All My Worldly Joy - by Laura Richmond (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An intimate and compelling memoir of how a traumatic journey into motherhood led one woman to revisit the myriad mental-health assessments she had received growing up, until she discovered that she'd been autistic all along.

Laura Richmond had no idea that childbirth could result in post-traumatic stress until she experienced it for herself. After a harrowing labour, she was admitted to a psychiatric mother and baby unit together with her six-week-old son. Having been funnelled into mental health services almost twenty years earlier, Laura had tried every medication going and everyone had different views on what her problem was. She'd found that sometimes no one - however qualified they are or however deeply they care - really knows what to say or how to help. She was increasingly desperate, until the birth of her son sparked a sequence of events that would change everything.

Laura retraces her steps through all of this. In doing so, she reflects on the tensions and absurdities within modern mental health care, the ways in which trauma shapes us and directs us, and how we can learn to trust ourselves as parents and as people.

All My Worldly Joy is a story of self-discovery and profound love. It is a story of how one woman's life has been transformed, and of the thousand tiny joys her son brings every day.

Review Quotes

"A literary star is born in Laura Richmond. All My Worldly Joy is an astonishing memoir. Perfectly straddling the line of heart-cracking and side-splitting, Laura bleeds her most vulnerable moments in tender, honest prose with searing wit and insight. For such difficult subject matter it's an astoundingly easy read, thanks to Laura's warm, hilarious and soul-baring writing style. Moreover, Laura unwittingly provides a protagonist to fall in love with - herself. You'll want to reach into the pages, give her a big hug and tell her she's wonderful. All My Worldly Joy is, and I do not say this lightly, a masterpiece. If it's not an instant bestseller, I will personally flip a table." -- Sara Gibbs, author of Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels

"Laura Richmond writes with frankness, humour, and great intelligence about motherhood and mental health. This book is beautiful and heartbreaking, but also filled with love and humanity. Richmond's voice is absolutely incredible, and I want to hear more of it." -- Miranda Ward, author of Adrift: Fieldnotes from Almost-Motherhood

"In this beautifully written and incredibly moving memoir, Laura manages to shine a light on a mental health system that has for so many been unfit for purpose. This book is now going to be my first recommendation for any therapist who wants to work with new mothers." -- Dr Miriam Donaghy, psychotherapist and founder of MumsAid

"As a perinatal psychiatrist working with women through pregnancy and parenting this is a wonderful, rich and challenging read that gives such an insight into our mental health system. Laura's voice leaps out from the page with wit, passion and authenticity and I was honoured to read her story." -- Dr Becca Moore, perinatal psychiatrist

About the Author

Laura Richmond is a researcher, campaigner and consultant who works to improve mental health care, especially for parents and families. She was admitted to a psychiatric mother and baby unit after the birth of her son in 2014. After completing her PhD in medieval history, she switched careers using her own lived experience of complex trauma and autism in partnership with charities, universities and the NHS. All My Worldly Joy is her first book. She lives in Southampton with her son and two cats.