Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
- Downloads：6352
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2024-01-15 16:21:38
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Rob Henderson
- ISBN：B0C7RN3ZJT
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Velvet
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Normally I prefer memoirs that are strictly story。 If there’s citations， I don’t want it。 So surprisingly， I was hooked on this。 While roughly the last third is more commentary than story-telling， it’s fascinating to see the way Henderson’s experiences and realizations growing up have shaped his current views。 I often step away from memoirs with something to think about but this book has me thinking。 I may not be his target audience but I fully expect to keep coming back to some of these passa Normally I prefer memoirs that are strictly story。 If there’s citations， I don’t want it。 So surprisingly， I was hooked on this。 While roughly the last third is more commentary than story-telling， it’s fascinating to see the way Henderson’s experiences and realizations growing up have shaped his current views。 I often step away from memoirs with something to think about but this book has me thinking。 I may not be his target audience but I fully expect to keep coming back to some of these passages。 。。。more
Collie
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I own this via a goodreads giveaway。The opening chapter/prologue was excellent。 It really set the stage for what I thought would be an incisive look at the class， the naivete of the wealthy， and way abusive or unstable childhoods set people up for failure。 But most of the book was a biography with no pulling back the lens to analyze the author's experiences or the implications for the culture at large and I ended up skimming and disappointed。 I own this via a goodreads giveaway。The opening chapter/prologue was excellent。 It really set the stage for what I thought would be an incisive look at the class， the naivete of the wealthy， and way abusive or unstable childhoods set people up for failure。 But most of the book was a biography with no pulling back the lens to analyze the author's experiences or the implications for the culture at large and I ended up skimming and disappointed。 。。。more
Adam
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Rob insightfully weaves together the perspectives of an innocent child， an impulsive adolescent， a disciplined service member， a curious psychologist， and the unique troubles and triumphs of them all。 This book will make you feel， think， and hopefully， promote the societal values which manifest children’s full potential as the rule， not the exception。
Steven Arena
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This is one of the most touching and profound books I've ever had the privilege of reading。 If you are looking to understand what life is like for those in truly challenging circumstances， this is the book。 This is one of the most touching and profound books I've ever had the privilege of reading。 If you are looking to understand what life is like for those in truly challenging circumstances， this is the book。 。。。more
Anne
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I am very glad this book started with the sentence it did。 Rob Henderson opens the first chapter by saying he graduated from Yale。 If he hadn’t， the book would have been much harder to read。 The beginning isn’t a ‘spoiler’， it’s a beacon of hope。 Mr Henderson grew up in foster care and it did not go well。 Some of his truths are shocking。 I had no idea that foster kids were deliberately moved every few years so they don’t get too attached。 It means they spend their whole childhood adrift。The auth I am very glad this book started with the sentence it did。 Rob Henderson opens the first chapter by saying he graduated from Yale。 If he hadn’t， the book would have been much harder to read。 The beginning isn’t a ‘spoiler’， it’s a beacon of hope。 Mr Henderson grew up in foster care and it did not go well。 Some of his truths are shocking。 I had no idea that foster kids were deliberately moved every few years so they don’t get too attached。 It means they spend their whole childhood adrift。The author became a bit of a delinquent。 He found things to cling to and he did have some good people in his life。 But he absolutely pulled his life together by his own strength of character and determination。 And from that viewpoint， this is an inspiring read。He goes from a life on the borders of society， to an excellent career in the military， to essays published in the New York Times and having conversations with Harold Bloom。 What a guy Mr Henderson is and what an inspiration。I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley 。。。more
GiGi Carothers
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Troubled by Rob Henderson is a nonfiction novel about the foster care system。 This book deals with the horror of how these children's lifes are disrupted on a regular basis from home to home。 This is a true story of a boy who was shuttled between ten different foster home in California。 Rob was born to a drug addicted mother and father he never met。 He was put in a undesirable homes where he grew up with violence， drugs，and a。 undesirable school environment。 He put that behind him he thought whe Troubled by Rob Henderson is a nonfiction novel about the foster care system。 This book deals with the horror of how these children's lifes are disrupted on a regular basis from home to home。 This is a true story of a boy who was shuttled between ten different foster home in California。 Rob was born to a drug addicted mother and father he never met。 He was put in a undesirable homes where he grew up with violence， drugs，and a。 undesirable school environment。 He put that behind him he thought when he joined the military upon finishing high school。 Does Rob's life change finally？ Read this sad account of a boy's life and how it does change。 Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book prior to publishing。 。。。more
Ben Shoval
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In Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care， Family， and Social Class， Rob Henderson explores the many lives he has lived。 From his experiences growing up in a working class foster family to the absurdities and contradictions he encountered among the millionaire progressive class during his time at Yale and Cambridge， Henderson distills truths about humans and our nature。 If you read one autobiography in 2024， this should be it。
Tammy Buchli
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I don’t typically enjoy memoirs， as I tend to find them overly angsty。 I loved this one。 I should state that， as a fan of Henderson’s essays and a subscriber of several years to his Substack， I was predisposed to like his memoir。 That said， I believe I would have liked it even if I’d never heard of the guy。 Despite his horrible childhood， Henderson avoided the naval-gazing I so dislike and told his story in a refreshingly open and confident way。 Highly recommended （as is his Substack）。
norma baker
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Rob Henderson grew up in the foster care system in many household in many places。 He became a keen observer of human behavior。 He realized his friends with two parents had a better life than he and his friends with only one。 In his case， it would take hard work for him to make his way。 His understanding of the economic and social fabric of society is informed by his childhood experience。 It is refreshing to see the views of an experienced person。
Helen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Wow， what a confusing chaotic childhood。 Completely get how Rob says that the foundation for progress is a stable and loving home life。 Yes education opens lots of opportunities but if you are not in a position to take those opportunities they are not a valid choice。It explains why boundaries are needed and why so many young men thrive in the military and struggle to return to civilian life。 All credit to Rob for opening up and sharing his life。
Kelly Long
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