‘My Life is My Word’ is the autobiography of Malcolm Le Hair, and is a heartfelt and captivating account of the ups and downs of his life, touching on issues ranging from experimental medical LSD treatments, wartime poverty and abuse to religion, loss and growing older. It tells of the hardships faced in his youth, in which he endured fiery relationships with family members, mental health difficulties and controversial, secretive drug treatments, but also of the happiness which he found in religion, work and family in his later life. The book is at times a solemn, even searing account of personal and political injustices, but is also a tribute to Malcolm’s loved ones, and to those who have shown him kindness in the more testing periods of his life.

‘My Life is My Word’ shows how the world has changed across Malcolm’s life, depicting the danger and camaraderie of wartime and rationing, the slow improvements in the initially shockingly careless treatment of people with mental and physical disabilities, and the growing presence of the Internet, allowing Malcolm and his family to contact many distant relatives. The book also features Malcolm’s descriptions of how religion has done so much for him in his life, and has helped him to make great friends wherever he goes. ‘My Life is My Word’ will be fascinating to anyone interested in how people deal with hardships, be they physical, mental, familial or spiritual.