I Swear: My Life with Tourette's

By John Davidson

From the remarkable man whose life inspired the powerful film I Swear comes an extraordinary memoir offering rare insight into what it's like to live with a severe form of Tourette's syndrome--a complex, often misunderstood condition that affects roughly 1 in 100 school-aged children.

Growing up in the 1970s in the Scottish Borders, John was ten years old when his tics appeared suddenly, as if out of nowhere. Once a happy, popular, football-loving boy, he was quickly labeled disruptive, rude, and even "mad." As his tics intensified--from blinks and jerks to involuntary shouting of rude and obscene words--John was bullied, rejected, and pushed to the margins of a community that had no idea how to understand him. Hospitalized and heavily medicated for months, he faced isolation not only from society but at times from his own family.

What ultimately changed his life was an extraordinary friendship, coupled with John's relentless optimism and refusal to give up. I Swear is an inspiring story of resilience, courage, and survival--proof that even in the darkest moments, connection and compassion can transform everything.

Through John's eyes, Tourette's becomes more than a diagnosis. It's a lens through which we can better understand empathy, persistence, and the essential human need to be seen, heard, and accepted.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1804997706
• ISBN13: 9781804997703
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 304 Pages