The Boy Who Loved Too Much: A True Story of Pathological Friendliness

Written by Jennifer Latson

Narrated by Heather Auden

What would it be like to see everyone as a friend? Twelve-year-old Eli D'Angelo has a genetic disorder that obliterates social inhibitions, making him irrepressibly friendly, indiscriminately trusting, and unconditionally loving toward everyone he meets. It also makes him enormously vulnerable. Eli lacks the innate skepticism that will help his peers navigate adolescence more safely-and vastly more successfully.

Journalist Jennifer Latson follows Eli over three critical years of his life as his mother, Gayle, must decide whether to shield Eli entirely from the world and its dangers or give him the freedom to find his own way and become his own person.

By intertwining Eli and Gayle's story with the science and history of Williams syndrome, the book explores the genetic basis of behavior and the quirks of human nature. More than a case study of a rare disorder, however, The Boy Who Loved Too Much is a universal tale about the joys and struggles of raising a child, of growing up, and of being different.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jun 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781541474659

Reviews for The Boy Who Loved Too Much

[arubabookwoman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Can a person be too indiscriminately friendly? According to this book, a snapshot in time of one mother and her son, yes. Gayle's son Eli, 12 when the book begins, 14 when it ends, has a condition known as Williams Syndrome, in which 26-28 genes are missing. Eli thinks everyone in the world is his best friend. His mother knows otherwise, and as a result rarely lets Eli out of her sight.This story of Eli and Gayle is entwined with the science, history and genetics of Williams Syndrome. In addition to reducing social inhibitions and making its sufferers biologically incapable of distrusting other people, Williams Syndrome causes a plethora of other health issues, including gastrointestinal and serious cardiac problems. Because scientists are aware of the specific and relatively small number of genes involved in the causation of Williams Syndrome, they have been able to conduct important genetic research.Recommended, if the subject interests you.3 stars

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I knew nothing about Williams syndrome until I read a brief review of Latson's book and decided it check out the work at our local library. The author skillfully weaves science and psychology into a compelling narrative that tells a fascinating story about a boy, his family and their challenges in navigating a rare developmental disorder. Although the book's ending seemed incredibly abrupt for my tastes, it kept my interest from start to finish and provided many intriguing insights.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Williams syndrome is a rare disorder caused by the deletion of twenty-six genes from chromosome 7. People with this disorder have a distinctive appearance and intellectual disabilities alongside some extraordinary gifts, including remarkable friendliness and empathy towards others. Some even call it (rather glibly, I think) "the opposite of autism".Writer Jennifer Latson spent months with Eli D'Angelo, who has Williams syndrome, and his mother Gayle. The result is a book that blends scientific reportage with tales of the day-to-day life of a young man with the syndrome. Eli has a lot of personal charm, but the more negative aspects of his disability, such as anxiety and poor impulse control, make it hard for him achieve his heart's desire and form meaningful relationships with others. Meanwhile, his mother struggles with the complexities of parenting her unique son. This book is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Highly recommended.