Reviews
" Latson tells [this] story with great sympathy and eloquence, giving voice to the frustration, anguish, and despair a parent feels when their child struggles with a rare disorder. A well-researched, perceptive exploration of a rare genetic disorder seen through the eyes of a mother and son." --Kirkus Reviews "The Boy Who Loved Too Much is an astonishing debut. Before the book crossed my desk, I'd never heard of Williams syndrome, and once I started reading, I could think of little else. This is narrative nonfiction of the highest order--rigorously reported, elegantly told, and nearly impossible to put down. Always empathetic and consistently insightful, Jennifer Latson's deep dive into Eli's life not only illuminates an under-known condition, but made me rethink the very nature of human connection. I cannot recommend this book highly enough." --Kate Bolick, author of SPINSTER: Making a Life of One's Own "What is the opposite of autism? What's it like to be born with an insatiable drive to connect, to love others without shyness or reserve? In this humane and fascinating book, Jennifer Latson introduces us to Eli, a boy with the rare genetic disorder of Williams Syndrome. She marvels at his capacity for love, but is sensitive as well to the difficulties of raising such a child in an often cruel and unloving world, and the challenges that arise with the emergence of sexual desire. This is a book about a very unusual child, but it's also a thoughtful and moving exploration into the very nature of affection and love." --Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology at Yale University, and author of AGAINST EMPATHY: The Case for Rational Compassion "Latson's haunting book is an intimate look at the relationship between a boy with a rare and fascinating genetic disability and his mother, as she learns over time to stop overprotecting him and allow him to take his own path toward independence. There are valuable lessons for all parents here." --Steve Silberman, author of NEUROTRIBES: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity "Jennifer Latson has written a book of uncommon empathy, a powerful narrative that speaks not only to the love of a mother for her son, but to a genetic disorder that poses questions about the nature and limits of love itself." --Mimi Swartz, author of POWER FAILURE: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron, "The Boy Who Loved Too Much is an astonishing debut. Before the book crossed my desk, I'd never heard of Williams syndrome, and once I started reading, I could think of little else. This is narrative nonfiction of the highest order--rigorously reported, elegantly told, and nearly impossible to put down. Always empathetic and consistently insightful, Jennifer Latson's deep dive into Eli's life not only illuminates an under-known condition, but made me rethink the very nature of human connection. I cannot recommend this book highly enough." --Kate Bolick, author of SPINSTER: Making a Life of One's Own "What is the opposite of autism? What's it like to be born with an insatiable drive to connect, to love others without shyness or reserve? In this humane and fascinating book, Jennifer Latson introduces us to Eli, a boy with the rare genetic disorder of Williams Syndrome. She marvels at his capacity for love, but is sensitive as well to the difficulties of raising such a child in an often cruel and unloving world, and the challenges that arise with the emergence of sexual desire. This is a book about a very unusual child, but it's also a thoughtful and moving exploration into the very nature of affection and love." --Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology at Yale University, and author of AGAINST EMPATHY: The Case for Rational Compassion "Latson's haunting book is an intimate look at the relationship between a boy with a rare and fascinating genetic disability and his mother, as she learns over time to stop overprotecting him and allow him to take his own path toward independence. There are valuable lessons for all parents here." --Steve Silberman, author of NEUROTRIBES: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity "Jennifer Latson has written a book of uncommon empathy, a powerful narrative that speaks not only to the love of a mother for her son, but to a genetic disorder that poses questions about the nature and limits of love itself." --Mimi Swartz, author of POWER FAILURE: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron
