Criticizing JB Handley's How To End the Autism Epidemic
By Brian Nomi
How to End the Autism Epidemic was released on September 19, 2018. It's gotten a very high number of reviews, 256 of them as of today, two weeks after release.
Nineteen of these reviews are critical of the book: One-star out of five. That is fine, if someone does not like the book, that person is welcome to post a negative review and make his or her thoughts known.
The very interesting thing about the criticisms of Handley is that several of them, about half, claim to be written by people with autism. For example, Carola E. Wilhelmon claims to be on the spectrum, and states that " It is true that I haven't read the book," but that "eugenics of autistic people is going to be the next suggested step." Mizanthrope states that " I am Autistic. I was Autistic before I was vaccinated. I'd get vaccinated again." And then Janejira Damron claims to be on the autism spectrum, and writes " The real tragedy is the fact people believe these lies and teach their kids to view themselves as damaged and in need of correction."
Several attacks state that Handley must hate people with autism, because he is against autism. One critic with the strange name of " Amazon Customer" writes: "Autism isn't bad. Autistic people are valuable and worthwhile." This is a theme carried out in many of the other negative reviews. It's very strange, because anyone who has read Handley's book must see the love shining through clearly between JB and his son who has autism. The stories of JB retiring from his job to devote himself to helping his son, the story about how JB's son nearly broke his hand from hitting himself in the head, and the story about JB taking his son into the outdoors where he is happiest, and swimming for the fun of it. Nobody can read the book and think that JB hates his son or thinks his son is not valuable or worthwhile.
It's kind of like any disease. If you had a friend or relative who had cancer, and dedicated yourself to curing that person, would that mean that you hate your son Bob because you are trying to change him? Of course not. I can clearly see how a person can hate a medical problem, like cancer or autism, while still giving unconditional love and acceptance to a friend or child. Being against autism does not mean in any way that you hate the person with autism. Any parent who has suffered with this condition can immediately relate to this view of the situation. And JB's position is very clear from reading this book. His true cause is to help people who have autism, and prevent others from having to go through what he has, by stopping new cases of autism. Somehow, this is called "hate" and "fearmongering" by reviewers such as Josiah Moran and eckch97.
Getting back to the negative reviewers, I'd like to make one final point. The six or seven critics claiming to have autism all claim that JB is trying to exterminate them, or must hate people with autism. It's very hard for me to believe that anyone with autism would take the time to (1) read the book; and then (2) post a critical review on Amazon.com's website. I realize there are many high functioning adults with autism in this world who are well capable of reading, writing, and going through the internet. But why would seven of them all go onto the same mission, to criticize JB Handley's book, and do so in the same way by calling it a work of hatred intended to attack people with autism, and do it at the same time within days of the publication of the book? It's almost as though someone were coordinating this attack. Someone who has deep pockets, and who is trying to pan JB Handley in a coordinated way through fake reviews and shill identities posting on Amazon. But what person / business/ industry would try such a vicious and cowardly thing? Hmmmmm. I just can't figure that one out.
Brian Nomi is a California attorney and author of AutismGenesis.com.
Holli,
Thanks for your comment. I completely identify with what you say. I wish more people who have our experience would comment on sites like this in order to bring together all those effected by vaccines into a larger, more effective campaign group.
Posted by: Grace Green | October 28, 2018 at 07:12 AM
Gayle, I think you may be right about those commenting having Asperger's, but please know that not all of us have our heads in the sand. I'm almost done with the book and will comment positively about his book, because the injuries that kids sustain from vaccines have varying degrees of severity, IMO, but we are all in the same boat!
I was not born aspie, neither were my kids, and we were injured, but not as severely as some others.
In fact, a large portion of people have been left out of the discussion, because we have so many being severely injured that those of us who are being old are "normal," but are clearly not. We are expected to be able to handle life, but don't have the skills or ability.
The aversion to "adulting" isn't just because of helicopter parenting. Many people are injured...but not enough to understand where their hardships come from.
Please understand that I do not think people with HFA/Asperger's, like myself and my kids, have it harder, it's just different. We do have injury but don't realize that's why we don't have empathy (or even that we don't have it, in the first place!). We suffer but think everyone does and so we blame ourselves for not being as productive as those who are neurotypical. I have encountered so many angry aspies, and I just wish I could get through to them. I've taken to reaching out to the NT's who live with aspies, and parents with aspie kids, because they are more likely to be able to influence them.
I think there are many injustices happening because of the injuries people incur, and one of those injustices is that the people (likely aspies) who are commenting about the book don't even know what they're talking about, but also don't realize why they are so vehement in their errors of reason.
Anyway, I'll try to add to the reasoned comments on the book as soon as I finish it. It's spot on, so far!
Sorry for the novella. haha
Posted by: Holli | October 27, 2018 at 12:38 PM
I am greatly relieved to read this post (and comments)!
After reading only a few chapters, I started googling to find out more about some of the references Handley cites. The top hits were "reviews" of the book and I clicked on a couple. I put "reviews" in quotes because some of them, as cited above, casually mention "I didn't read the book but..."
Who writes a review of a book they haven't read? Boggle.
The vitriol in these "reviews" was stunning. It went beyond the level of emotion and hatred one can find in politics. I started to wonder if they were discussing some different book or a different JB Handley. Did I miss the "And Hitler was right because..." chapter?
Anyway, thanks for the sanity check,
Ken
Posted by: Kenneth B Sizer II | October 26, 2018 at 09:48 AM
Interesting. Point that the true eugencists are people like Dr Pan who insist mandatory vaz are safe for everyone— even infants who have family members who have died. This gets people out of the gene pool who cant process toxins.
Posted by: Kyles mom | October 25, 2018 at 11:35 PM
Thank you Aimee for agreeing with me that we need RESEARCH NOW for a CURE for AUTISM!
Posted by: Gayle | October 25, 2018 at 11:27 PM
I read JB Handley's book and I thought it was great. I particularly liked his twelve point plan. I am concerned, though, about how to implement some of the key steps that he recommends.
1) I wish that JB Handley had provided some ideas on how to wrestle with the power of Big Pharma. Steps like reducing the number of vaccines or holding Congressional hearings will likely be fought tooth and nail by Big Pharma. Also, Big Pharma has pretty much bought the AAP. Big Pharma also buys state legislators and influences state mandates on vaccines.
2) I'm also curious on how he would suggest curbing the power of the neurodiversity movement, which has successfully advocated to change the name of the Combating Autism Act to the Autism Cares Act, to co-opt almost every major autism organization (e.g. Autism Speaks, ASA, ARI, etc.) to practically eliminate research toward a cure, to dominate the media conversation about autism, and to achieve a stranglehold on the IACC (a number of the members are anti-cure members of the ND movement). Given that JB Handley advocates screening for autism in vulnerable children, I'm sure that the NDers will protest this as well, given that they have protested all genetic research as "eugenic."
I'm with Gayle on research for a CURE. I wouldn't force a cure on anyone, but I don't see that the NDers have the right to close out that option for everyone.
Posted by: Aimee Doyle | October 24, 2018 at 04:32 PM
People are scared of being called out as anti-whatever these days and rightly so as their jobs,careers whatever are on the line.A hierarchy of disabilities exist where if you say a disability was caused by vaccines your an anti-vac and punished.The disability is forgotten or not as bad simply because you state vaccines.Where as the same disability is given more credence simply by not stating vaccine.
Shame on them for creating that disability hierarchy.
Pharma For Prison
MMR RIP
Posted by: Angus Files | October 24, 2018 at 01:52 PM
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/bayer-stock-crashes-after-monsanto-cancer-verdict-upheld-judge-analysts-estimates
Bayer greedily bought and swallowed the 'poison pill' of Monsanto without considering its true liability. Fifty-seven billion Euros of market cap down the drain later, now their headache is taking on epic proportions...
Growing uncertainty about whether San Francisco Superior Court Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos would rule in favor or against Bayer’s appeal of the Monsanto Cancer Verdict was resolved Tuesday morning as the judge upheld the jury’s decision that the glyphosate-based weedkiller (aka Roundup) sold by Monsanto caused a California man’s terminal cancer and that Monsanto intentionally hid its dangers.
The news quickly spread and caused an immediate crash in Bayer’s stock value, sending a powerful message to the Agrochemical industry that they are legally and financially responsible for the adverse effects caused by their unscrupulously marketed products despite receiving a regulatory pass from government agencies like the EPA, USDA, and FDA that have traditionally acted as industry cheerleaders.
The judge decided to reduce the punitive damage award from the original total of $289 million following a verdict reached earlier this summer, down to $78.5 million. A decision which concerned jurors who decided on the higher award amount in order to send a clear message to Monsanto that they deserve to be punished for covering up the dangers of their herbicide.
https://www.healthnutnews.com/newsweek-people-who-eat-organic-food-are-25-percent-less-likely-to-get-cancer-study-suggests/
Newsweek: People who eat organic food are 25 percent less likely to get cancer, Study Suggests
Posted by: Hans Litten | October 24, 2018 at 01:16 PM
Excellent points, Brian...thank you for documenting them!
Posted by: Laura Hayes | October 24, 2018 at 12:39 PM
The people who are writing these negative reviews have very high functioning autism/Asperger's, call it what you will. If they are capable of reading this book and of writing a review of it then they have no place criticizing someone who wrote a book about the more common type of autism epidemic we are seeing today with much lower functioning people. I'm sure these people don't hit themselves in the head or engage in other self injurious behavior like J.B. Handley's son does, like my son does, and like many more people with true autism do. Their reviews are useless and have no meaning for people like us who have children that desperately need research into a Cure for the more realistic type of autism epidemic we are seeing today. RESEARCH for a CURE for the real epidemic NOW!
Posted by: Gayle | October 24, 2018 at 11:30 AM
In today’s world there would be no easier, or least contested way to euthanize people then through the practice of vaccination.
Posted by: annie | October 24, 2018 at 11:22 AM
Don't panic! Will Shakespeare had an expression for this kind of thing- protesting too much!! I can't see too many people being taken in by the 'JB Handley hates people with autism' approach. Most people now know at least one person with autism; those with family members affected are well aware of the parental love and care. The false 'neurodiversity' argument is another one demolished by reality. People are not stupid. Genuinely autistic persons are unlikely to write book reviews like these.
So let them rant and rave. By all means discuss the issue on this and other autism sites, but don't waste time attempting to respond to these rubbish reviews on Amazon. Instead, ignore them and write your own reviews.
Posted by: Jenny Allan | October 24, 2018 at 08:27 AM
I apologize for once again reprinting Sol Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" .. but .. the tactics being used and exploited by those Brian describes as … "coordinating this attack. Someone who has deep pockets, and who is trying to pan JB Handley in a coordinated way through fake reviews and shill identities posting on Amazon". The consistent derogatory rhetoric expressed in this column provides clear and convincing evidence that Sol's Rules are directing the ATTACK ON JB HANDLEY.
* RULE 1: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood.
(Government and corporations have unlimited money and people at their disposal)
* RULE 2: “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone.
(Which is why most negative comments derive from individuals who have .. deliberately .. NOT read the book .. therefore are free to level outrageous allegations of a personal nature towards JB)
* RULE 3: “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.
(This explains why JB is being attacked by seemingly irrelevant arguments .. such as .. JB "hates" people with autism)
* RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.
* RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.
(This rule is ALWAYS a tactic used against our community .. such as .. Dr Wakefield and now JB)
* RULE 6: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones.
(Organized social media and book reviews are "fun" opportunities for like-minded activists to complement and support each other)
* RULE 7: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news.
* RULE 8: “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new.
(Attack, attack, attack from all sides, never giving the reeling organization or author a chance to rest, regroup, recover and re-strategize.)
* RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist.
(Hence the absurd allegation that "eugenics of autistic people is going to be their next step")
* RULE 10: “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.”
* RULE 11: “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.
(Hence the consistent theme throughout the attack on JB is to dismiss his concerns as purely "hateful")
* RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.
(This the MAIN RULE .. DESTROY THE MESSAGE BY DESTROYING THE MESSENGER)
The reason Sol's Rules are so effective is because only one side believes themselves at WAR .. on any ISSUE .. resorts to using them. The other side .. which in this instance would be JB .. relies upon science, common sense .. and most importantly … common Decency.
Posted by: bob moffit | October 24, 2018 at 06:53 AM