medical establishment or her husband, she was going to get the answers, no matter what. The methods she used may not help everyone, but they worked for her when she found out about the window of opportunity to pull her son back from the grasp of autism. She admits that he is not a "typical" child, but he is the best that he can be and that's good enough for her. This is a great inspirational book that leaves you angered by the establishment and hopeful for Evan's future.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
Helpful Score: 1
As a parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child I found this book highly educational and helpful. Jenny brings you into her world without pity. She gives great advice and actual ways to treat your own child. I think so much more of her than I ever did before. Bravo Jenny!
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book has some good information hidden in a pluthera of offensive and unneeded foul language. The author constantly brings up her celebrity status while offering therapies the general public cannot afford. Having never heard of Jenny McCarthy before, the combination of language and self importance almost completely ruined any good information the book offers.
This book does however have some good information that can lead to better understanding if you are searching for resources. A fast read with a lot of fluff but some good suggestions that can be followed on the internet or at elsewhere.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Having a child with severe autism,I do not appreciate this story one bit!
Jenny McCarthy has no CLUE about children that are born with autism.
YES that is fine,her son had a reaction and then regressed,I know NOBODY who has a child with autism that has had that happened.

It really annoys me that people who have heard of her tell me things SHE has done to "CURE" her child.
Autism is NOT a disease and does not need a cure any more than Down syndrome or CP

Jenny McCarthy knows NOTHING,NOTHING about autism.
Go to you tube and search "praise only for the cured" it is sickening,this woman is!!!
If you have a child w/Classic autism this book will be HIGHLY disappointing.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is not a book about how to cure Autism, it's a book about faith and listening to your inner voice when you know something isn't right and no one will give you the answers. Jenny McCarthy isn't just the big boobed blonde ditz, she is a mom and when she found her son in the middle of a seizure, her world literally came to a crashing halt and all of her energy was devoted to getting the best care for her son. Whether that meant fighting the medical establishment or her husband, she was going to get the answers, no matter what. The methods she used may not help everyone, but they worked for her when she found out about the window of opportunity to pull her son back from the grasp of autism. She admits that he is not a "typical" child, but he is the best that he can be and that's good enough for her. This is a great inspirational book that leaves you angered by the establishment and hopeful for Evan's future. Amazon Review: http://tinyurl.com/34p3wo
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
Helpful Score: 1
The only reason I stuck it out with this book until the end was because I wanted to see what happened to her son. Her frequent use of the F-word was extremely off-putting and really distracted from the story. Her screaming and self-centered outlook was disappointing. It could be a good resource if your child had autism, but I can't recommend the book.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
She talks about her own story of discovering that her son has autism. She uses foul-language through out the text and therefore it's hard to find much merit in what she says.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 72 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
OK book. Better than I had anticipated but not great. She does include some good info.
BabyGirlBridget avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 6 more book reviews
This was a very informative book. I enjoyed the author's honesty and the fact that she lets the reader have a look at what she was thinking and how she felt throughout her journey. A must read for people who have autistic children in their lives.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 2 more book reviews
A story of amazing love for her child. Great read, much info.
NCKristen avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
I have to say, after watching Jenny on MTV, I didn't know what to expect regarding such an emotional and serious subject. When I closed the book, my thoughts about her changed vastly to "I'm proud of her". She fought the good fight for Evan and made some amazing differences in his life. God chose her to be his mom for a reason and she stepped up to the challenge with 110% effort. I hope she'll write another book as he gets older because I'd love to see how he's doing now that he's older. She gave some great advice for parents of an autistic/AS child and a couple of times brought me to tears just because I thought I was the only one going through what I was, and found out that there are others out there.
daly avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 32 more book reviews
Loved this book ...great story for any parents/grandparent/aunts /any family members or friends that know of a family dealing with a autistic child..Would totally recommend
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
I loved this book. I seem to like anything Jenny McCarthy writes. I don't have a autistic child, but wanted to know more from a mom standpoint not a Dr.
I really liked reading about her faith as she went through this trial. instead of giving up and accepting what was wrong with her son she fought back, and researched what she could do to help him.
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
wonderfully written, interesting, informational
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on
So very inspiring!!
reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 182 more book reviews
I was totally inspired. It is so, so difficult to have a mentally sick child, and nobody knows what it's like unless they've been there. I appreciated Jenny for sharing her personal experiences. This book helped me personally and emotionally.
mom2zandz avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 5 more book reviews
I finished this book in one day! OMG, I cannot imagine how a mother can go through this much torture. With every word she wrote I felt like my heart was being torn out. It is inconceivable that any child should have to go through this. I cried at several places throughout. God Bless Jenny and Evan! My heart goes out to you.
BeckyWalker avatar reviewed Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism on + 120 more book reviews
I do not have an autistic child or grandchild, but have friends and relatives who do. So, my review is as someone who wanted to know more out of a curiosity standpoint rather than someone looking to heal or help my own child. There are many harsh reviews out there for this book, but as someone who knew basically nothing about this diagnosis, this book was extremely helpful in answering some of my questions. I applaud Jenny McCarthy for trying anything and everything to "open the window" for her son Evan. The biggest hurdle I had to overcome in this book was her language. I realize she's a comedian and that's her hook - foul language, but I just didn't see the need for it here. She says at the end she doesn't want us to see this book as one about Autism, but rather one of faith. My sensibilities have a hard time regarding any book being about faith that has the F word shouted in every chapter. If you can overlook that contradictory message, then the book is quite informative. I realize this book came out in 2007, so there is probably so much more and better information now. But, if you are at the beginning of your journey, this might be a good place to start. One final thought - This book is just one more that pushes home the constant message we are what we eat. Food can heal or harm so many maladies.