Troubled

A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

De: Rob Henderson

Narrado por: Rob Henderson

Duración: 7 h y 49 m

Resumen del Editor

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

In this raw coming-of-age memoir, in the vein of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, The Other Wes Moore, and Someone Has Led This Child to Believe, Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the US Air Force, attending elite universities, and pioneering the concept of “luxury beliefs”—ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while inflicting costs on the less fortunate.

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. Divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school.

An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts Henderson’s expectation-defying young life and juxtaposes his story with those of his friends who wound up incarcerated or killed. He retreads the steps and missteps he took to escape the drama and disorder of his youth. As he navigates the peaks and valleys of social class, Henderson finds that he remains on the outside looking in. His greatest achievements—a military career, an undergraduate education from Yale, a PhD from Cambridge—feel like hollow measures of success. He argues that stability at home is more important than external accomplishments, and he illustrates the ways the most privileged among us benefit from a set of social standards that actively harm the most vulnerable.

©2024 Rob Henderson (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

A beautiful and important memoir for our times

Well written and well read by the author, Troubled is an excellent memoir and an important testament to the critical role that families play in our broader social challenges.

Captivating

Clear-headed, captivating, and thought provoking. Great commentary on elite school thinking. Highly enjoyable read.

Wow! This book was a non-stop listen.

I loved this book! It explores personal growth and societal issues in a powerful and thought-provoking way. The author's insights and storytelling kept me engaged throughout, providing a fresh view on overcoming challenges and promoting positive change. I recommend this book to those seeking inspiration and profound insights into personal and societal matters. It's a gem that will linger with you after finishing the final page.

An unforgettable read - a MUST for any parents or teachers

Incredible story and insight. I can’t remember the last time I read a book this meaningful.

Worth your time

The story Rob tells here was very captivating. I remember knowing some kids who were in the foster care system when I was growing up. I didn't quite realize what it might be like to be in their shoes. The insights he has gained from his upbringing and education are very valuable. I really appreciate the effort that went into sharing them with us. I'm sure most others will too.

Gripping and Elucidating Journey

Henderson brings the reader along on the soul bearing journey of his life. In relating the tragedies and people/facts, Troubled examines the current Foster Care system’s flawed design which primarily benefits bureaucrats and many exploitive “parents”.

The authors time at Yale and the observation of the passive-aggressive game of public “virtue” for personal gain was insightful. This helped me understand why so many of our institutions are failing as they are led by many self-serving, low-character Ivy grads devoid of real world life experiences.

This book also changed my concept of child development by exploring how chaos/trauma at a young age can make it almost statistically impossible to become a self-sufficient, high contributor to strengthen our society.

Grateful for the authors self-reflective life story that inspired an examination my own..

A Story of Struggle, Inspiration and Luxury Belief Lies

The sad outcomes to the struggling personal life stories of many of Rob's friends reveal the need for improvement to our foster system, yes. But the abandonment of beneficial, traditional social structures and its effects also needs continued analysis. Rob's analysis of "luxury beliefs" is an eye opening exposé of one telling source of hypocrisy and damaging lies that undermine possible solutions.

Proof that nobody is doomed to victimhood

There are not many stories that would overshadow Rob's in terms of an inevitable screw up. However, I love that he pulled himself up by the bootstraps and refused to be labeled by his circumstances. A powerful lesson for us all.

I grew up with anger and pain.

Even though our upbringing was different the trauma that stays with us shapes us into people we at one point don’t want to be. There’s a lot of anecdotes but more importantly, feeling unloved and not good enough is pain. Currently I’m dealing with my trauma while my mother is slowly passing away in a hospital. This book by Dr. Henderson gives me hope that’ll even though I have no support system currently in my life, I’ll be okay.

Hopeful and heartbreaking

Rob’s memoir is a wonderful example of what life was like growing up in lower to lower middle class neighborhoods in the nineties. He makes mention of the common phrases, trends, and songs which inculcated that time. While it is difficult to hear about (I listened on Audible) Rob’s experiences in his childhood and adolescence, the way in which he navigated these difficult waters is inspiring. He comes to his criticisms of “luxury beliefs” through not just his intellect but through his experiences of them in reality.

Very well written and very well read. Rob’s performance reading is very emotional times and yet never over the top. I listened to the entirety of this book within 2-3 days as I found this memoir incredibly interesting, tough, and uplifting.