So you want to learn more about ADHD, but Amazon lists over 6000 results when you search “ADHD books”. Ugh! With a list this long, where do you start? Well, I’m going to suggest you start with my current list of favorites and see where it takes you.
What makes these books current favorites?
- They’re up to date: There have been a lot of great books written for folks with ADHD over the years, but any number of them are showing their age, in light of changes in our understanding of the ADHD brain.
- They’re easier (not always easy) for the individual with ADHD to read. Only one of the books below is what I would consider a more challenging read for the ADHD reader (A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults), primarily because it is not specifically written with the ADHD reader in mind.
Please note this list is not in any particular order.
1) The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD by Lidia Zylowska, MD – I think mindfulness is an important skill for everyone, but can be especially beneficial for those who struggle with ADHD. This book, published in 2012, does a wonderful job of introducing and making mindfulness accessible for those with ADHD. Enough said. Click here to read my review of this book and learn more.
2) More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD by Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA – A book written specifically for the ADHD individual – short easy to read articles (we ADHDers love short articles!), great information on an incredible number of topics, and perforated page corners (so you know what you’ve already read when you skip around the book) make this a favorite. Even though this book isn’t quite as current as the others on this list, having been published in 2009, the vast majority of the information it contains is still relevant. Click here to read a previously posted review of this book.
3) FAST MINDS: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD (Or Think You Might) – Craig Surman, MD & Tim Bilkey, MD with Karen Weintraub – FAST MINDS is an acronym for: Forgetful, Achieving below potential, Stuck in a rut, Time challenged, Motivationally challenged, Impulsive, Novelty seeking, Distractible, and Scattered. If you have ADHD, no further explanation is needed. As the title implies, this book is for someone who thinks they might have ADHD in addition to someone previously diagnosed. Lots of attention is paid to building awareness, normalizing the reader’s experience through the introduction of a number of well developed examples, and building skills. This might be a good book to work through with a therapist or an ADHD coach.
4) Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell A. Barkley, PhD with Christine Benton (2010) – This book is a must read for those considering evaluation for diagnosis, the newly diagnosed and long time diagnosed alike. I’ve learned over the years all explanations/descriptions of executive functioning are not created equal, but Barkley’s overview in this book is especially helpful to those seeking a basic understanding of executive functioning. Even though I don’t take ADHD meds myself, I appreciated Barkley’s thorough – 38 page – discussion of the topic. My favorite part of the book though was Barkley’s discussion of his eight “Everyday Rules for Success”. Make sure you give this one a read.
5) A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults by Thomas E. Brown, PhD – Ok, so I have to admit I haven’t finished this book yet. But what I’ve read so far has been excellent, so I’m including it. What makes this book so special is how current it is (2013) and that it is Brown’s attempt to describe the new model of ADHD, based on recent clinical and neuroscience research. Chapter 1’s “35 Myths About ADHD and Why They Are Wrong” and the incredible amount of research that went into writing this book (there is a 23 page list of studies referenced) make it worth the price of purchase. I hope to provide a more complete review when I eventually finish this small, yet extremely dense read.
So these are the books I think are worth your time when it comes to better understanding ADHD. I’m curious, what are your favorite ADHD books and what makes them your favorites?
Great list! Thanks for adding some new goodies to my ever growing reading pile.
Linda, you are so welcome Happy reading!
Thanks, Andrea. The stack is getting taller! 🙂
Great list, Andrea! You’ve got one of my favorites, Ari Tuckman’s More Attention Less Deficit. What I like about that book is that it’s written blog style so people can check the table of contents for a particular challenge and go right to a short article on that subject. I also often recommend Sari Solden’s Women with Attention Deficit Disorder. It is dated, but it does such a good job speaking to how ADD shows up in women, how it can be different than its presentation in men, and addresses how ADD can be so challenging for women given societal… Read more »
Thanks for your comments Debbie and I’m glad you like the list. Thank you also for mentioning Sari Solden’s book. Though it has been a number of years since I read it, I know a number of my client’s have appreciated what Ms Solden communicated in this book.