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This book, by David Kirby, a science and health contributor to "The New York Times," examines the controversial link between "mercury in vaccines and the autism epidemic [in American children]."

In order to understand this book, you have to understand the meaning of a couple of words:

(1) Mercury is an element of atomic number 80. Because of its low melting point, it occurs as a silver-white liquid metal. Mercury and most of its compounds are toxic and tend to accumulate in higher animals (such as humans). Some of mercury's organic forms are used in bactericides (that inhibit the growth of microbial bacteria).

(2) A vaccine is any preparation of killed microorganisms, living weakened organisms etc. introduced into the human body to produce immunity (actually an artificial immunity) to a specific disease by causing the formation of antibodies. Vaccines also contains other interesting stuff and the final concoction resembles a "witch's brew." Here are some other components found in many vaccines: formaldehyde, calf serum, fetal rhesus monkey lung cells, monkey kidney cells, chick embryo, fetal bovine serum, sheep red blood cells, antifreeze, antibiotics, and cells originating from aborted human fetal tissue. Vaccines bring in a lot of money to pharmaceutical companies, over a billion dollars a year.

How is mercury related to a vaccine? Answer: vaccines have to be protected or preserved against microbial attack. What's used is mercury (or specifically an organic form of mercury) because as mentioned above it's a bactericide.

The preservative used in vaccines (mentioned in this book) is thimerosal (also called thiomersalate). (Thimerosal is pronounced "thigh-mer-uh-sall.") It is made from an organic compound of mercury and an acid. This preservative contains almost fifty percent mercury (which, as indicated above, is toxic). (Thimerosal is also used in the preservation of other pharmaceutical products.) Pharmaceutical companies (such as Eli Lilly) like this particular preservative because it's inexpensive.

This book considers the following question:

Did the injection of organic mercury (via the thimerosal in vaccines) directly into the developing systems of small children (mostly boys) cause autism in many of these children? (Autism is self-absorption where one's internal state is unrealistic and the person sees things in terms of fantasies and dreams, wishes and hopes, rather than in realistic terms shared by and with others. Strange behaviors like head banging and twirling also occur.) Note, and Kirby touches on this, besides autism, other things may occur such as attention deficit disorder, speech delay, motor tics, and neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders.

Following several families, Kirby traces their struggle to understand how and why their once-healthy children after being given a vaccine rapidly descended into autism, often accompanied by severe physical illness. Alarmed by the high levels of mercury in the vaccine schedule, these families sought answers from medical doctors, from medical "science," from pharmaceutical companies, and even from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. No suitable explanations were given. But by sheer persistence to overcome many obstacles, these families also found powerful allies in Congress and in a small group of renegade (or perhaps, more accurately, conscientious) doctors and researchers who believe in the autism-vaccine link.

Kirby also mentions, among other things, the mercury in dental fillings, mercury in fish, and the Gulf War syndrome (since soldiers received many vaccinations).

This book is punctuated with tables of statistics and revealing graphs from actual research studies so readers can see for themselves what is going on.

Finally, contrary to what some other reviewers say, this book is not biased. Kirby explains: "This book looks at evidence presented on both sides of the thimerosal controversy, but told from the parents' admittedly subjective point of view." In the end, "Readers are invited to reach their own conclusions on the evidence [that's presented]."

In conclusion, ten years ago, a conscientious medical doctor named Guylaine Lanctot made a starting statement in a book she wrote: "People who work with autistic children...know that there is nearly always a vaccination at the root of the problem." (Lanctot lost her medical license for writing her book. So much for free speech!!) Kirby's riveting book reveals that this doctor's statement may be absolutely true!!!

(first published 2005; introduction; prologue; 13 chapters; epilogue; main narrative 420 pages; notes; acknowledgments; index)

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A previous reviewer not only failed to review the book, but also failed to get her facts straight regarding Savant Syndrome (formerly known as Idiot Savant Syndrome.) Here's a quote from Darold Treffert, MD: consultant to the film RAIN MAN: "Raymond Babbitt, the main character in the movie RAIN MAN, has become the world's best known savant due to Dustin Hoffman's remarkably accurate and sensitive portrayal of Savant Syndrome in that film."

Thoroughly researched and scientifically sound, this book is the heart-wrenching story of a group of parents whose previously healthy children became severely ill and autistic shortly after receiving mercury-laden vaccines. In their quest to find answers, the parents are met with road blocks and harsh criticism from those in the medical community. Thankfully, some parents manage to find help for their children through the process of chelation. The book is definately an interesting read. The author, David Kirby, leaves it up to the reader to decide whether or not there is a cover-up.

I was quite interested to read this book, as I am always open to new information on possible causes of autistic spectrum disorders, and I liked the fact that the focus was on the mercury in the vaccines, not really the vaccines themselves. However, I was left cold early on when the author was talking about various disorders on the spectrum, and stated that Asperger's Syndrome is "also known as idiot-savant syndrome" and that it is what the main character in Rain Man had. Two extremely incorrect statements. When you are reading a factual book, and want to learn medical and scientific facts from it, you must be able to trust that the author has done his research and understands his topic. After I found that mistake, my trust in the book was completely shattered. I did read it, but was not able to feel that I was sure I was reading the truth. I don't usually like to judge a book so harshly based on one part, but when the book might potentially influence medical decisions of many people, I think it's fair to hold it to a high standard.

This book is undoubtedly the best I have read regarding the link
between vaccines and autism, and I've read many, many books and articles on this subject.
The book is not based on the author's opinion, but on scientific biological studies and proven facts which support the vaccine-
autism connection.
I highly commend David Kirby for his committment and courage in writing this book and I recommend it to every parent and grandparent in the country.

this is the most amazing book I have ever read. I recently attended a lecture and met David Kirby who has captured the hearts of many autistic parents revealing the "Thimerasol-mercury poison" which is put in the vaccines given to our children. This book tells how the government and drug companies have covered-up this theory. It will take you a week to read as every chapter is full of the history of dedicated people trying to prove this mercury poison link to autism. It tells of the struggle of these dedicated people and how their stories "fell on deaf ears".