Great and Unfortunate Things
By: Jason Arday
Narrator:Jason Arday
ISBN: 9781668085578
Publisher: Simon & Schuster | 37 Ink
Publication Date: 08/11/1026
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Memoir
With 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.
My Review
~The Boy Who Proved the Experts Wrong
~A Mother’s Key to a Locked Mind
~From South London Public Housing to Oxbridge Halls
Jason Arday breaks the mold with Great and Unfortunate Things, a towering, fiercely triumphant masterpiece of human resilience. This brilliant memoir delivers a deeply cinematic, barrier-smashing narrative that shatters expectations and leaves an unforgettable stamp on your soul from page one.
The Hook
Imagine being told at age three you will never talk, read, or live alone, only to grow up and become the youngest Black professor in the history of Cambridge University.
Elevator Pitch
"Great and Unfortunate Things" is the mind-blowing autobiography of late British academic Jason Arday. Co-written with Eve Claxton, it traces his journey from a non-verbal child raised in public housing to a global scholarly icon. It is a story about defying the odds, the power of a mother's radical belief, and what happens when community steps in to help an underdog fly.
Setting
A lively, bustling corner of South London during the 1980s and 90s, shifting later to the historic, high-pressure halls of academia.
Vibe
Heartwarming, cinematic, slightly gritty, and completely unforgettable.
Genre
Non-fiction / Memoir / Biography.
Themes
Neurodivergence, fierce maternal love, systemic resilience, and the life-changing impact of community action.
Standout Characters
~Jason Arday: The author, who didn't speak his first word until nearly age twelve and was illiterate until eighteen, but possessed a relentless determination to learn.
~Giff: Jason’s extraordinary mother. When experts said to institutionalize him, she completely refused. She used everything from West African proverbs to pop music to teach him how the world works.
Author Writing Standout
Jason's writing doesn't romanticize his struggles. He and Claxton capture the raw frustration of being locked inside your own mind, balanced beautifully with the rhythmic, joyful sounds of his upbringing.
Takeaway
Never let anyone else set the boundaries for what your mind can achieve.
Title Significance
The title captures the duality of Jason's life: the Great heights he scaled academically, alongside the Unfortunate systemic barriers, health struggles, and recent tragic controversies that shadowed his short life.
Metaphor
Jason's mind is like a locked treasure chest. The world assumed it was empty because they couldn't find the key, but his mother built a key out of music, sports, and love to unlock it.
Why You Should Read
It is the ultimate underdog story. If you have ever felt misunderstood or like the odds were stacked against you, this book acts like a personal cheering section.
My Thoughts
As a 12-year-old book blogger, this hit me right in the feelings! Jason's story is compelling and captivating! Hearing how his mom used music and movies to help him decode language made me look at learning in a whole new way. It’s also a bittersweet read, knowing the author passed away right as it hit shelves. While there are complex real-world debates surrounding his academic career, the core message of love and persistence in this book is incredibly powerful, published days before his untimely death on August 14,
Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars) An absolute must-read for parents, teens, and anyone who loves a triumphant real-life story."
Recs or Read-Alikes
~Educated by Tara Westover
~When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
~The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
~The Reason I Jump: the Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida
Special thanks to 37 Ink and Netgalley for providing an advanced reaciing copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMsutReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 11, 2026
August 2026 Must-Read Books
Praise
"I love a good story! As a journalist, storytelling's goal is to both move and inform. Arday's story is as riveting and moving as they come. Jason's efforts to overcome obstacles presented by his neurodivergence are movingly matched only by his mother's extraordinary efforts to work with his differences not against them, to see the humanity where others chose to see an inky diagnosis." — Michelle Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Belonging: A Daughter's Search for Identity Through Loss and Love
"Arday's cinematic story from being nonverbal to becoming one of the youngest professors ever at Cambridge makes you believe in the transformative power of grit and the magic of a mother's love. A most inspiring book."
—Chris Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of The Pursuit of Happyness
"Some lives are changed by talent. Others are changed by love that refuses to let go. In Great and Unfortunate Things, Jason Arday tells a story of resilience, dignity, and the extraordinary power of those who hold steady for us when we cannot yet hold steady for ourselves. This is a beautiful and unforgettable book."
—Steve Pemberton, USA Today best-selling author of A Chance in the World
“This is a remarkable portrait of an astonishing life. Great and Unfortunate Things takes us on a spectacular journey of trial and transformation, offering crucial insight into the realities of neurodivergence, told by an author who changed the shape of his life through sheer will. Above all, this memoir is a poignant tribute to fearless mothers like Arday’s, whose love, education, and unshakable belief in their children will always make mountains move.”
—Safiya Sinclair, international bestselling author of How to Say Babylon
“As the mother of a child on the spectrum, I was reminded once again that there is nothing more fierce than a parent’s determination to see her child get the services and attention he deserves; nothing more inspiring than a stranger with nothing to gain who asks How can I help? and nothing more empowering than intervention combined with positivity, love, and grit. Read this book and prepare to be inspired.”
—Holly Robinson Peete, actress, autism advocate, and author of Same but Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express
About the Author
Professor Jason Arday is a social commentator, presenter, and public speaker. He is currently the Professorial Chair of Education (Sociology of Education) at the University of Cambridge, making him the youngest-ever Black academic to hold a Professorship at Cambridge and one of the youngest academics ever appointed to a Professorial Chair in Oxbridge’s one-thousand-year history.
