Title: Great and Unfortunate Things Author: Jason Arday; Eve Clayton
Publisher: Ink
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 288
Date of Publication: August 11, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
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 THOUGHTS:
Jason Arday grew up during a time when autism was still widely misunderstood. Despite what doctors and therapists told his mother, Giff, he defied every expectation placed before him. Raising Jason largely on instinct, Giff understood her nonverbal son in a way no one else could. Jason’s brother is also neurodivergent, and Giff instinctively recognized not only their differences but also their unique gifts. When it came to Jason in particular, she believed in him with a conviction that no one else seemed to share.
It took Jason eleven years to become verbal and another seven years to learn to read and write. Yet this remarkable young man would go on to become the youngest-ever Black academic to hold a professorship at the University of Cambridge, as well as one of the youngest professors to hold a professorial chair at Oxbridge. His achievements are nothing short of extraordinary.
This memoir beautifully illustrates the profound influence Giff had on Jason’s life. It also shines a light on Sandro, a kind Brazilian man who took a chance on Jason and ultimately became both his mentor and his friend. Along the way, others also stepped into Jason’s corner, seeing his potential long before the rest of the world did.
That is not to say Jason’s journey was ever easy. Far from it. Time and again, he faced adversity that could have discouraged even the strongest person. Yet he continued to persevere, overcoming one obstacle after another. This memoir is much more than a recounting of the milestones that brought him to where he is today. It is a story of resilience, determination, and the extraordinary impact of those who believed in him when he needed it most. It is also a testament to how Jason has dedicated his own life to paying that belief forward.
Great and Unfortunate Things has drawn comparisons to Educated by Tara Westover and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Although I have yet to read either of those memoirs, I can certainly understand why the comparisons have been made. Jason Arday’s story of finding his voice, overcoming impossible odds, and becoming the inspiring man he is today is one that will stay with me for a long time.
Many thanks to Ink and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Reviewer’s Note: This is an ARC that I read over a month ago, before I was made aware of any accusations towards Mr. Arday. It is not my place to judge - while it is my place to write a fair and honest review. My thoughts and prayers to to Mr. Arday’s family and friends.
But you know his life story is a pack of lies, right? Have you watched the news in the last week?
ReplyDeleteHe’s not autistic. He was verbal at private school.
This is shocking to hear. However, I have never fact-checked any author, and that includes memoirs. My reviews are based on the books as I read them. As I read over my review, my thoughts are mostly on Jason himself. Two of my grandsons and my honorary grandson are all autistic – at different levels. One is nonverbal with the exception of echolalia, one is high functioning, and the other one is also high functioning, but with ADHD. That’s what drew me to Jason‘s story. With regard to the accusations made against him, from where I stand here in the US, it’s a he said she said allegation situation. Basically, we just have to see how it all plays out. I’m not going to judge Jason, nor will I judge anyone that has made any accusation against him, and I also will not investigate the matter any further, because honestly, I just don’t have the time. I do appreciate you bringing this to my attention and I have shared this with my review team.
ReplyDeleteSo you heartily recommend an autobiography of a man that has been proven to be a fantasist and your reason is that others in your life suffer from the same illnesses that the main character lied about? And NOW you don't have time to be aware of the biggest scandal ever to break out in Cambridge to date, ignored in this autobiography? What is your review for?
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate your enthusiasm and your opinion, your continued endeavor while remaining anonymous seems pointless. Why don’t carry this discourse over to Simon & Schuster?
ReplyDeleteI love Fabulist Fantasies. That is my genre. I wish they would have chosen a black author instead of a white one.
ReplyDelete