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Neurodivergent, By Nature: Why Biodiversity Needs Neurodiversity
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS (GENERAL NON-FICTION)
A BBC WILDLIFE BEST BOOK OF 2025
Exploring the connections between nature, neurodiversity and the conservation world
Why are so many neurodivergent people drawn to the natural world – and what does that tell us about how we live and work?
After receiving an ADHD diagnosis in his thirties, Joe Harkness set out to better understand his lifelong bond with nature. In doing so, he began a wider investigation, speaking to neurodivergent people across conservation, ecology and other nature-based roles.
Threading these conversations with his own experience, Joe explores the skills, perspectives and passions that neurodivergent people bring to the sector, alongside the barriers they still face. From fieldwork to policy, from grassroots projects to major organisations, their stories reveal how different ways of thinking shape our relationship with the natural world.
At once personal and wide-ranging, Neurodivergent, by Nature offers a fresh perspective on biodiversity, inclusion and what more supportive environments – in nature and beyond – might look like.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS (GENERAL NON-FICTION)
A BBC WILDLIFE BEST BOOK OF 2025
Exploring the connections between nature, neurodiversity and the conservation world
Why are so many neurodivergent people drawn to the natural world – and what does that tell us about how we live and work?
After receiving an ADHD diagnosis in his thirties, Joe Harkness set out to better understand his lifelong bond with nature. In doing so, he began a wider investigation, speaking to neurodivergent people across conservation, ecology and other nature-based roles.
Threading these conversations with his own experience, Joe explores the skills, perspectives and passions that neurodivergent people bring to the sector, alongside the barriers they still face. From fieldwork to policy, from grassroots projects to major organisations, their stories reveal how different ways of thinking shape our relationship with the natural world.
At once personal and wide-ranging, Neurodivergent, by Nature offers a fresh perspective on biodiversity, inclusion and what more supportive environments – in nature and beyond – might look like.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published July 31, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 24, 2025
When I was going to school, which feels like a hundred years ago, having any label associated with you would make you a target for bullies. Back then, these labels were demeaning and patronising, and if you weren’t one of the cool kids and didn’t fit in with most of the regular students, your difference made you a target.
Even if you didn’t have a label, some kids found it really difficult to fit in with the majority of pupils. You either were lonely, or if lucky, you might find a small niche group that has similar interests. I was one of those pupils, and Joe Harkness was another. Joe has been diagnosed, and that has helped him come to terms with the way he is. I haven’t gone down that rout,e and at the moment, I am not considering following up on this. In those days, you’d be considered odd. Nowadays, in this partially enlightened time, you can get a diagnosis that is covered by the broad description of neurodivergent.
This book is Harkness’s journey into nature with his and other people’s neurodiversity. He conducted lots of interviews with people who work in all sorts of roles in nature and the conservation world. A lot were conducted face to face, but time and other circumstances meant that some took place online or by other methods. A lot were happy to share their names, details of where they worked, and any specific diagnosis, and some chose to remain anonymous. The conversations are about how they cope with life, work, the universe and moths…
There is almost no research into the effects that nature has on those with neurodiversity diagnoses. But where there have been studies, most concentrate on younger people. That is understandable, but it does miss swathes of people out. The studies showed that neurodivergent young people could concentrate much better when in a woodland setting when compared to an urban setting.
The natural world is seen as a non-judgmental space; it doesn’t tell people off, and it forgives. A balm for neurodivergent individuals. For them, being in nature is stimulating, but not excessively so. ADHD and autistic people tend to explore rather than exploit an environment, and it is a reminder of how indigenous people treat the landscape around them.
He considers if working in the conservation sector is good for neurodivergent people. Jobs in the UK are either government or NGO (RSPB and so on), and these are wide-ranging and varied. These roles can be especially suited to autistic people, the daily routines and rituals can remain the same, but the day varies because the location is different, the wildlife they observe changes, different weather and seasonal variations. The conservation sector is inherently caring; they are trying their best to look after the planet after all. There is nominally a chain of command, but this is often circumvented as the person with the best ideas and experience often takes the lead.
I thought that the Out Of The Box chapter was really interesting. He is looking at the theory that ADHD and autism are superpowers. Harkness’ initial opinion is that they aren’t. However, he talks to people who feel that their ability to hyperfocus on a task gives them a noticeable edge for certain skills, bird song identification, for example. Another individual he speaks to has dyslexia, and they feel that this gives them an ability to distil ideas that they then become meaningful and understandable to many others. Someone else has the ability to walk around a nature reserve once and have a map imprinted in their memory.
Lots of people have very niche specialist interests, some of which Harkness talks about with them. A good organisation can harness this mix of skills and by having both neurodivergent and non- neurodivergent staff will make for a stronger and more balanced team. One individual Harkness interviews, went from almost being excluded at school to creating a $50b scheme for mangrove restoration. And this is one of many stories of the successes of neurodivergent people working in conservation.
Even though things are improving for neurodivergent people, the barriers for some to gain employment in the conservation sector are sometimes set really high. It is difficult to gain entry when it feels like some of these decisions have already been taken prior to interviews. Having to undertake voluntary work in the sector only works when you have a supportive and fairly wealthy family. Should they overcome these hurdles a get the job, a starting salary of £18k is laughable but very common. So if you’re a female, neurodivergent and coloured, then it is almost impossible to be able to get a job, which hence why there are only 6% coloured people working in conservation. Less than 50% of the organisations have anything resembling an equality, diversity and inclusion policy (EDI). Link that to endemic institutionalised racism, and it isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Companies have a legal requirement to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ when employing people to ensure that all employees have a level playing field. However, the term ‘reasonable ‘ is very broad… Sadly, making a potential employer aware of your disability is a sure-fire way to not get the job. Harkness himself has had mixed responses and support from employers in the past and outlines the good and the bad. He does hear the horror stories and also writes about the organisations that are doing things really well. He notes that for some neurodivergent people, it is the interactions that they have with other people that is the problem, not the interactions that they have with nature.
Harkness looks at some of the well-known conservation organisations and their policies and, more importantly, their actions on EDI and neurodiversity. He even gets to talk to a government department about their policies. It was interesting to see that a substantial number of people who were responsible for this also have neurodivergent conditions. The better organisations use a workplace passport scheme for all employees; this makes it fair and reduces discrimination in the workplace.
Harkness also contacts a number of smaller conservation organisations to find out how they manage neurodivergent staff. About 50% of those he had contacted replied to him, and of those, they had policies and processes in place that helped neurodivergent staff to integrate and feel valued. Some of these conservation charities are tiny, only having six staff in some cases, so the office rules that bigger organisations have don’t really apply in these instances.
A friend of my wife runs a forest school, and until I read the chapter in this book, I must admit I didn’t really know a huge amount about it. The non-threatening environment works for everyone, especially the kids. He also visits a care farm that takes in kids who don’t really fit in the regular school system. If only more kids had these opportunities.
His final chapter talks about stories having a beginning, middle and end. Except life isn’t like that, especially if you’re neurodivergent or have ADHD, it is a super nova of themes, ideas, and threads to be followed. This book had come about from someone mentioning to Harkness that most people in the conservation sector were neurodivergent.
Overall, I thought this was a very interesting and informative book about how neurodivergent people can thrive in nature-centred organisations. Provided the organisation that they work for has put in place sympathetic schemes and systems for them. The thing to remember is that these systems work perfectly for ‘normal’ people too, unlike the other way around. Most of the people that Harkness has spoken to, to create this book, have had a positive experience with how they are treated, but there is the odd horror story in here! If you are or know anyone who is neurodivergent, then I think that you will find, as I did, this to be an informative and useful book. Bravo to Harkness for writing something that is very close to home and outside his comfort zone.
Even if you didn’t have a label, some kids found it really difficult to fit in with the majority of pupils. You either were lonely, or if lucky, you might find a small niche group that has similar interests. I was one of those pupils, and Joe Harkness was another. Joe has been diagnosed, and that has helped him come to terms with the way he is. I haven’t gone down that rout,e and at the moment, I am not considering following up on this. In those days, you’d be considered odd. Nowadays, in this partially enlightened time, you can get a diagnosis that is covered by the broad description of neurodivergent.
This book is Harkness’s journey into nature with his and other people’s neurodiversity. He conducted lots of interviews with people who work in all sorts of roles in nature and the conservation world. A lot were conducted face to face, but time and other circumstances meant that some took place online or by other methods. A lot were happy to share their names, details of where they worked, and any specific diagnosis, and some chose to remain anonymous. The conversations are about how they cope with life, work, the universe and moths…
There is almost no research into the effects that nature has on those with neurodiversity diagnoses. But where there have been studies, most concentrate on younger people. That is understandable, but it does miss swathes of people out. The studies showed that neurodivergent young people could concentrate much better when in a woodland setting when compared to an urban setting.
The natural world is seen as a non-judgmental space; it doesn’t tell people off, and it forgives. A balm for neurodivergent individuals. For them, being in nature is stimulating, but not excessively so. ADHD and autistic people tend to explore rather than exploit an environment, and it is a reminder of how indigenous people treat the landscape around them.
He considers if working in the conservation sector is good for neurodivergent people. Jobs in the UK are either government or NGO (RSPB and so on), and these are wide-ranging and varied. These roles can be especially suited to autistic people, the daily routines and rituals can remain the same, but the day varies because the location is different, the wildlife they observe changes, different weather and seasonal variations. The conservation sector is inherently caring; they are trying their best to look after the planet after all. There is nominally a chain of command, but this is often circumvented as the person with the best ideas and experience often takes the lead.
I thought that the Out Of The Box chapter was really interesting. He is looking at the theory that ADHD and autism are superpowers. Harkness’ initial opinion is that they aren’t. However, he talks to people who feel that their ability to hyperfocus on a task gives them a noticeable edge for certain skills, bird song identification, for example. Another individual he speaks to has dyslexia, and they feel that this gives them an ability to distil ideas that they then become meaningful and understandable to many others. Someone else has the ability to walk around a nature reserve once and have a map imprinted in their memory.
Lots of people have very niche specialist interests, some of which Harkness talks about with them. A good organisation can harness this mix of skills and by having both neurodivergent and non- neurodivergent staff will make for a stronger and more balanced team. One individual Harkness interviews, went from almost being excluded at school to creating a $50b scheme for mangrove restoration. And this is one of many stories of the successes of neurodivergent people working in conservation.
Even though things are improving for neurodivergent people, the barriers for some to gain employment in the conservation sector are sometimes set really high. It is difficult to gain entry when it feels like some of these decisions have already been taken prior to interviews. Having to undertake voluntary work in the sector only works when you have a supportive and fairly wealthy family. Should they overcome these hurdles a get the job, a starting salary of £18k is laughable but very common. So if you’re a female, neurodivergent and coloured, then it is almost impossible to be able to get a job, which hence why there are only 6% coloured people working in conservation. Less than 50% of the organisations have anything resembling an equality, diversity and inclusion policy (EDI). Link that to endemic institutionalised racism, and it isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Companies have a legal requirement to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ when employing people to ensure that all employees have a level playing field. However, the term ‘reasonable ‘ is very broad… Sadly, making a potential employer aware of your disability is a sure-fire way to not get the job. Harkness himself has had mixed responses and support from employers in the past and outlines the good and the bad. He does hear the horror stories and also writes about the organisations that are doing things really well. He notes that for some neurodivergent people, it is the interactions that they have with other people that is the problem, not the interactions that they have with nature.
Harkness looks at some of the well-known conservation organisations and their policies and, more importantly, their actions on EDI and neurodiversity. He even gets to talk to a government department about their policies. It was interesting to see that a substantial number of people who were responsible for this also have neurodivergent conditions. The better organisations use a workplace passport scheme for all employees; this makes it fair and reduces discrimination in the workplace.
Harkness also contacts a number of smaller conservation organisations to find out how they manage neurodivergent staff. About 50% of those he had contacted replied to him, and of those, they had policies and processes in place that helped neurodivergent staff to integrate and feel valued. Some of these conservation charities are tiny, only having six staff in some cases, so the office rules that bigger organisations have don’t really apply in these instances.
A friend of my wife runs a forest school, and until I read the chapter in this book, I must admit I didn’t really know a huge amount about it. The non-threatening environment works for everyone, especially the kids. He also visits a care farm that takes in kids who don’t really fit in the regular school system. If only more kids had these opportunities.
His final chapter talks about stories having a beginning, middle and end. Except life isn’t like that, especially if you’re neurodivergent or have ADHD, it is a super nova of themes, ideas, and threads to be followed. This book had come about from someone mentioning to Harkness that most people in the conservation sector were neurodivergent.
Overall, I thought this was a very interesting and informative book about how neurodivergent people can thrive in nature-centred organisations. Provided the organisation that they work for has put in place sympathetic schemes and systems for them. The thing to remember is that these systems work perfectly for ‘normal’ people too, unlike the other way around. Most of the people that Harkness has spoken to, to create this book, have had a positive experience with how they are treated, but there is the odd horror story in here! If you are or know anyone who is neurodivergent, then I think that you will find, as I did, this to be an informative and useful book. Bravo to Harkness for writing something that is very close to home and outside his comfort zone.
December 15, 2025
I was excited to read this as I thoroughly enjoyed Joe Harkness' first book 'Bird Therapy'- being neurodivergent myself I thought this would be the perfect read for me.
While the book was insightful and interesting, I wasn't expecting it to be mostly about people working within nature/environmental sector, it was quite careers heavy.
Would have loved the book to have been more of a deep dive into the mental health benefits neurodivergent people get from being in nature and how neurodivergent people who aren't lucky enough to work within the environmental sector interact with nature.
While the book was insightful and interesting, I wasn't expecting it to be mostly about people working within nature/environmental sector, it was quite careers heavy.
Would have loved the book to have been more of a deep dive into the mental health benefits neurodivergent people get from being in nature and how neurodivergent people who aren't lucky enough to work within the environmental sector interact with nature.
August 13, 2025
"We may think outside the box, but we've spent a lot of our lives inside one."
This book is an insightful investigation into how and why so many people who are neurodivergent work in the fields of conservation and the promotion of biodiversity.
This book encouraged me to understand how many useful skills people who are neurodiverse bring into this field. Neurodiversity is a fairly new and still developing term used to describe people with diagnoses of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dysgraphia.
The author has been diagnosed with ADHD, and draws on his personal and professional experiences to highlight the creativity, skills and passion that can benefit communities, schools and workplaces when neurodiversity is welcomed and supported in all its forms.
As a Bookseller I would highly recommend this book to anyone working in nature or conservation, as well as those who have an interest in how to best support, promote and celebrate neurodivergent people. Many thanks to Bloomsbury Books for providing an advanced copy for this review.
This book is an insightful investigation into how and why so many people who are neurodivergent work in the fields of conservation and the promotion of biodiversity.
This book encouraged me to understand how many useful skills people who are neurodiverse bring into this field. Neurodiversity is a fairly new and still developing term used to describe people with diagnoses of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dysgraphia.
The author has been diagnosed with ADHD, and draws on his personal and professional experiences to highlight the creativity, skills and passion that can benefit communities, schools and workplaces when neurodiversity is welcomed and supported in all its forms.
As a Bookseller I would highly recommend this book to anyone working in nature or conservation, as well as those who have an interest in how to best support, promote and celebrate neurodivergent people. Many thanks to Bloomsbury Books for providing an advanced copy for this review.
August 19, 2026
My dad got me this for my birthday, and the first thing I noticed was the amazing sensory qualities of the cover. The hardcover has this sort of faintly rough faux-fabric texture that I cannot stop petting – so, already off to a good start, LOL! The green oak leaves on tan background on the outside and tan oak leaves on green inside the cover were also very pleasing.
ANYWAY…Joe Harkness is a naturalist, writer, and educator who was diagnosed with ADHD in his thirties. And to hear him tell the origins of this book: Some moth trapping led to an idea of writing about how people develop niche nature interests. “Then , after sharing my draft proposal with my now editor…they asked whether I knew anyone with niche nature-related interests who was neurodivergent.” Short answer: Yep, there’s a lot of us!
Why? Well, a few quotes I found relatable include:
“Flora and fauna move in cycles…creating a calendar that one can familiarize themselves and connect with. These routines are logical. They offer a consistency so rarely found in our own species…It’s accessible at your own pace and on your own terms, things that can often be important for an autistic person.”
“Naomi…said that although natural sounds can fill up their sensory bucket, it never quite overflows. In fact, the only time they’ve ever come close to overwhelm us when they’ve been listening to the dawn chorus…due to their ability to process and name every bird…rather than the…sounds themselves”
Nature-related jobs can thus be a good fit:
“In fact, she can’t imagine herself ever working in anything other than ecology…I got some insight into this from autistic ecologist Naomi Davis, whose favorite thing about their job is that they get to find and categorize things…despite the daily tasks being the same, the locations vary so much.”
“there were no contributors working in outdoor roles and requiring adjustments for that element of their job…it’s the people, the administrative tasks and sharing information that cause the most issues for neurodivergent people.”
“Larissa also recognizes that her special interests…make her more effective…Her ideal holiday is a botanical one, she’s always reading and learning about plants…She loves the alchemy of natural dying”
Nature helping neurodivergent nervous systems regulate, and neurodivergent people learning about and protecting nature – a match made in heaven, it seems! However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still barriers. Harkness here focuses on the UK NGO/governmental conservation sector, which is a bit different from US academia (where I work). But a lot of things still hold, like the way things like complex paperwork or super formal interviews can pose problems in getting hired for those with certain neurodivergences, and the need for workplaces to understand and accommodate differences in work style – which is often quite cheap, actually, since a lot of it is things like “allow people to turn off camera or use a fidget toy during meetings”, “send questions ahead of time”, or “allow people to work from home a few days a week”.
“Another simple but effective adjustment is to collate the approaches that work for individual employees into… ‘workplace passports’…their passports aren’t lead by diagnoses…instead…staff members reflect on challenges…and things that might mitigate those challenges.”
Conservation has an added hurdle for anyone who doesn’t come from a more well-off background, it seems: a heavy emphasis on having volunteer work on one’s resume. (Not that volunteering isn’t seen as a plus in many fields, but gaining experience for pay or course credit is often just as good or better). For any field, looking at what structures are actually necessary and which just built up through history and are now getting in the way, is key, as is intentionality in addressing these barriers. "The senior staff member beautifully described how they perceive much of the delivery of organizational EDI work as 'peeking over the fence...then trying to keep up with the Jones's, rather than thinking about what they should deliver and why'” It’s really nice that Harkniss was pleasantly surprised at how seriously UK environment-related government entities took their EDI responsibilities. I hope that’s still true, because god knows some countries have gone in the opposite direction!
The efforts are important, because: "Matt believes that anyone can reach their maximum potential and contribute as best as they are able to when processes and activities don't force them to participate in conditions that are ideal for some but inappropriate and damaging for others. We both agreed that this should apply in all areas of life" And I agree that, when it comes to preserving nature, which is key for our survival on this planet, we should find ways to let more of the people who are passionate about it – not just neurodivergent folks, but those who have been excluded in various other ways too – get opportunities to use those skills and passions.
ANYWAY…Joe Harkness is a naturalist, writer, and educator who was diagnosed with ADHD in his thirties. And to hear him tell the origins of this book: Some moth trapping led to an idea of writing about how people develop niche nature interests. “Then , after sharing my draft proposal with my now editor…they asked whether I knew anyone with niche nature-related interests who was neurodivergent.” Short answer: Yep, there’s a lot of us!
Why? Well, a few quotes I found relatable include:
“Flora and fauna move in cycles…creating a calendar that one can familiarize themselves and connect with. These routines are logical. They offer a consistency so rarely found in our own species…It’s accessible at your own pace and on your own terms, things that can often be important for an autistic person.”
“Naomi…said that although natural sounds can fill up their sensory bucket, it never quite overflows. In fact, the only time they’ve ever come close to overwhelm us when they’ve been listening to the dawn chorus…due to their ability to process and name every bird…rather than the…sounds themselves”
Nature-related jobs can thus be a good fit:
“In fact, she can’t imagine herself ever working in anything other than ecology…I got some insight into this from autistic ecologist Naomi Davis, whose favorite thing about their job is that they get to find and categorize things…despite the daily tasks being the same, the locations vary so much.”
“there were no contributors working in outdoor roles and requiring adjustments for that element of their job…it’s the people, the administrative tasks and sharing information that cause the most issues for neurodivergent people.”
“Larissa also recognizes that her special interests…make her more effective…Her ideal holiday is a botanical one, she’s always reading and learning about plants…She loves the alchemy of natural dying”
Nature helping neurodivergent nervous systems regulate, and neurodivergent people learning about and protecting nature – a match made in heaven, it seems! However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still barriers. Harkness here focuses on the UK NGO/governmental conservation sector, which is a bit different from US academia (where I work). But a lot of things still hold, like the way things like complex paperwork or super formal interviews can pose problems in getting hired for those with certain neurodivergences, and the need for workplaces to understand and accommodate differences in work style – which is often quite cheap, actually, since a lot of it is things like “allow people to turn off camera or use a fidget toy during meetings”, “send questions ahead of time”, or “allow people to work from home a few days a week”.
“Another simple but effective adjustment is to collate the approaches that work for individual employees into… ‘workplace passports’…their passports aren’t lead by diagnoses…instead…staff members reflect on challenges…and things that might mitigate those challenges.”
Conservation has an added hurdle for anyone who doesn’t come from a more well-off background, it seems: a heavy emphasis on having volunteer work on one’s resume. (Not that volunteering isn’t seen as a plus in many fields, but gaining experience for pay or course credit is often just as good or better). For any field, looking at what structures are actually necessary and which just built up through history and are now getting in the way, is key, as is intentionality in addressing these barriers. "The senior staff member beautifully described how they perceive much of the delivery of organizational EDI work as 'peeking over the fence...then trying to keep up with the Jones's, rather than thinking about what they should deliver and why'” It’s really nice that Harkniss was pleasantly surprised at how seriously UK environment-related government entities took their EDI responsibilities. I hope that’s still true, because god knows some countries have gone in the opposite direction!
The efforts are important, because: "Matt believes that anyone can reach their maximum potential and contribute as best as they are able to when processes and activities don't force them to participate in conditions that are ideal for some but inappropriate and damaging for others. We both agreed that this should apply in all areas of life" And I agree that, when it comes to preserving nature, which is key for our survival on this planet, we should find ways to let more of the people who are passionate about it – not just neurodivergent folks, but those who have been excluded in various other ways too – get opportunities to use those skills and passions.
June 27, 2026
A decent surface level read for anyone wishing to know what it's like for autistic people working in conservation and nature based careers. Like a lot of other reviewers have also said I thought this was going to be something a lot different to what the synopsis made it out to be. I was expecting an exploration of neurodivergent people's connection to the natural world and why many neurodivergent people feel at home in this space and wish to protect their natural environment but instead it felt more like a conversation about how neurodivergent people fit well into nature based careers.
That being said I do think it's a good read and all the conversations and some of the key points the book raised are very necessary to have. The author touches on some very crucial points like barriers to diagnosis and access to appropriate care and how this applies in different contexts for different people and how facets of their identity like race and class play a vital role in these processes. I do feel like it lacked any true depth though and I really wish the author would have discussed in greater detail how autistic people struggle to find paid work of any kind and how difficult the nature and conservation industry is to break into.
I did find it felt more like a review of how neurodivergent people are connected to nature based careers rather than nature itself, it would have been improved to include more perspectives from neurodivergent people who engage with the natural world solely for recreational and well-being purposes and their reasons why. This book felt like it answered a lot of "how" questions but not a lot of "why" as in why do neurodivergent people feel so at home and connected with their environment?
I do love that it's a book written by a neurodivergent person who seeks to elevate the experiences of other neurodivergent people at the same time, making the people who shared their experiences feel a lot less like a case study (which is sadly often the case in a lot of literature on neurodivergency) and more like uplifted voices.
Overall, I think it was a decent read that could definitely have been promoted a little differently in a way that reflected was the book was about in a more transparent way. I feel like it would be a very useful read for anyone involved in this particular sector especially anyone actively involved in policy or supporting neurodivergent people.
That being said I do think it's a good read and all the conversations and some of the key points the book raised are very necessary to have. The author touches on some very crucial points like barriers to diagnosis and access to appropriate care and how this applies in different contexts for different people and how facets of their identity like race and class play a vital role in these processes. I do feel like it lacked any true depth though and I really wish the author would have discussed in greater detail how autistic people struggle to find paid work of any kind and how difficult the nature and conservation industry is to break into.
I did find it felt more like a review of how neurodivergent people are connected to nature based careers rather than nature itself, it would have been improved to include more perspectives from neurodivergent people who engage with the natural world solely for recreational and well-being purposes and their reasons why. This book felt like it answered a lot of "how" questions but not a lot of "why" as in why do neurodivergent people feel so at home and connected with their environment?
I do love that it's a book written by a neurodivergent person who seeks to elevate the experiences of other neurodivergent people at the same time, making the people who shared their experiences feel a lot less like a case study (which is sadly often the case in a lot of literature on neurodivergency) and more like uplifted voices.
Overall, I think it was a decent read that could definitely have been promoted a little differently in a way that reflected was the book was about in a more transparent way. I feel like it would be a very useful read for anyone involved in this particular sector especially anyone actively involved in policy or supporting neurodivergent people.
June 27, 2026
This book was a gift by a (neurodivergent) friend and I was very excited to read it, as the topic interests me a lot. Sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I need my non-fiction books to have some sort of structure and a clear objective and I didn't really get that with this book. Basically the author somehow explores the experiences of neurodivergent people working in the conservation sector, I guess. I might not have been the target audience of this book though, as I do not engage with that sector a lot and, being from Germany, know little about the UK specifics of it. What I liked about this book was finding out that apparently in the UK there are loads of reasonable adjustments made for neurodivergent people at work and organisations as well as governmental agencies focus on EDI a lot, which I think has been much more neglected in Germany.
June 9, 2026
I recently read this book and it is a book that has stayed with me long after finishing it. It explores the relationship between biodiversity and neurodiversity, encouraging us to think differently about inclusion, environments, and what helps people flourish.
One of the quotes that particularly stood out to me came from the chapter Why is there a lump? The discussion focused on workplace adjustments and accessibility, linking these ideas to plants and growing conditions. The author reflected that creating supportive workplaces is “as much about listening to people as implementing new protocols.”
The chapter went on to compare different plant species, some can survive and thrive in the harshest conditions, while others require more specialist environments in order to flourish. Reading this immediately made me think about a quote I often use in training around the diversity of flowers. Different flowers bloom in different ways, at different times, and require different conditions. Some need significant recovery and growing time, while others appear quickly and adapt easily.
To create a truly flourishing garden, we need diversity throughout the seasons. Different plants support different forms of wildlife and contribute in unique ways to the wider ecosystem. I found myself reflecting on how strongly this connects to the workplace. A healthy, inclusive workplace is not built around everyone working, communicating, or coping in the same way. It grows through recognising difference, valuing varied strengths, and creating environments where people can thrive rather than simply survive.
I particularly valued learning about organisations that are actively thinking differently about neurodiversity and working styles. The book highlights how embracing different ways of thinking can strengthen creativity, innovation, and problem-solving across teams.
Another important theme throughout the book was the role of leadership. The openness of leaders discussing disability and neurodivergence and creating change from the top down, felt particularly powerful. At the same time, the book does not shy away from the reality that experiences are not equal for everyone. It explores how intersectionality, including factors such as race, LGBTQ+ identity, and socioeconomic background, can create additional barriers and challenges for neurodivergent individuals.
My biggest takeaway from this book is the importance of building a diverse future where neurodiversity is not simply accommodated, but genuinely valued. Inclusion is not about expecting everyone to fit into the same environment; it is about creating cultures where different people can flourish in different ways.
For me, this book reinforced the importance of continuing to shift workplace culture towards openness, flexibility, accessibility, and inclusivity and recognising that diversity is not a problem to solve, but something essential to growth.
One of the quotes that particularly stood out to me came from the chapter Why is there a lump? The discussion focused on workplace adjustments and accessibility, linking these ideas to plants and growing conditions. The author reflected that creating supportive workplaces is “as much about listening to people as implementing new protocols.”
The chapter went on to compare different plant species, some can survive and thrive in the harshest conditions, while others require more specialist environments in order to flourish. Reading this immediately made me think about a quote I often use in training around the diversity of flowers. Different flowers bloom in different ways, at different times, and require different conditions. Some need significant recovery and growing time, while others appear quickly and adapt easily.
To create a truly flourishing garden, we need diversity throughout the seasons. Different plants support different forms of wildlife and contribute in unique ways to the wider ecosystem. I found myself reflecting on how strongly this connects to the workplace. A healthy, inclusive workplace is not built around everyone working, communicating, or coping in the same way. It grows through recognising difference, valuing varied strengths, and creating environments where people can thrive rather than simply survive.
I particularly valued learning about organisations that are actively thinking differently about neurodiversity and working styles. The book highlights how embracing different ways of thinking can strengthen creativity, innovation, and problem-solving across teams.
Another important theme throughout the book was the role of leadership. The openness of leaders discussing disability and neurodivergence and creating change from the top down, felt particularly powerful. At the same time, the book does not shy away from the reality that experiences are not equal for everyone. It explores how intersectionality, including factors such as race, LGBTQ+ identity, and socioeconomic background, can create additional barriers and challenges for neurodivergent individuals.
My biggest takeaway from this book is the importance of building a diverse future where neurodiversity is not simply accommodated, but genuinely valued. Inclusion is not about expecting everyone to fit into the same environment; it is about creating cultures where different people can flourish in different ways.
For me, this book reinforced the importance of continuing to shift workplace culture towards openness, flexibility, accessibility, and inclusivity and recognising that diversity is not a problem to solve, but something essential to growth.
August 31, 2026
A very interesting book in terms of how the nuerodiverse individuals can benefit the conservation industry. Although, I was expecting it to be a take on nuerodivergent indoviduals and how they look at the World and nature itself. To be fair that point or aspect comes up often but it leaves a lot to be explored.
The book deals with the UK industry, so those looking for an international take will be a tad bit dissapointed. But as someone who's worked in the development sector it made me realize that the best practices can be replicated elsewhere.
In the end, I think it's an important start and a more in depth or subjective neurodivergent experience centric book as a follow-up would complete the circle.
But a must read nevertheless. A thoroughly enjoyable book, even if at times it feels repetitive.
The book deals with the UK industry, so those looking for an international take will be a tad bit dissapointed. But as someone who's worked in the development sector it made me realize that the best practices can be replicated elsewhere.
In the end, I think it's an important start and a more in depth or subjective neurodivergent experience centric book as a follow-up would complete the circle.
But a must read nevertheless. A thoroughly enjoyable book, even if at times it feels repetitive.
April 10, 2026
Joe is a widely published naturalist who received an ADHD diagnosis in his 30s. In this book he explores whether his own bond with nature was intrinsic to his neurodivergence or something which developed through his life choices. He also, through many connections with other neurodivergent people who share his passion for the natural world, many of whom work in conservation, highlights the creativity, skills and passion that can benefit communities where neurodiversity is welcomed and supported in all its forms.
The book closes with this hope:
“The future of conservation isn’t just about protecting the world around us, it’s also about ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to play their part in doing so. That’s why biodiversity needs neurodiversity.”
The book closes with this hope:
“The future of conservation isn’t just about protecting the world around us, it’s also about ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to play their part in doing so. That’s why biodiversity needs neurodiversity.”
February 11, 2026
I was highly anticipating reading this and it didn’t disappoint. I don’t normally pick up non-fiction but I’m a neurodivergent zookeeper and overall nature nerd so this really stuck out for me.
“We just want to conserve the entity that understands us, that makes us feel safe, and gives us the escape we crave” is my favourite of many relatable quotes. This book felt like a warm hug and I can’t recommend it more highly to anyone working in conservation, neurodivergent or not.
(Only dropped one star due to areas of conservation that don’t interest me so much, but the stories/experiences of others here were still interesting to hear about!)
“We just want to conserve the entity that understands us, that makes us feel safe, and gives us the escape we crave” is my favourite of many relatable quotes. This book felt like a warm hug and I can’t recommend it more highly to anyone working in conservation, neurodivergent or not.
(Only dropped one star due to areas of conservation that don’t interest me so much, but the stories/experiences of others here were still interesting to hear about!)
July 2, 2026
This is one of the most important books currently available on the state of employment for all neurotypes, especially neurodivergent people not only in the nature sector but in every type of employment. The chapters on the emphasis of unpaid voluntary experience is a must for everyone, employees, employers, students and all business owners and managers.
Let us hope that this book plays it's part in helping to change the system.
Let us hope that this book plays it's part in helping to change the system.
August 26, 2025
I really enjoyed the first 30ish% but then it went heavy into neurodiversity in jobs (involving nature) and I just wasn't expecting so much of that.
I was expecting it to focus more on the nature not jobs.
While I'm glad to see certain orgs and government agencies working on making these places more inclusive its still very depressing to see how hard these jobs are to get into.
I was expecting it to focus more on the nature not jobs.
While I'm glad to see certain orgs and government agencies working on making these places more inclusive its still very depressing to see how hard these jobs are to get into.
November 9, 2025
A brilliant way to learn about neurodiversity as well as the conservation sector through stories. Beautifully written and well structured, Joe takes you on a journey of discovery and exploration through lived experience of many people interviewed. Very interesting and insighful read.
September 28, 2026
Really interesting book. It mostly covers what companies do (or don't do) to support neurodivergent people. Mostly in the environmental/conservation sector. There isn't really much of an explanation as to what neurodivergence means. But it's good if you are interested in EDI policies.
October 21, 2025
Lovely cover to this book, but for me that was the best thing! It started well enough, but then got pretty turgid. It read rather like a degree thesis. Sorry Joe it just got too technical for me.
April 7, 2026
A study of the employment of neurodivergent people in the conservation sector.
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