Molly Mitchell-Koch

This work of "investigative journalism" is absolutely disgusting for several reasons. First of all, the author takes the claims of every group with an agenda at face value. Because evidence conflicts and apparently he is too scared or too stupid to decide which evidence is more credible, he prefaces the book saying that ultimately it is unknown whether the tiny, extremely regulated amounts of mercury in vaccines actually cause harm or not(if you're reading this because you're scared for your children, fyi, preservative-free vaccines are available for many illnesses, if your doctor doesn't have them, check your pharmacy; Walgreens, CVS, and The Little Clinic offer them where I live at least, I get wanting to avoid mercury exposure for other reasons than irrationally fearing autism, but as I see it, vaccine with preservatives is better than no vaccine at least). With this uncertainty, he reasons, we must find the cause of the autism epidemic, whatever it may be. Yeah, since he can't think for himself, the increase in cases of autism must be, in his mind, caused by some outside force, definitely not because we understand it better and have become better at diagnosing it, absolutely no way. Which brings me to my second contention: his disgusting, ableist attitude towards autism. He discusses having autism as a terrible fate that poor children become victims to. Um, no. Neurodivergence isn't a problem to be solved. It isn't a disease to be cured. It's a different, not worse, maybe more difficult at times, way of thinking with its own advantages and disadvantages. Autism brought humanity to where we are today. Strength is found in diversity and this includes neurological diversity, we need the creative brilliance of autistic individuals to solve actual problems that threaten our survival (e.g. climate change, pandemics, poverty). Now, as for my third contention, the man isn't even that good of a writer. You deserve better. I recommend Neuro Tribes by Steve Silberman.