An interesting book which broached the subject of neurodiversity. I enjoyed the book but did not agree with everything in the book. We have ADHD in our family and live by the idea that we are all different and all have our challenges in life and that is all just part of the colour of life and family.

United States Publication: November 21, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I was very interested to read this title and so pleased to get an ARC from NetGalley. I have a daughter who is autistic and ADHD, as well as friends who are neurodivergent, so I have a personal interest in neurodiversity as well as a basic human interest.

I really struggled with how to review this title and what "rating" to assign it. There were a few sections of this title that I really appreciated but overall I was disappointed in the content. The first few chapters literally read like a "copy and paste" from an in-depth Google search on neurodiversity. It made me wonder if the author had an editor because it didn't feel like it, and that feeling continued on throughout the whole of the book. The author, being autistic/ADHD/bipolar/BPD, is passionate about neurodiversity (that probably didn't need to be stated) but their passion is more a zealous interest than one that is tempered. They might say that being tempered in their zealous advocation for neurodiversity is exactly what a neurotypical person would suggest, but I would disagree given my personal interest in the topic. A zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. That's a recipe for accomplishing the opposite of what the person wants.

I was dismayed at the number of sources Wise used and leaned on that came from social media and blogs, they leaned so heavily on those sources that it watered down the academic sources and when studying a topic like neurodiversity academic sources are preferred with the social media sources serving as secondary support for the research, not the other way around.

Wise seems to have a soapbox to stand on when it comes to their opinions, or theories, about the influence of capitalism and white supremacy on neurodiversity. I came away from the book confused about this argument. I am very aware of the damage capitalism and white supremacy have done, but I'm not sure they play as big of a part in neurodiversity as Wise posits. I think their argument is a zealot's argument.

The transformation Wise wants to see happen in the world amounts to the pendulum swinging all the way to the other side, which simply isn't realistic. They forget that neurodiversity is a relatively new field of science as far as the world is concerned. Even 100 years ago, hell even 50 years ago, we didn't what we now do about the brain and the diversity of how it functions within each person. That should be taken into account when discussing the influences of systems on neurodiversity and the changes that might need to take place to better accommodate the diversity that we are becoming ever more aware of. I don't disagree with most of the accommodations that Wise says need to occur, but it will take time and thoughtful, tempered communities to put accommodations into place. And as we know from the rotten roots of white supremacy, patriarchy, and the like the time it takes to uproot is several lifetimes, not just one.

In advocating for neurodiversity, one should be careful to not demonize the neurotypical and Wise's book comes close to doing just that, as well as shaming those who do identify as neurotypical.

"Less pathology leaves room for curiosity."

I chose to request this book from Netgalley (Thanks Netgalley!) as it caught my eye... and I was wanting to find the language to support therapy clients who struggle with feeling 'broken' and have a low sense of self worth post ASD diagnosis. I often feel frustrated with the way our society is so quick to label and pathologise and put the blame on the individual, especially young children. Sonny Jane Wise understands this, herself having ASD and ADHD along with a whole host of other labels, and advocates for a 'Neurodiverse Paradigm' whereby we see ALL individuals as neurologically different, rather than broken or inherently wrong and needing to be fixed. After all, what does being 'normal' even mean?

I found myself agreeing with a lot of Wise's viewpoints, but I also struggled with the fact that this whole book feels like an opinion piece from her personal experiences; there's very little science or hard facts here to back up her viewpoints. The fact that she's taken quotes from social media posts also made me question the validity of her writing. I also struggle with the idea of certain conditions coming under the neurodiversity umbrella- psychosis or schizoprenia for example - very real illnesses that cause significant suffering. She compares such conditions to how homosexuality used to be considered a mental illness- that it's all based on how society views such neurodiversity. I believe it's more about the IMPACT the condition has on the individual and the amount of distress they are in, as to whether a condition should be pathologised.

This book made me think on quite a deep level, and consider my own prejudices and points of view when it comes to neurodiversity. I'd recommend it as an introduction to the idea of neurodiversity, she writes and explains concepts in an easy and conversational way. It was a very hopeful and uplifting view of neurodivergence.

This is a very hard book to review because of its subject matter. I have thought long and hard about what star rating to give it and my gut says two. I am concerned about sharing this but here it goes.

I chose this book because I wanted to learn a bit more about neurodiversity. I’ve done a little bit of learning/training during neurodiversity week through a great outside company & I wanted to learn a little bit more. I also know a few people in my circle who are neurodivergent & I have often wondered if I am neurodiverse too as I recognise some specific behaviours. On reflection I do not feel this was the right book to choose to learn more.

The book’s prose is relatively easy to read and the layout is good, as you might expect for the subject matter. There are more voices in here than just the author’s so you also get other perspectives. There are also a lot of footnotes with links to further learning which means it feels well researched.

In addition:

There a LOT of opinions in this book.

This book touches on more than just neurodiversity and goes into a lot of detail about disability/ableism, racism, gender and other protected characteristics not aforementioned.

Now those 2 things above may be something that you expect/would want to be included or they enhance the reading experience for you. I personally prefer my non-fiction books to be more factual & did want to learn more about neurodiversity in a standalone environment, as I had done before. Coming across both drew me out of the book a bit and made it hard to read.

I was really intrigued by the title as I’ve personally felt that for a long time - generally we all look different and sound different so why wouldn’t we be different in our minds? Unfortunately the book itself just didn’t do it for me in the end and to be honest, I wish I’d really not read it.

Thank you to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc.

3.5 / 5 - received a copy of this book from Net Galley HUGE THANKS!

Sonny Jay Wise’s book explores the umbrella term of neurodiversity and how white supremacy culture has created a pathology paradigm for a broad number of differences and how, ultimately, this hinders people’s ability to live in the world and creates exclusivity and isolation.

The book introduces terms and concepts in a really easy to understand and clear way, and is a great primer for people who are new to the ideas and ‘conditions’ (they would not be classed as conditions under a neurodiversity paradigm). It then goes on to cover exactly how differences became to be labelled as pathological conditions and the history and work of the movement working on dismantling the stigma around neurodiversity.

The book is particularly good on intersectionality and I found the case histories around race and neurodiversity moving and illuminating. I also found some of the ideas about how education and work could be approached to be compassionate and forward thinking and could see how they could be applied to everyone, who’s needs fluctuate all the time.

I found the book’s approach fell down somewhat when it comes to people who do feel profoundly disabled and negatively affected by their conditions. How do we approach people who can’t frame their experiences positively or even neutrally? How do we help people who don’t want to sit in their space - would changing society help everybody who is neurodiverse or dealing with their mental health or do some people not want to deal with mania or hallucination? I also found it repetitive in places.

However, Wise didn’t promise solutions for every circumstance, just a new way of looking at the world and the book certainly succeeded in making one think. I loved the hopeful and inclusive tone and would recommend.

An excellent and thorough study of the concept of neurodivergence, the history of the rights movement and practical changes we can make in modern society to accommodate everyone.

Wise's book delves into the concept of living in a neurodiverse world, where both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals coexist, each with their unique ways of processing and relating to the world. It's crucial to distinguish this from neurodivergence, a term referring to those who deviate from dominant social norms in terms of behaviour and thinking.

Viewing neurodivergence as a pathology, rather than recognizing it as a distinct way of thinking, erodes the autonomy of neurodivergent individuals and promotes a one-size-fits-all "treatment" approach. Instead of upholding environments where a diagnosis is a prerequisite for accommodations, which often results in stigmatization, Wise advocates for restructuring workplaces, educational settings, and our homes to embrace and support neurodiversity. I found their insights particularly enlightening, especially their discussion of executive functioning. It raises a valid question: why do we expect everyone to function like a manager when, in reality, some people possess different skills that don't necessarily involve linear task completion or uninterrupted focus?

This book is a read for anyone interested in creating a fairer society, but especially for anyone in education. It is written in an easy, accessible way and my only problem is that it does get a bit repetitive. It doesn’t however take away from the impact the book makes, it really provoked me to think differently.

Thank you to Sonny Jane Wise, Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

This is a really important and enjoyable read which dismantles stereotypes about neurodiversity and challenges ableist/capitalist society.

The fact that Sonny Jane Wise opens with a chapter of key definitions makes the text accessible to all audiences, rather than assuming pre-existing knowledge on behalf of the reader. This, along with the inclusion of both the author's own experiences and that of others, helps to make this more engaging and readable than many other non-fiction books.

I really admired the prioritisation of intersectionality and the author's recognition of their own limitations. Not only do they recognise their own privilege as a white person, they also include extracts from other racial backgrounds; rather than glossing over the relationship between race and neurodiversity, Wise draws on others with lived experience. In doing so, Wise also encourages the representation of a wide range of different experiences.

My only gripe with this book is that it can be a bit repetitive at times, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise well-written text.

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this text in exchange for an honest review.

Having a daughter who is awaiting diagnosis, and having always felt different from my peers myself, this was a great read. Full of great information and a truly positive outlook.
This was relatable and informative in a way which is engaging.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

5 star review!

As a newly diagnosed neurodivergent, this was a great book to read!

I received a copy of We're All Neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise through NetGalley. Wise explains that we live in a neurodiverse world, meaning that our society encompasses both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals who process and relate to the world differently. Importantly, this is distinct from neurodivergence, a term for those who deviate from dominant social norms around behavior or thinking.

Seeing neurodivergence as a pathology rather than simply a different way of thinking takes away autonomy from neurodivergent individuals and applies a one-size-fits-all "treatment" method. Instead of maintaining spaces where a diagnosis is required to access accommodations (which leads to stigma), Wise advocates for ways that we can restructure workplaces, educational environments, and our own homes to affirm neurodiversity. I really appreciated their thoughts, specifically their section on executive functioning. Why do we expect everyone to be able to function like a manager, when in actuality, some people just have different skills that don't involve completing tasks linearly or being able to focus completely uninterrupted?

While some of the terminology and explanations may already be familiar to those who've previously read a lot about neurodivergence, I still recommend this book! Wise envisions great concrete steps that we can take towards affirming neurodiversity. And if you haven't read anything about neurodivergence but want to learn more, their writing is extremely approachable, and this is a great place to start.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The title caught my eye when I was scrolling through titles on Netgalley and I decided to request it. I really enjoyed this book and the focus on building a neurodiversity affirming future. I thought their take on the topic was very interesting. I especially liked the point how we're all different and there should be space for that. As well as all the ways people can be different and how to be accepting and affirming of those differences. I also liked the broader definition for neurodivergent they used which included a lot of things now categorized as disorders.

This book made me think and I thought it was well written and informative. It has a very accepting, affirming and hopeful tone which made it pleasant to read. I also really liked the list of tips and ideas at the end for how to be more affirming in work/ school etc. I can definitely recommend this book.

When I requested this book, I was hoping to get more clarification of what neurodivergent meant on a spectrum. I also wanted to learn if I myself was part of that spectrum. This book provided some great information to help me understand more about that community.

Enjoyed this book. Was interesting, helpful & easy to read.
Things were explained in a way that made it interesting and simple to someone reading about it for the first time.

I really enjoyed this book! I feel like it is a great primer guide on neurodiversity and how it intersects with disability, race, gender, etc. The history portion of rights movements within the neurodiverse community was very informative and I learned about quite a few moments I hadn't heard about before.

The book goes on to encourage dismantling systems, rather than placing blame or otherness on those with neurodivergencies.

Why blame the individual for their needs or challenges, when the system can change to be better supportive and accommodating?

Is responding to trauma truly a disorder, or simply a change in the brain to adapt to survive?

Are autistics and ADHD'ers outliers, or have we just been taught they are the default?

The author wraps up the book by providing suggested accommodations and language updates for both those with neurodivergencies, and for providers.

My only gripe was times some text got a bit wordy or repetitive, but I think with a bit more editing and page breaks, the readability would improve greatly!

We’re All Neurodiverse features essays, interviews and explorations into neurodivergence and what different terms mean, as well as how important intersectionality is when we consider the different experiences of people with regards to gender and sexuality, and race, and how things like transphobia and racism can affect these communities, all united by disability and/or neurodivergence. I found it to be a very interesting read, as in some areas, I am more privileged than other people, and in other areas, less so, and I think it was very important to learn about these different experiences people can face, and how harmful hatred can be to our communities, especially when people are from multiple marginalised communities and face different kinds of discrimination at once. Parts of the book were frustrating to read as it reminded me how backwards society is and how far it truly is from accepting us as part of it, but I found it very relatable and cathartic to read. It was excellently laid out and I loved hearing from lots of different people, but I found that the main author’s viewpoint was really interesting and I loved their writing style. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about neurodivergence, particularly an intersectional kind which highlights all sorts of issues people can face on top of neurodivergence. This was an excellent read.

Wow! While my impression of what this book would be about was not at all accurate to what the actual content is, I am so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the ARC. This is a very important book and I want everyone to read it. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or not, you need to read this book. My mind was blown by reading the history of the DSM and "psychiatric disorders" in general. These things that we just take for granted as having power when they shouldn't. Because of this book, I am now doing my best to remove mentally-derogatory terms (such as hysterical, maniacal, crazy, nut, and insane) from my vocabulary. This book needs to be essential curriculum reading for everyone who works in medicine and emergency services. I'll be buying my own physical copy when this is published. Until then, I will promote it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, this needs some serious editing before publication. There are tons of typos/incorrect usage of words.

Now that that's out of the way, I unfortunately found this book to be written in a bit of a mish-mosh format. A lot of the information seemed like filler, and the writing itself didn't flow. I read this right after reading Dr. Devon Price's "Unmasking Autism", and this book unfortunately does not come anywhere near close to Dr. Price's work. It seemed very amateur in comparison.