Each book is handmade to order — please allow a short delay for crafting

4,4,4&2 is not just a book — it’s a living, evolving artefact that mirrors the shifting nature of memory itself. Combining innovative design with real lived experience, this unforgettable publication invites readers into a deeply human story of identity, memory and change.

What makes it special

• Uniquely innovative — sections of the book are printed using disappearing ink, allowing the pages to fade over time as a physical metaphor for the cognitive shifts associated with dementia.

• Created with, not just about — 4,4,4&2 is made in close collaboration with Maggie Watson, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in 2021. People living with dementia are collaborators and writers at the heart of this project, shaping the content, form and voice of the book. Maggie’s lived experience leads the narrative.

• Rooted in real life — this “living cookbook” maps the life of Maggie Watson, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in 2021. It weaves together her memories, artefacts, favourite recipes and treasured objects into a vivid personal archive.

• Beautifully hand-crafted — each copy is made by hand in Scotland, using thoughtful production methods that give every book a unique character. Because each edition is handmade to order, your copy will be produced especially for you, meaning a small shipping delay is expected.

• Truly one-of-a-kind — no two books age the same. As the disappearing ink slowly changes, each copy becomes an evolving reflection of the story it tells.

What you receive

• A hand-finished first-edition (148 × 210 mm, 116 pages), full-colour throughout, ring-bound for a tactile, archival feel

• Special additions including tipped-in photographs, diary slips, fold-out maps, chapter posters, post-it notes and recipe inserts

• A multi-sensory experience that blends memoir, cookbook and visual archive into one compelling, deeply personal object

Why this book matters

4,4,4&2 challenges traditional narratives around dementia by presenting memory not as something lost, but as something living, fragile, changing and deeply human. By placing people with dementia at the centre as collaborators and authors, it fosters empathy, awareness and connection — inviting readers to understand dementia from the inside.

Every purchase also contributes to ongoing work to rewrite the story of dementia, amplifying lived experiences and creating space for dignity, identity and hope.