Please find below a couple of non-fiction books about autism,
ADHD, neurodiversity along with health and wellbeing ☺ ️We have also included
fictional novels with neurodiverse characters. Throughout this reading list you
will discover books which have supported me on my journey from having my
recent Autism diagnosis ☺ along with coming to term with different health
challenges (e.g. recent Type 1 diabetes) and of course my learning
differences…Understanding Different is Good ✨
We hope you have a good time !
Non-fiction books about autism, ADHD, neurodiversity & learning differences
How to Be You by Ellie Middleton (Neurodiverse – Autism / ADHD) Currently
Reading
This book has given me a new understanding of how my
brain is wired differently…. It has helped me to view
everything in a new way ☺ Each chapter gives you a new
insight into helping you understand your neurodiverse mind
and find new coping strategies to help you with your
working memory, prioritisation and emotional regulation.
SpLinter Group (A unique
project for young adults with learning differences across
Northumberland and the surrounding areas)
National Autistic Society (UK’s leading autism charity, offering comprehensive guides
on diagnosis and beyond!)
Resources for
Autism (A UK charity offering virtual advice, family training, and targeted social/youth groups across regions and online)
ADHD adult UK (A peer-led UK charity run by adults
with ADHD that provides a Discord community forum, symptom checkers,
evidence-based guides)
ADDitude Magazine ( A comprehensive
international digital magazine and resource hub featuring expert articles,
webinars, and management)
CHADD Organisation (Children and Adults with Attention-
Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder provides science-based information, parenting
tips, and expert)
Quiet Power by Susan Cain (introverts VS Extroverts) Currently
Reading
Through reading this book I have gained a new understanding
about the way we see introverts and the way Introverts see
themselves. This book has helped me to see the world in a
new way and has shown me new ways to share my voice….
Your voice counts!
Susan Cain – This website features the author Susan Cain and mentions all of the books that she has published along with her lived experiences about being an introvert and how we see the world differently compared to extrovert.
Introvert, Dear –
A popular award-winning community founded by Jenn
Granneman offering articles, support, and guides.
Find her on Instagram here.
Cookfulness by Ian Taverner (Anxiety / Chronic Pain & Mental Health) Browsed
I found this book to be a helpful read since it has
shown me a mindful approach to cooking…. This
book has helped me to learn about the different
tools and opportunities to cook progressively and
repeatedly, making cooking as accessible, flexible
and achievable as possible.
Cookfulness This website features Ian Taverner the disabled cook behind Cookfulness, which also mentions his cookbook that brings awareness different mindful approaches to cooking and ensures that cooking as accessible, flexible
and achievable as possible.
Breathe Well by Aimee Hartley (Mindfulness) Browsed
This book has provided me with helpful exercises to
have a better understanding of meditation. Through
reading this book I have been able to employ a
couple of these exercises to help soothe myself when
I find myself in anxiety provoking situations.
The Breathing Room
(a self-healing technique that helps people to access
the full potential of their breathing system for better
physical, emotional and mental well-being). Find her on Instagram here.
Insight Timer (Features the
world’s largest library of free guided meditations
(hundreds of thousands of tracks), sleep music, and
live virtual even
Tara Brach (Provides a curated collection of free guided meditations focusing on the breath, body scans, andloving-kindness)
Mindful (Explores 1-minute to 15-
minute guided practices and body-scan techniques)
NHS Every Mind Matters (Outlines simple, practical steps for daily
meditation routines and finding a comfortable posture)
Winnie – The – Pooh: The Little Book of Wisdom (Health and Wellbeing) To Be Read
I found this book a delight to look at especially as I
am an avid supporter of Winnie The Pooh and his
companions from the Hundred-Acre Wood…. This
book covers important subjects such as ‘Manners’,
‘Keeping Trim’ and ‘Gastronomic Disappointment’ along
with quotes from the classic much-loved Winnie-
the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner stories by
A.A.Milne and featuring illustrations by E.H.
Shepard.
Just One Thing by Dr Michael Mosley (Health and Wellbeing) Browsed
Or that having more house plants can improve your mood
and boost your productivity
Through reading this book I have learnt that simple
changes to your daily routine can have an impact on
your life. My favourite change has been trying to have
a walk each morning, which is something I have
learnt from reading just one thing.
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker (Health and
Wellbeing) To
Be Read
This book looked like an interesting read…. I
wanted to discover more about sleeping and learn
why it is considered one of the most important
aspects of our life. Especially as Sleep has an
association to every major disease in the
developed world – Alzheimer’s, cancer, obesity,
diabetes and they share very strong causal links to
deficient sleep.
Sleepio (A
digital sleep improvement program based on
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia )
https://sleepio.bighealth.com/
The Daily Artist’s Way: Creative Living Everyday by Julia
Cameron Currently Reading
I came across this book as an alternative to Cameron’s
original 12-week program, The Artist’s Way, which I found too
challenging to commit to all of the different steps and
activities. I much prefer the layout of The Daily Artist’s Way
as this design provides readers through daily creative
practice with its page-a-day entries for every day of the year.
I also like that each entry includes an inspirational quote, a
minute-long meditation, and a focused journal prompt or
affirmation besides that I like that it expands the core
principles of Cameron’s original 12-week program, The Artist’s
Way, which centers on tools like Morning Pages and Artist
Dates.
Fictional – Novels with Neurodiverse Characters
Geek Girl by Holy Smale (Neurodivergent / Autism /
Learning Differences / Dyspraxia) Read
I LOVED this book so much (and I ADORED the netflix
series a lot !) I enjoyed reading this novel because of our
unforgettable protagonist, Harriet Manners who is an
intelligent, awkward, fact-loving teenager but
occasionally struggles to understand the social world
around her. I liked that Harriet is never clinically labeled
with a specific disorder throughout her fictional story – I
believe this is because she’s inspired by the real-life
experiences of the author Holy Smale who was
diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia when she was 39
years old. This story is a humorous and feel-good
coming-of-age novel that explores identity, friendship,
self-acceptance which follows fifteen-year-old Harriet
Manners, a self-proclaimed geek who faces an
unexpected turn when she is discovered by a modelling
agent where she makes an unexpected transformation
into the high profile fashion world. My favourite part of
the novel is that Harriet embodies a character whose
experiences can resonate deeply with readers who are autistic (like myself) and
dyspraxic, or otherwise neurodivergent.
Interesting Information / Links:
Holy Smale: Synaesthesia, hyperlexia and accidentally
writing an autistic book-child (podcast)
The Squarepeg Podcast (social media) – A resource for
late identified autistic & queer women
The autistic joy of Geek Girl: In conversation with Holly Smale (Web article /
interview)
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (Anxiety /
OCD / Mental Health) To Be Read
I have been curious to read this book as I have
liked previous novels written by John Green such
as Fault in our Stars and Paper Towns. I have also
been interested to see how this author writes
about OCD in this novel, which is about two friends
(one of them is living with anxiety and OCD) who
find themselves on a mission to find a fugitive
billionaire- things are about to get even more
complicated.
Interesting Information / Links:
OCD UK ( Charity
based providing advice, information, and support
services for those affected by OCD, and campaign
to end the trivialisation and stigma of OCD)
OCD Challenge (is
a completely free, self-guided program that
those with OCD can utilize to help manage
their symptoms)
Made of Millions (A resource created with the
goal of reducing stigma around mental illness and increasing education and
awareness)
NOCD (A dedicated virtual therapy network
specializing in live, face-to-face Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with
licensed specialists, plus peer community tools. Their network exists to help
provide information, support, guidance and virtual therapy for individuals with
OCD)https://www.treatmyocd.com/learn/blog
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (Mental Health /
Anxiety / Panic Attacks) Read
I LOVED reading this book as I found myself
connecting with Audrey as she discovered who she
was whilst also finding new coping strategies to
support her during an anxious period or panic
attacks. I found it helpful reading about a fictional
character’s experience with anxiety since Audrey
had been so proactive as she was constantly trying
to get herself better. I also enjoyed reading the
romance aspect to the book as I liked seeing
Audrey so happy all of a sudden. Linus was a great
addition (and such a bubbly character)…. I
particularly liked that he was willing to go along
with Audrey whilst ensuring she felt comfortable
and less anxious. My favourite part of the novel
was that Audrey had to create a short
documentary of her family, which was part of her
therapy and recovery. Therefore, we had the
opportunity to see a couple of pages of script every
once in a while – I liked how Kinsella incorporated screenplay writing within
Audrey’s story.
Interesting Information / Links:
Mind (A prominent mental health charity in England
and Wales. This service provides advice, advocacy, and support to empower
anyone experiencing a mental health problem)
Anxiety UK (A national charity run by and for
people with anxiety offering talking therapies, peer support groups, an
information hub, and free downloadable resources)
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Neurodivergent /
Autism / OCD) Read
I ENJOYED reading this heartwarming novel which follows
Don Tillman, a geneticist who devises the Wife Project, a
scientific test to find the perfect partner. However this test
which Don creates to help himself find a partner might
actually represent with many the identifying factors of
autism. Throughout this project Don encounters Rosie –
‘the world’s most incompatible woman’ – who succeeds in
throwing Don’s safe, ordered life into chaos. This book
helps to explore many of the problems encountered by
neurodivergent people come from trying to engage in a
society that isn’t made for them.
Am I Normal Yet by Holly Bourne (Mental Health / OCD /
Anxiety) To Be Read
I haven’t had a chance to read this book yet, though it has
been recommended to me countless times… since this
novel covers topics such as mental illness, feminism, and
friendship. This book follows Evie, a sixteen year old girl
who has OCD and anxiety. At the beginning Evie is about
to begin college where she’s trying to appear as ‘normal’
as possible by suppressing her illness. However Evie will
start attending parties, on dates and making new friends,
but as she starts getting closer to the new people in her
life, she’ll begin to find it harder to keep her OCD hidden.
This novel also touches upon feminism as it introduces
Evie and her new friends become increasingly aware of
how messed up our society is when it comes to gender
equality they decide to do something about it. Together
they form the Spinster club where they discuss feminist
issues and what it’s like to be a teenage girl.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Learning Difficulties / Dyslexia, Dyscalculia,
Dyspraxia / ADHD & Neurodivergent) Read
I ADORED reading this adventure fantasy novel set
during modern day with an Ancient Greek crossover. I
liked this book particularly as the novel makes us
change our view of dyslexia and ADHD as, not
disabilities but as different ways of thinking that have
their own strengths and value. Whilst I read this as a
teenager I didn’t appreciate that Percy’s quest also
reflects the real-life experiences of many who have
learnt to transform their learning challenges into
superpowers.
Percy Jackson’s ADHD and Dyslexia: A Novel Take on Neurodivergence (Web article)
“Percy Jackson ”Was Inspired by The Author’s Son’s Struggles With ADHD And Dyslexia
Additional Links
Davis Method Unlocking
neurodivergent potential ( A support service for Reading, spelling, writing or
studying (including dyslexia) / Maths (including dyscalculia) / Attention & Focus
(including ADHD) & Executive Functioning) https://www.davismethod.co.uk/blog
Book Therapy / Bibliotherapy ( The
healing power of reading) Find her on Instagram here.
Happy reading ☺️ Please follow @lauriebooks_ for new bookish inspiration and
@splintergroupnorth for new upcoming activities ✨
