ADHD Is Awesome

A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD

By: Penn Holderness, Kim Holderness, Edward Hallowell - introduction

Narrated by: Penn Holderness, Kim Holderness, Nathan Rosborough, Ann Marie Taepke, Tyrrell Harrell, Lola Holderness

Read by the authors.

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The engaging, uplifting antidote to traditional ADHD books (which, let's be honest, if you have ADHD you'd never read anyway).

You live in a world that wasn't designed for you. A world where you're expected to sit still, stay quiet, and focus. Because of the way your brain is wired, you can feel like you’re failing at life. But you are not failing. You are awesome.

Award-winning content creators Kim and Penn Holderness are on a mission to reboot how we think about the unfortunately named "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder." As always, they are doing it by looking in the mirror, because they don't just study ADHD; they live it.

Penn was in college when he was diagnosed with ADHD, although the signs of having a brain that worked just a little bit differently had been there since he was a kid. Rather than view the diagnosis as a curse or give in to feelings of inadequacy or failure, he took a different approach, one that he wants to share with fellow ADHDers and the people who care about them.

Drawing on their often-hilarious insights and the expertise of doctors, researchers, and specialists; Kim and Penn provide fun, easy-to-digest advice and explanations, including:

• What it's actually like to live with an ADHD brain.
• How to find humor in the pitfalls, sob stories, and unbelievable triumphs (like the time they won The Amazing Race!) that come with ADHD.
• How to tackle the challenges ADHD presents with a positive outlook.
• Targeted tools and techniques to play to your unique strengths.
• Fun extras like ADHD Bingo, an ode to cargo pants, and what the world would look like if ADHDers were in charge.

Take it from Penn: Having ADHD can be scary, but it comes with incredible upsides, including creativity, hyperfocus, and energy. You might even say it's kind of awesome. Whether you have ADHD or want to support someone else in their journey, this is the guide you need to make the life you want.

Awesome!

My ADHDer husband and I listened together. I appreciated the insight into his mind and the things that make him different, special, and awesome. I especially appreciated the tips for me as someone who loves him. Great, fun narration. Thanks for writing this book and putting it together in such an accessible way. 😊

Informative and fun

Helpful tips with a fun perspective. One of the few ADHD books where I didn't feel like I was being spoken down to. I felt included in a club that I now understand better.

I very much connected with this book!

I found myself over and over again, nodding my head and going Yep that’s me, Yep, I’ve done that. This is a fantastic read for anyone who struggles with ADHD in their own life, and a fantastic read for those who love someone with ADHD. I’ve always felt like my own special brand of ADHD helped me to become who I am in my career and life, and causes problems, but made me who I am. This book cemented that. I hope you get the same!

Edifying

Kindness, fact, humor and compassion: Our ADHD children, and our family as a whole, will forever benefit from this book. Thank you

Makes ADHD sound funny. (Dislike)

I'm enjoying the audiobook, but having ADHD can be very depressing when you're trying to fit into society.
My ADHD had a hand in my divorce, which I still regret. It also made it hard to keep serious friendships. I hid my ADHD, which ultimately led to depression.
So I do have those characteristics that can be funny, like making mistakes because I only read the first part of an email, losing everything, not finishing what I start, and trying to calm myself down. But I also have times when I just wish I was like everyone else.
I was called lazy and spoiled by my family, because I couldn't finish chores. I became an introvert so no one would know what I'm really like. This led to very low confidence and blaming everything on myself.
But like you said, there is no one way for ADHD people to behave. I like your book. I just wish ADHD would have turned me into an outgoing success like it did you.