#13

Neurodiversity for Dummies by John Marble, Khushboo Chabria, and Ranga Jayaraman. Wiley, 2024. 324 pp.

I really liked this because it provided a great overview from a neurodivergent-friendly angle (at least one, and possibly two, of the authors have neurodivergent differences) of a group of conditions that included not only autism and ADHD, but also dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia, as well as some comorbidities. It is for those with neurodifferences, as well as parents/caregivers, teachers, managers, human resources, and anyone trying to understand and interact, making things better for people who live in a world that wasn't designed for them but who have valuable abilities to bring to the table. It is very readable, like most of the 'for Dummies' books (I hate the titles, but the series is great), and covers a lot, but isn't an onerous read [which is great if you have ADHD]. It covers a lot of misconceptions, and also a lot of coping skills that neurodivergent people have used that then cause them problems later in life. It covers issues with relationships, whether platonic, romantic, or familial, workplace issues, school challenges at all levels, and becoming your own advocate. It covers building communities and finding others who 'get' you. And it covers learning to figure out how other people think and how the things you find tedious, like small talk, or don't understand, like innuendo or implication, play an important part in social interaction. (For example, autistic people often will not socialise with others unless explicitly invited, even though the others thought their implication was sufficient. Or, they may not realise that the nice person who picks up the tab for dinner thinks they are dating. One of the authors had this experience. I feel so much better about myself for doing this, not once but twice.)

Anyway, since I have 13 out of a goal of 15, I'm ahead for the year, which is good, as I go back to work Thursday and I won't have as much time to read. Even with the time I've had, I haven't gotten through all the other library books I've checked out.  Here's what I have out right now:

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Action Plans: 4-week meal plans to heal the immune system and restore overall health by Dorothy Calimeris 

Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Dummies by Artemis Morris 

Anti-Inflammatory eating made easy: nutrition plan and 75 recipes for a healthier body by Michelle Babb 

Autism Adulthood: insights and creative strategies for a fulfilling life by Susan Senator 

Confident Coding: learn how to code and master the essentials by Rob Percival 

DASH Diet for Dummies by Sarah Samaan 

E-Z Spanish by Ruth J. Silverstein 

The Electricity of Every Living Thing: a woman's walk in the wild to find her way home by Katherine May 

Enjoy German by Heiner Schenke 

German for Dummies by Wendy Foster 

Gut Feelings: healing the shame-fueled relationship between what you eat and how you feel by Will Cole 

Hebrew for the Rest of us: using Hebrew tools to study the Old Testament by Lee M. Fields 

How to be Human: an autistic man's guide to life by Jory Fleming 

A Little Less Broken: how an autism diagnosis finally made me whole by Marian Schembari 

Mind Your Gut: the science-based, whole-body guide to living well with IBS by Kate Scarlata 

Off the Spectrum: why the science of autism has failed women and girls by Gina Rippon 

On Book Banning: or, how the new censorship consensus trivializes art and undermines democracy by Ira Wells 

The Pattern Seekers: how autism drives human invention by Simon Baron-Cohen 

Take Control of Your IBS: everything you need to know to feel better by Kirsten Jackson 

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

The White Storm: how racism poisoned American democracy by Martin Gelin 

Plus, I have two on hold: 

The trouble of color: an American family memoir by Martha S. Jones 

Unmasked: the ultimate guide to ADHD, autism and neurodivergence by Ellie Middleton

My roommate says I'm hoarding books, and he's right. I've had some of these out for a while. So I'm going to go through a lot, especially the diet books, and see what I can do to take some back before Thursday. Most of those are recipes, anyway.

But, hey, I'm up to 13; that's better than a book a month. Since I struggle to read these days, that's good. And while my roommate came up with the answer a long time ago, this puts it succinctly. It's probably why I do mostly non-fiction now. I spent my entire childhood wrapped up in fantasy books and a fantasy world. I got pulled out kicking and screaming from that world in my 20s, and I needed to be, but I've never quite recaptured that immersive story, the magic, while being firmly grounded in reality again, at least not like it was.