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Synopsis
Karl Taro Greenfeld always knew that his little brother, Noah, was not like other children. He couldn't converse, use the toilet, or tie his shoes, and he often had violent outbursts. Even after Noah was diagnosed as autistic, his family struggled to find solutions.
Now, acclaimed journalist Karl Taro Greenfeld speaks out with brutal honesty about growing up in the shadow of his autistic brother, revealing the complex mix of rage, confusion, and love that defined his childhood.
Greenfeld weaves together the social history of autism and autism research with the moving story of two very different boys growing up side by side. Haunting, tragic, and unforgettable, his compelling story gets to the heart of what it means to be a family, a brother, and a person.
The Washington Post - Suki Casanave
These days, when autism success stories seem to emerge with increasing frequency, Karl Greenfeld's memoir—which combines personal experience with an exploration of autism research—offers a frank, sometimes brutal account of life with a severely disabled child who will never be considered one of those success stories. Living with Noah was a relentless task, an unremitting round of violent behaviors: scratching, biting, spitting, hair pulling…In the end, the reader is left simply to marvel at this family's endurance, at the sheer feat of survival