Non-Fiction Resources on Neurodiversity

When my kid was diagnosed with ADHD, I did what I usually do when presented with something unfamiliar: I read. With recommendations from therapists and my very knowledgable cousin, I plumbed the depths of my local libraries and educated myself. Below is my take on only a few of the many books out there about neurodiversity. Every kid and family is different, so some of the books may not work as well for you as they did for me. But if you are starting the journey of learning about ADHD, autism, executive function, and other types of neurodiversity, these are a starting point.

Taking Charge of ADHD by Russell A. Barkley (1995)

I read this one first and found it a good foundation on what it means for someone to have ADHD. It got into the details of what is going on in the brain. I especially liked the explanation of what does not cause ADHD. What the book doesn’t provide (and doesn’t try to) is the nitty-gritty of how to help someone with ADHD.

The Explosive Child by Ross Greene (1998)

I love Greene’s overarching belief: Kids do well when they can. If your kid isn’t succeeeding at a task, it’s because they don’t know how to do it, not out of malice or disregard. The book presents a clear, step-by-step approach to solve problems collaboratively with your child, which is a big move away from the more common authoratative approach to parenting.

Smart but Scattered Teens: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare (2008)

This book really breaks down the elements that make up executive function and how to provide scaffolding for your kids as they develop those skills over time. At one point the authors say that parents should act as the kid’s prefrontal cortex for awhile. It helped me think about how much help I ought to provide and what kind of help is the most productive.

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman (2015)

I don’t recommend this as a first book to read about autism as it infuriated me in parts when having to read about the terrible treatment in the past of neurodivergent individuals. Silberman presents a journalist’s view into the history of autism. One thing I really liked about it was how it debunked the idea of an explosion of autism — it’s always been there, folks! This is a dense tome that is worth a read, but expect it to take time to get through.

How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe (2024)

McCabe’s book, based largely off her YouTube channel, was my favorite for its perspective into my kid’s brain. It really helped me empathize with what folks with ADHD experience and how to help create a more ADHD-friendly house, school, and world. If only I could get my kid to read it…