A Heart That Works

By: Rob Delaney

Narrated by: Rob Delaney

New York Times bestseller * The New Yorker Best Books of 2022 * Entertainment Weekly Best Books of 2022 * USA Today Best Books of 2022 * Time 100 Must-Read Books of 2022 * Mother Jones Books We Needed in 2022 * People Fall Must Read * 2022 BuzzFeed Fall Reading pick

A visceral and deeply personal memoir by the star of the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe, about love, loss, and fatherhood.

In 2016, Rob Delaney’s one-year-old son, Henry, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The family had moved from Los Angeles to London with their two young boys when Rob’s wife was pregnant with Henry, their third. The move was an adventure and a challenge that would bind them even more tightly together as they navigated the novelty of London, the culture clashes, and the funhouse experience of Rob’s fame—thanks to his role as co-creator and co-star of the hit series Catastrophe. Henry’s illness was a cataclysm that changed everything about their lives. Amid the hospital routine, surgeries, and brutal treatments, they found a newfound community of nurses, aides, caregivers, and fellow parents contending with the unthinkable. Two years later, Henry died, and his family watched their world fall away to reveal the things that matter most.

A Heart That Works is Delaney’s intimate, unflinching, and fiercely funny exploration of what happened–from the harrowing illness to the vivid, bodily impact of grief and the blind, furious rage that followed through to the forceful, unstoppable love that remains. In the madness of his grief, Delaney grapples with the fragile miracle of life, the mysteries of death, and the question of purpose for those left behind. Delaney’s memoir—profound, painful, full of emotion, and bracingly honest—offers solace to those who have faced devastation and shows us how grace may appear even in the darkest times.

©2022 Rob Delaney (P)2022 Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“An affecting portrait of a father’s love for his son.”—Time, 100 Must-Read Books of 2022

“As heartbreaking as the book may be, Delaney’s pitch black humor buoys even the toughest moments. . . . Delaney’s book is ultimately about all-encompassing, heart-exploding love.”—New York Times

“Brave, harrowing, inspiring. . . a wonder.”—People

Wow…. Poignant and vulnerable and real!

Rob Delaney tells a heartbreaking story with love, humor and deep pain. I was completely in awe and listened in one afternoon with tears and laughter. I’ve had my share of loss and related so much to the grief . His descriptions of people’s response to grief and loss is priceless.
This should be required reading. Absolutely loved it.

I didn’t expect to love it that much…

I’m already a huge fan of Rob Delaney, so I’m not surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his book. It’s overwhelmingly raw, honest, vulnerable, beautiful and real — all in the best ways.

Unforgettable book

While I could listen to Rob Delaney read tax code and still be riveted, this deeply personal and honest book was incredible. I would recommend this to anyone.

Gutted and in awe

Rob is insanely captivating. I wanted to listen to the audible because I wanted to hear how he shared this nightmare of a story. While it is every parents nightmare, he brought beauty to a real life story. I haven’t stopped thinking about it, weeping for his family, and hating our health care system even more in the US. Thank you for being brave enough to share intimate details of such a fragile time and trusting readers and listeners with your hardest moments.

Most heartbreakingly beautiful book I’ve ever read

Rob Delaney is a beautiful, vulnerable and incredibly strong human for sharing his story of grief and love about his son, Henry and their short time together. I will probably think of this book daily. It’s an all-encompassing tale about life and death and everything in between.

Surreal

Thank you for being so real with your emotions. For sharing your true thoughts. I cried for you! My lost was before birth and I still don’t want my baby forgotten.
I have a friend that lost a 14 year old child to suicide, I myself now have a 13 year old. I know this is hard for him but you helped me to understand how he may view things. Things he would not say directly to me but may be thinking silently. The hurt the pain and the “Needs”. Thank you for helping me to understand!

Heartbreaking, real, funny and heartbreaking all over again!

Saddest book, but Henry’s farther was so honest and genuine and brought their story to life. You will fall in love with Henry and his parents and siblings and all of those who helped them along the way. Beautifully written and hearing Rob Delaney read this out loud should me a must! Read it and listen to it! I was surprised at how often I laughed out loud and which is a gift he has. It will stay with you.

No word for when a parent loses their child

I know nothing about Rob Delaney and his show Catastrophe; props to whomever marketed it to me via an Instagram interview he did with Honda Kotb.

I have a solid track record of reading or listening to books by people who have experienced great pain and loss (eg: Nora McInerny, Kate Bowler). Some would think it’s morbid, but I think I do it because it helps me feel alive, to know a small slice of their pain. Rob’s book was brilliant and had me gasping for air in chapter 14. Thank you, Rob, for sharing about his life. Thank you for making me cry so hard and making me want to know Henry.

There’s a reason we have a word for when a child loses their parent (orphan), or or when a person loses their spouse (widow/er). But there’s no word for when a parent loses a child because we are not meant to hold that pain. And Rob walks us through that loss in a way that builds empathy. Thank you.

Must Read

Beautiful. Raw. Heart wrenching. I’m a funeral director and this is a must read for anyone who wants some insight on grief and the loss of a child.

Heartbreaking as advertised

Rob Delaney is an absurdly funny and good person, and those qualities still incredibly come through in A Heart That Works, a heartbreaking and raw account that properly records grief to its fullest.