Tracy King - Learning to Think

This event will take place at Kitchen Garden Cafe, 17 York Road, B14 7SA. Entry may be through Fletchers Bar, 7 York Road.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have Tracy King joining us here at The Heath Bookshop. Tracy will be talking about her book 'Learning to Think'.

Tracy will talk for around an hour. There will then be a book signing afterwards.

Tracy King is a writer, producer and science communicator based in England. She has contributed to media on subjects ranging from science and technology to politics and video-games, for the BBC and in the Guardian, Telegraph, the New Statesman, Stylist and the New European amongst others. She was a columnist for Custom PC magazine for over ten years. Her science and critical-thinking animations include a collaboration with Tim Minchin, Storm, which has five million views on YouTube and was adapted into a bestselling Doubleday’s lead non-fiction title for 2024graphic novel. Her television and radio credits include Sky News, BBC Newsnight, Good Morning Britain and BBC Sounds.

Learning to Think, A Memoir: 

When you have nothing, you cling to whatever gives you hope...

Put yourself in Tracy King’s shoes. Growing up on an ordinary council estate outside Birmingham, in a house filled with creativity, curiosity and love, but marked by her father’s alcoholism and her mother’s agoraphobia. By the time she turns twelve, her father has been killed, her sister taken into care and her mother ensnared by the promises of born-again Christianity.

This isn’t the stuff of cult documentaries; It is the story of an ordinary family trapped in a broken system. One that could happen to anyone without the tools to transform their circumstances. And it’s the story of how Tracy found her way out.

A shocking, inspiring and ultimately hopeful memoir that holds up a mirror to the everyday realities of living in poverty, it is also a testament to the power of books and of learning to think for yourself.


Praise for Tracy King:

‘A raw and unflinching account of growing up in poverty which tackles the false narratives we tell ourselves to survive’– Caroline Criado Perez

'King's memoir is heart breaking and hopeful; a devastating true story that teaches us how the pursuit of knowledge can be a path to both freedom and breath taking grace’– Tim Minchin

‘A brilliant writer’– Adam Kay‘ 

As always, we look forward to seeing you. 

Catherine & Claire