From the inside of elite Yale but coming from the far far outside of LA & CA foster care, Rob has a unique voice, a more authentic Point of View, and a penetrating intellect, combined with an honesty that is socially brutal. He coined the term “Luxury Beliefs” as an obviously true phrase to describe current pathologies of elite rhetoric, where “what they say” is far from “what they do”. The many insights already available in his substack and his X feed demonstrate the value of reading him, and taking him both seriously AND literally.
When an elite Yalie is criticized by a non-elite, the words are ignored, since all non-elite are eminently ignorable. But if it’s from a Yalie, it’s dismissed as hypocrisy – “you’re here, aren’t you?”. He was there, entering Yale in 2015, but that came after years of non-com service in the military, preceded by difficult years being raised first by a drug addict mom, then a series of foster homes, then a problematic adoption & divorce. He was in many schools with poor grades, but living real life stories of young men in bad situations. True stories of real harm, damage, and even death – so different from snowflakes who claim to be harmed by some Halloween costumes.
So many brief stories that are so human, often funny, funny-sad, and too often tragic. A series of snapshots of life among the majority of Americans w/o college degrees. Rob writes with such an empathic voice it’s as easy to keep reading as the first chapter of a Harry Potter book. The problem of elite beliefs is destroying civilization. Problems can’t be fixed unless they are accurately and honestly identified – Troubled, this book, does more to clarify the human problems of luxury beliefs than any other book. Not just a good book. An important book. (Also my first goodreads review--the book is really good.)
--
Slightly edited from my goodreads review – which I think I’ll start doing more of.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6284569198
Also new experiment, me reading it on video:
The book is important for the point Rob makes: an unstable home is worse for children than poverty. The low number of foster care kids who get a college degree, 3%, is far lower than the 11% who get degrees tho their parents are in the bottom quintile of income (0-20%).
Rob has the opportunity to become a leading psychologist advocating marriage and stable homes for children, with his own example and life experience as something to avoid. Reminds me of how my own father was a good example of what NOT to be as a husband and father.
My own marriage is about to celebrate 30 years of faithfulness and a pretty high level of stability. Plus a healthy appreciation of earning and wisely spending money, with a balanced focus on family. I sincerely hope that Rob Henderson is able to find such love and a stable marriage – it’s rewarding but not so easy all the time, tho it often is very very easy.
Troubled is dedicated to Carmen L.H.J., tho her full name isn’t in the text of the book. I hope she, too, has a happy life.
My brother on You Tube. That's awesome. I enjoyed the review of the book Troubled. Those are the kinds of books I like to read. I always think of writing our story, I think it would resonate well with many people. In your comments, I have felt likewise. My father taught me what I did not want in a husband. Definitely continue, it is appreciated.
Excellent review. Makes me want to read the book.