10 of the best books for adults with ADHD | ADHD Awareness Month

The Autistic Brain: Exploring the Strength of a Different Kind of Mind by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek

This is an incredible blend of scientific insight and lived experience – I love how much the author encourages the nurturing and development of some of the unique skills that autistic people have, rather than emphasising the deficits. It is heavily science-focused, but it draws on personal testimony, too. Some of the scientific information is quite advanced, but there is a lot that echoes the experiences of any neurodivergent individual – it's an absolute must-read.

ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction – from Childhood through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and J. J. Ratey

Ned has been a guest on my podcast, and I admire his work very much. He was one of the first clinicians (he's a psychiatrist) to really understand what ADHD means for a child, and the first to categorise it as a difference, not a disorder. This is a beautifully thorough and celebratory book – both Hallowell and his co-author John Ratey have been diagnosed with ADHD – and it is one of the most hopeful and positive guides I have read.

Autism in Adults by Dr Luke Beardon

Nobody understands autism and autistic people like Luke Beardon. He's done incredible work in advancing the idea that the autistic community – adults and children alike – deserve a world in which they can live comfortably, where adjustments and accommodations are made to allow people to thrive without distress or anxiety.

Autism in Adults is a great place to start if you are newly diagnosed or have someone close to you who might be; it offers huge insight into how it feels to be autistic in the world, and support to help you feel comfortable with your identity.

Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal

One of the key challenges for people with ADHD is that we are easily distracted – it takes a lot to keep us on task sometimes, unless we're hyperfocused (and then we're unstoppable). In Indistractable, Nir Eyal shows us that there are things we can do to help us stop becoming distracted and overwhelmed – by establishing our core values, for example, and understanding our motivation.

Although this book wasn't written specifically for people with ADHD, the author shows how various techniques – such as 'timeboxing' – and some specific tools can help us to stay on task.

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron

ADHD is a neurological difference, while being a Highly Sensitive Person is a personality trait, but they do overlap significantly and affect how someone feels the world. People with ADHD are more inclined to sensory and physical overload, and may find particular situations physically exhausting. RSD makes us very susceptible to feelings of low self-esteem, and we have painful responses to even the smallest criticism.

Elaine Aron's book is super helpful for giving practical and supportive strategies for managing these feelings of overwhelm, regardless of whether we are neurodivergent or neurotypical.

ADHD an A-Z: Figuring it Out Step by Step by Leanne Maskell

Leanne is one of those people who just has an incredible way of breaking down the complexities of ADHD and making it feel easy to digest and understand. Her book takes you through all the different ways in which your life may be impacted by ADHD, from managing your money effectively to dealing with issues at work, and the format is perfect for the ADHD brain. It makes it so much easier to find the piece of information and reassurance you're looking for as and when you need it, without feeling the pressure to read the book in one go.

UNMASKED: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence by Ellie Middleton

Something you'll always see me focus on in my podcast and wider work is the impact of neurodivergence on our mental health and how it's not a one-size-fits-all solution to finding a balance that works for you. Ellie's book does a brilliant job of making you feel seen and understood through her own anecdotes and advice and is a great guide for anyone who is looking to support their loved ones as they seek their own answers to neurodivergence.

All Dogs Have ADHD & All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopman

Who doesn't love a cute picture book with cats and dogs? Cute animals that help you to understand your neurodivergence better! I really enjoy these books as they make it easier to explain and understand behaviours often associated with ADHD and autism, especially to someone who might not have a base understanding.

Kathy Hoopman has written over 30 books on neurodiversity, which have been translated in over 21 languages and it's easy to see why these new pocket-sized editions are a hit with children and adults alike.

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

If you've ever seen Fern in her role as a comedienne and panellist, you'll need no convincing to read her memoir. It is, of course, incredibly funny, but it is also peppered with moments of honesty and vulnerability as well as being very moving. Her frankness is such a wonderful tonic to anyone who has masked for years on end, and in not shying away from the darker moments, Fern presents a rather scathing critique on how neurodiversity is treated differently in young women. It's not always an easy read, but it is a beautiful and eye-opening one.

Odd Girl Out: A powerful memoir of life as an autistic woman in a neurotypical world by Laura James

I often get clinical experts and psychologists on late-diagnosed ADHD and autism in women on my podcast, and I've found that nearly everyone I speak to has a story of how much relief a patient feels after getting a diagnosis. Laura's book explores that first year post-diagnosis – not just the relief, but also the reckoning and self-awareness that comes with taking accountability of past successes and failures. Her voice is always filled with kindness and candour, encouraging the reader to take the lessons learned and move forward with compassion and curiosity for who they always have been.