I read and reviewed Paul Offit's book Vaccinated in June of 2007 right before the boys were due for their MMR vaccine. Essentially, it tells the history of vaccines and some of the people behind them. Though we had been considering giving the boys separate measles, mumps, and rubella shots, the chapter dedicated to the autism-vaccine link convinced me of the safety of the single MMR shot. 

I did ask our pediatrician his opinion (he concurred) and if he had given his own sons the MMR shots (yes). I asked not so much for his actual answer, but to see his language - both verbal and body - which told me much more about his comfort level with the vaccine. He said he could give three separate shots (and make more money doing it that way), and it was ultimately our decision. 

And now, over a year later, Offit has written an entire book on the subject: Autism's False Prophets. When Parent Bloggers once again provided me a review copy, I read it less than a week (with two toddlers, that's no mean feat).

On the writing and flow of the book: it's readable and understandable by the layman, although I did have trouble keeping all the acronyms straight sometimes. It's not quite as user-friendly as Vaccinated, but that's to be expected - it's delving deep into a specific medical issue and all of the science behind it, whereas the former is more character driven.

On the subject matter: the autism-vaccine link... it's one of those amazingly controversial topics - like abortion, religion, and the current election - that can shut a friendly conversation down fast. You can tell where I stand on the issue, but that's not really the point. Offit lays out the history, the studies, and the people involved in this debate... including an unnecessary snarky remark here and there.

I found the book very enlightening - about this specific issue and the scientific method in general - and would recommend it to people on both sides of the debate. If you don't agree with the book's premise, well, keep your friends close and your enemies closer ... read it as an atheist would read the Bible.