Summer Reading (and Listening) for Your ADHD Brain
Summer is actually a decent time to dig into some ADHD content. You might have a commute, a walk, or a quiet moment where something to listen to or read actually fits. And there’s something about learning more about how your own brain works that makes the hard stuff feel a little less personal.
If you want to read:
Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey is the one that’s been around forever for a reason. It’s still one of the most validating things you can hand someone who was just diagnosed, or who has known for years and never quite had words for it. Their follow-up, ADHD 2.0, is worth picking up too if you want something more current.
If you’re looking for something more uplifting, The Power of Different by Gail Saltz, MD is worth a read. The idea is simple but worth hearing: being neurodivergent isn’t just something to manage, it can be a real source of strength. Saltz uses stories of everyday people who leaned into their brain differences and flourished because of them, not in spite of them. Good for anyone who’s tired of ADHD being framed as a problem to fix.
If family dynamics are on your mind this summer, Dr. Tamara Rosier has two books worth checking out. Your Brain’s Not Broken tackles the emotional side of ADHD, the overwhelm, the self-criticism, the feelings that don’t always make sense, and gives you language and strategies for navigating all of it. Her follow-up, You, Me, and Our ADHD Family, digs into the relationship side of things, the recurring patterns, the emotional flare-ups, the moments that keep happening and you can’t quite figure out why. Good for anyone who feels like ADHD isn’t just their thing. It’s the whole household’s thing.
If you’d rather listen:
Hacking Your ADHD is a great place to start. Episodes are short, which means you might actually finish one. I Have ADHD with Kristen Carder is honest and warm and feels like talking to someone who genuinely gets it. ADHD reWired is practical and good for adults who want real strategies, not just validation. And if you want something more research-backed, the ADHD Experts Podcast from ADDitude Magazine brings in clinicians and researchers and is easy to follow on a walk.
Any of these work well as background for a task that needs just enough stimulation to keep your brain from wandering off entirely.
Pick one. See what sticks. That’s enough.