As I struggled throughout my life with anxiety, cognitive dysfunction and dyslexia reading books was difficult and pretty much the last thing on my to-do list. Yet, reading certain books would have major impact on my path in life and help putting thing in perspective, help me gain confidence and find the skills that were hiding in plain site.
A book that would have a major influence on me was the, One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard which would teach me me to organize myself differently and changed my approach with people. It took a while to get it right as I practice it’s simple principles but when I did, it changed everything; productivity, employee engagement, operational and financial results took flight. The book been around a long time but it’s is easy read and is a must for all atypical leaders. by DR.
Help me with my confidence was Dale Carnegie’s, How to Win Friends and Influence People and more the seminar I attend. Where I was pushed to get my comfort zone, learn to speak in public but most importantly to give my personal issues perspective. As I listen to people tell there stories of trauma and hardship.
Reading the book The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle’s helped me develop a more positive perspective on life, teaching me to better enjoy the moment rather than dwelling on the regrets of yesterday or what tomorrow may or may not bring. The books not an easy read and I often felt more like I was studying than reading a book for pleasure. I read those pages over and over until I could understand what he was saying; Stop think about yesterday and what tomorrow might bring and live for the moment.
7 Habit of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, is a book I asked many of my teams members to read. Causing the team to gain perspective and look at issues through the eyes of their teammate. To deal with issue with integrate and a sense of collaboration. Which seemed to allow us to come together better as team.
The Disabled leader by Dr. Tom Wiggins a teacher, businessman and physical disabled veteran speak about the life and leanings of disabled people in the work force. How there experiences dealing with a disabilities each day creates skills, forces them to become expert problem, skills that other leader could not have.
Other Books on Neurodiversity
Five Brain Leadership by Carlos Davidovich MD
High pressure. High conflict. High stress. Today, too many leaders believe that these states are not just natural, but inevitable. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Using his skills as a medical doctor and his knowledge from many years in executive positions in the biotech pharmaceutical industry, in Five Brain Leadership, executive coach Carlos Davidovich walks you through the latest breakthroughs in the burgeoning fields of neuroscience, epigenetics, and cognitive behavior to help you better understand your multilayered, magical mind, and how to work with it instead of against it in leading your team and building relationships.
Neuromanagement is at the intersection of neuroscience and daily life in the business world. It is leadership that is based on a full understanding of all five of our interlocking brains—our reptilian, emotional, rational, and, yes, even our heart and gut “brains.” Through practical tools and exercises, you’ll learn how to build your capacity in each of these control centers, and to recognize all the ways they are at play in how humans operate, interrelate, and react to change.
Five-Brain Leadership is your pathway toward turning good leadership into great leadership, and reaching new levels of success in all of life’s domains
The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain by Thomas Armstrong 2011
So, you’ve been diagnosed as neurodiverse. Now what?
In this book, best-selling author, psychologist, and educator Thomas Armstrong re-writes the traditional narrative around ‘disabilities.’
He argues that since neurodiversity is a natural part of the diversity of the human brain, those who are neurodivergent do not have disabilities or disorders.
Instead, he looks towards the positives that can be born of having a neurodiverse brain, including evolutionary advantages and specialised skills.
If you want to learn more about your condition or are a colleague, friend, teacher or parent of a neurodiverse person, Armstrong's approach to neurodiversity makes this a compelling and necessary read.
Divergent Mind, Thriving in a World That Was Not Designed For You
A paradigm-shifting study of neurodivergent women—those with ADHD, autism, synesthesia, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorder—exploring why these traits are overlooked in women and how society benefits from allowing their unique strengths to flourish.
As a successful Harvard and Berkeley-educated writer, entrepreneur, and devoted mother, Jenara Nerenberg was shocked to discover that her “symptoms”--only ever labeled as anxiety-- were considered autistic and ADHD. Being a journalist, she dove into the research and uncovered neurodiversity—a framework that moves away from pathologizing “abnormal” versus “normal” brains and instead recognizes the vast diversity of our mental makeups.
When it comes to women, sensory processing differences are often overlooked, masked, or mistaken for something else entirely. Between a flawed system that focuses on diagnosing younger, male populations, and the fact that girls are conditioned from a young age to blend in and conform to gender expectations, women often don’t learn about their neurological differences until they are adults, if at all. As a result, potentially millions live with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed neurodivergences, and the misidentification leads to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and shame. Meanwhile, we all miss out on the gifts their neurodivergent minds have to offer.
Divergent Mind is a long-overdue, much-needed answer for women who have a deep sense that they are “different.” Sharing real stories from women with high sensitivity, ADHD, autism, misophonia, dyslexia, SPD and more, Nerenberg explores how these brain variances present differently in women and dispels widely-held misconceptions (for example, it’s not that autistic people lack sensitivity and empathy, they have an overwhelming excess of it).
Nerenberg also offers us a path forward, describing practical changes in how we communicate, how we design our surroundings, and how we can better support divergent minds. When we allow our wide variety of brain makeups to flourish, we create a better tomorrow for us all.
Black Brilliant and Dyslexic Neurodivergent Heroes Tell Their Stories
This thought-provoking book offers a raw insight into the lived experiences of diverse talents through the lens of a Black person. An invaluable and educational resource for raising awareness of how diverse cultural groups and communities experience Dyslexia differently. A true inspiration and example of the superpowers of neurodivergents.--Joseline Porter, HR Consultant, Mediator, Coach & Facilitator - JP People and Business Solutions LTD.
Neurodiversity At Work
A compelling look into how we can leverage neurodiversity strengths into our workplace. It is truly an inspiring must-read for all as it provides practical ways for inclusivity of neurodiversity to drive innovation and growth!" ― Christine Ramsay, CDP (Certified Diversity Professional), Founder and CEO of Ignite Inclusion, LLC
"A book that will enable you to think differently about people who.... think differently. An incredibly insightful read that perfectly brings together why organizations should value neurodiverse talent and how they can best provide an environment for that talent to shine. It takes you on an incredible journey from understanding why neurodiversity is important, all the way to the successes that organizations can hope for - stopping off on the way to deliver impactful, practical and real-life advice for anyone whose role it is to hire, develop or retain talent." ― Alan Walker, Co-founder of Udder & ChatTalent. #HRTech Consulting and Advisory - the Udder way
"The book is packed with great case studies, examples and important messaging to take away, plus incredible insights and explanations of the spiky profiles we all have (some more than others). In the authors' words: "True change requires commitment - sustained and anticipatory" - this book will help any reader on that journey - it's one of the most detailed texts I have encountered on the subject." ― Jean Hewitt, Senior Inclusive Design Consultant, BuroHappold Engineering
"I want to give huge credit to Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith who have brought their whole selves, personal and professional, to create an up-to-date guide on neurodiversity in the workplace. They provide a comprehensive review the current perspectives of the neurodiversity paradigm, good practice in the workplace and real-world examples of innovative programmes and strategies. There is no such thing as a 'Degree in Neurodiversity' for HR / D&I Professionals, but for anyone looking to expand their knowledge in this field, this book is as close as you are going to get to it!" ― Aidan Healy, Chief Executive Officer, Lexxic
"Neurodiversity is an important area of DE & I, that has only really come into our conscience over the last few years. We know this impacts a wide range of people either in the workforce or finding insurmountable challenges to get in it. I applaud both authors for their honesty in sharing their own lived experience of work, and for collecting so many stories to share. This is a real almanac for making difference. Reading over, let the hard work start." ― Bill Boorman, Strategic Advisor, #Tru Founder, Rebel Rouser
"Neurodiversity is one of the most important and untapped opportunities in business today. This book clearly explains the issue and honours the necessity to pay close attention to every employee's individual needs and leverage people's extra special capabilities in unique and powerful ways." ― Josh Bersin, Principal and Founder, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to an Asperger Life by Cynthia Kim
Cynthia Kim shares all the quirkyness of living with Asperger Syndrome (ASD) in this accessible, witty and honest guide. From being labelled nerdy and shy as an undiagnosed child to redefining herself when diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as an adult, she describes how her perspective shifted to understanding a previously largely incomprehensible world and combines this with extensive research to explore the 'why' of ASD traits. She explains how they impact on everything from self-care to holding down a job and offers typically practical and creative strategies to help manage them including a section on the benefits of martial arts for people with ASD. Packed full of personal anecdotes and useful advice, this humorous, insider guide will be of immeasurable value to recently diagnosed autistic adults and their partners and family members, carers and mental health professionals working with people with autism, and anyone exploring whether they may be on the spectrum.
Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills to Strengthen Executive Functioning by Phil Boissiere MFT
Executive functioning skills―including focus, organization, stress management, and more―are critical to succeeding in all aspects of your life. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with ADHD or you’ve lived with it your entire life, you know that developing these skills can be a challenge. Thriving with Adult ADHD offers a toolbox of information, assessments, and evidence-based exercises to help you build this mental skill set and take control of your ADHD.
Make real, sustainable changes with practical guidance and activities for sharpening your memory and attention, learning to plan and organize, strengthening your mental flexibility, enhancing your emotional regulation, improving your impulse control, and living your best life.
This adult ADHD book includes:
Executive functioning overview―Learn what executive functioning is, how it relates to ADHD, and how these exercises can help you develop it.
Solutions for all settings―Discover actionable advice for managing ADHD symptoms at home, at work, and in relationships.
Self-assessments―Identify your personal strengths and weaknesses with quick self-evaluations.
Don’t let ADHD symptoms hold you back. Gain the skills you need to achieve your goals with help from Thriving with Adult ADHD.
The Neurodivergent Job Candidate : Recruiting Autistic Professionals By Marcia Scheiner
First book in the field of neurodivergent/autistic employment written specifically for employers Easy to understand the non-clinically trained reader yet provides background on the underlying psychological topics necessary to understand the challenges of those with autism.
Browse some of our favourite Atypical reads
