Life on Delay

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A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • USA TODAY BOOK CLUB PICK • ONE OF AUDIBLE'S BEST BIOS AND MEMOIRS OF 2023 • “A raw, intimate look at [Hendrickson's] life with a stutter. It’s a profoundly moving book that will reshape the way you think about people living with this condition.”—Esquire This candid memoir chronicles a lifelong struggle to communicate. In the fall of 2019, John Hendrickson wrote a pivotal article for The Atlantic about Joe Biden's journey with stuttering, which also mirrored his own. The article resonated widely, prompting Hendrickson to confront his pain and connect with others who stutter. In this reported memoir, he delves into the complexities of his condition, addressing bullying, substance abuse, depression, and isolation. Hendrickson revisits key figures from his past through unguarded interviews, providing an intimate look at his childhood, journalism career, and search for love. He explores the evolution of speech therapy, the controversial quest for a “magic pill” to end stuttering, and the self-help movement within the stuttering community. Alongside his own experiences, he shares stories of fellow stutterers and highlights a pioneering doctor reshaping speech therapy. This memoir is a powerful testament to perseverance and a journey toward self-acceptance.