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The Man He Used to Be

Dementia and My Mad Dad

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The Man He Used to Be

By: Robyn Hollingworth
Narrated by: Robyn Hollingworth
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Inadvertent cross-dressing. Attempted murder. Jail break. A waltz at a funeral. A hernia the size of Guernsey.

Heartbreaking and darkly comic, these are the moments that litter the messy road from cared-for to carer, a journey that Robyn Hollingworth finds herself on when she's only twenty-five years old.       

Leaving London to return home to rural South Wales, Robyn finds that it's her old life - same teddy bears resting on her pillow, their bodies tucked under the duvet; same view of the garages behind which she'd had her first cigarette and first kiss - but so much has changed. 

Her dad, the proud, charmingly intelligent, self-made man who made people laugh, is in the grip of early onset Alzheimer's. His brilliant mind, which saw him building power stations and literally bringing light into the lives of others, has succumbed to darkness. 

As Robyn settles back in the rhythms of life in the rain-soaked vast Welsh valleys, she keeps a diary charting her journey as the dad she knew disappears before her eyes. Lyrical, poignant and with flashes of brilliant humour, The Man He Used To Be explores how in helping others we can heal ourselves. 

Previously published in hardback as My Mad Dad.

©2018 Robyn Hollingworth (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group Alzheimer's & Dementia Medical Personal Development Personal Success Physical Illness & Disease Professionals & Academics Dementia Alzheimer's Disease
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Critic reviews

This is a wonderful, rather special book: funny, warm and loving but also thought-provoking and deeply moving. Absolutely unforgettable - ironically. ADAM KAY, Sunday Times bestselling author of This Is Going To Hurt
This is a wonderful, brilliant book that also made me laugh. Robyn writes so honestly and normally. I fell in love with her mum and "mad" dad. VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE
[A] touching, humorous and self-deprecating book...Life will always throw shit at you: it's how you deal with it that counts. My Mad Dad is an essential manual for those of us trying to negotiate our own "Sabbatical of Shite". GREG WISE, actor and author of Not That Kind of Love
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It was an honest, heartfelt account of a very heartbreaking family story. It’s inspiring in its simplicity.

Honest

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An amazing diary, in a book, spoken by the author. Made me laugh and cry in equal measure.

thank you for sharing this with us.

Laughter and tears

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A beautiful and honest story with some touching and funny antidotes. Heartfelt moments of pure love.

an inspiring book.

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I've just finished this, my Dad died of dementia 5 months ago and my Mum is very poorly and it's a lot to deal with. I have enjoyed and related with so much of this beautifully written book. A beautiful tribute to two wonderful parents, thank you so much xxx

so touching and so true

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This book is a really raw and honest account. I don't think I have cried such genuine tears reading a book before along with a few bursts of laughter. It's a really well written account and a must for anyone who wants to gain an insight into the experience of a carer for someone with dementia.

I have never been so moved by a book before

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