Troubled

A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

By: Rob Henderson

Narrated by: Rob Henderson

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
One of The Economist’s Best Books of the Year!

In this “affecting…intriguing…heartbreaking” (Booklist) coming-of-age memoir, 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. But divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school.

A “vivid, insightful, poignant, and powerful” (Nicholas A. Christakis, author of Blueprint) 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.

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.

a terrifying threat to progressive world view b.s.

the last couple chapters are a powerful commentary on how shallow and full of confusion the left is. the authors writing is insightful and tough/fearless and humble....
I expect he'll be on joe rogan and meygan kelly podcasts someday. so deserving of all the attention. stay strong rob...

Surprisingly good

I normally just listen to business books but I saw the author on someone’s show. His background is similar to mine so I was intrigued. If you ever were poor and then joined a higher class, this will resonate with you.

No kool-aide for the author

I’m a good bit older than Rob but have a very similar story. I was not in foster care but had an abusive dad until a separation and then with a single mom that worked two jobs. The thought of being in the foster care system scared me. Not having a dad made me a great dad. You chose to break the generational curse as I did. So glad you avoided the kool-aide of the Ivy League school.
Two things I take issue with. First, college is not the only path to success. Trade school and a disciplined work ethic will easily move one into the 25% that earn over $100k. The plumbers snd electricians that I know are closer to $200k annually.
I kept waiting for some credit for Mrs Martinez in helping you to learn chores and the discipline in getting them done. Though not a loving person she appeared to be a reliable DI for a troubled boy. Great narration and 1.1 speed is perfect.

Raw

Recommend for all, especially the so-called elites.
Probably unintended, but he helped me with some of my frustrations associated with today’s Elitist views on social norm.

Real Life Testimony

Mr. Henderson has some very compelling stories to tell … ones we should all be more familiar with.