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Troubled

A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

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About this listen

In this raw coming-of-age memoir, Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the US Air Force, attending elite universities - and what he learnt from seeing life from both sides of the tracks.

Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. He was wrong: tragedy, poverty and violence marked his adolescent years.

An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts how Henderson eventually managed to find an escape route through the military, which led to an academic career at Yale and Cambridge. As he reflects on the fate of many of his friends - drugs, death, prison - Henderson never escapes the feeling of being on the outside looking in, or a sense that his academic achievements are hollow compared to the love and protection that comes from stable family life. He dissects the hypocrisies of contemporary social class and shows how the most privileged among us benefit from a set of 'luxury beliefs' that actively harm the most vulnerable.

©2024 Rob Henderson (P)2024 Hachette Audio Military & War Memoir Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Military Fostering
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Frank tale of a life defined by the contradictions surrounding it, only to use them to create a future.

Honest biography

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Not an ‘enjoyable read’ and in fact I had to drop it and rejoin several times due to the quantity and frequency of traumatic memories described. Worth it though as his considered reflections give solid food for thought. Having had a difficult childhood myself, I found it helpful to understand more of why I feel I don’t fit now despite years of therapy. I think every teacher and lecturer and university professor should have to read this book.

Worth the harrowing story

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What a page turner. Not an ounce of self pity in recounting a troubled upbringing and a studied successful attempt to be non partisan when analysing. Feel free to disagree but be prepared to be moved to tears.

Compelling honest thought provoking auto biography and social analysis

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Rob tells his story with neutrality and restraint, making its many lessons hit all the harder.

Wounded, wise and challenging

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Speechless. I was brought to tears more than once. Thank you Rob and to everyone involved.

Wow

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