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Beautiful Lives: How We Got Learning Disabilities So Wrong: The startling and rarely told history of learning disabilities
'This book is both heart-rending and gorgeous. It crosses the line many times but ultimately, it's about love. He teaches us humanity.' MIRIAM MARGOLYES
'Thank you, Joey, for getting your dad off his arse to write this book.' HUGH BONNEVILLE
'A beautiful book - powerful, persuasive, illuminating, moving.' GYLES BRANDRETH
'This is a wonderful and important book. Beautifully written, of course; but full of pain and joy, concern and celebration.' SIMON RUSSELL BEALE
'A powerful, multi-faceted, myth-busting account of the most marginalised and belittled out-group in modern society.' SIMON JARRETT, author of Those They Called Idiots
For much of history, people with learning disabilities have been regarded as unworthy of interest - often seen as a threat to the social order and sometimes dismissed as barely human. While recent years have seen an improvement, learning-disabled people are still treated as fundamentally different.
Beautiful Lives is a personal and pragmatic account, told through the eyes of a father whose son has severe learning disabilities. From early civilisation to the chilling realities of twentieth-century eugenics, this powerful book uncovers a startling and rarely told history - one deeply embedded in the challenges still faced today.
Unwin shapes this history into a powerful story of love, lived experience and the long struggle for a better future.
'Thank you, Joey, for getting your dad off his arse to write this book.' HUGH BONNEVILLE
'A beautiful book - powerful, persuasive, illuminating, moving.' GYLES BRANDRETH
'This is a wonderful and important book. Beautifully written, of course; but full of pain and joy, concern and celebration.' SIMON RUSSELL BEALE
'A powerful, multi-faceted, myth-busting account of the most marginalised and belittled out-group in modern society.' SIMON JARRETT, author of Those They Called Idiots
For much of history, people with learning disabilities have been regarded as unworthy of interest - often seen as a threat to the social order and sometimes dismissed as barely human. While recent years have seen an improvement, learning-disabled people are still treated as fundamentally different.
Beautiful Lives is a personal and pragmatic account, told through the eyes of a father whose son has severe learning disabilities. From early civilisation to the chilling realities of twentieth-century eugenics, this powerful book uncovers a startling and rarely told history - one deeply embedded in the challenges still faced today.
Unwin shapes this history into a powerful story of love, lived experience and the long struggle for a better future.
- GenresNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published June 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 3, 2025
Read this book - buy or borrow it and read it cover to cover. It will make you cry, make you angry, make you smile, and make you want to do SOMETHING!
January 26, 2026
This was such a great book! I listened to it on my commute and I couldn’t wait to drive to work so I could listen. Such an important message, lots of information but delivered in a really engaging way.
August 15, 2025
Essential reading for everyone
We have a severely autistic son with learning disabilities and epilepsy. We’ve had to fight our way through the education system but he’s doing great now he’s 22. He’s in supported living but he’s been to Thailand, flown in a helicopter. He equally finds so much enjoyment in travelling to a random service station. I guess what I’m trying to say is that people with learning disabilities and other co morbid conditions can have a great life and bring joy to everyone they come into contact with.
We have a severely autistic son with learning disabilities and epilepsy. We’ve had to fight our way through the education system but he’s doing great now he’s 22. He’s in supported living but he’s been to Thailand, flown in a helicopter. He equally finds so much enjoyment in travelling to a random service station. I guess what I’m trying to say is that people with learning disabilities and other co morbid conditions can have a great life and bring joy to everyone they come into contact with.
August 11, 2025
Excellent review of the field. The shameful scandals and how attitudes have been formed. I learnt a lot. The author writes movingly about his son Joey. It gave me fresh perspectives and understandings.
November 22, 2025
Eye-opening and necessary
March 4, 2026
Brilliant
Some painful but absolutely essential reading. Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful book. Will be recommending it to everyone I know!!
Some painful but absolutely essential reading. Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful book. Will be recommending it to everyone I know!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews