It’s Audiobook Appreciation month! I absolutely love an audiobook. Read a book while driving? Sweet. Put it on 1.5/2.0 speed and feel like you’re cheating by getting through it faster than the predicted time? Even better. When people ask me how I manage to read more as someone with ADHD, I essentially froth at the mouth with my enthusiastic recommendation for audiobooks, in a similar way millennials swoon over air fryers
(I am that millennial too. I bloody love our airfryer)
Anyway, I thought I’d share some of my favourite audiobook reads from the last few years. Here’s how I judge if they’re worth listening to: – can I actually remember the contents of it? One of the joys of ADHD is that I can often love a book…and then entirely forget everything in it as soon as I turn the last page. Each of these books below are ones where I can actually remember the contents of and have implemented something from it.
So, let’s go!
(Disclaimer, the book links below are affiliate links for Audible, however I also heavily use Spotify for audiobooks now too as it’s included in my subscription. That said, even though I don’t like recommending big A, I do like how Audible books sync to the Kindle version, so you can pick up where you left off)
1) Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden
This book has been in my Audible library for ages, and I’ve finally got round to listening to it this week. I wish I hadn’t waited so long. If you’re someone who is autistic, especially a woman, or have someone in your life who is, this is a must read. Equally, as an ADHDer, I found it hit the nail on the head so many times. The book follows Chloe’s journey, from undiagnosed and unknowing, to her autism diagnosis (and later ADHD), and learning how to live a life that embraces her neurodivergence rather than stigmatises it. There are some triggering topics, like SA, eating disorders and bullying, so be cautious if those topics are ones you prefer to avoid. The printed book has quite a lot of warning when those topics are about to come up and makes it clear where they’re discussed, so that might be a better option if that’s the case.
My biggest takeaway from the book was understanding in more detail meltdowns, shutdowns and burnouts, and how they can present for an autistic person. Chloe describes it so well, that you can almost feel what she’s feeling.
I’d also really recommend It’s Not A Bloody Trend by Kat Brown. Because I will unleash some ADHD rage on the next person who thinks that being neurodivergent is a trend. It’s like saying breast cancer became a trend when mammograms started happening, because the number of diagnosis went up.
2) Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr Julie Smith
I first discovered Dr Julie through her Instagram, where she explained how our brain and emotions function, through visual aids and demonstrations. Her first book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before, builds on this, and I really do think it’s an essential read for anyone taking their first steps into personal development. In fact, I know if an audiobook is great, as I’ll then go and buy the paperback. I have the hardback of this book sat next to me right now, as I often jump back into it.
Her second book, Open When…, is also an excellent read, although it works better as a paper/hardback, because each chapter focuses on a different problem, that you can flick to for advice.
3) Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal
Another author who I initially discovered through socials, this time through Ali’s YouTube channel. Ali talks about productivity in a really achievable, gentle way. His book is all about how we’re more productive when we focus on feeling good, rather than expecting to be productive when we’re feeling low. It’s a modern update to the ‘will you motivate the donkey to move with a carrot or by hitting it with a stick’. Ali is firmly Team Carrot, and his book is full of lots of great advice to achieve that.
4) Half-Arse Human by Leena Norms
Leena is a very funny, very lovely YouTuber, who wrote a whole book about the delights of half arsing things. If you’re someone who really struggles with perfection, I highly recommend giving this book a listen. My main takeaway is to question everything and think “ah, do I need to full arse this, or will half arse do?”. It’s also a great reminder that doing something is always better than doing nothing.
5) How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
I recommend How To Keep House While Drowning to any of my ADHD clients who utter the words “I can’t keep on housework/adulting, I’m failing at it”. I found KC through her TikTok Strugglecare in lockdown, and her discussions about how housework is morally neutral, ways to make it more manageable both mentally and physically, and dealing with the mental load, really chimed with me. Then I discovered this book, which got straight into the details, gave me practical tips AND it was nice and short. It didn’t surprise me at all that KC was diagnosed as being ADHD a little after lockdown – all of her tips were perfect for us!
It does have some triggering topics around child abuse and addiction, but KC is pretty good at signposting those.
Also, as an aside, I switched from GoodReads to StoryGraph this year, and StoryGraph is pretty great at flagging any triggering topics, as well as detailing whether it’ll be graphic, moderate or minor. You can also filter books out with those topics.
So, if you have an audiobook credit, and you’re interested in self-development (especially around neurodivergence), these are my suggestions!
