Leary's book causes a stir

Don't judge a book by its cover, or by just one excerpt. That's the word from Denis Leary, who's facing a flood of criticism for joking about autism in his new book, "Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid." The Emerson alum says an excerpt published by the New York Post this week is misleading. Taken from a chapter titled "Autism Schmautism," the passage reads in part: "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their [expletive] kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks." The Autism Society of America reacted swiftly, saying Leary's "remarks reflect the same misconceptions of autism being caused by bad or unemotional parenting that were held over 50 years ago, misconceptions that have been completely disproven by the scientific community." The combative comedian, whose stock in trade is his contrarian style, isn't apologizing. "The point of the chapter is not that autism doesn't exist, it obviously does and I have nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know," Leary said in a statement. "Too often in this country, everything gets reduced to simple sound bites and very very often those sound bites are not truly representative of an author or artist's point of view."

Among those attending the launch party for the new book "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style" were spiffy Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner. Held at the Achilles Project, with bites by Persephone chef Michael Leviton, the party attracted a bunch of fashion-savvy Bostonians, all gathered to greet authors Kim France and Andrea Linett, the editor in chief and creative director, respectively, of Lucky magazine. DJ Beyonder got the crowd moving before they teetered home on their 5-inch heels.

James Taylor will play five free shows in North Carolina in support of Barack Obama. A longtime lefty, Sweet Baby James has scheduled concerts in Charlotte, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Wilmington beginning Sunday. Taylor, who lives in the Berkshires now but grew up in Chapel Hill, will be encouraging folks to get out and vote. Not coincidentally, North Carolina hasn't voted for a Democrat for president since 1976.

Union Oyster House owner Joe Milano is back from Thailand. Milano, the Royal Thai Honorary Consul General, helped celebrate the 175th anniversary of US-Thai relations at a ceremony attended by Thailand's secretary of foreign affairs, H.E. Norachit, US Ambassador Eric John, and Bangkok Governor H.E. Apirak. . . . Ballplayers Evan Longoria and Fernandez Perez and Tampa sportscaster Angela Jacobs ate at Milano's eatery this week. . . . Boston attorney Danielle deBenedictis and husband Peter Karlson, owners of Nantucket's Summer House, attended the Ireland Fund of Monaco gala at Hotel de Paris.

Weird coincidence or what? Actress Christy Scott Cashman this week hosted a reading of a screenplay called "Wrinkle Free" in the same room where Candace Bergen's character in "The Women" was filmed recuperating from a face lift. Written by Margaret Sherin, "Wrinkle Free" is about a 50-year-old woman who's ex-husband is dating a younger woman. Joyce Kulhawik narrated, Joan Quinn Eastman directed, and the cast included Cashman, Jody Ebling, and Richard DeAgazio. Looking on were Christy's husband, Jay Cashman, Comedy Connection owner Bill Blumenreich, socialite Doris Yaffe, and UHY Advisors main man Bill Earon.

Talented jazz trumpeter Tiger Okoshi, a professor at Berklee, blew his horn at the ballpark last night, playing the national anthem before the Red Sox' win-or-go-home Game 5 of the ALCS.

Channel 5 anchor Susan Wornick was quick off the mark at the Rosie's Place benefit, "Funny Women . . . Serious Business" yesterday. "I have just one announcement," said Wornick, the event emcee. "There's a telephone call for Sandra Bernhard. Oh . . . of course, she's not here! What was she thinking?" (The women's shelter canceled Bernhard's appearance after she reportedly made offensive comments about veep hopeful Sarah Palin last month. Bernhard disputes the remarks.) "She of course understood why we had to fire her," Wornick continued. "And she made a nice, generous contribution to Rosie's Place." Comedian Carol Leifer, a former "Seinfeld" writer, headlined the event, joining local news anchors Lisa Hughes, Kate Merrill, Frances Rivera, Emily Rooney, Maria Stephanos, and Karen Swensen in appealing for donations. First ladies Diane Patrick and Angela Menino and Rosie's founder Kip Tiernan also worked the mike. But it was Wornick who kept the zingers coming. "You're looking at me thinking, 'Susan Wornick is the oldest living anchorwoman in America,' " she said, laughing. "It's true. Lisa Hughes's mother breast fed her, watching me."

The Bruins were out and about on their off day. Coach Claude Julien went to the Sox game, while Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler stopped by Mass. General to visit kids with cancer. (Kessel, who's a cancer survivor, was treated at MGH.) Watching Madonna strut her stuff at the Garden last night were B's Chuck Kobasew, Vladimir Sobotka, Stephane Yelle, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron.

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