The Maria Effect

The Maria Effect by Mike Guido
Audiobook Platform: Audible
Narrator: Kevin Torres

The Maria Effect is a story about a comedian father whose daughter was born with Autism during a time when very little was known about this developmental disability and even less support was available to those individuals or loved ones. Through love and perseverance, Mike moves mountains as he builds a world where his daughter can live and be loved.

The story emphasizes the power of love and its ability to change people for the better. This is very much a “make them laugh, make them cry” type of book, and allowed me to reflect on my own life and loved ones who have had similar experiences to Mike and his family. The story helped me better appreciate how unique, yet normal Maria and her family are. Yes - individuals with Autism will face many challenges throughout their lives which others will never face. However, the emotional experiences that make all of us human remain the same. We all experience love, anger, sadness, regret, and forgiveness. This story underlines all of it and is a great reminder that we are all on the same journey.