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ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD
Hi, friend! Welcome to the ADHD club.
You're here because, like me, you've been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—which, by the way, just might be the worst name for a condition ever—and you're trying to figure out how to make your life a little more manageable. Or because, like my wife, Kim, you love, teach, or work with someone who has ADHD, and you're trying to figure out how to best support them.
The world isn't built for ADHDers, and navigating it can wear us down. But we'll let you in on a little secret: having ADHD doesn't have to be a burden. It can actually be a superpower that propels you to creative heights and allows you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.
We want to give you a new perspective on ADHD, whether it's your own brain or a friend or family member's that you're trying to understand. We hope you come away with strategies you can employ to make things a little easier. (We also hope you laugh out loud, at least once or twice.)
Most of all, we want you to silence that voice that whispers that you're broken or a mess or a failure. None of that is true. You have ADHD—and that makes you awesome.
—Penn Holderness
You're here because, like me, you've been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—which, by the way, just might be the worst name for a condition ever—and you're trying to figure out how to make your life a little more manageable. Or because, like my wife, Kim, you love, teach, or work with someone who has ADHD, and you're trying to figure out how to best support them.
The world isn't built for ADHDers, and navigating it can wear us down. But we'll let you in on a little secret: having ADHD doesn't have to be a burden. It can actually be a superpower that propels you to creative heights and allows you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.
We want to give you a new perspective on ADHD, whether it's your own brain or a friend or family member's that you're trying to understand. We hope you come away with strategies you can employ to make things a little easier. (We also hope you laugh out loud, at least once or twice.)
Most of all, we want you to silence that voice that whispers that you're broken or a mess or a failure. None of that is true. You have ADHD—and that makes you awesome.
—Penn Holderness
292 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2024
3,241 people are currently reading
9,801 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,294 reviews
June 18, 2024
I am surprised there are so many 4-5 star reviews and I am wondering if any of you actually have ADHD. This book read as very privileged. Hardly any discussion regarding medication because penn only tried one and didn’t like it and never had to go back on it again, this is bad advice imo for adhders because the majority of us do not have a million dollars to quit our jobs and become Internet personalities and medication is the #1 life changing factor for the majority of us that allows us to function and stay on task.
June 26, 2024
This is probably one of the most interesting reviews that I’ve ever sat down to write. It’s very easy, you see, to write a review about a piece of fiction. It’s also easy, I think, to review non-fiction related to history, education, politics, or a memoir. And I guess I always feel a little weird when I’m reviewing something that could be classified as a self-help memoir. Often, I’ve found myself measuring books like this based on the quality of the support provided and I generally don’t read them incredibly often.
ADHD is Awesome is the sort of book I sit down with feeling as though I learned a lot and found quite a large amount of it useful—whether to myself or my partner—but am also cognizant of how very personalized the story is due to the numerous personal experiences highlighted on by the authors.
Suffice to say, I think that this entire book is very useful. I think there is a lot of information that can be gleaned from it and it was certainly far more of an entertaining read than your typical ADHD support book. That said, there are also sections that feel as though they contain more fluff than is really necessary. And ultimately, I think it’s important to take the authors at their word: this is not the end all be all of ADHD books. It’s a tips and tricks sort of book with a side of personal stories with the hope that readers may find pieces of the advice useful in their day to day. It’s a positive hype up to support those who have negative feelings about their diagnosis or life struggles.
And there’s a lot of merit in that.
But if you’re reading this because you’re hoping this will be the one and only book you have to read about ADHD, it’s probably not going to do what you want it to.
As an educator who works daily with a large variety of students, many who have very similar struggles, a lot of the information in this book rang true for how we should treat children. In fact, much of what I do as an educator to encourage and support fell in line with a lot of what Holderness said about how we should be treating our ADHD adults. It’s such a wonderful thing to see and a truly interesting topic of conversation to have.
Why is it we talk so much about encouragement and positive reinforcement with children and not adults? I think it has generally been proven over and over again that this approach is the best possible one you could have. It’s across the board with children, with adults, with dogs, with everyone. If nothing else, I think that is the most important takeaway to leave this book with.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ADHD is Awesome is the sort of book I sit down with feeling as though I learned a lot and found quite a large amount of it useful—whether to myself or my partner—but am also cognizant of how very personalized the story is due to the numerous personal experiences highlighted on by the authors.
Suffice to say, I think that this entire book is very useful. I think there is a lot of information that can be gleaned from it and it was certainly far more of an entertaining read than your typical ADHD support book. That said, there are also sections that feel as though they contain more fluff than is really necessary. And ultimately, I think it’s important to take the authors at their word: this is not the end all be all of ADHD books. It’s a tips and tricks sort of book with a side of personal stories with the hope that readers may find pieces of the advice useful in their day to day. It’s a positive hype up to support those who have negative feelings about their diagnosis or life struggles.
And there’s a lot of merit in that.
But if you’re reading this because you’re hoping this will be the one and only book you have to read about ADHD, it’s probably not going to do what you want it to.
As an educator who works daily with a large variety of students, many who have very similar struggles, a lot of the information in this book rang true for how we should treat children. In fact, much of what I do as an educator to encourage and support fell in line with a lot of what Holderness said about how we should be treating our ADHD adults. It’s such a wonderful thing to see and a truly interesting topic of conversation to have.
Why is it we talk so much about encouragement and positive reinforcement with children and not adults? I think it has generally been proven over and over again that this approach is the best possible one you could have. It’s across the board with children, with adults, with dogs, with everyone. If nothing else, I think that is the most important takeaway to leave this book with.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2024
ADHD IS awesome, but this book wasn't for me.
I checked this book out to help me understand my husband who has ADHD more. My husband is brilliant but doesn't do well with conventional studying and clashes at times with my messy craft disasters.
This book rubbed me the wrong way because the author, Penn, was really only describing and using anecdotes from his own side of the spectrum of ADHD. He continues to play up this lovable duffus character that he uses to describe himself. This is almost the exact opposite of how my husband expresses his ADHD. While Penn and Kim continue to remark that ADHD is a spectrum I couldn't connect any of their anecdotes to how me and my husband deal with his ADHD.
My husband is quiet, shy, always researching and enriching himself. He is a bit of a dare devil and loves mastering any sport or skill that involves a motor. Such as, motorcycles, cars, putting an engine into a lawn mower, etc. He also did firefighting and EMT to get his adrenaline fix before COVID. Currently he's learning Japanese like it's his second job and getting ready to rally his car.
He told me he was a renaissance man when I met him. Meaning his focus changes rapidly and he likes to be good at many things instead of great at one thing.
All that being said, I am being kind when I say "my husband and Penn could never be friends". Their ADHDs clash too much and I don't think I gained any insight reading this book.
I really hope it helps others though
I checked this book out to help me understand my husband who has ADHD more. My husband is brilliant but doesn't do well with conventional studying and clashes at times with my messy craft disasters.
This book rubbed me the wrong way because the author, Penn, was really only describing and using anecdotes from his own side of the spectrum of ADHD. He continues to play up this lovable duffus character that he uses to describe himself. This is almost the exact opposite of how my husband expresses his ADHD. While Penn and Kim continue to remark that ADHD is a spectrum I couldn't connect any of their anecdotes to how me and my husband deal with his ADHD.
My husband is quiet, shy, always researching and enriching himself. He is a bit of a dare devil and loves mastering any sport or skill that involves a motor. Such as, motorcycles, cars, putting an engine into a lawn mower, etc. He also did firefighting and EMT to get his adrenaline fix before COVID. Currently he's learning Japanese like it's his second job and getting ready to rally his car.
He told me he was a renaissance man when I met him. Meaning his focus changes rapidly and he likes to be good at many things instead of great at one thing.
All that being said, I am being kind when I say "my husband and Penn could never be friends". Their ADHDs clash too much and I don't think I gained any insight reading this book.
I really hope it helps others though
February 25, 2025
What an awesome introduction to a topic that may not necessarily always feel so awesome.
Penn and Kim bring a wonderful sense of enthusiasm and humor to their interpretation of what it’s like to either experience life, or share a life with someone, with ADHD. Lighthearted but not flippant, the two describe the condition with examples and common scenarios for readers and encouragement along the way. The trivia and “squirrel� moments are so very appreciated and are amusing side quests.
The book is great, but the audiobook is fantastic. Fans of the Holderness Family will want to hear the candid narration of the awesome book. - Sara W.
Penn and Kim bring a wonderful sense of enthusiasm and humor to their interpretation of what it’s like to either experience life, or share a life with someone, with ADHD. Lighthearted but not flippant, the two describe the condition with examples and common scenarios for readers and encouragement along the way. The trivia and “squirrel� moments are so very appreciated and are amusing side quests.
The book is great, but the audiobook is fantastic. Fans of the Holderness Family will want to hear the candid narration of the awesome book. - Sara W.
May 9, 2024
Your mileage may vary with this one, depending on whether or not you can stomach Internet personalities. It’s quite good when they talk about their relationship and ADHD, tips for ADHDers and caregivers, parents, giving yourself and others grace, etc. All of the stuff about making videos and writing and the family business was completely tedious, and they come off as very privileged when taking about winning a million dollars on the Amazing Race and suggesting ADHDers just building their own home with whatever amazing things they’d like to live with. Overall recommend, but with those caveats.
May 20, 2024
3.5 Stars
A funny light hearted self help novel that offers some simple but sometimes helpful tips for living with ADHD (or living for someone with ADHD. It took me a minute to recognize that this was the same couple I occasionally watch on YouTube. A fun positive book.
A funny light hearted self help novel that offers some simple but sometimes helpful tips for living with ADHD (or living for someone with ADHD. It took me a minute to recognize that this was the same couple I occasionally watch on YouTube. A fun positive book.
June 29, 2024
Should be titled HYPERACTIVE ADHD Is Awesome. Only a tiny bit in the beginning about inattentive ADHD, which is what I have.
I couldn’t relate at all with the bumbling, helpless, aw-shucks routine Penn Holderness puts out. My fiancé has hyperactive ADHD like Holderness (and is medicated) and has only exhibited a fraction of the chaos that Holderness seems to generate.
I couldn’t relate at all with the bumbling, helpless, aw-shucks routine Penn Holderness puts out. My fiancé has hyperactive ADHD like Holderness (and is medicated) and has only exhibited a fraction of the chaos that Holderness seems to generate.
May 29, 2024
This book is BEYOND awesome! If you are on a journey learning more about ADHD, this is the book to add to your reading list 🙌🏾
November 26, 2024
I'm not actually familiar with the authors, but apparently they are fairly well-known YouTubers who, among other things, talk about living with ADHD as an adult.
I liked this as a fairly upbeat book that also talks about the challenges that come with ADHD. It's written from the perspective of someone who actually lives with it, though they admit it can look a bit different for everyone. I feel like I learned some things and took away solid suggestions. They do speak to caregivers in how you can support a child with ADHD as well, which is helpful. I'll admit it does read a little bit like a parentified relationship in this marriage, but they also seem to be aware of that and trying to modify it as much as they can. Not the only thing to read, but I'm glad I picked it up.
I liked this as a fairly upbeat book that also talks about the challenges that come with ADHD. It's written from the perspective of someone who actually lives with it, though they admit it can look a bit different for everyone. I feel like I learned some things and took away solid suggestions. They do speak to caregivers in how you can support a child with ADHD as well, which is helpful. I'll admit it does read a little bit like a parentified relationship in this marriage, but they also seem to be aware of that and trying to modify it as much as they can. Not the only thing to read, but I'm glad I picked it up.
August 5, 2024
Oof. I tried the audiobook and it was so incredibly irritating. Maybe I would have liked it better if I read it? But as someone with ADHD, I dont read books much, hence opting for the audiobooks instead.
The vibe of this audiobook was like listening to a radio show. Wayyyyy too much excitement to be taken seriously. I was waiting for some story about committing their lives to Jesus because of the weird, over-the-top upbeat nature of it.
Obviously, it’s good for some people but damn. This really rubbed me the wrong way.
The vibe of this audiobook was like listening to a radio show. Wayyyyy too much excitement to be taken seriously. I was waiting for some story about committing their lives to Jesus because of the weird, over-the-top upbeat nature of it.
Obviously, it’s good for some people but damn. This really rubbed me the wrong way.
March 11, 2025
Not too sciencey, funny (esp on audio!), and really helpful. This is the book I’d want my son’s aunts/uncles, grandparents, family friends, and teachers to read. It’s lay level in its accessibility but it’s still a good look at ADHD and how to support the ADHDer in your life.
May 30, 2024
This book offers an engaging, hilarious, and uplifting guide for individuals living with a partner who has been diagnosed with ADHD. The co-authors (husband/wife team Penn and Kim) share how ADHD has impacted their lives and the steps they've taken to protect their relationship. They highlight the importance of a proper diagnosis and provide practical tips for managing ADHD for both individuals and families.
Readers will learn about working memory, emotional flooding, and other aspects of ADHD. The book offers funny insights and research-based advice in an easy-to-digest format. It effectively balances the positives and negatives of ADHD, providing strategies for leveraging ADHD to one's advantage and managing distractions.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
Readers will learn about working memory, emotional flooding, and other aspects of ADHD. The book offers funny insights and research-based advice in an easy-to-digest format. It effectively balances the positives and negatives of ADHD, providing strategies for leveraging ADHD to one's advantage and managing distractions.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
August 9, 2024
This is one of the most informative and enjoyable books about ADHD I have read to date.
Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness are the husband and wife team that wrote and narrated the book like a podcast. By the way, they have a podcast called The Holderness Family podcast, of all things!
Playing to those of us who have ADHD, the pace is fast and lively. Yet quite conversational. In this case, the person with ADHD was the husband, and the loving wife put up with his antics. I think what they presented was universal. I would like to see this done with a female with ADHD as the circumstances change drastically. But the family tried to point out some of those differences.
The best part, besides the camaraderie, was some of the ways the ADHDers or their families and friends can conquer, change, or make allowances for all that energy and distraction. Kim showed that she wasn't a saint but learned ways to help her husband become a super-daddy, husband, co-worker, or friend by offering supportive ideas.
I was lucky enough to find this audiobook on Libby, but I plan to buy my own paper and Audible copies soon. I could use a many-layered approach. If you want to better understand this superpower and/or disability, I think you would enjoy this.
Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness are the husband and wife team that wrote and narrated the book like a podcast. By the way, they have a podcast called The Holderness Family podcast, of all things!
Playing to those of us who have ADHD, the pace is fast and lively. Yet quite conversational. In this case, the person with ADHD was the husband, and the loving wife put up with his antics. I think what they presented was universal. I would like to see this done with a female with ADHD as the circumstances change drastically. But the family tried to point out some of those differences.
The best part, besides the camaraderie, was some of the ways the ADHDers or their families and friends can conquer, change, or make allowances for all that energy and distraction. Kim showed that she wasn't a saint but learned ways to help her husband become a super-daddy, husband, co-worker, or friend by offering supportive ideas.
I was lucky enough to find this audiobook on Libby, but I plan to buy my own paper and Audible copies soon. I could use a many-layered approach. If you want to better understand this superpower and/or disability, I think you would enjoy this.
August 24, 2024
4.5 rounded up � affirming, easy to digest, and ultimately helpful for applying to real life.
October 9, 2024
I read this just to know a little bit more about ADHD since my partner has it and I am trying to understand him better. Very informative since it was the point of view of the husband who has ADHD and the wife who does not.
December 3, 2024
A memoir style book about ADHD. It's entertaining and well written, but the scope is quite narrow. It talks a lot about the author's type of ADHD, but not much about other presentations of it. The authors have built their life to be ADHD friendly, and many of their tips are from that privileged position that many people will not be able to match. Useful if you're just starting to learn about ADHD, but less useful if you're looking for new or specific information.
December 28, 2024
The name of the book should have been PENN is awesome.
This book is about Penn Holderness, an Internet personality and the amazing race winner who happens to have ADHD.
It is a happy bubbly book about how fun and creative and awesome Penn is, and how he enjoys having ADHD.
I can understand that if you are a rich celebrity with supportive family and friends, you would enjoy your life.
But that is not everyone’s experience with ADHD. Not every neurodivergent is extrovert or rich or male or American or celebrity or works in entertainment industry.
This book is about Penn Holderness, an Internet personality and the amazing race winner who happens to have ADHD.
It is a happy bubbly book about how fun and creative and awesome Penn is, and how he enjoys having ADHD.
I can understand that if you are a rich celebrity with supportive family and friends, you would enjoy your life.
But that is not everyone’s experience with ADHD. Not every neurodivergent is extrovert or rich or male or American or celebrity or works in entertainment industry.
July 4, 2024
This was a very fun read. I really appreciated the positive tone with a realistic outlook. I knew going in that I was reading a bit of a life story of ADHD from a male experience. It's probably important for people to know that female ADHD often presents differently. Still, this is a book you could hand to a teen or adult with ADHD (or someone who loves that person) to learn more without feeling deflated.
July 26, 2024
I really enjoy Penn and Kim's content and I have ADHD, so I was really looking forward to reading this. While I am glad they are spreading awareness, I felt this missed the mark. Penn talks about ADHD as if everyone presents the same way- like him. He makes blanket statements such as ADHDers are the life of the party. However, women (can) present very differently than men. I have pretty severe ADHD and I could relate to very little of what Penn said.
May 5, 2024
Hearing Penn and Kim's perspectives in this book taught me to empathize with my partner with ADHD. The book is approachable to read with the illustrations and small sections which made me want to continue reading. The book's main messages to be kind to yourself, have a support team and you can change over time are lessons applicable to anyone.
August 12, 2024
I read this book wanting to understand more about ADHD. In the process of reading it I was diagnosed and so was my child with ADHD. It’s very refreshing and interesting to understand why our brains work differently. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or knows anyone with ADHD. It was super easy to listen to!
July 24, 2024
3.5, i don’t think this actually helped in anyway. felt more biographical rather than helpful (which is fine but don’t claim that it’s a help book if it’s not)
January 16, 2025
I am genuinely shocked that this book is so highly rated. It is supposed to offer a positive spin on ADHD and to “offer targeted tools and techniques� but all it does is present a series of stories about Penn and an “aw, shucks, I lost my keys again, silly me!� perspective.
The tools and techniques include things like checklists, post-its, buying a big phone 🙄 � and apparently having your partner remind you to pick up your socks, leave you lists, and explain tasks like changing a lightbulb in painstaking detail.
If you follow the “advice� in this book, you will be adding to the mental load of your partner, taking no accountability for your actions, and essentially being an adult child who seems to shrug and say “my neurodivergent brain is awesome - my bad if it inconveniences you!�
I would like to preface this next bit with the fact that I myself have ADHD. I understand the neurodivergent brain and the absolute inability to function “normally� that comes with this diagnosis. I understand that those of us with ADHD who leave the stove on (guilty as charged) and lose things often are not doing so on purpose and that most of us would change it if we could. But there’s unapologetically accepting and embracing your diagnosis and then there’s this.
I found this book incredibly condescending at times - like when it basically implies that the fact you made it halfway through is earth-shattering. The description itself is condescending: “The engaging, uplifting antidote to traditional ADHD books (which, let's be honest, if you have ADHD you'd never read anyway). I’ve actually read several books about ADHD, thank you very much.
This book is just Penn waxing poetic about how cute and charming he thinks he is because he left his water bottle in the mailbox.
I would have dnf’d, but my OCD won’t let me leave a book unread.
If you’re looking for real strategies and techniques to help you manage life with ADHD, this book is not for you. If you’re looking for someone to pat you on the back and justify your sh!tty behaviour, then read on.
The tools and techniques include things like checklists, post-its, buying a big phone 🙄 � and apparently having your partner remind you to pick up your socks, leave you lists, and explain tasks like changing a lightbulb in painstaking detail.
If you follow the “advice� in this book, you will be adding to the mental load of your partner, taking no accountability for your actions, and essentially being an adult child who seems to shrug and say “my neurodivergent brain is awesome - my bad if it inconveniences you!�
I would like to preface this next bit with the fact that I myself have ADHD. I understand the neurodivergent brain and the absolute inability to function “normally� that comes with this diagnosis. I understand that those of us with ADHD who leave the stove on (guilty as charged) and lose things often are not doing so on purpose and that most of us would change it if we could. But there’s unapologetically accepting and embracing your diagnosis and then there’s this.
I found this book incredibly condescending at times - like when it basically implies that the fact you made it halfway through is earth-shattering. The description itself is condescending: “The engaging, uplifting antidote to traditional ADHD books (which, let's be honest, if you have ADHD you'd never read anyway). I’ve actually read several books about ADHD, thank you very much.
This book is just Penn waxing poetic about how cute and charming he thinks he is because he left his water bottle in the mailbox.
I would have dnf’d, but my OCD won’t let me leave a book unread.
If you’re looking for real strategies and techniques to help you manage life with ADHD, this book is not for you. If you’re looking for someone to pat you on the back and justify your sh!tty behaviour, then read on.
July 26, 2024
painfully self-promoting. for someone who is new to an ADHD diagnosis this *might* be a helpful resource, if you can get past the author's many, many examples of his own ADHD. There's so much fluff and nonsense to process before you can get to anything remotely helpful that it's a frustrating read for a person who does not have ADHD and, in my opinion, too distracting and all over the place for a reader who has ADHD to concentrate on. Are there helpful tidbits here? Sure. For me, a non-ADHD person partnered with an ADHD person, there were some gentle reminders that were good to revisit. For my ADHD husband, his response was, 'I already know all of this.' And he's right. there was nothing new or groundbreaking here and the main author's writing felt more geared towards children, not adults. If you have already taken the time to research your diagnosis I'd be surprised you'd find anything new or particularly interesting here but worth a glance if you are looking for a light read to reinforce existing ideas and information.
January 17, 2025
I love the Holderness family. This book was very insightful while also being lighthearted about a serious topic. I definitely learned some things while also enjoying listening to Penn and Kim. 🎧
October 29, 2024
An upbeat, encouraging, yet realistic account of life with ADHD and how to navigate it’s ups and downs.
September 27, 2024
5 Stars- If you or anyone you love has ADHD, this book is awesome! So much valuable information that’s told with compassion, humor and positivity. I loved it!
April 30, 2024
ADHD is Awesome by Penn & Kim Holderness
Disclaimer: I got this book as an Advanced Reader Copy for free from Kate at Plaid Elephant Books in exchange for my honest review.
I am sure you have seen the Holderness Family’s videos. They’re pretty funny. My personal favorite is the one about Gen X. (Link at the bottom of the review). The authors are “content creators� who have also won The Amazing Race. They are entertaining people, and, unsurprisingly if you have seen their videos, Penn has ADHD.
Now, I have two degrees in special ed, have 15 years experience in teaching special ed, and somehow didn’t realize that I had ADHD until I was in my 40s, so I am not quite the expert on it that I thought I was. (In my defense, I went to undergrad during the time that people legitimately didn’t think girls got ADHD or Autism. Crazy, huh?) So I went into this book with more knowledge than most, but still not an expert.
Overall, the book was easy to read, well written, and entertaining. It is neither a research nor scholarly book, it is about one man’s experience and how he decides to view his neurodivergence as a strength. It also features excerpts from his wife about loving someone whose brain can’t sit still, and advice from both about how to live with the struggles of constantly losing, forgetting, or getting distracted. I enjoyed it, but would not call it life changing by any means. If you have a child or spouse with ADHD, or if you are a later in life diagnosis like I am, or may be beneficial. Having the special ed experience that I do, a lot of it was common sense to me (visual reminders, routines, etc), but I liked the emphasis he put on the emotional side of it, not just the practical side. How he would feel down, then remind himself of his ability to hyper focus. How his wife learned to cue him in when she needed his undivided attention. It’s good stuff, especially if this is a totally new topic to you. And for a nonfiction book, it is a pretty entertaining read.
Disclaimer: I got this book as an Advanced Reader Copy for free from Kate at Plaid Elephant Books in exchange for my honest review.
I am sure you have seen the Holderness Family’s videos. They’re pretty funny. My personal favorite is the one about Gen X. (Link at the bottom of the review). The authors are “content creators� who have also won The Amazing Race. They are entertaining people, and, unsurprisingly if you have seen their videos, Penn has ADHD.
Now, I have two degrees in special ed, have 15 years experience in teaching special ed, and somehow didn’t realize that I had ADHD until I was in my 40s, so I am not quite the expert on it that I thought I was. (In my defense, I went to undergrad during the time that people legitimately didn’t think girls got ADHD or Autism. Crazy, huh?) So I went into this book with more knowledge than most, but still not an expert.
Overall, the book was easy to read, well written, and entertaining. It is neither a research nor scholarly book, it is about one man’s experience and how he decides to view his neurodivergence as a strength. It also features excerpts from his wife about loving someone whose brain can’t sit still, and advice from both about how to live with the struggles of constantly losing, forgetting, or getting distracted. I enjoyed it, but would not call it life changing by any means. If you have a child or spouse with ADHD, or if you are a later in life diagnosis like I am, or may be beneficial. Having the special ed experience that I do, a lot of it was common sense to me (visual reminders, routines, etc), but I liked the emphasis he put on the emotional side of it, not just the practical side. How he would feel down, then remind himself of his ability to hyper focus. How his wife learned to cue him in when she needed his undivided attention. It’s good stuff, especially if this is a totally new topic to you. And for a nonfiction book, it is a pretty entertaining read.
May 7, 2024
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. I’ve followed Penn and Kim for years, so getting to hear about their journey with ADHD was super interesting.
They completely turn the stigma about ADHD on its head. Even in the title, they call it “awesome� and show that while people who have ADHD may have to approach life a little differently, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, they even show how it can be a “superpower� of sorts, and that shows in Penn’s job with how creative he is.
I loved the format of the audiobook and that Penn narrated it. I also loved how Kim was on the audio, reading her sections of the book and also adding in quips while Penn read. It almost felt as if I was listening to a podcast sometimes. Not only was this book about ADHD, but it did a great job engaging people who might have a hard time paying attention.
If you have ADHD, this book will give you practical tips and information to help. If you don’t have ADHD (I might have a few of the tendencies, but overall, I definitely don’t have it), this book is still enjoyable, and it will help you have more compassion and empathy for people who do.
It’s also just a really fun read. :)
They completely turn the stigma about ADHD on its head. Even in the title, they call it “awesome� and show that while people who have ADHD may have to approach life a little differently, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, they even show how it can be a “superpower� of sorts, and that shows in Penn’s job with how creative he is.
I loved the format of the audiobook and that Penn narrated it. I also loved how Kim was on the audio, reading her sections of the book and also adding in quips while Penn read. It almost felt as if I was listening to a podcast sometimes. Not only was this book about ADHD, but it did a great job engaging people who might have a hard time paying attention.
If you have ADHD, this book will give you practical tips and information to help. If you don’t have ADHD (I might have a few of the tendencies, but overall, I definitely don’t have it), this book is still enjoyable, and it will help you have more compassion and empathy for people who do.
It’s also just a really fun read. :)
April 7, 2024
I've been following the Holderness family since Christmas Jammies and watched their amazing win on the Amazing Race. I've been really interested in Penn's open discussions of his ADHD on social media, and was excited to read this. Although I read this as a digital ARC (thanks to NetGalley and the publisher) I bought a physical copy to give to my ADHD son as well. This is a personal narrative sprinkled with expert opinions and advice- its strength is not just in explaining ADHD, but in giving practical examples of how it can be both a major challenge and a major opportunity. I'm so glad my son is growing up in a world where ADHD is seen as awesome in both lights. And frankly, a lot of the book spoke to me as well, as I realize that my entire family is somewhere on the ADHD spectrum. I particularly liked the notes from Kim (Penn's wife) and the discussion of ADHD communication challenges, since that is the area I feel myself most profoundly affected.
Thanks for this worthwhile and fun read!
Thanks for this worthwhile and fun read!
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