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Great and Unfortunate Things
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26With the power of Educated and the emotional sweep of When Breath Becomes Air, Great and Unfortunate Things is the inspiring, underdog story of how an autistic, non-verbal boy who society had all but given up on found his voice, literally and figuratively, became one of the youngest professors in the University of Cambridge’s history and put himself in a position to give back.
Jason Arday was born the second youngest of three boys and grew up in a colorful and lively section of South London. At three years old, he was diagnosed with autism and development delays. Experts told his parents that he would never be able to speak, write, or live independently. An institution would best serve his needs, it was suggested.
His parents would have none of it. Instead, thinking outside the box and drawing on her faith, his extraordinary mother Giff embraced his neurodivergence and fiercely dedicated herself to helping her son realize a potential few others believed was possible. Giff drew on proverbs from her West African culture, popular music by the likes of Enya, and comedic television shows and movies to help Jason make sense of the world.
In Great and Unfortunate Things, we see how Arday went from being nonverbal until he was eleven and illiterate until eighteen to becoming a professor at Cambridge. Without romanticizing the struggle, it’s a story of a son’s determination against insurmountable odds and how his family and a band of ordinary people with extraordinary compassion joined forces to encourage Jason to believe in himself and maximize his capabilities.
This is the story we need right now, and Arday, who believes in paying it forward, is the kind of figure the world can use more of now more than ever.
Jason Arday was born the second youngest of three boys and grew up in a colorful and lively section of South London. At three years old, he was diagnosed with autism and development delays. Experts told his parents that he would never be able to speak, write, or live independently. An institution would best serve his needs, it was suggested.
His parents would have none of it. Instead, thinking outside the box and drawing on her faith, his extraordinary mother Giff embraced his neurodivergence and fiercely dedicated herself to helping her son realize a potential few others believed was possible. Giff drew on proverbs from her West African culture, popular music by the likes of Enya, and comedic television shows and movies to help Jason make sense of the world.
In Great and Unfortunate Things, we see how Arday went from being nonverbal until he was eleven and illiterate until eighteen to becoming a professor at Cambridge. Without romanticizing the struggle, it’s a story of a son’s determination against insurmountable odds and how his family and a band of ordinary people with extraordinary compassion joined forces to encourage Jason to believe in himself and maximize his capabilities.
This is the story we need right now, and Arday, who believes in paying it forward, is the kind of figure the world can use more of now more than ever.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 19, 2026
Great and Unfortunate Things by Jason Arday is a memoir that chronicles Arday’s experience growing up with autism spectrum disorder and developmental challenges in the United Kingdom. Through personal stories, he reflects on his struggles with communication, his experiences within the British educational and medical systems, and the obstacles he faced on his path to adulthood. The memoir explores disability, social mobility, and the people who shaped his development.
What stood out to me most is the central role of his mother, who remains a grounding presence throughout the narrative. While doctors, therapists, and educators often focused on limitations, she consistently emphasized possibility and adaptation. The book highlights the tension between professional expectations and individual potential, showing how diagnoses and predictions do not necessarily define a person’s future.
At the same time, Arday’s development is shown as the result of a wider support network. Alongside his mother, he was encouraged by family members, his wife, friends, mentors, and educators who believed in him, even when they were not specialists in disability education. This support, along with activities such as sports, snooker, sewing, and community involvement, helped foster confidence, connection, and independence.
I found this to be an engaging and thoughtful memoir that balances difficult experiences with hope, resilience, and the importance of community. More than a story of personal achievement, it is a reflection on the value of support systems, the dangers of defining people solely by diagnoses, and the impact that belief and opportunity can have on a person’s life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy.
What stood out to me most is the central role of his mother, who remains a grounding presence throughout the narrative. While doctors, therapists, and educators often focused on limitations, she consistently emphasized possibility and adaptation. The book highlights the tension between professional expectations and individual potential, showing how diagnoses and predictions do not necessarily define a person’s future.
At the same time, Arday’s development is shown as the result of a wider support network. Alongside his mother, he was encouraged by family members, his wife, friends, mentors, and educators who believed in him, even when they were not specialists in disability education. This support, along with activities such as sports, snooker, sewing, and community involvement, helped foster confidence, connection, and independence.
I found this to be an engaging and thoughtful memoir that balances difficult experiences with hope, resilience, and the importance of community. More than a story of personal achievement, it is a reflection on the value of support systems, the dangers of defining people solely by diagnoses, and the impact that belief and opportunity can have on a person’s life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy.
May 23, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ARC.
Before reading this memoir, I had never heard of Arday, but was excited for his memoir. While it was promoted to the likes of Westover’s Educated, the writing was less extraordinary, but remained consistently interesting throughout.
Arday presents the defining events of his life in a matter-of-fact manner, often prioritizing chronology over emotional excavation. The memoir clearly maps out the people who shaped him — especially his mother, mentor, and wife — but spends less time unpacking the inner shifts that allowed those influences to take hold. Major turning points arrive with little sense of his internal world in those moments, leaving the reader aware of what changed without fully understanding how those changes felt to him.
All and all I enjoyed this book and would recommend to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ARC.
Before reading this memoir, I had never heard of Arday, but was excited for his memoir. While it was promoted to the likes of Westover’s Educated, the writing was less extraordinary, but remained consistently interesting throughout.
Arday presents the defining events of his life in a matter-of-fact manner, often prioritizing chronology over emotional excavation. The memoir clearly maps out the people who shaped him — especially his mother, mentor, and wife — but spends less time unpacking the inner shifts that allowed those influences to take hold. Major turning points arrive with little sense of his internal world in those moments, leaving the reader aware of what changed without fully understanding how those changes felt to him.
All and all I enjoyed this book and would recommend to other readers.
June 30, 2026
I don’t really want to leave a review as all I knew was an autistic man becomes a professor. There is so much more to this book. I just want to say read this book - know nothing and take the amazing journey with Jason.
May 10, 2026
I enjoyed this. It was interesting, and sad to see how the author was treated but great to see how much he was able to accomplish.
July 11, 2026
Great and Unfortunate Things by Jason Arday should be a must-read for all people. The challenges that Arday went through and the expectations that he shattered throughout his life so far are so inspiring and communicate the main message of: no matter your circumstances in life (socio-economic, race, disability, health, etc) you can still achieve great things and live life striving to be your best self.
As an Autism specialist for a school district, I very much enjoy hearing testimonies like Arday's. More people need to hear these and see that everyone is valuable to society and early intervention should not have a "cookie-cutter" way. His mother is his champion throughout this, providing evidenced based practices for autism before that term was even coined.
Thank you for writing this book. Thank you for sharing your story. Now let's get this into hands to read it and hopefully change perspectives for the better.
Review for Netgalley and Simon and Shuster.
As an Autism specialist for a school district, I very much enjoy hearing testimonies like Arday's. More people need to hear these and see that everyone is valuable to society and early intervention should not have a "cookie-cutter" way. His mother is his champion throughout this, providing evidenced based practices for autism before that term was even coined.
Thank you for writing this book. Thank you for sharing your story. Now let's get this into hands to read it and hopefully change perspectives for the better.
Review for Netgalley and Simon and Shuster.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great and Unfortunate Things by Jason Arday is a memoir that moves with the urgency of lived experience, yet beneath its brisk surface lies a profound meditation on perseverance, identity, and the quiet architecture of love. It is, at once, a personal narrative of extraordinary ascent and a testament to the often-unheralded labor that makes such ascent possible.
At the center of this narrative stands not only Arday himself, but his mother, Giff Arday, whose presence in the book feels almost elemental—steadfast, inventive, and unyielding in the face of institutional doubt. Faced with a son diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay, and “written off” by educational and medical establishments, she refused the easy acquiescence to prognosis. Instead, she fashioned her own pedagogy of care: one built on attentiveness, intuition, and an almost scholarly observation of her child’s inner rhythms. She studied him—not clinically, but maternally—learning his triggers, inventing pathways to communication, and, perhaps most crucially, holding fast to a belief in his potential when such belief was neither fashionable nor supported.
That she undertook this labor while raising three sons—one also on the autism spectrum—and with a largely absent partner only heightens the magnitude of her achievement. The memoir quietly insists that Arday’s later intellectual triumphs cannot be disentangled from this early, sustained act of devotion. If his eventual emergence into language at eleven and literacy at eighteen appears miraculous, the text gently reframes these milestones not as sudden ruptures, but as the cumulative result of years of unseen, patient cultivation.
Arday’s trajectory—from nonverbal childhood to becoming the youngest Black professor at University of Cambridge—is undeniably remarkable, and the memoir renders this ascent with clarity and emotional immediacy. Mentors and advocates appear along the way, but they are secondary constellations orbiting the central force of maternal resolve. The narrative invites a kind of awe, not only at Arday’s intellectual achievements, but at the conditions that made them conceivable.
And yet, for all its strengths, the work remains somewhat reticent in its introspection. One is left wishing for a more sustained inquiry into the phenomenology of Arday’s neurodivergence—the textures of thought, perception, and cognition that shaped his experience of the world. The memoir gestures toward these interior landscapes but does not fully inhabit them, leaving a space where deeper social and psychological commentary might have enriched an already compelling account.
Still, to dwell too long on what is absent risks overlooking what is luminously present. Great and Unfortunate Things is, above all, a story of improbable flourishing—of a life that defied prognosis and a mother who refused to let limitation define possibility. It is difficult to read it without a sense of reverence, not only for Arday’s achievements, but for the quiet, relentless love that made them possible.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
At the center of this narrative stands not only Arday himself, but his mother, Giff Arday, whose presence in the book feels almost elemental—steadfast, inventive, and unyielding in the face of institutional doubt. Faced with a son diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay, and “written off” by educational and medical establishments, she refused the easy acquiescence to prognosis. Instead, she fashioned her own pedagogy of care: one built on attentiveness, intuition, and an almost scholarly observation of her child’s inner rhythms. She studied him—not clinically, but maternally—learning his triggers, inventing pathways to communication, and, perhaps most crucially, holding fast to a belief in his potential when such belief was neither fashionable nor supported.
That she undertook this labor while raising three sons—one also on the autism spectrum—and with a largely absent partner only heightens the magnitude of her achievement. The memoir quietly insists that Arday’s later intellectual triumphs cannot be disentangled from this early, sustained act of devotion. If his eventual emergence into language at eleven and literacy at eighteen appears miraculous, the text gently reframes these milestones not as sudden ruptures, but as the cumulative result of years of unseen, patient cultivation.
Arday’s trajectory—from nonverbal childhood to becoming the youngest Black professor at University of Cambridge—is undeniably remarkable, and the memoir renders this ascent with clarity and emotional immediacy. Mentors and advocates appear along the way, but they are secondary constellations orbiting the central force of maternal resolve. The narrative invites a kind of awe, not only at Arday’s intellectual achievements, but at the conditions that made them conceivable.
And yet, for all its strengths, the work remains somewhat reticent in its introspection. One is left wishing for a more sustained inquiry into the phenomenology of Arday’s neurodivergence—the textures of thought, perception, and cognition that shaped his experience of the world. The memoir gestures toward these interior landscapes but does not fully inhabit them, leaving a space where deeper social and psychological commentary might have enriched an already compelling account.
Still, to dwell too long on what is absent risks overlooking what is luminously present. Great and Unfortunate Things is, above all, a story of improbable flourishing—of a life that defied prognosis and a mother who refused to let limitation define possibility. It is difficult to read it without a sense of reverence, not only for Arday’s achievements, but for the quiet, relentless love that made them possible.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The facts of Jason Arday's life are, on their own, almost unbelievable. Diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay at three, told by experts he would likely never speak, read, write, or live independently, he did not say his first word until he was eleven and could not read or write until eighteen. He went on to become the youngest Black academic ever to hold a Professorship at the University of Cambridge in its nearly thousand-year history. That arc alone would justify a memoir. What Arday adds to it is an unmistakably light touch — he does not take himself too seriously, and that quality makes an extraordinary and at times painful story remain genuinely accessible and easy to read.
The structure, however, works against the book's own momentum. Because Arday's accomplishments are public and widely known before a reader ever opens the book, beginning at the beginning and moving forward means the ending arrives already known, and as a result it lands with less weight than the early chapters, which benefit from genuine uncertainty about how someone gets from nonverbal silence to a Cambridge chair. A structure that opened at the end and circled back might have given the conclusion the gravity the beginning earns so naturally.
The deeper issue is one of emotional access. Arday writes movingly and at length about his mother, Giff, and her case is utterly convincing — she emerges as an extraordinary woman, advocate, and source of unwavering belief, drawing on faith, culture, and sheer creative persistence to reach a son the world had largely given up on. But when the narrative turns to his own adult relationships — his marriage, his divorce, his children — the account becomes notably thin, the ending summarized in barely a paragraph where the reader might reasonably expect considerably more. Whether this is a deliberate choice to protect his family's privacy or simply an underdeveloped part of the narrative is hard to know, but the effect is the same: a sense of omission rather than restraint.
This thinness extends, subtly, through much of the book's emotional register. Arday tells us about love — his mother's love for him, his own love for the people who helped him — but the telling rarely becomes feeling. The reader admires the story more than experiences it, observing Arday's life with the same distance one might bring to a painting in a museum: genuinely moved by what is depicted, while never quite drawn inside the frame.
None of this diminishes the power of what Arday accomplished, or the importance of his mother's example for any parent told to lower their expectations for a child the world has already written off. Great and Unfortunate Things is an inspiring and easy read about a genuinely remarkable life. It simply keeps the reader one careful step removed from feeling that life alongside him.
The structure, however, works against the book's own momentum. Because Arday's accomplishments are public and widely known before a reader ever opens the book, beginning at the beginning and moving forward means the ending arrives already known, and as a result it lands with less weight than the early chapters, which benefit from genuine uncertainty about how someone gets from nonverbal silence to a Cambridge chair. A structure that opened at the end and circled back might have given the conclusion the gravity the beginning earns so naturally.
The deeper issue is one of emotional access. Arday writes movingly and at length about his mother, Giff, and her case is utterly convincing — she emerges as an extraordinary woman, advocate, and source of unwavering belief, drawing on faith, culture, and sheer creative persistence to reach a son the world had largely given up on. But when the narrative turns to his own adult relationships — his marriage, his divorce, his children — the account becomes notably thin, the ending summarized in barely a paragraph where the reader might reasonably expect considerably more. Whether this is a deliberate choice to protect his family's privacy or simply an underdeveloped part of the narrative is hard to know, but the effect is the same: a sense of omission rather than restraint.
This thinness extends, subtly, through much of the book's emotional register. Arday tells us about love — his mother's love for him, his own love for the people who helped him — but the telling rarely becomes feeling. The reader admires the story more than experiences it, observing Arday's life with the same distance one might bring to a painting in a museum: genuinely moved by what is depicted, while never quite drawn inside the frame.
None of this diminishes the power of what Arday accomplished, or the importance of his mother's example for any parent told to lower their expectations for a child the world has already written off. Great and Unfortunate Things is an inspiring and easy read about a genuinely remarkable life. It simply keeps the reader one careful step removed from feeling that life alongside him.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great and Unfortunate Things is the incredible memoir of Jason Arday. Jason is a Black, autistic man who didn’t learn to speak until age 11 or read and write till he was 18. And now, in a feat of perseverance, resilience, and belief, he is a professor for one of the world’s best universities.
I was in awe of Jason’s mother, Giff, and her absolute unwillingness to believe what experts told her and her intuitive sense of how to manage Jason’s learning. Along with Giff, it feels like other angels were placed in Jason’s life to help coach and teach him, as well as cheerlead him on.
The detailed descriptions of the obstacles Jason has navigated his entire life are eye-opening: whether it’s because of racism, non-verbalism, or atypical social mannerisms, Jason shares his life with unflinching vulnerability. There are also so many wise words and lessons woven throughout.
This is a book I told people about while I was reading and will continue to tell people about for months to come. Highly recommend.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“If you miss a shot, don’t focus on the failed shot, focus on the next opportunity.”
If anybody says to you that you can’t do something, just ignore them. You can tell them, ‘According to my mum, I can do anything.’ ”
“Fear of failure and a respect of failure are two very different things.” he said. “You need to have respect for failure, but you cannot have a fear of failure. You have to fearlessly give everything you have in pursuing a goal, and respect that failure may be the outcome. But fear of it cannot keep you from trying.”
“It costs nothing to dream, and sometimes, the dreamer can even outrun the dream.”
“If the dreamer can outrun the dream with the cause being greater than their own need . . . then anything, if not everything, is possible.”
“Never pray for an easy life! Always, always pray for the strength to get through it. Do you understand? God doesn’t give you what you can’t handle. A difficult life is a blessing. Nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad lasts forever. Don’t take the coward’s way out and say that prayer ever again.”
Feed the Faith, Starve the Fear
Love isn’t a tonic that will guarantee a perfect outcome; it’s more like a well to draw on in ever-more trying times.
I was in awe of Jason’s mother, Giff, and her absolute unwillingness to believe what experts told her and her intuitive sense of how to manage Jason’s learning. Along with Giff, it feels like other angels were placed in Jason’s life to help coach and teach him, as well as cheerlead him on.
The detailed descriptions of the obstacles Jason has navigated his entire life are eye-opening: whether it’s because of racism, non-verbalism, or atypical social mannerisms, Jason shares his life with unflinching vulnerability. There are also so many wise words and lessons woven throughout.
This is a book I told people about while I was reading and will continue to tell people about for months to come. Highly recommend.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“If you miss a shot, don’t focus on the failed shot, focus on the next opportunity.”
If anybody says to you that you can’t do something, just ignore them. You can tell them, ‘According to my mum, I can do anything.’ ”
“Fear of failure and a respect of failure are two very different things.” he said. “You need to have respect for failure, but you cannot have a fear of failure. You have to fearlessly give everything you have in pursuing a goal, and respect that failure may be the outcome. But fear of it cannot keep you from trying.”
“It costs nothing to dream, and sometimes, the dreamer can even outrun the dream.”
“If the dreamer can outrun the dream with the cause being greater than their own need . . . then anything, if not everything, is possible.”
“Never pray for an easy life! Always, always pray for the strength to get through it. Do you understand? God doesn’t give you what you can’t handle. A difficult life is a blessing. Nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad lasts forever. Don’t take the coward’s way out and say that prayer ever again.”
Feed the Faith, Starve the Fear
Love isn’t a tonic that will guarantee a perfect outcome; it’s more like a well to draw on in ever-more trying times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
[PUB 8/11/26] Here, Cambridges' youngest Black professor in 1,000 years tells his story of an indomitable family and remarkable achievement in the face of unrelenting opposition.
Jason was diagnosed with autism and global development delays, and doctors repeatedly told his mom “there’s no one there”. She is dauntless, however, and continued to engage him with insight, intuition and skill that puts the experts to shame. After ten years of speech therapy, he first spoke at age 11, and didn’t learn to read until he was 18. Now, he is one of the youngest professors in the history of Cambridge and the way he got there is quite a remarkable story of absolute doggedness.
His story is worth reading, more for the insights around social systems (immigration; counsel housing; racism in the world of academics; ableism; etc) perhaps even more so than for the awareness work around autism. In some ways, I was left at times with some feelings of discomfort in the ways I perceived ableism even in his story. His success seems to be that, despite all odds, he proved them wrong and went above and beyond to excel by all their own ableist standards — which is incredible, and definitely challenges narratives – but, others who in the world of disability show a different approach, of changing our definition of success. Is the mark of success to manage to surpass the ableist expectations? Or is the goal to redefine success to be not what we can produce, but our innate worth as humans? Does happiness fit into this at all? As Jason shows, there are tremendous gaps in autism support that must be filled - and while he illustrates that well, I don't think he presents a comprehensive solution. Very, very few people have a Giff in their court; what happens to them? How do we ensure no one falls through the cracks, if they don't have a superhero at their side?
With that said, there are so many deeply inspiring people in his life and he does credit to show how they advocated for him. And for his part, his own determination and refusal to give up is inspiring. This book, for me, ended up being more of a motivational/inspirational story rather than a book focusing on autism awareness/disability representation.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for providing an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review! This book is out August 11, 2026, and is one to watch.
Jason was diagnosed with autism and global development delays, and doctors repeatedly told his mom “there’s no one there”. She is dauntless, however, and continued to engage him with insight, intuition and skill that puts the experts to shame. After ten years of speech therapy, he first spoke at age 11, and didn’t learn to read until he was 18. Now, he is one of the youngest professors in the history of Cambridge and the way he got there is quite a remarkable story of absolute doggedness.
His story is worth reading, more for the insights around social systems (immigration; counsel housing; racism in the world of academics; ableism; etc) perhaps even more so than for the awareness work around autism. In some ways, I was left at times with some feelings of discomfort in the ways I perceived ableism even in his story. His success seems to be that, despite all odds, he proved them wrong and went above and beyond to excel by all their own ableist standards — which is incredible, and definitely challenges narratives – but, others who in the world of disability show a different approach, of changing our definition of success. Is the mark of success to manage to surpass the ableist expectations? Or is the goal to redefine success to be not what we can produce, but our innate worth as humans? Does happiness fit into this at all? As Jason shows, there are tremendous gaps in autism support that must be filled - and while he illustrates that well, I don't think he presents a comprehensive solution. Very, very few people have a Giff in their court; what happens to them? How do we ensure no one falls through the cracks, if they don't have a superhero at their side?
With that said, there are so many deeply inspiring people in his life and he does credit to show how they advocated for him. And for his part, his own determination and refusal to give up is inspiring. This book, for me, ended up being more of a motivational/inspirational story rather than a book focusing on autism awareness/disability representation.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for providing an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review! This book is out August 11, 2026, and is one to watch.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
** I received an advance digital copy from the publisher, because I am a librarian and librarians are awesome **
One thing that I particularly liked about this book: it was not a "here's the story of how I became famous on the internet." Arday's story on its own is fascinating: nonverbal until 11, illiterate until 18. He pulls no punches about his early flaws and lack of motivation (showing up 90 minutes late to a meeting with his college mentor), nor how his hyperfocus results in the end of his marriage. However, he details his whole life story with a level of calm detachment. Whether this is a direct effect of his autism or an intentionally vague writing style, I cannot say. But for those who were anticipating a Helen Keller moment (non verbal to speaking, illiterate to literate), Arday shares, but reveals little about the lightswitches that ignited the turning points in his life. Truly, his mother, his mentor, and his wife spurred him into action. But what it was like to *be* Jason Arday in those moments is sorely missing.
One highlight that I do want to mention is his story about the wedding champagne flutes when he was preverbal. I wished for more stories like that throughout the book - a glimpse into a different mind.
I once remarked to my book group that I love a solid three star memoir. Not every memoir can be Educated, and I'm often just looking for a true story to help pass the time. I had not heard of Jason Arday prior to being sent an unsolicited advance copy of this title (in spite of his apparent internet fame), but I thought, "yeah, memoir, that's the mood I'm in." A three star memoir is this: a story that's engrossing to read, but unremarkable as text. A gawker's delight, but nothing you'll insist your spouse/friend/neighbor MUST READ THIS INSTANT. It's the truest interpretation of the GR rating scale: I liked it. I read it quickly and with enjoyment and I hope that others discover and like it too. It's the literary equivalent to Dateline NBC in the late 90s. No complaints.
One thing that I particularly liked about this book: it was not a "here's the story of how I became famous on the internet." Arday's story on its own is fascinating: nonverbal until 11, illiterate until 18. He pulls no punches about his early flaws and lack of motivation (showing up 90 minutes late to a meeting with his college mentor), nor how his hyperfocus results in the end of his marriage. However, he details his whole life story with a level of calm detachment. Whether this is a direct effect of his autism or an intentionally vague writing style, I cannot say. But for those who were anticipating a Helen Keller moment (non verbal to speaking, illiterate to literate), Arday shares, but reveals little about the lightswitches that ignited the turning points in his life. Truly, his mother, his mentor, and his wife spurred him into action. But what it was like to *be* Jason Arday in those moments is sorely missing.
One highlight that I do want to mention is his story about the wedding champagne flutes when he was preverbal. I wished for more stories like that throughout the book - a glimpse into a different mind.
I once remarked to my book group that I love a solid three star memoir. Not every memoir can be Educated, and I'm often just looking for a true story to help pass the time. I had not heard of Jason Arday prior to being sent an unsolicited advance copy of this title (in spite of his apparent internet fame), but I thought, "yeah, memoir, that's the mood I'm in." A three star memoir is this: a story that's engrossing to read, but unremarkable as text. A gawker's delight, but nothing you'll insist your spouse/friend/neighbor MUST READ THIS INSTANT. It's the truest interpretation of the GR rating scale: I liked it. I read it quickly and with enjoyment and I hope that others discover and like it too. It's the literary equivalent to Dateline NBC in the late 90s. No complaints.
July 4, 2026
Jason Arday is a man who grew up in the UK having been diagnosed autistic and who faced several challenges medically, educationally and socially. I have read many a book about autism from the POV of an educator, parent, and therapist, but never from the person with autism. I found this perspective enlightening.
As much as this memoir is about Jason and what he went through, I found it to be a testament to the people who believed and supported Jason throughout his life. Giff (him mom), Debs, Sandro, Angela, Mr. Trace are some of the key individuals whose belief and support of Jason propelled him to speak, read and write, get educated and eventually become a professor at Cambridge.
Giff continuously strived for her son to learn and make something of himself by leaning into what he could do, rather than what he couldn’t, thereby challenging the experts suggestions and predictions of what Jason would be able to become and do. She did not believe her son would never talk, never read or write, never have friends. Her unwavering belief in what her son could become and the techniques she used to help get him to where he is today deserve much respect and accolade.
There are several roadblocks in Jason’s journey, many due to his autism, but several due to the fact he was black. I did not realize that there appears to be as much racism against black people in the UK like there is in the USA. Jason wrote about several instances where he was judged harshly just because of his skin color.
Many liken this book to Westover’s Educated, and I can definitely see the parallels. Westover’s struggles were more to overcome cultural beliefs and an abusive home life. Arday’s struggles stem from a medical diagnosis as well as cultural and societal beliefs. Both memoirs depict triumph over tragedy and both I highly recommend reading.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
As much as this memoir is about Jason and what he went through, I found it to be a testament to the people who believed and supported Jason throughout his life. Giff (him mom), Debs, Sandro, Angela, Mr. Trace are some of the key individuals whose belief and support of Jason propelled him to speak, read and write, get educated and eventually become a professor at Cambridge.
Giff continuously strived for her son to learn and make something of himself by leaning into what he could do, rather than what he couldn’t, thereby challenging the experts suggestions and predictions of what Jason would be able to become and do. She did not believe her son would never talk, never read or write, never have friends. Her unwavering belief in what her son could become and the techniques she used to help get him to where he is today deserve much respect and accolade.
There are several roadblocks in Jason’s journey, many due to his autism, but several due to the fact he was black. I did not realize that there appears to be as much racism against black people in the UK like there is in the USA. Jason wrote about several instances where he was judged harshly just because of his skin color.
Many liken this book to Westover’s Educated, and I can definitely see the parallels. Westover’s struggles were more to overcome cultural beliefs and an abusive home life. Arday’s struggles stem from a medical diagnosis as well as cultural and societal beliefs. Both memoirs depict triumph over tragedy and both I highly recommend reading.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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July 10, 2026📚BOOK REVIEW📚
GREAT AND UNFORTUNATE THINGS
Jason Arday
Publishes 8/11/26
I didn’t give this book a star rating because it’s a memoir. It doesn’t feel right to “rate” someone’s real life or lived experiences.
Thank you to @NetGalley, @37inkbooks, @simonandschuster, and Jason Arday for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⸻
When Jason Arday was three years old, doctors told his parents he would never speak, never write, never live independently, and should be institutionalized. His family refused to accept that future.
Great and Unfortunate Things follows Jason’s journey from being nonverbal as a child and unable to read or write until he was eighteen to becoming one of the youngest professors at the University of Cambridge.
A lot of memoirs leave you feeling inspired. This one does that, but it also reminds you how much one person’s belief can change another person’s life.
What stayed with me most was Jason’s mother. While others focused on what he might never do, she never stopped looking for what was possible. Her love, creativity, and determination became the foundation for everything that followed.
I also appreciated that Jason’s success isn’t presented as a solo achievement. It truly took a village. His wife, family, friends, mentors, educators, and community all helped him build confidence and find his place in the world.
Jason also faced racism and setbacks alongside the challenges of his neurodivergence. The book never glosses over those realities, making every milestone feel even more meaningful.
More than a memoir about beating the odds, this is a reminder that people are so much more than a diagnosis. Belief, opportunity, and the right support can truly change a life.
This is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit and the impact of love, encouragement, and community.
Who was the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself?
GREAT AND UNFORTUNATE THINGS
Jason Arday
Publishes 8/11/26
I didn’t give this book a star rating because it’s a memoir. It doesn’t feel right to “rate” someone’s real life or lived experiences.
Thank you to @NetGalley, @37inkbooks, @simonandschuster, and Jason Arday for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⸻
When Jason Arday was three years old, doctors told his parents he would never speak, never write, never live independently, and should be institutionalized. His family refused to accept that future.
Great and Unfortunate Things follows Jason’s journey from being nonverbal as a child and unable to read or write until he was eighteen to becoming one of the youngest professors at the University of Cambridge.
A lot of memoirs leave you feeling inspired. This one does that, but it also reminds you how much one person’s belief can change another person’s life.
What stayed with me most was Jason’s mother. While others focused on what he might never do, she never stopped looking for what was possible. Her love, creativity, and determination became the foundation for everything that followed.
I also appreciated that Jason’s success isn’t presented as a solo achievement. It truly took a village. His wife, family, friends, mentors, educators, and community all helped him build confidence and find his place in the world.
Jason also faced racism and setbacks alongside the challenges of his neurodivergence. The book never glosses over those realities, making every milestone feel even more meaningful.
More than a memoir about beating the odds, this is a reminder that people are so much more than a diagnosis. Belief, opportunity, and the right support can truly change a life.
This is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit and the impact of love, encouragement, and community.
Who was the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and the author, Jason Arday, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Wow! I am so grateful to have had the privilege to read this emotional nonfiction! Since I have an autistic nephew, this story gives me hope. The Prologue let's the reader know that this book has a happy ending.
It is the story of a boy whose mother believed! She believed her son could do great things while all the experts told her that there is no hope for him. This mom, Giff, who the book is dedicated to, goes against all professionals (including doctors, therapists, educators) and did it her way. Using all means available in their poverty, she helped her son become verbal (at the age of 12) and able to read and write (at the age of 18)! Doctors had told her that her son was less than human and she proved them all wrong! A mother's love, faith, encouragement, and dedication has proven amazing. She never gave up and constantly rejected when others negatively defined Jason.
The ambition and drive of Professor Arday gives me hope. Prof. Arday is amazing. The reader gains insight into the mind of an autistic (neurodivergent) and developmentally delay individual. The challenges he had to overcome and his sacrifices are clearly defined including prejudices and obstacles presented by peers, teachers, doctors and society. There are "angels" in Arday's life that supported him emotionally. And God is throughout this story. As a poor Black man with big dreams, everyone can only smile at this story.
I found Professor Arday's book fascinating and encourage everyone to read it. It will help all of us understand the importance of connecting with people who are different than ourselves. Thank you, Professor Arday, for sharing your story!
Wow! I am so grateful to have had the privilege to read this emotional nonfiction! Since I have an autistic nephew, this story gives me hope. The Prologue let's the reader know that this book has a happy ending.
It is the story of a boy whose mother believed! She believed her son could do great things while all the experts told her that there is no hope for him. This mom, Giff, who the book is dedicated to, goes against all professionals (including doctors, therapists, educators) and did it her way. Using all means available in their poverty, she helped her son become verbal (at the age of 12) and able to read and write (at the age of 18)! Doctors had told her that her son was less than human and she proved them all wrong! A mother's love, faith, encouragement, and dedication has proven amazing. She never gave up and constantly rejected when others negatively defined Jason.
The ambition and drive of Professor Arday gives me hope. Prof. Arday is amazing. The reader gains insight into the mind of an autistic (neurodivergent) and developmentally delay individual. The challenges he had to overcome and his sacrifices are clearly defined including prejudices and obstacles presented by peers, teachers, doctors and society. There are "angels" in Arday's life that supported him emotionally. And God is throughout this story. As a poor Black man with big dreams, everyone can only smile at this story.
I found Professor Arday's book fascinating and encourage everyone to read it. It will help all of us understand the importance of connecting with people who are different than ourselves. Thank you, Professor Arday, for sharing your story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great and Unfortunate Things
By Jason Arday
This is a memoir – and simply an outstanding book. The author is a neuro-divergent man. He was diagnosed as an infant as being severely autistic. In fact, his mother was basically told that she ought to put him in a "home", since he would have no ability to learn and would never be able to have any kind of a meaningful life. But his mom, Giff, a woman from Ghana with a deep faith in God, would hear none of that. She fought for him all through his childhood: for educators and doctors to figure out how to help him, not to write him off. She instilled her faith and her positive outlook in her son.
Jason faced almost insurmountable trials throughout his life. He never spoke until he was 12 years old. He never was able to read or write until his late teens – and it was a struggle even then! But Jason had a goal. As impossible as it seemed, over the years Jason wanted to devote his life to helping others – and to become a PhD and a college professor at a prestigious university!
At age 15, Jason was beaten by teenage thugs. That beating left him with epilepsy/seizures. He later found that he had a brain tumor, just when he was struggling to defend his PhD thesis. No, life was never easy for Jason. But with the support of his family and other key people along his way, Jason overcame all the roadblocks life had set up for him. And he did indeed become a professor at Cambridge, one of the world's most prestigious universities. God had truly not given Jason more than he could handle!
This is a parable for all of us – a lesson to be learned about people who are different. That they too have goals, and that they too may be capable of "great and unfortunate things"! Read this book. You will be glad you did.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By Jason Arday
This is a memoir – and simply an outstanding book. The author is a neuro-divergent man. He was diagnosed as an infant as being severely autistic. In fact, his mother was basically told that she ought to put him in a "home", since he would have no ability to learn and would never be able to have any kind of a meaningful life. But his mom, Giff, a woman from Ghana with a deep faith in God, would hear none of that. She fought for him all through his childhood: for educators and doctors to figure out how to help him, not to write him off. She instilled her faith and her positive outlook in her son.
Jason faced almost insurmountable trials throughout his life. He never spoke until he was 12 years old. He never was able to read or write until his late teens – and it was a struggle even then! But Jason had a goal. As impossible as it seemed, over the years Jason wanted to devote his life to helping others – and to become a PhD and a college professor at a prestigious university!
At age 15, Jason was beaten by teenage thugs. That beating left him with epilepsy/seizures. He later found that he had a brain tumor, just when he was struggling to defend his PhD thesis. No, life was never easy for Jason. But with the support of his family and other key people along his way, Jason overcame all the roadblocks life had set up for him. And he did indeed become a professor at Cambridge, one of the world's most prestigious universities. God had truly not given Jason more than he could handle!
This is a parable for all of us – a lesson to be learned about people who are different. That they too have goals, and that they too may be capable of "great and unfortunate things"! Read this book. You will be glad you did.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An amazing story of a child born with what seems like overwhelming neurodivergence and the people in his life who championed him along the way. In the beginning of the book, Dr. Jason Arday, PhD reveals that, in his 30’s, he becomes the youngest academic of color to become a Cambridge University professor. The story then looks backward to his extremely challenging childhood, not only because of his neurodivergence but because of systemic racism that seems to exist in all aspects of life in the UK…health care, education, housing, etc. Jason’s mom is an emigrant from Ghana and a force of nature. Her intelligence, tenacity and infinite patience are epic….she just would not take “no” for an answer. She pushed Jason and the barriers all around her to get Jason to a point where he would begin to speak at age 12 and read and write at 18. Jason has severable other champions…Sandro a teacher who became a demanding mentor and friend and Debs the young woman who Jason meets at his 1st job and eventually becomes his wife and coparent of 2 children. Because of Jason’s autism, his obsessive focus on achieving goals serves him well but it poor took a toll on his personal life and, eventually he and debs part ways. His fruit after this happens bothered me in that, while he continues to achieve great things, he never mentions his ex-wife or 2 children again. I assume this isn’t the case but it left me with wondering if he continued to have a roll in their lives. While his professional achievements are amazing and his contribution to helping other families with neurodivergent children to live their best life are groundbreaking, his potential absence from his children’s lives detracts from the autobiography of success. But in so many ways, this is a book about the Mother not the son. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poignant memoir of what can happen when society says one thing and parents say another and raise a child to grow into an accomplished, fully functioning person.
I remember reading Educated and being in awe when I finished, I’m in double awe right now. Told their child would never be able to speech or read, Giff, Jason’s mother, refused to accept this. She mainstreamed him - I loved how she accepted Jason as “normal” but that the teachers just needed to change their ways. And this was important / acceptance / my husband’s co-worker had a little boy who could talk but spoke gibberish; one day when he was around 4 or 5 he started speaking in sentences; he had been listening like Jason. The reality that there are developmental delays didn’t seem to be part of the problem-solving process for Jason’s time. I remember when my son was having difficulty reading in second grade; my heart was troubled that he might not be able to read - I learned through some classes I was taking that some children learn differently and may not be ready to take on certain things at the same time as others do (I.e. developmental delay); while he had to be in a lower reading group for a few years, he’s now an accomplished MBA - patience!
This is such a beautiful book. I loved the persistence. It’s a must read for people who want to be inspired and believe where there is a will, there’s a way.
I gave this book five stars for its poignant and heartfelt writing, for its inspiring story, and the beauty of parenting to make a child the best he could be.
My thanks to NetGalley and 37 Ink for granting me access to this amazing ARC.
I remember reading Educated and being in awe when I finished, I’m in double awe right now. Told their child would never be able to speech or read, Giff, Jason’s mother, refused to accept this. She mainstreamed him - I loved how she accepted Jason as “normal” but that the teachers just needed to change their ways. And this was important / acceptance / my husband’s co-worker had a little boy who could talk but spoke gibberish; one day when he was around 4 or 5 he started speaking in sentences; he had been listening like Jason. The reality that there are developmental delays didn’t seem to be part of the problem-solving process for Jason’s time. I remember when my son was having difficulty reading in second grade; my heart was troubled that he might not be able to read - I learned through some classes I was taking that some children learn differently and may not be ready to take on certain things at the same time as others do (I.e. developmental delay); while he had to be in a lower reading group for a few years, he’s now an accomplished MBA - patience!
This is such a beautiful book. I loved the persistence. It’s a must read for people who want to be inspired and believe where there is a will, there’s a way.
I gave this book five stars for its poignant and heartfelt writing, for its inspiring story, and the beauty of parenting to make a child the best he could be.
My thanks to NetGalley and 37 Ink for granting me access to this amazing ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great and Unfortunate Things is a memoir that follows Jasons life from infancy to adulthood. The unrelenting challenges detailed in his book inadvertently (and perhaps by necessity) gave him a fascination and deep understanding of society and prompted a meaningful career in sociology.
Jason was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental Delay at age 3, and he was non-verbal until age 11. His story highlights the experience of being ‘othered’ by an under-resourced schooling system. I felt disheartened to see through the eyes of someone let down repeatedly by an unkind system. But there are also so many examples of how familial love and his mother Giff’s intuition and out of the box thinking can give a person facing significant challenges and societal alienation a sense of belonging and belief in themselves and others.
As the book follows Jason through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, his sensory world and processing are described in vivid detail. It's an opportunity to feel how intense this would be, but also what it is like to see the people you love in granular detail. There are nods to cultural markers that represent him as a person, but also to growing up in the UK in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s which is fun.
By the end, the book felt almost like a love letter to his loved ones and all that supported him. It makes me wish that everyone facing the challenges that Jason has would have even one of the amazingly supportive people he has in his life. And it also made me reflect about how I could show up more effectively for others.
Jason was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental Delay at age 3, and he was non-verbal until age 11. His story highlights the experience of being ‘othered’ by an under-resourced schooling system. I felt disheartened to see through the eyes of someone let down repeatedly by an unkind system. But there are also so many examples of how familial love and his mother Giff’s intuition and out of the box thinking can give a person facing significant challenges and societal alienation a sense of belonging and belief in themselves and others.
As the book follows Jason through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, his sensory world and processing are described in vivid detail. It's an opportunity to feel how intense this would be, but also what it is like to see the people you love in granular detail. There are nods to cultural markers that represent him as a person, but also to growing up in the UK in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s which is fun.
By the end, the book felt almost like a love letter to his loved ones and all that supported him. It makes me wish that everyone facing the challenges that Jason has would have even one of the amazingly supportive people he has in his life. And it also made me reflect about how I could show up more effectively for others.
April 25, 2026
I sincerely want to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and author Jason Arday for inviting me to read Arday’s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things. I enjoy memoirs in which the subject overcomes hardships to become successful, and especially, fulfilled, and this book exceeded my expectations. Arday was diagnosed with autism and developmental delays at age three; his parents were advised to put Jason into a care facility, because there was no hope for him to ever lead a normal and productive life. Because of his amazing mother, Giff, he got extraordinary opportunities to learn and grow. Arday didn’t lean to speak until age 11, and he didn’t master reading and writing until he turned 18, yet he managed to start college just two years later at age 20. He was so focused — his disabilities actually became a key to his being able to succeed — that, at age 37, he eventually became one of the youngest professors at Cambridge University. His path to success faced many hurdles, both physical, mental, and racial, but there also was so much joy in his journey. One of my favorite parts of the book was Jason’s young daughter showing amazing abilities in speaking, reading, and even writing, at a very early age.
This is such an enjoyable story; I highly recommend it. Thanks again to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the eARC, and the opportunity to read this memoir. All opinions are my own. J
This is such an enjoyable story; I highly recommend it. Thanks again to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the eARC, and the opportunity to read this memoir. All opinions are my own. J
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy!
Arday’s writing offers a level of sensory detail that is almost overwhelming - he depicts his sensory overload so vividly that it becomes a breathtaking experience for the reader.
In the best way possible, Ihave never read a memoir quite like this. The way Arday recalls his life before he even had the words to describe it is profound. At the heart of that silence was his mother, Giff. Her tireless advocacy for her children was incredible to witness; she was relentless, devoted, and a powerhouse. If she ever wrote a memoir of her own, I would be the first in line to read it.
Arday’s journey from a non-verbal child in London to the youngest Black professor at Cambridge is a remarkable feat of defiance against the odds. I found his determination infectious. He writes about being non-verbal, navigating racism, and the nuances of neurodivergence with a vulnerability that feels both honest and rare.
The account of the St. Mary’s graduation, in particular, really caught me in the feels. Throughout the entire book, Giff’s love for her three boys shines through just as clearly as it must have in their real lives. I finished this book truly wishing I could sit down and talk with her.
Overall this was a beautiful account of unexpected success and the clinical, social, and personal challenges overcome to get there. Highly recommended.
Arday’s writing offers a level of sensory detail that is almost overwhelming - he depicts his sensory overload so vividly that it becomes a breathtaking experience for the reader.
In the best way possible, Ihave never read a memoir quite like this. The way Arday recalls his life before he even had the words to describe it is profound. At the heart of that silence was his mother, Giff. Her tireless advocacy for her children was incredible to witness; she was relentless, devoted, and a powerhouse. If she ever wrote a memoir of her own, I would be the first in line to read it.
Arday’s journey from a non-verbal child in London to the youngest Black professor at Cambridge is a remarkable feat of defiance against the odds. I found his determination infectious. He writes about being non-verbal, navigating racism, and the nuances of neurodivergence with a vulnerability that feels both honest and rare.
The account of the St. Mary’s graduation, in particular, really caught me in the feels. Throughout the entire book, Giff’s love for her three boys shines through just as clearly as it must have in their real lives. I finished this book truly wishing I could sit down and talk with her.
Overall this was a beautiful account of unexpected success and the clinical, social, and personal challenges overcome to get there. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2026
Really incredible story of resilience, perseverance, determination, and a mom who fought tirelessly for her kids.
Dr Arday’s story is truly inspiring, starting from non-verbal autistic with additional learning disabilities, to youngest Black professor at Cambridge and overcoming so much in between.
Both he in his immense determination and perseverance, and his mother’s constant belief in him and refusal to accept what the doctors and educators stated were insurmountable limitations, are truly amazing. As a mom of a high functioning autistic daughter, many pieces of Dr Arday’s autistic experience were familiar, if not from my own experience, than from others in our community of the neurodivergent.
It definitely makes you think as a parent, how important it is to speak life and confidence into our kids, and the impact it makes to advocate for them no matter what.
I wish there was a little more in the way of Dr Arday’s transformation and experience in general on the autistic side of things, rather than primarily the academic, but I get it, the focus was more the growing academic achievements and how he got to where he is now.
Well written and inspiring.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
Dr Arday’s story is truly inspiring, starting from non-verbal autistic with additional learning disabilities, to youngest Black professor at Cambridge and overcoming so much in between.
Both he in his immense determination and perseverance, and his mother’s constant belief in him and refusal to accept what the doctors and educators stated were insurmountable limitations, are truly amazing. As a mom of a high functioning autistic daughter, many pieces of Dr Arday’s autistic experience were familiar, if not from my own experience, than from others in our community of the neurodivergent.
It definitely makes you think as a parent, how important it is to speak life and confidence into our kids, and the impact it makes to advocate for them no matter what.
I wish there was a little more in the way of Dr Arday’s transformation and experience in general on the autistic side of things, rather than primarily the academic, but I get it, the focus was more the growing academic achievements and how he got to where he is now.
Well written and inspiring.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon&Schuster and Jason Arday for the eArc and Physical Copy of Great and Unfortunate Things. All opinions are my own, and I appreciate the opportunity to have read this book.
As far as memoirs go, this would probably be one of the more impactful one's that I have read. A young Black man not being able to speak until he was 11, or read/write until he was 18 becoming the youngest professor in England at the age of 35 is impressive, and his journey intrigued me to say the least. I really enjoyed Arday's writing voice, and thought the way that he told his story was very eloquent. I felt like I was there with him in those moments, and that says a lot about who he is as a writer. His story-telling brought you in, and I had a hard time putting this book down.
His support system of his family, friends and mentors really showed him (especially in the harder times) that he could be more than his childhood doctors had estimated him to be. His autism definitely made his journey difficult, but they used his strengths to his advantage.
I really enjoyed following his story, and am hoping to follow more of his work in the future.
As far as memoirs go, this would probably be one of the more impactful one's that I have read. A young Black man not being able to speak until he was 11, or read/write until he was 18 becoming the youngest professor in England at the age of 35 is impressive, and his journey intrigued me to say the least. I really enjoyed Arday's writing voice, and thought the way that he told his story was very eloquent. I felt like I was there with him in those moments, and that says a lot about who he is as a writer. His story-telling brought you in, and I had a hard time putting this book down.
His support system of his family, friends and mentors really showed him (especially in the harder times) that he could be more than his childhood doctors had estimated him to be. His autism definitely made his journey difficult, but they used his strengths to his advantage.
I really enjoyed following his story, and am hoping to follow more of his work in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let me start by saying I have never heard of Jason Arday, but the synopsis for this book caught my eye. I find reading about moms who are willing to fight against the odds for their children amazing. Second, autism is something that I always want to know more about. So I started this book and was hooked, wanting to know more about Jason and his amazing mom, Giff. I liked the style of writing. It is as if Jason is an observer, telling his life story from a detached place, without any real emotion. I found this to be what I see in my friends who are autistic; the emotional reactions are not like mine would be. So this style set my mind to think that Jason really did write this story, and I could hear him telling it to me. I will say that about midway through the book, I told my husband that if this book were not an autobiography, I would be saying the author was going overboard with too many hardships, but this story is real! What Jason goes through and accomplishes is amazing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster |for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster |for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Read
May 19, 2026This wonderful memoir brings the word 'perseverance' to mind. Jason Arday is the middle of three sons born to London residents of Ghanian descent. Jason and his older brother were both diagnosed with autism at very young ages. Jason did not speak a word until age 11 and didn't learn to read until age 18. Where most people would have stopped trying years ago, his mom, Giff, wouldn't hear of giving up on her son - or letting him give up on himself. Arday's descriptions of a lifetime of overcoming set backs (occasionally self induced but mostly related to being poor, black, and having autism) are incredible and inspiring. Fortunately, a few other people, a friend, a teacher/coach/mentor, recognized Jason's potential and helped him reach his goals. Jason Arday earned a PhD in Sociology and is now a professor at Cambridge University - the youngest black professor ever appointed there. His story of faith, love and grit will blow your mind.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Just, wow. I don't know what to comment on first: the resilience of Jason Arday, or the unwavering strength and belief that his mother showed. I cannot believe the determination she showed in the face of extreme adversity, with all the odds being stacked against her. It reinforced a truth that, as an educator, I have always known: there is no magic program that will teach a child to read. What it takes is dedicated instructors (whether that be a school teacher or a parent), consistent practice, and exposure to language over and over and over again. That Arday became a college graduate a mere five years after he became fully literate is nothing short of amazing. His story may be an extreme example, but all the components of a true underdog story are there and what he's achieved is incredible. I loved learning about him.
Wow! Just, wow. I don't know what to comment on first: the resilience of Jason Arday, or the unwavering strength and belief that his mother showed. I cannot believe the determination she showed in the face of extreme adversity, with all the odds being stacked against her. It reinforced a truth that, as an educator, I have always known: there is no magic program that will teach a child to read. What it takes is dedicated instructors (whether that be a school teacher or a parent), consistent practice, and exposure to language over and over and over again. That Arday became a college graduate a mere five years after he became fully literate is nothing short of amazing. His story may be an extreme example, but all the components of a true underdog story are there and what he's achieved is incredible. I loved learning about him.
July 8, 2026
Jason’s story is very inspiring - to be non-verbal for so much of your formative years and unable to read or write until you’re an adult and still be motivated to reach for more is encouraging. There were so many moments (educationally and otherwise) that could have been the end, the time he said “nah, that’s too hard. I’m going to stop right here” but he didn’t. He kept reaching for more. I loved Jason’s milestone moments. These moment defined who he wanted to be and in turn who he was as a man.
However, as a mom to a neurodivergent child (or two) I think I took more from his mother, Giff. She served as his advocate from the beginning, looking in every place she could for those who would be able to help Jason. Never taking no as the final answer when she knew there had to be more for her son. She was his teacher and his role model. She was the mother I’d love to be. How lucky Jason was to have her.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jason.
Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC.
However, as a mom to a neurodivergent child (or two) I think I took more from his mother, Giff. She served as his advocate from the beginning, looking in every place she could for those who would be able to help Jason. Never taking no as the final answer when she knew there had to be more for her son. She was his teacher and his role model. She was the mother I’d love to be. How lucky Jason was to have her.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jason.
Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this wonderful book! I'm already making a list of people who'll be getting this book for Christmas. Such an amazing, inspiring story!
Dr. Arday was so fortunate to have such a fierce and dedicated advocate in his mother who led by example. Thank goodness things are a little better now, but I know there are still enormous hurdles, misunderstandings, and prejudice against people whose brains don't work like the majority.
Arday's prose is lovely--descriptive and smooth reading. The story moves along and we get to meet so many wonderful people who saw his potential and stepped up to allow him to achieve all that he could. I doubt many could've foreseen the heights he'd reach!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough--everyone will benefit from learning about this remarkable man and his journey.
Dr. Arday was so fortunate to have such a fierce and dedicated advocate in his mother who led by example. Thank goodness things are a little better now, but I know there are still enormous hurdles, misunderstandings, and prejudice against people whose brains don't work like the majority.
Arday's prose is lovely--descriptive and smooth reading. The story moves along and we get to meet so many wonderful people who saw his potential and stepped up to allow him to achieve all that he could. I doubt many could've foreseen the heights he'd reach!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough--everyone will benefit from learning about this remarkable man and his journey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jason Arday was born the second youngest of three boys and was diagnosed with autism and development delays. Experts told his parents that he would never be able to speak, write, or live independently. Enter his mother, Giff, who would champion him his entire life and tell him he could accomplish anything.
What an inspiring story – Jason goes from being nonverbal and autistic to one of the youngest professors at the University of Cambridge. Most of his ability came from the untiring patience and unconventional learning taught to him by his mother. This story challenges assumptions on intelligence and communication and the ability to underestimate people based on their learning timelines. Even though Jason incurred numerous setbacks, he never used them as an excuse – what a triumphant memoir and example of inspiration!
What an inspiring story – Jason goes from being nonverbal and autistic to one of the youngest professors at the University of Cambridge. Most of his ability came from the untiring patience and unconventional learning taught to him by his mother. This story challenges assumptions on intelligence and communication and the ability to underestimate people based on their learning timelines. Even though Jason incurred numerous setbacks, he never used them as an excuse – what a triumphant memoir and example of inspiration!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The improbable-but-true story of a autistic boy, who didn’t speak til he was eleven and learned to read and write at eighteen and ultimately gets his Ph..D and becomes the youngest Black Professor at England’s prestigious Cambridge University, gets 5 stars in my book for the basic premise alone. As a common saying goes, “You can’t make this stuff up.”
If you like rags-to-riches stories complete with supportive family and friends and a framework of faith , with just enough adversity to make the triumph all the sweeter, this book is for you.
And what makes it even more powerful is checking out videos of the author, Jason Arday, on the internet and seeing for yourself what a put-together man he is today.
You won’t read this book for its literary value, but for the underlying premise , “With God, all things are possible,” or perhaps, “Don’t stop believing’.”
If you like rags-to-riches stories complete with supportive family and friends and a framework of faith , with just enough adversity to make the triumph all the sweeter, this book is for you.
And what makes it even more powerful is checking out videos of the author, Jason Arday, on the internet and seeing for yourself what a put-together man he is today.
You won’t read this book for its literary value, but for the underlying premise , “With God, all things are possible,” or perhaps, “Don’t stop believing’.”
May 3, 2026
This memoir is about a life that kept getting misread. This was a quick read for me on a subject I know very little about about.
Jason Arday writes with a calm, almost plainspoken voice about being nonverbal until 11, learning to read and write in his late teens, and repeatedly being told what he would never be able to do. The power of the book isn’t in drama—it’s in how quietly it dismantles those assumptions.
It’s reflective more than emotional, focused on systems, labels, and how early judgments stick. At times it circles similar ground, but the steadiness of tone holds it together.
A restrained, thoughtful memoir that lands because it refuses to overstate itself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC
Jason Arday writes with a calm, almost plainspoken voice about being nonverbal until 11, learning to read and write in his late teens, and repeatedly being told what he would never be able to do. The power of the book isn’t in drama—it’s in how quietly it dismantles those assumptions.
It’s reflective more than emotional, focused on systems, labels, and how early judgments stick. At times it circles similar ground, but the steadiness of tone holds it together.
A restrained, thoughtful memoir that lands because it refuses to overstate itself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great and Unfortunate Things by Jason Arday is an incredibly moving and triumphant memoir that easily earns a well-deserved five stars. The book follows Arday’s unbelievable real-life journey of growing up nonverbal until age eleven and illiterate until eighteen, only to defy every societal expectation by becoming one of the youngest professors in the history of Cambridge University. I was deeply inspired by his relentless grit and the unconditional love of his extraordinary mother, Giff, who used everything from West African proverbs to pop music to help him make sense of the world. Arday tells his story with raw honesty without romanticizing the struggle, reminding readers of the incredible things that can happen when a dedicated community refuses to give up on a child. This is an absolute must-read for any high schooler looking for an empowering story about resilience, neurodiversity, and the true power of determination!
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