I Swear

Brave, shocking, funny and moving, I SWEAR opens our eyes to the reality of living with a complex condition. This is a really important book. – Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Homemade GodMost books have one plot twist, one villain and a happy ending, but this one has generous helpings of each … Beyond its inevitable shock factor, this skilfully told tale deserves praise for how it lets us non-sweary people see inside the ordinary, albeit anxious, mind of someone with Tourette syndrome, – Ceci Browning * The Times *An astonishing tale about an amazing man. If this book were given out to schools it would triple the empathy levels for Tourette’s. – Jojo MoyesThis superb book is an engaging and fascinating account of what it’s like to live with Tourette’s. * Daily Mail *

John Davidson MBE was born in 1971 in Galashiels. After leaving school without qualifications, he began work as a caretaker at Langlee Community Centre in Galashiels, where since 2002 he has also been a part-time youth worker.

Aged sixteen, John was the subject of a BBC documentary, John’s Not Mad, about living with Tourette’s syndrome, and he has since been an ambassador for the condition, giving talks and workshops in schools and to the police, and running residential camps for young people with Tourette’s. Since 1989 he has featured in several follow-up documentaries; Kirk Jones’s 2025 film I Swear is based on John’s life.

In 2019 John joined the board of Tourette Scotland and was awarded an MBE in recognition of ‘his efforts to increase understanding of the condition and helping families deal with it across the country’. He has also gained international recognition for his online support for families all over the world.