Rob K. Henderson (author)

Last updated
Rob Henderson
Rob Henderson in 2021.jpg
Rob Henderson in 2021
Born (1990-12-18) December 18, 1990 (age 33)
OccupationPolitical commenter
Education Yale University, University of Cambridge
Subject
  • Politics
  • Psychology
Notable worksTroubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
Website
www.robkhenderson.com

Robert Kim Henderson (born December 18, 1990) is an American writer and political commentator known for popularizing the idea of luxury beliefs. His memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, was published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Henderon's mother was born in Seoul, while his father, who he did not grow up with, was of Mexican and Spanish origin. His mother, who suffered from substance abuse, was unable to care for him, leading to him being sent to foster care at the age of three. [2] Henderson was raised in various foster homes around the state of California. He was adopted by a working class family at the age of 7 in the town of Red Bluff, California, and his parents later divorced. [2] He served in the United States Air Force after high school. Following his enlistment, Henderson attended Yale University with the support of the G.I. Bill, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Henderson then earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of Cambridge with the support of a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. [3] [4]

Luxury beliefs

Henderson has published a variety of essays about his education and political views in major outlets including The New York Times, [5] The Wall Street Journal, [6] and The Times. [7] In his editorials, he develops the idea of "luxury beliefs", defined as ideas that "confer status on members of the upper class at little cost while inflicting costs on persons in lower classes." This term has gained considerable popularity, including coverage in The Atlantic [8] and The Economist, [9] as well as features on podcasts including Honestly with Bari Weiss and The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. [10]

Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

In his memoir, Henderson details his experience of being abandoned by his mother and growing up in the foster care system. He explains the emotional challenges he has faced due to the absence of a stable family. The latter section of the book details his educational journey and the experiences which inspired his development of the term "luxury beliefs". [11]

A 2024 investigation by The Economist on the question of whether the New York Times Bestseller List had a political bias reported that Henderson's book had been omitted from the list despite selling enough copies to rank at least in fourth place. Henderson's exclusion had earlier been denounced as a sign of political bias by Elon Musk. [12]

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A luxury belief is an idea or opinion that confers status on members of the upper class at little cost, while inflicting costs on persons in lower classes. The term is often applied to privileged individuals who are seen as disconnected from the lived experiences of impoverished and marginalized people. Such individuals supposedly hold political and social beliefs that signal their elite status, yet which are alleged to have negative impacts on those with the least influence. Exactly what counts as a luxury belief is not always consistent and may vary from person to person, and the term in general is considered to be controversial.

References

  1. ↑ Henderson, Rob (2024-02-20). Troubled. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-1-9821-6853-7.
  2. 1 2 Henderson, Rob (2024-05-06). "How the luxury beliefs of an educated elite erode society". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  3. ↑ Henderson, Rob. "About - Rob Henderson's Newsletter". www.robkhenderson.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. ↑ "Biography | Gates Cambridge". Gates Cambridge -. 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. ↑ Henderson, Rob (2020-10-10). "Opinion | Everything I Know About Elite America I Learned From 'Fresh Prince' and 'West Wing'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. ↑ Henderson, Rob. "Essay | 'Luxury Beliefs' That Only the Privileged Can Afford". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. ↑ Henderson, Rob (2024-04-28). "How the luxury beliefs of an educated elite erode society". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  8. ↑ Friedersdorf, Conor (2024-03-02). "What 'Luxury Beliefs' Reveal About the Ruling Class". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  9. ↑ "A new book rebukes the "luxury beliefs" of America's upper class". The Economist. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  10. ↑ "Buckley Institute: "Luxury Beliefs Are Status Symbols" | Department of Political Science". politicalscience.yale.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  11. ↑ Henderson, Rob Kim (2024). Troubled: a memoir of foster care, family, and social class. New York: Gallery Books. ISBN   978-1-9821-6853-7.
  12. ↑ "Is the New York Times bestseller list politically biased?". The Economist. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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