May We Introduce You To: 6 Books for Adults Living with ADHD

by Lee Gehrls, R&D Coordinator (Volunteer)
Reading Time: 4 Minutes

Summer is here, and it’s a good time for families living with ADHD to have a slower pace to kick back, relax a little, and recharge their batteries. For many, summer is a favorite time to catch up on reading books on cooking, travel, history, mysteries, or romance – the reading possibilities are endless. So, I want to encourage you to add a couple of books on ADHD to your summer reading list. We have compiled a few recommended titles for you to start perusing now so you will be ready for those sunny summer days.

Summer Reading for ADHD

There are endless listings of ADHD books online and in print that cover ADHD in general and specific challenging areas. It can be an overwhelming mass of information to sort through to find the right ones for your needs. CHADD links to a New York Times article (from the March 25, 2024 issue) by author Hope Reese titled 6 Books for Adults Living with ADHD where ADHD experts such as psychiatrists, researchers, and counselors were asked for recommended books for adult-focused ADHD knowledge.

ADHD expert Melissa Orlov, founder of ‘ADHD and Marriage,’ is quoted in the article as saying that books are “the entrée into understanding whether you should consider getting a diagnosis and evaluation for ADHD. That means picking the right books for you can make the difference between accurate and effective treatment and misdiagnosis.”

Sharon Saline, PsyD, author of What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life, said that the correct ADHD books effectively counter misinformation (especially online and in social media). Dr. Saline also notes that ADHD books can aid family, friends, and loved ones of those with ADHD by giving them a “toolbox for engaging with them, supporting them, and loving them.”

Below is a summary of the six books mentioned and a brief summary of the expert’s suggestions.

Learning disabled with ADHD kid preparing for school at home.

Recommended Summer ADHD Reading

  1. Taking Charge of Adult ADHD, by Russell A. Barkley, PhD, with Christine M. Benton (November 3, 2021) Co-authored by “one of the leading, if not the leading expert on ADHD in the world,” according to Dr. Saline, it serves as a good starting point for any adults with ADHD or their family, friends, and loved ones.
  2. Your Brain’s Not Broken, by Tamara Rosier, PhD (2021). This is a more current title with a more personal touch. The author, Dr. Rosier, and some family members have ADHD and share personal stories to illustrate their modern perspective on it.
  3. A Radical Guide for Women With ADHD, by Sari Solden, MS, and Michelle Frank, PsyD: As noted in the article by Dr. Saline, ADHD acts differently in women and results in late or missed diagnosis when symptoms are misidentified as anxiety or depression. This 2019 book educates readers on those issues and provides specific learning strategies for women with ADHD. The book is called a “very relatable and practical guide” by Ari Tuckman, PsyD.
  4. The Couple’s Guide to Thriving With ADHD, by Melissa Orlov and Nancie Kohlenberger, LMFT: This 2014 title covers the unique challenges for couples where one or both partners have ADHD. It provides insight to help partners understand ADHD symptoms and interpret signs of ADHD effectively to resolve issues. Though Ms. Orlov was cited for the book, several other experts identified it as a top title for couples.
  5. ADHD 2.0, by Edward M. Hallowell, MD, and John J. Ratey, MD: A 2021 follow-up to the 1992 Driven to Distraction by the same authors. Dr Saline says it covers more current ADHD research and offers advice on “altering their environments to serve them better and reduce negativity.”
  6. Outside the Box, by Thomas E. Brown, PhD: This book was published in 2017 and is noted by Dr. Tuckman as being “driven by research and sophisticated” while remaining accessible to a broad audience. It covers ADHD at various stages of development and is “a useful tool for those with ADHD, family members, and educators.”

In addition to the New York Times recommendations, here is a list of books we have recommended over the years.

Additional General Summer ADHD Reading

Living with Inattentive ADHD: Climbing the Circular Staircase of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by Cynthia Hammer, MSW (August 29, 2023). Ms. Hammer’s book details her journey to learning about and being diagnosed with inattentive ADHD later in life. It takes you through her childhood and how she learned to overcome the many challenges as an adult.

The Essential Guide to Raising Complex Kids with ADHD, Anxiety, and More: What Parents and Teachers Really Need to Know to Empower Complicated Kids with Confidence and Calm by Elaine Taylor-Klaus, PCC, CPCC. (September 1, 2020) This book is written by one of the co-founders of Impact Parents, an information-packed resource for parents of children with ADHD and other attention issues.

Homework Made Simple by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed. (September 16, 2010) Ms. Dolin’s book is a user-friendly guide to parents and caregivers that can be read from beginning to end or in chapters on tackling common homework problems.

Loving Someone With Attention Deficit Disorder: A Practical Guide to Understanding Your Partner, Improving Your Communication, and Strengthening Your Relationship by Susan Tschudi, MA. (January 1, 2012) Ms. Tschudi has authored a book that addresses specific questions and challenges the non-ADHD spouse faces daily.

Additional Child-Related Summer ADHD Reading

A Walk in the Rain with A Brain by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. (October 1, 2004) Dr. Hallowell’s book illustrates how each brain is different and is special, and that’s okay.

Shelley the Hyperactive Turtle by Deborah M. Moss. Illustrated by Carol Schwartz. (November 1, 1989) This little turtle has problems sitting still until he learns from his doctor what is causing his challenges. [Grade Level: Preschool – 2]

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. Complete Series (1-5) (October 6, 2009) Author Rick Riordan wrote these books for his son, who has ADHD and dyslexia and features a protagonist who uses his ADHD and dyslexia to solve problems. [Grade Level: 5 – 9]

My Brother’s a World-Class Pain: A Sibling’s Guide to ADHD-Hyperactivity by Michael Gordon. (February 1, 1992) This book gives siblings a chance to voice the impact having an ADHD sibling has on their lives. [Reading Age: 8 – 12 years]

I Would If I Could: A Teenager’s Guide to ADHD/Hyperactivity by Michael Gordon, illustrated by Janet Jimco (June 1, 1991), provides teenagers with straightforward facts about ADHD and illustrates its impact on family relations, friendships, and self-esteem.

I hope you find this summer’s ADHD reading list useful, and I encourage you to read one or two selections to expand your ADHD knowledge and make them a part of your ADHD library.

Disclaimer: This document is for information purposes only. A-D-A-M℠ does not receive compensation from the New York Times, the authors mentioned above, or any other organization or individual.

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