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Leland Vittert Releases ‘Born Lucky,’ Revealing Childhood Autism and a Father’s Lifelong Coaching

The memoir pairs a tribute to the father who guided his social development with a call for deeper research into autism’s rise.

Overview

  • Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism was published Sept. 30 by Harper Horizon and is now on sale.
  • The book is Vittert’s first extended public account of his childhood autism, describing not speaking until age three and enduring severe bullying.
  • Vittert credits his father, Mark, with transforming his trajectory, including leaving his job to coach social skills using methods such as a discreet “watch tap.”
  • The memoir situates his story within a national journalism career that spans Fox News reporting from Cairo’s Tahrir Square to hosting NewsNation’s primetime On Balance.
  • In interviews promoting the book, Vittert urges renewed scientific inquiry into the sharp rise in autism diagnoses and highlights unanswered questions researchers face.