Navigating the world with an ADHD brain can be exhausting. The rollercoaster ride from clinical assessments through diagnosis to treatment can leave you feeling anxious and isolated, worried about failing or feeling different.
This handy guide is here to change all that. If you have (or suspect you have) ADHD, you'll know the frustration of being given neurotypical or clinical advice - but this is straight from an ADHD brain to you.
The accessible A-Z format, covering everything from burnout and finances to time management and relationships, gives you the tips and confidence you need to reach your full potential. It empowers you to understand why ADHD brains work the way they do and how to harness your unique mind to think creatively and overcome any hurdle life throws at you.
Easy to digest and full to the brim with practical life advice including budgeting plans for impulsive spending, advice on rejection sensitive dysphoria and ways to relax, this book provides everything you need to feel confident and supported through your ADHD diagnosis and beyond.
More helpful when you aren't sure what the clinical symptoms of ADHD might look like in real life. How these symptoms exhibit themselves between people varies greatly, and to see I'm not the only one affected by the seemingly more "obscure" ones is nice. However, the author is an ADHD coach, self-employed, willing to travel, and a bunch of other things I'm not. She does say in the introduction that she uses a mix of her personal experience and coaching and I think emphasis must be placed on personal experience here—many of the exercises suggested in this book are things someone like myself simply cannot do. My place of employment is not compatible with the changes recommended, I don't have the freedom to choose my own schedule or availability. But mostly I don't have the capability without therapy or training to "just do" the social things like maintaining boundaries. The amount of anxiety this causes prevents me from doing it, and Maskell offers no suggestions for actually doing the suggestions, only makes the suggestions themselves. A good surface plan, perhaps, but might need some further resources and assistance to actually implement.
Absolutely loved the book. it's full of tips and even if some of the symptoms might not apply, it's worth reading. I would recommend it to anyone suspecting ADHD or just being a bit different.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and this is no shade to the author (who seems like a lovely person and is a good writer) but her narration was not necessarily my cup of tea - it might have been better for the listener experience to have a professional narrator do it. I feel bad saying it especially as she speaks in the book about having a fear of public speaking that she has clearly worked on a lot as she does a lot of speaking engagements as an ADHD coach and advocate.
However I imagine the author is a very capable and charismatic public speaker when she is not having to read out her own words verbatim, and is more able to improvise - her audiobook narration sometimes felt a bit stilted, with pauses and/or emphasis being put in the wrong place in a sentence, and her enunciation was sometimes a bit unclear. A bit challenging as trouble with auditory processing can be a significant aspect of ADHD.
I just wanted to mention it as it did unfortunately impact my ability to fully engage with the audiobook, and in case any other audiobook listeners had the same experience.
That being said, I do think the book has great content and is in general very positive and affirming for those of us with ADHD. I would like to get a physical copy as I think it would be a useful reference book for things like coping strategies and even affirmations. Yes, some things seem a bit basic, but I think the format is meant to lean into that, as it's more of an introduction to ADHD and is trying to appeal to both ADHDers and people who love someone with ADHD.
I also liked that it was portioned up into smaller sections that are more manageable - as someone with ADHD it can feel a bit overwhelming to focus too much on the difficulties, so with the format you can dip in and out at your leisure. The book is aimed at a UK audience so the resources signposted are mostly UK-based, so bear that in mind.
Overall, I did enjoy the audiobook, but I think I would benefit from revisiting it as a physical book.
Probably the first ADHD book I've read that wasn't shit.
relevant note dump: - The author got diagnosed in her thirties, the revelation brought tremendous relief blah blah - You are not alone or “crazy.� Your brain just operates uniquely. - About four percent of adults worldwide live with this neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and managing emotions. - The “predominantly inattentive� subtype lacks hyperactivity. Instead their symptoms look more like zoning out, mind wandering, and struggling to complete tasks. Still others have the “combined� subtype which includes both hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. - Women in particular often show this subtype � outwardly calm but inwardly chaotic � and are often left undiagnosed as a result. - Many famous and successful innovators like Virgin Group founder Richard Branson have leveraged these innate ADHD gifts to accomplish great things. (good for the select few?) - Potential helpful accommodations include checklists for multi-step tasks, voice recorders to capture meeting notes, and noise-cancelling headphones to use in a busy office. - If self-employed, build structure by using daily routines to mimic office hours. Establish a sense of community and accountability for yourself by working with a coach or alongside others in a shared workspace. And don’t be afraid to outsource tedious administrative tasks so you can channel your hyperfocus on what you’re truly passionate about. - According to one study, up to 75 percent of adults with ADHD have experienced insomnia. - Racing thoughts and restlessness plague many ADHD adults at bedtime. Many adults with ADHD are intimately familiar with the exhaustion that comes from restless, fragmented sleep and the struggle to rally in the morning. - The more your environment communicates “sleep� instead of “stimulate�, the easier drifting off will become. (trying)
I started reading this book as a partner who wanted to better understand ADHD. I wanted to be the best possible boyfriend I could be and understanding this new diagnosis was key. By the end of reading, I was questioning my own life and wondering if I myself may not be neurotypical. Discovering this normally would have come with some fear and anxiety, but I’m so so glad that it was through this book instead. Maskell is superb at presenting the good and bad of ADHD and everything in between. The A-Z format makes the pacing of the book snappy and you always feel like you’re learning without overloading your mind. I’d recommend one or two letters a day to let the information sink in and resonate. Perhaps while reading a different book at the same time, which is what I did.
This, for me, is the quintessential guide to ADHD and to anyone struggling with a recent diagnosis, a partner/parent seeking better understanding or anyone who always wondered why their brain reacts a certain way to certain situations, this is a MUST READ.
This book is a well researched yet highly accessible read, written in a neurodiverse friendly style. I appreciated the alphabetical chapter structure, which allows readers to dip in and out based on their specific needs.
The concept of "artificial bricks" resonated with me, as ADHDers naturally lack them, leading to impulsive decisions. The idea of creating a pause between having a thought and acting on it was particularly valuable, as this underlies many ADHD symptoms. It was a major "aha" moment for me.
I also found several practical tips especially useful, such as charging your phone in a different room and always allowing yourself more time than you think you'll need.
The Audiobook:
The audiobook was narrated by the author, but I believe it would benefit from either a re-recording after she gets professional narration training or being read by another professional narrator altogether.
Her pacing, pronunciation, and emphasis felt off, and there were moments where she seemed to be holding back laughter while reading. This significantly affected my engagement with the book. I ended up listening at 2x speed just to get through it, which is something I rarely do. While she is undoubtedly a talented writer and researcher, narration did not seem to be within her skill set at the time of recording.
I would not recommend the audiobook for anyone with auditory processing challanges.
This was an helpful book. I liked the way it was structured. It just gave me a nasty aftertaste because of the H*rry P*tt*r mentions and the whole X is for X-Treme differences in Women, in which women get called "females" which idk!! Just gives a nasty taste!
I get the chapter but it also fails to mention that it isn't just "male" or "female". While we know that there IS a huge gap in diagnosis and a difference in presentation in women, it just felt like the presentation part was based on One Presentation, while everyone with ADHD, regardless of gender, can present differently because we do have subtypes, and we are still all different people. Also, men and people of other genders can have periods as well. So it felt like being put in a box again.
I don't know if it was on purpose, and the book really is useful and I have set tabs on pages that I found useful, I just found those two things weird.
Also, this book is good for ADHD, but not for AuDHD (Autism & ADHD) Got reminded a few times to "Maintain eye contact" to get better at listening.
Good introduction for teens and young adults. Some bits felt a bit basic and rudimentary but this isn’t the first book I’ve read about ADHD. If you’re a teen or young adult looking to start out in your neurodivergent research journey, definitely pick up an copy at your local library.
This is between a 3* and a 5* read for me so I settled in the middle. It’s an amazingly clear and concise book about ADHD and has TONS of activities to help those of us with it figure life out a bit more easily. Accessible font and layout. Loved the chapter summaries at the beginnings of sections.
I would say that this book definitely walks a line between managing neurodivergence and “wellness�. Most of the time it is well judged but there are several places where I think you could feel vulnerable or like any minor infractions of diet/caffeine are traits of ADHD. That is not what is meant at all and the section on dependence (“vices�) is really carefully handled. But I did wonder “is this written by someone who is either naturally or choicefully slim?�
At the beginning of the book, she says to read the book how you like. I’m going to suggest that it is best to dip in and out because there is a lot of advice and suggested activity and I personally (ADHD person) got overwhelmed reading all the myriad of ways I might hack my life. I will return to specific chapters going forwards and maybe work through it via audiobook.
I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter corresponds to a letter of the alphabet and topics discussing ADHD. Loads of good tips and explanations for managing life with ADHD. A really accessible, simple read that I’d recommend to anyone with ADHD, or anyone looking to learn more about it.
Even though I was diagnosed with ADHD at 13 and have done a fair amount of research myself, there was still so much in this book that I was surprised to learn!! The author also provides lots of tips and suggestions in the chapters on how to support yourself with some of the symptoms etc which is good, however I feel there could’ve been more advice on how to actually implement some of the suggestions being made.
The book is very easy to read, and you don’t have to start at the beginning either, you can jump straight to the chapters in which you are most interested in/or that are more relevant to you, which is cool, although I did choose to read it from A-Z, but if you choose to jump to specific chapters then it’s fine as you are not losing any critical information for any of the other chapters.
I was surprised how short the Time Management chapter was, as this is one of my biggest struggles with ADHD, especially during my years without medication! When I turned 16 my GP informed me that they won’t prescribe me any further ADHD medication as ‘it stops when you are 16�..?!! This was just a few months before my GCSEs as well, great 😒!! About 12 years later my mum told me of a documentary she’d seen on ADHD and that the symptoms can often continue into adulthood� I rang the GP straight away and was referred to an adult ADHD clinic and re-diagnosed a year & half later (due to waiting lists)! But I struggled SO MUCH in work during all those years without medication, especially with focus and timekeeping, and I had MULTIPLE disciplinary’s from HR for being late! So I was shocked that this chapter was only a few pages long in this book, especially in comparison to some of the other more lengthy chapters (which I thought were a little unnecessary), but I suppose ADHD shows up differently for everyone and maybe the author hadn’t struggled so much with that particular symptom as I had done!
I am rating it very critically from MY point of view. I gave it 3 stars, but read further to see why I left 4 stars in goodreads ranking.
If you read this book - start with chapter A, X and Y. Then look at the table of contents and pick which chapters have priority for you. I read it alphabetically and I wish I had prioritised topics interesting to me.
So why so low? I think my expectations were too high. I should have done my research before-hand and then I had known it is written by an ADHD coach. which is not bad. but I have done a lot of research beforehand to understand this disorder. therefore, more than 50% the information in this book was not new. in addition, the author is from UK and that was also the target audience. a lot of practical information, websites, way of working was about UK system and NHS.
on to the positives - it is very easy to read, the chapters are grouped for better understanding and for you to pick which topics are more interesting for you. if you skip anything - you are not losing any critical information for other chapters. each chapter also gives tips, real life examples (mainly from author's life) and refers you to read other chapters to understand a topic better.
if you are a relative beginner, or want to give a good resource for to your partner, family or friends - then this is good book to start with :)
“ADHD an A-Z: Figuring It Out Step by Step� by Leanne Maskell is an engaging and informative book that provides practical guidance for individuals with ADHD. The author, who has ADHD herself, shares her personal experiences and insights to help readers better understand and manage their condition.
The book covers a wide range of topics related to ADHD, including how to clarify your ADHD profile, managing money struggles, finding an ADHD-friendly career, and improving sleep hygiene. Maskell emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and understanding, as well as the need to create a supportive environment that allows individuals with ADHD to thrive.
The book is written in a conversational and accessible style, making it easy to understand and apply the information provided. It also includes practical exercises and tips to help readers implement the strategies discussed.
Overall, “ADHD an A-Z: Figuring It Out Step by Step� is a valuable resource for individuals with ADHD and their loved ones. It offers practical guidance and support for managing the challenges of living with ADHD and empowers readers to embrace their unique strengths and abilities.
this is an incredible resource for neuro divergent individuals, especially ADHD/autistic women!!!
Even as somebody who isn’t diagnosed with ADHD, I found this book incredibly relatable and found so many tips and advice/ideas that I can implement into my own life to help my functioning & live in a bit more of a friendly way to myself
This covers pretty much every aspect of life/self that could be affected by being neurodivergent - it’s very validating and reassures you there is nothing wrong with you, you just have a brain that works slightly differently and there are so many ways to manage this & thrive
This also helped me understand the people around me a little bit better because I have so many friends/family members who are ADHD! I’d recommend family members/partners reading this if you are around somebody with ADHD a lot of the time 🙌🏻
This was heavily UK focussed, so not really relevant for a lot of it and the support systems in place are not applicable.
Like I would love a support worker to make appointments for me but that's not happening. Personally I felt like I was being judged in a way, as a person with lower impulses you should make your money harder to access? You should set up so every notification comes through so you know where your money goes? -notifications will get lost or swiped away -doesn't account for hyperfixations or hobbies -medication can help with impulse control and support systems but you're not really addressing the reasons surrounding debt for ADHD as there's shame, impulse, forgetting, trauma and a litany of other reasons as each person is unique
Excellent! This is a thoroughly accessible resource for and about ADHD. It’s focus was strongly towards diagnosis as young adult female (reflecting the authors own diagnosis at age 25). However there was a lot of practical research and actions that anyone living with ADHD no matter their age and gender can try. Maskell’s writing style is easygoing and accessible. The chapters aren’t too long and are laid out in a pleasing style. I read a ecopy and there were a few spelling errors, but nothing that interfered with my enjoyment of the text. Highly recommended!
I wasn’t sure when I started this book how good it would be, I’m awaiting a diagnosis and thought I’d read a bit more about ADHD to see how many things I relate to. I relate to nearly everything in this book. I actually borrowed my copy from my library but I’ve just ordered one off Amazon as I’m going to use it to help me make lots of notes for my assessment. I think everyone should read this if they have ADHD or not because it helps you understand a lot about it. Highly recommend.
A cute format and some helpful information, particularly identifying some aspects of adhd, but overall a bit of a frustrating read as there was constant repetition, and the book as a whole needed a solid edit to significantly improve clarity. Some helpful tips for self-care, particularly in the Your body and Zen sections, but so much of the book dealt with trying to get help in the UK medical system, that much of it was inapplicable to readers in America or other locations.
Being from the generation that was never diagnosed and therefore gone through life wondering why one did certain things, it's refreshing to learn there were reasons for the behaviours. This is comprehensive and will be if use to younger sufferers. It's only weakness is not playing up the strengths. Dealing with crises, last minute deadlines, working under intense pressure... these are child's play!
3.5. It's fairly basic if you've been at this for a while or have read other books on the subject. It does however hit on some lesser known parts of ADHD that other books I have read did not. The book relies on personal story and the author's job as a coach for people with ADHD. It is presented in a very clear, easy to digest foremat. Overall, an enjoyable addition to the genre and would be great for someone just getting to know someone with ADHD, understanding the basics, etc.
Content wise: 5 stars Spelling and grammar wise: 3 stars 🙃🙃 I appreciate the irony of a book about ADHD having a lot of spelling and grammar issues, but it actually annoyed me after like the 4th time - hopefully the next edition is checked through!
An educational book. I especially appreciated that that author includes example of how ADHD differs in women and men. I didn't love how often things were repeated and specific sections were referred to, but I can see how that would be helpful if someone didn't read it cover to cover.
ADHD an A–Z by Leanne Maskell is an empowering guide. It shows that those who have ADHD can harness unique superpowers such as creativity, resilience, and passion. Through self-acceptance and understanding, they can transform their ADHD to a source of fulfillment.