Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: As a parent of an Autistic child, I purchased this book when my son was first diagnosed. It has a wealth of information and helped me better understand the few treatments available and the state of research on the disorder. It is a technical book, and not for all parents, but it is dog-eared in many sections from my use. I hope there is an update in the near future.

Rating:
Summary: A definitive reference book
Review: Neither cheap nor a light read, but just what it says - a definitive summary of the state-of-the-art in knowledge about autism and the other pervasive developmental disorders. Everything you need to know is in here.

Rating:
Summary: Aimed at Professionals; Great for Parents, Too
Review: Second book I read when trying to figure out whether my son had autism/PDD. Not for the parent who is faint of heart, but excellent, balanced, and objective resource for the parent who wants a deeper understanding of the research literature. Depending on your educational background, some chapters may be incomprehensible (e.g., the chapter on neurochemicals), but almost all are accessible to the well-educated and attentive layperson.