Image showing a selection of books about neurodiversity

Neurodiversity-books

Reading lists

Books about ADHD, autism, and neurodiversity

Say Goodbye to Should, Would and Could So That You Can

How to be You

The feel-good book packed with practical tips, hacks and habits to learn how to work with your neurodivergent brain, not against it - from the author of the smash-hit book on ADHD, autism and neurodivergence, UNMASKED. 
 
 ‘The book truly changed my life… a must read for newly diagnosed neurodivergent people!’ 5-star reader review 
 
 Following on from her acclaimed book, unmasked, autistic and ADHD creator, writer and consultant Ellie Middleton returns with the empowering and practical guide to break free from expectation and be more you. 
 
 In each chapter, she writes about the eight executive functions that neurodivergent people struggle with including working memory, prioritisation and emotional regulation. 
 
 Written in easy-to-read, bite-sized chunks whizzy brains like hers, Ellie shares 40 simple tips for readers to try out, including:· Creating a launch pad to remember the essentials when you leave the house· Drawing a car park of ideas to help visualise your thoughts and manage impulse control· The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 mindfulness technique to prevent spiralling and regulate emotions· Breaking up each day into Four Quadrants to approach every day with more flexibility 
 
 This isn’t another journal or planner that claims to organize your entire life (Ellie is the first to admit that she doesn’t have things under control 100% of the time). This also is not a book about how to fit into the neurotypical way of doing things (aka masking). 
 
 Instead, Ellie reveals why society tells us that we ‘should’ do things (read: patriarchy, ableism, White supremacy) and shows us how we can all free ourselves of those expectations, feel empowered and, ultimately, be more YOU. 
 
 Praise for Ellie Middleton and How to Be You: 
 
 'This book will change lives! A cracking read and a must for folks with brains who do things differently' Heidi Mavir, bestselling author of Your Child is Not Broken 
 
 'I loved it. I'm so impressed by Ellie's courage and wisdom, this book is comforting and clever, but most of all kind' Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable and Careering 
 
 ‘Reassuring, liberating and empowering’ Emma Reed Turrell, psychotherapist and author of Please Yourself 
 
 ‘An excellent antidote to all the ‘shoulds’ that neurodivergent people get from society’ 5-star reader review 
 
 ‘Massively validating and educational’ 5-star reader review 
 
 ‘Inspiring and insightful’ 5-star reader review 
 
 ‘A book that everyone should read’ 5-star reader review

Ellie Middleton is an activist, speaker and writer committed to breaking taboos and empowering neurodivergent people to thrive in and out of the workplace. She is the founder of (un)masked, a community for neurodivergent people and author of the smash-hit UNMASKED. How to Be You is her second book.

The feel-good book packed with practical tips from the author of the smash-hit book on ADHD, autism and neurodivergence, UNMASKED. 
 
Ellie Middleton is back with a new, practical book to help you work WITH your neurodivergent brain rather than AGAINST it. 
 
In each chapter, she writes about the eight executive functions that neurodivergent people struggle with including working memory, prioritisation and emotional regulation and shares simple tips for readers to try out. 
 
This isn’t another journal or planner that claims to organize your entire life because Ellie is the first to admit that she doesn’t have things under control 100% of the time. This also is not a book about how to fit into the neurotypical way of doing things (aka masking). 
 
Instead, Ellie reveals why society tells us that we ‘should’ do things (read: patriarchy, ableism, White supremacy) and shows us how we can all free ourselves of those expectations, feel empowered and, ultimately, be more YOU.

Ellie Middleton

This book will change lives! A cracking read and a must for folks with brains who do things differently

Heidi Mavir, author of Sunday Times Bestseller, Your Child Is Not Broken

Brilliant deep dive into neurodivergence: provoked many eureka! moments.

Catherine Gray, author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober

I absolutely LOVED Ellie's book - her advice is reassuring, liberating and empowering and will help you be more you

Emma Reed Turrell, author of Please Yourself

I loved it. I'm so impressed by Ellie's courage and wisdom, this book is comforting and clever, but most of all kind

As someone who is neurodivergent, I think Ellie Middleton is the perfect voice to represent what is a beautiful but vastly misunderstood way of being. Her work is so important, this book will be a gamechanger.

A compassionate and informative account of how to work with your brain and the patchwork nature of diversity. Neurologists listen - you need to use this in your diagnoses

Camilla Pang, author of the prize-winning Explaining Humans

Ellie's book is like having a heart-to-heart with your BFF who just 'gets' your brain! Packed with personal & relatable stories, practical tips, and still manages to educate at the same time. It's a must-read to make our world more inclusive and understanding for neurodivergent people.

This book will change your life - and the world. An inspiring & validating reminder for neurodivergent people that they are not alone. I can't wait to recommend this to the people I coach.

I'm in awe - can't stop reading. So many lightbulb moments and so beautifully written, beautiful gorgeous incredible.

Finding out that you're neurodivergent generates as many questions as it answers. Ellie knows this all too well, and takes us on a journey through her deeply relatable story of self-discovery and quest for knowledge, repackaging her intensive research in a digestible, easy-to-use handbook for understanding autism and ADHD. Unmasked is the compassionate, practical and thoughtful guide to neurodivergence we've always deserved. I wish this book had existed when I was growing up as an undiagnosed AuDHDer, and I know that reading Unmasked will give parents, doctors and teachers the knowledge and confidence to finally accommodate and celebrate our differences. Ellie is going to change - and save - lives with this book.

Finally! A book that helps neurodivergent folks understand HOW our brains work and - most importantly - how to work WITH our brains, in a world not built for us. In How To Be You, Ellie serves up pearls of wisdom and practical "life hacks" needed to navigate life as a neurodivergent person, with the acknowledgement that existing in a neurotypical world can be really flipping hard

Heidi Mavr, author of Your Child Is Not Broken

Camilla Pang, author of Explaining Humans

The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence

In 2021 Ellie was diagnosed with autism and ADHD and although it felt like the light had finally been switched on and she wasn't just 'broken', the room before her was messy from a lifetime of being misunderstood. She quickly found that she wasn't the only one, in fact 80% of autistic females remain undiagnosed at age 18 and only 8% of adults affected by ADHD have a formal diagnosis. Even with a diagnosis, most are left asking, what now? 
 
Ellie's mission is to change that. To challenge the common misconceptions about neurodivergent conditions that are preventing marginalised people get the diagnosis they need, and to provide simple, actionable resources so that they can live without the fear and shame that she did. 
 
UNMASKED is Ellie's kind and supportive guide that sheds light on everything from masking to the diagnostic process and from sensory overload to navigating the workplace, so that every reader can better understand themselves and others, and ultimately, make society more inclusive.

Ellie Middleton

Books by Ellie Middleton

Articles featuring Ellie Middleton

Books about ADHD, autism, and neurodiversity

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