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Troubled

A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

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Troubled

By: Rob Henderson
Narrated by: Rob Henderson
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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 Thought-Provoking Military Fostering

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All stars
Most relevant  
A superb book - in all aspects. Introduces and expands, through moving clear-headed biography, an essential idea for today. It crystallisee a particular elite behaviour and it's effects on the rest. Luxury beliefs - a truly key concept that brilliantly gives name and explains so much of the gate-keeping class behaviour today.

Essential, moving and eyeopening

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Read by the author. A very well written true story of an underprivileged, extremely difficult childhood. A young man on the wrong path who overcomes adversity, adjusts his trajectory and becomes a high achiever, academic and shining example of a good guy. Easy to read. A lot of truth bombs in there.

Outstanding book. Excellent Memoir

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Thank you for the education and insight. I have been left rethinking my beliefs and reflecting on the many times I have inadvertently been inconsiderate of others. Thank you for taking me on the journey through your life. No pity from me, just admiration and respect.

Food for thought 💭

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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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No pretense and insightful. This book reminded me that stable family structures, even if imperfect, are one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children.

Honest and winsome

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I related so much to this book on so many levels, and the clarity, honesty and intellectual humility of the author make his underlying point shine through. The storytelling is compelling because it's, simply put, realistic.

A much needed testimony of Today's maladies

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This sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes heartwarming book describes the unique difficulties for children born to disadvantaged lives.

It demonstrates that the absence of affection, stability and good role models reduces them to the worst they can be and only strong will, determination and innate intelligence on their part can make them the best of themselves.

I hope Rob Henderson's book will provide hope for many people who are disadvantaged and give their carers a valuable insight into how hopelessness breeds criminality and mayhem.

A very good read.

Eye opening and tear jerking

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This book is so good that it inspired me to write a proper review.
The book Troubled showed me how a great country can allow corporations and gangs to sell poison to their "underprivileged", along with noumerus other infractions.
The memoir ends with a valid criticism of the generation of students currently wreaking the universities of America. When the writer,Rob, explains that the generation is forcing good-willing ideals out of guilt and vanity upon America and by-proxy the western world, one becomes unbalanced.
Before his stint at Yale Rob reviews his years in the Airforce. He was stationed in Germany, where they have great beer, this I can confirm. He tells you of the consequences of his troubled past that even military discipline cannot overcome. He also describes how the rigid environment in the Airforce helped him avoid trouble.
In the first chapters of his book he describes what he got up to in his upbringing, how his environment shaped him and the effects of the large life events on him as he grew up.
While telling his story Rob manages to tell you about the good you can do for those having a hard time by simple gestures of trust and understanding.
Even though I grew up with a large family that shows great loyalty I could relate to his need to be strong by himself when he was young and with age we both have learned that we gain our strength from the people around us.
Rob Henderson also deepened my understanding of memoirs. He showed me that their utility is not only for spreading useful knowledge but also helping and inspiring others. Furthermore I learned how important a wholesome family environment is for children.
Thank you for a wonderful book.

Gave me a better understanding of how wise it is to be dependable and understanding.

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We can only hope that history will mark the publishing of this book as a watershed in our discourse. In standing up for his people (the poor and dispossessed of all races) Rob Henderson shines a light on the great mischief that has been brought on working class people over the last few decades. No wonder he’s ruffling feathers among the luxury belief class. Spend your audible token on this book; it will open your eyes as it has mine.

A Seminal Book

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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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