Book Notes: Mother Warriors

Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds by Jenny McCarthy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Jenny McCarthy is equally well known for being a well-endowed pinup, and having a son with Autism. Jenny opens the book with a brief but informative description of her appearance on Oprah that set the ball rolling for Jenny’s activism. Jenny does not delve in detail about her son because I’m guessing her previous book does that. In Mother Warriors she wants to profile other parents and share their stories. This a personal book, not meant to be medical or “hard core.” Other reviewers did not like that she referenced her own experience, but isn’t that what we all do, make it relevant for ourselves?


I thought McCarthy found an inspiring balance of sharing the haring experiences while not fixating on their anger and mistreatment that they surely enduring. Each parent in the book believes their child got Autism as a result of vaccines, and all of them find biomedical treatments that treat the autism symptoms. In many of the stories the children are now in typical classrooms, and in some cases, the teacher does not know the child has Autism. I found this fact AMAZING, and it made me want to learn more. The stories all share a theme of trial and error, being their own health advocate, doctor, researcher, chef and loving parent. Often times the parent warrior leaves their careers to care and treat their children. Their resolve to get help for their child is truly inspiring.


I was skeptical to pick up this book because I had in my head that Jenny McCarthy was an extreme Anti-Doctor Zealot, and I believed the recent hype that the vaccination link is debunk. I’m so glad I gave her a chance. Reading her book reminds me of when I read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin; my first reaction is ‘This is whack,’ my second reaction is, ‘What if she’s on to something?’



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