Mercer's articles on attachment disorder, harmful psychological treatments and other mental health issues have been published in peer reviewed journals.

She has presented at conferences internationally, made television appearances, served as editor for an industry newsletter, and authors two blogs, Childmyths and The Study of Nonsense.

[5][4][6] These therapies, according to Mercer, involve techniques such as restricting food, restraining children so they can't move and forcing them to do meaningless, difficult chores as punishment,[7] and are practiced by people who "mistakenly equate obedience with attachment.

[10] Topics addressed in the book include: vaccination and autism, sugar and hyperactivity, punishment and changing children's behavior, high-self esteem and student achievement, Sudden infant death syndrome, and violence in video games.

[11] The book is intended to help readers (parents, college students) challenge assumptions rooted in their own childhood experiences and develop critical thinking skills for determining fact from conjecture.