How to be You: Say Goodbye to Should, Would and Could So That You Can

by Ellie Middleton

The latest feel-good book packed with practical tips from the author of the smash-hit book on ADHD, autism and neurodivergence, UNMASKED.


Ellie Middleton is back with a new, practical book to help you work WITH your neurodivergent brain rather than AGAINST it. In each chapter, she writes about the eight executive functions that neurodivergent people struggle with including working memory, prioritisation and emotional regulation and shares 5 simple tips for readers to try out,

- Creating a launch pad to remember the essentials when you leave the house
- Drawing a car park of ideas to help visualise your thoughts and manage impulse control
- The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 mindfulness technique to prevent spiralling and regulate emotions
- Breaking up each day into Four Quadrants to approach every day with more flexibility

This isn’t another journal or planner that claims to organize your entire life because Ellie is the first to admit that she doesn’t have things under control 100% of the time. This also is not a book about how to fit into the neurotypical way of doing things (aka masking). Instead, Ellie reveals why society tells us that we ‘should’ do things ( patriarchy, ableism, White supremacy) and shows us how we can all free ourselves of those expectations, feel empowered and, ultimately, be more YOU.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Adhd, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Mental Health

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2024

About the author

After a lifetime of feeling misunderstood, she was diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD at the age of 24.

Since then, she's gone on to build an audience of over 300,000 people online, create the unmasked community for neurodivergents, and work with global brands like The Independent, Google & LinkedIn to change the narrative on neurodiversity.

Ellie aims to shout about the positives that come with being neurodivergent, highlight the ways that society can better accommodate those of us with different brains, and help other undiagnosed neurodivergent people find the answers that they deserve.

She is living proof that getting a diagnosis can change your life, change your outlook and allow you to reach your true potential - and thinks that is something that every neurodivergent person deserves.

Reviews

[Inge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just confirmed to me why I don’t like generalised books on neurodivergence. Most of the tips seemed to fit ADHD, some fit autism, and everything else just applied to general other types of neurodivergent brains. The scope is just too wide for me to really take anything away from this.

I’m probably also not the target audience for this. The writing style is meant to reflect talking to a friend, but I often found this childish or annoying. I got more and more annoyed every time neurodivergence was referred to as a ‘busy brain’. I’m sure some people love this personal, pep-talk style, but I’m probably too bitter at this point to buy into this.

The sections inbetween about how systems in society impact how we look at neurodivergent struggles, also fell flat for me. I mean, the patriarchy, white supremacy and capitalism influence every part of our lives, so I don’t really know what it adds to have that listed here in every chapter. It’s also not necessarily useful. It would’ve been more helpful to list what others might say to you and how you can respond. In a real life setting you can’t tell people ‘aha, you’re acting this way because of the patriarchy!’

There’s definitely an audience for this. I can imagine younger people or those who’ve just been diagnosed really enjoying this and finding it comforting. The tone and style, combined with the fact that books on neurodivergence in general usually don’t work in my experience, just mean I don’t take anything away from having read this.

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for ADHD and autistic people! 🧠

I found this a little hard to get into as somebody who struggles to integrate with political/non-fiction reads, but a few chapters in I definitely got hooked especially when I started highlighting (annotating is a good tip for people who struggle to engage with non-fiction text!!!)

This had some really great tips in for managing things like executive functioning and structuring your life to better suit your neurodivergent needs

I found this very validating in the word many quotes that really healed my younger self who blamed herself and her brain for so many things - I highly recommend reading this if you have struggled to function and feel guilty for not being "productive" enough 🧡

It's all written in bite-size chapters with summaries at the end of each - you can read each chapter independently, and it still makes sense even if you take a break! So this is perfect for ADHD brains

The only thing that takes it down for me is the formatting on the hardback version of this book, because the grey printed sections were very difficult for me to focus my eyes on (I imagine this might be a problem for people with dyslexia so just be wary of that - ebook could be a good solution?!)

[Emily Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook listen ~ a super useful guide to learning to work with your brain as a neurodivergent person rather than against it. Listening to Ellie narrate the book was like listening to a comforting podcast.

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book full of practical tips for living with a neurodivergent brain. I really enjoyed Ellie's first book, Unmasked, and was hoping for a lot more of that wisdom. The book is broken into sections that you can dip in and out of, it has lot of practical things that you can try, but for me there was far too much talk about White Supremacy and Patriarchy, which although are relevant to the topics at times, it did feel like we'd meandered off into that far more than was really necessary. Part of the reason is likely because of the "dip in and out of the book" idea, which actually means that if you read it end-to-end as I did, you come across it repeatedly in every single chapter. And that is a lot! It really starts to detract from the really useful tips about working with your brain rather than against it, which is a shame. Maybe pick and choose your chapters and it might be less overwhelming when you hear the phrase "white supremacy" for the 3rd time in 5 minutes?

[Erin Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is officially my bible, ellie has been such a huge part of my diagnosis and unmasking journey, and this book has given me such validation and helpful tools and ways of thinking that Ill be practicing over my lifetime in order to access and support the person I have always been deep inside. As a late diagnosed woman, thank you for this book its truly incredible

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Middleton is a very engaging writer, with personal experience of both autism and ADHD. She shares her experiences and lessons of living as AuDHD. The book is split into 8 sections, each discussing a different executive functioning skill, and how they don’t necessarily work for those who are neurodivergent.

Each of the 8 executive functions discussed stands as its own chapter, and there is a summary of what each one is, why it doesn’t necessarily work for a neurodivergent brain, and tips to help you better deal with what society expects as the ‘norm’. The book starts with a discussion of what defines the view of executive functioning.

The book would be easy to dip in and out of if you wanted tips on a particular executive function, and I think it’s beneficial that the pages containing the tips are grey, so you can easily skip to just the tips within the book. At the end of the book are a variety of links to different articles, and Middleton has guest writers giving tips as well as herself.

I’ve got Middleton’s first book ‘Unmasked’ to read which I’m looking forward to delving into having read ‘How to be You’. This book offers lots of tips on how best to take care of our neurodivergent brains but how it’s okay to just be ourselves. The world isn’t made for neurodivergent brains, but this book explains how we can navigate societal expectations. It’s a great book full of tips.

“Learning to say goodbye to should, would and could isn’t only a great way of being able to achieve more while being a happier and healthier person; it is the ultimate act of self-love. It’s a way of saying to yourself, ‘I deserve to be happy. I deserve to be accommodated. I deserve to be ME’. And we all deserve that.”

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real good mix of context and tips. With any book like this it depends on what you know / have read already as to what will be new and what will resonate with you. I found the ‘it’s okay if you…’ sections validating. I realised that most of the tips were things I was doing already but it was still really useful to read them for me to understand why I’d developed these habits in the first place. The explanation of demand avoidance was my real aha moment as it was the first time I really understood what it meant and how it applied to me.

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible book by Ellie Middleton. I love her as an author and her writing style truly makes you feel understood. She manages to take so many thoughts and feelings and name them in 1 (technically 2) books and make you feel so seen and understood. I really liked the techniques and methods this book had which correlated to the chapters with even sections to write your own things in. Truly an amazing book and I hope she writes more

[Vas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this super engaging to read with lots of practical information and tips I can implement in my life!

[camilla :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh. helpful yes, but not that much

[Karis Gorst · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"there's no prize for doing life in hard mode"

a must-read for any autistic or adhd person. a lot of tips and realisations that could genuinely help a lot of people, including myself!

my lower rating is based on the fact i found this book quite challenging in some places. especially in the opening sections that talk about what systems in our society contribute to how we view executive functioning. i agree with everything ellie is saying but it's a lot to get your head around the fact that basically everything you've thought is a societal construct. which may seem dead obvious but it is very difficult to process.

also due to the way that this book is set up where you can jump in at any point, it does end up being quite repetitive.

[Jan Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tips are interesting and definitely useful. However I really struggled with some of Ellie’s writing style. It felt patronising and dogmatic at times. Also quite political. In the end I struggled to finish the book. The good news is the book is colour coded so you can skip straight to the tips! However this would be a shame as there are some interesting personal insights.

[Lucille Seppi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this one after reading the first book from this author Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence, which I gave 3 stars.

Some of my quarrels with this book are still very much the same, the pep-talk-y writing style with that repetitive flavour, very much continued in this book, is not really for me. Some people may appreciate it, especially those earlier towards acceptance or neurotypicals who aren't really aware of these topics and need some easing in to it with VERY motivational messaging.

Now, while I appreciated the structure of bite-sized chapters with introductions and recaps at the end in the first book, it didn't really work that well for me here. Especially with all that (in my opinion unecessary) baggage at the beginning before the book goes into tips and hacks. If you are wondering what I mean, because this book is advertised as one full of tips and hacks ... prepare yourself to read the most Wikipedia-esque rechewing of all the systems of oppression you could possibly name. The book begins by 'summarising' things like the patriarchy and white supremacy with the aim of framing the experience of neurodivergent people as impacted by these systems and to remind the readers that not everything can be changed with willpower but that the impacts of these systems need to be acknowledged. Good message, but this could have been done in like one page because someone who is even mildly engaged in internet discourse around leftist topics will have known everything that was regurgitated here. Genuinely, the framework here was: "Patriarchy is..., White supremacy is...". And this entire framework stretches throughout the entire book taking up so much space. I skim-read nearly all of this book because A) there was no new information or interesting discourse here and B) that is not what the book is advertised as/what I came for. I LOVE a good book on these systems and am an active reader of activist literature but this felt like all of activism boiled down into word sludge that simplifies these things on a massive scale. Which makes sense, because that is not what the book was meant to be about and there was no way for these things to be discussed in any substantial way here so that just leaves the question of: Why???

Now, to the actual reason of why I picked up this book: The tips and hacks to make life easier for yourself with a neurodivergent brain. Spoiler alert: The tips and hacks make up less than half of the book and personally, most of these were nothing new (again, for someone who has spent a few minutes in the online space). I have to acknowledge here that I am reading this book a few years after it published which might explain my pre-exposure to some of the tips that may not have been as well known at the time of publishing but I guess that just means this does not stand the test of time really. I highlighted maybe one or two lines/tips in this entire book!

Finally, while the above point might depend on how much engagement the reader has had with such topics previously, and might therefore be useful and insightful to someone newer to these things, the below is a critique that I think anyone could have regardless of where they are at in their journey. So, main point of the book: tips/hacks. When you actually do get around to them, they consist of an introduction to them usually involving a personal anecdote or similar and then there is a page, maybe two, with actually actionable ideas/tips. The worst thing about this though is that the way this has been done is that you get a list or a table that has like 1-3 ideas written on there as "examples" and the rest of the table/list is EMPTY!!! And it's like, "write your own ideas". BRO WHAT DID I COME HERE FOR?? This genuinely enraged me! I completely understand that everyone will adapt these to suit their own needs and that not everything works for everyone but to call the book a collection of tips to then give me ONE and go, think of the rest yourself, feels like such a scam. The amount of empty pages in this book with lines/tables or whatever to fill in yourself is ridiculous. This should have been advertised as a 'workbook' or 'do it yourself/guided' book or whatever but not as here are tips in my opinion.

Finally, the only parts of the book I did not skip and found actually interesting where the testimonials or quotes or parts from/written by other people. I really like the idea of spotlighting other neurodivergent creators/people because everyone's experience will be different and I really like hearing these different experiences and perspectives.

Overall, apologies, but I found this wildly unhelpful, boring, repetitive and while I really, truly appreciate the idea and intention and mean no ill will towards the author, I cannot recommend this book.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Middleton’s How to Be You is a refreshing and supportive resource tailored for neurodivergent readers—especially those with ADHD or autism—and anyone seeking to better understand these experiences. It combines relatable personal stories with practical advice, offering actionable tips on managing executive functioning, mindfulness, and structuring life in a way that aligns with neurodivergent needs.

The book’s format is a highlight: bite-sized chapters with summaries make it accessible for readers who might struggle with lengthy texts or need frequent breaks. This design feels thoughtful and neurodivergent-friendly. While I initially struggled to get into the book (as someone who doesn’t usually enjoy non-fiction), annotating and highlighting helped me stay engaged. For readers newly exploring their neurodivergence, the advice is simple yet effective—a great starting point.

What stood out most were the validating and compassionate quotes. They felt like a balm for my younger self, who often felt “broken” for not meeting societal expectations of productivity or focus. The encouragement Middleton offers could provide real relief for readers stuck in cycles of guilt or self-blame.

That said, there were a few drawbacks. The hardback edition’s design—especially grey-printed sections—was challenging to read, which might frustrate those with dyslexia or sensory sensitivities. I’d recommend opting for an ebook or audiobook if this might be an issue. Additionally, readers familiar with neurodivergent coping strategies may find the advice too basic, and some might prefer more depth or scientific context.

Overall, How to Be You is an encouraging and accessible guide that feels like a warm hug for those seeking understanding and practical tips. While it might not be groundbreaking for everyone, it’s a valuable read for those navigating their neurodivergent journey. I’d rate it 3.75 stars—uplifting, helpful, but perhaps not as in-depth as some might hope.

[book.mitka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Middleton – „Żyj bez maski! Nowe spojrzenie na ADHD, autyzm i neuroodmienność”
Ellie Middleton – „Pozostań sobą. Zostaw za sobą oczekiwania innych i żyj według własnych zasad”

Książki Ellie Middleton były dla mnie ciekawym doświadczeniem, i trochę innym niż to, do czego przywykłam przy literaturze psychologicznej. Nie ukrywam, czytało się je ciężej. Jest w nich sporo treści, dużo tekstu, momentami mózg wręcz podpowiadał: „ej, to jest wymagające, weź się skup”, i faktycznie wymagały ode mnie więcej uwagi niż inne książki o podobnej tematyce. Ale to wcale nie znaczy, że było źle, wręcz przeciwnie.

„Żyj bez maski!” to książka, która daje coś więcej niż tylko teorię o ADHD i autyzmie. Dla mnie, jako osoby lubiącej czytać o takich tematach, była naprawdę wartościowa. Middleton pisze szczerze, jasno, z własnego doświadczenia.

Z kolei „Pozostań sobą” miała dla mnie bardziej motywacyjny charakter. To książka, która podpowiada, jak nie ulegać presji innych, jak zostawić za sobą oczekiwania i żyć naprawdę po swojemu. Brzmi banalnie, a jednak w wykonaniu Ellie nabiera sensu. To taka pozycja, po której człowiek łapie długi oddech.

Obie książki razem tworzą naprawdę spójną całość, nawet okładki świetnie ze sobą współgrają, co daje satysfakcję samą w sobie. A sama Ellie ze zdjęć i wywiadów wydaje się osobą niesamowicie charyzmatyczną i pełną empatii (a jaka jest śliczna😭💕)

Co ważne, to nie są książki wyłącznie dla osób z ADHD czy autyzmem. To pozycje dla wszystkich. Dla każdego, kto chce lepiej rozumieć innych ludzi, ale też siebie samego. Bo prawda jest taka, że każdy z nas zakłada jakieś „maski” i każdy mierzy się z oczekiwaniami, które czasem go przytłaczają.

Podsumowując: obie książki oceniam na 7/10. Może nie były superlekkie w odbiorze, ale zdecydowanie wartościowe. To nie jest lektura na raz – to coś, do czego można wracać, odkrywając za każdym razem nowe rzeczy.

[Jonjo Minns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Life-Changing Guide to Embracing Your True Self
I just finished reading How to be You by Ellie Middleton, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! This book was an absolute delight from start to finish, blending practical tips with a warm, engaging writing style that made every page a pleasure to read. As someone who enjoyed both the book and its actionable advice, I found it to be a total game-changer.
What I loved most were the practical strategies Middleton shares—like setting up a "launch pad" for my keys and wallet or using the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" mindfulness trick to calm my mind. These tips have already made my days feel smoother and more manageable, and I can’t believe how simple yet effective they are. Beyond the tools, though, the book offers something even deeper: a sense of validation and understanding. Middleton’s insights into neurodivergence hit home for me, especially as a late-diagnosed reader. Her compassionate approach made me feel seen, and her encouragement to embrace my authentic self instead of masking felt incredibly empowering.

This isn’t just a book for neurodivergent folks like me—it’s a goldmine for parents, educators, or anyone who wants to better understand and support the people in their lives. Middleton’s wisdom is both practical and heartfelt, weaving together advice you can use right away with a powerful message of self-acceptance. If you’re looking for a read that’s equal parts helpful and uplifting, How to Be You is an absolute must. I’m already excited to revisit it and share it with everyone I know!

[kashiichan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a difficult book to read. Just like the author's first book, the tone of the writing is a bit odd; it swings between a very friendly "personal" voice and a more detached "Wikipedia-style" voice. Also, the first chapter throws us in the deep end by describing how systems of oppression (White supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, colonialism, ableism) and related characteristics (fear, perfectionism, One Right Way, paternalism, binary thinking, Right to Comfort, and power hoarding) have impacted how people think about executive functioning. It's very useful information, but quite intimidating to encounter right off the bat.

If you can get past the intense first chapter and don't mind the overall tone of the writing, the rest of the book is very good. The topics covered are working memory, self-monitoring, inhibition/impulse control, emotional regulation, flexibility, planning and prioritization, task initiation, and organization. Things are explained well, and the related tips are good ones; though not every suggestion will work for everyone, there's enough foundational knowledge included in each section to try building your own structure.

I definitely recommend checking it out, especially if your local library has a copy you can borrow.

[Eitakbackwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this as audiobook from the library (just going for audiobooks a lot lately). Didn’t find it very helpful but then I don’t have adhd tbh and most of it seemed geared towards this but feel like the tips were super generic and this is the problem with self help books, never found one that brings anything new to the table so far. There was also some 101 definitions of patriarchy and white supremacy and then tiring interludes about why each issue was linked to them. like okay I guess I would have found that useful as a teenager perhaps.

Strike me down but I do sometimes wish people would wait a little bit to be giving out advice, like live a little first. Older is definitely not always wiser but there is something to be said for life experience which is only gained with time. The tone of this book felt superficial (tbh most self help books do), and tick box (with the heavy on mentioning the patriarchy stuff) but the culture atm seems to be about churning out as many books as quick as possible and kind of feels like authors don’t get the time to marinate and reflect as much and, in turn, produce quality, reflective work.

Maybe just not the audience for this but defo nothing to see here.

[Danni Cooper-Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read on neurodiversity, and it was a good one!

Accessible and helpful, this book follows an easy to access structure for each chapter. For each new section, we learn about an executive functioning skill and how it might look different in those with ADHD or autism. We then learn about the societal systems which impose certain expectations on us (e.g. consumerism, patriarchy, white supremacy) and challenge our “shoulds and musts”. Then the author suggests several tips to work with and not against our neurodivergent brains. Lastly, it’s all summed up in a helpful conclusion/takeaway box.

The sections about the societal systems were honestly a heavy at times, and although some made good sense, I also found some of the links between these systems and autistic/ ADHD masking to be a little dubious. But the tips were very helpful and interesting, and we have implemented some already in my home! And the whole book was so normalising and encouraging that it felt healing to read it.

I would call this essential reading for anyone wanting to drop the mask and work with their neurodivergence- not against it.

[Magic.Book322 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Książka „Pozostań sobą” Ellie Middleton to mądra, wspierająca i pełna empatii publikacja, która zachęca do autentycznego życia — bez udawania i dopasowywania się do cudzych oczekiwań. Autorka w prosty, ale bardzo trafny sposób pokazuje, jak ważne jest zrozumienie i zaakceptowanie samego siebie. Opowiada o tym, jak nauczyć się współpracować ze swoim umysłem, zamiast z nim walczyć, co jest szczególnie ważne dla osób neuroróżnorodnych, ale też dla każdego, kto czasem czuje się „inny”.

Książka łączy osobiste doświadczenia Middleton z praktycznymi wskazówkami i ćwiczeniami, które pomagają odnaleźć równowagę, spokój i pewność siebie. To nie tylko poradnik, ale też przewodnik po samoakceptacji – pełen ciepła, humoru i pozytywnego podejścia do życia.

Największym atutem tej książki jest jej autentyczność – autorka nie moralizuje, nie narzuca gotowych rozwiązań, lecz delikatnie prowadzi czytelnika w stronę większej samoświadomości. Czytając, ma się wrażenie rozmowy z przyjacielem, który naprawdę rozumie i nie ocenia.

[Sam Lunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically due to ADHD it took me weeks and weeks to finish this book 😂. However, that is no bearing on the content, structure or author as i found the book really useful. I think this book is important for anybody diagnosed with neurodivergence or anybody with people in their life who are neuro-divergent.
It’s written VERY relatabley and in an easy to digest way and it’s nice to feel validated. The tips and end of chapter summaries are super useful, and it’s great to see how much research and evidence backs up claims in the book.
I could actually see this being used as a pick-up when needed how-to guide for people flicking to specific sections.
Every so often i did some sentences slightly repetitive (although understand this may be deliberate to help people retain information) and i didnt love how much the book circled back to white supremacy, but overall loved it.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep falling into the same trap - spotting a book that promises to help me understand and manage my life better, only to finish it feeling just as frustrated as before. I was especially hopeful about this one because, like the author, I have late ND diagnoses. I thought I’d find something relatable, maybe even comforting.

Instead, it read like yet another self-help book aimed squarely at white women, offering little substance and no new insights. The advice was generic, recycled, and lacked the depth or nuance I was hoping for. If you've read even a couple of ND-related books before, you've seen everything this one has to offer.

Unfortunately, this is just another vapid and forgettable self-help book. Don’t waste your time or money.

[Amanda Steel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving it three out of five, which feels generous. It started okay, with a few things that I related to and some helpful but not groundbreaking tips.

However, she kept going on about being privileged. Fair enough, I don't suppose she can help that, but it got pretty repetitive. By the time she made ridiculous suggestions like paying someone to clean your home to free up time, getting rid of your belongings to avoid clutter and only doing 2 or 4 tasks instead of 10, I felt completely not the target audience for this.

Most people can't afford to cut back on work or employ a person to clean their home. And if I own something, there's a good reason for it. Besides, I'd be lucky to get 50p on Vinted for any of the things I own. We don't all have expensive items just lying around.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super useful, I have like 5 pages of notes which is always a good sign. Only thing that bothered me (and the reason this isn’t 5 stars) is the lack of science and sources, which is often a thing in self help books about mental health and/or neurodivergence. Most of the people talking (the author included) are content creators, and while I don’t want to dismiss anyone’s lived experience, sometimes I need the science too.

That quote felt like targeted at me 😭
« Spending hours (or even days) creating a complicated Notion board that is definitely going to be the answer to getting my shit together for once and for all »
Me, every single month.

[onedykerection · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely a helpful read and a lot of the quotes specifically were really helpful and made me feel seen.

i do however struggle with the way the book is structured which is perfect if you want to read it chapter by chapter but i’m more of a sit down read the entire book person in which case it’s very repetitive so that didn’t work and then i ended up taking forever to actually read the book (i’m well aware this is a personal preference though)

some of the tips and tricks are good to hear but there wasn’t really anything i haven’t thought of before and as someone who definitely has autism but isn’t sure about the adhd part a lot of this felt like it doesn’t apply to me

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did it very well. With "it" I mean EVERYTHING. Well done, Ellie. I highly recommend this book (mainly for AuDHD'ers and or the people that know them).

It is very good at keeping your attention and is easy to read. It's structured in a pleasing way and it doesn't tangle up my brain, once you've got one chapter down you'll know how the rest is structured and it's SUPER nice.

Tip: keep sticky tabs for the tips sections at the end of each chapter- there are genuinely good hacks to come back to once you're done reading.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this and I laughed outloud when she recommends listening on 1.5 speed as we take in information better that way - she knows me already!

A great guide to help you mask and create strategies that work WITH your neuro divergent brain, to manage tasks efficiently with tips to get small dopamine hits whilst doing so. The book is full great tips but does lean more to ADHD and Autism (rightly so in the wilriters experience) but may have missed info for other neurospicy brains

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middleton takes a unique look on helping with ADHD. Instead of solely tips on how to navigate tasks with the disability most of this book is dedicated to unlearning she around the differences in our mind. I greatly enjoyed the insight of how our society itself makes life harder to those with disabilities and the perspectives of all the different people that lent their advice to the tips section of this work. A very good book for anyone that struggles with shame that they are different from the norm

[Oyin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is learning more about neurodiversity and figuring out my needs in a world that largely excludes neurodiverse individuals (among other demographics), this has been an insightful read. The text is easy to follow, breaking down how societal structures negatively impact neurodiverse traits (autism and ADHD are the main ones discussed due to the author’s lived experience), and ways to acknowledge one’s differences and work with their brain instead of working against it to fit into a mould that doesn’t work for them.

[Nicola Everett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally found the chunks of writing explaining certain issues and difficulties not necessary for myself, and therefore difficult for me to get through and focus on BUT I did find the tips and tricks really helpful and I’ve taken pictures of a few (I borrowed the book from my library) so that I can try and implement them in my own life :)