An excellent insight into adhd from someone who actually has ADHD. I found this book informative and easy to read. I will be recommending this to my friends who also have ADHD.

Alex Conner and James Brown’s book ADHD Unpacked, published this week, is one that I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of and ordered the moment it went on pre-release. I was not disappointed, despite James and Alex’s continual, self-deprecating jokes about the book.

If you unaware of them, Alex Conner and James Brown are the hosts (along with Sam Brown, also known as Mrs AuDHD) of the fantastic ADHD Adult Podcast. They are both scientists with lived experience of ADHD, who, among many, many other things, give talks and run workshops on subjects such as The Science of ADHD, ADHD and Psychedelics, ADHD and Burnout, and ADHD and RSD, most often with the organisation Seed Talks.
Their new book ADHD Unpacked is a characteristically wonderful combination of science, lived experience, humour and compassion for the ADHD community. If you are unaware of what ADHD is, or still somehow think it is something that naughty seven year boys are diagnosed with, ADHD is a neurological condition that between 2.5 and 5 percent of the population is born with. It is a condition that has been described in medical literature for hundreds of years, but it was not until 2008 that it became a formal medical diagnosis for adults (to be clear, you do not develop ADHD as a adult, you have to have had symptoms as a child to get a diagnosis).
Despite its name, ADHD doesn’t involve a ‘lack’ of attention. As James and Alex explain:

‘ADHD can essentially be reduced to challenges with regulating three simple things: attention, emotion and inhibition. Emotional regulation … is pretty much a universal problem for people with ADHD. Problems regulating ‘attention’ is in the title of the disorder, so that is covered (although it isn’t less attention, remember). The last one – ‘inhibition’ – refers to our lack of ability to stop ourselves being distracted or limiting our movements (so inhibiting both thoughts and actions). This lack of inhibition means our behaviour can be both impulsive and hyperactive (which is why these are kept together in the diagnosis).’ (p.21)

I think there is sometimes a tendency to view ADHD as a funny little personality quirk, something that might make someone a bit annoying if they are late, forgetful or disorganised, but otherwise a fun and interesting person to be around. It is not. ADHD is a neurological disorder with changes to both the anatomy and the physiology of the brain, which can have severe, life-long negative effects on every aspect of a person’s life, if they remain undiagnosed, untreated and unsupported.

Some of the outcomes of undiagnosed and unsupported ADHD include increased risks of substance use issues, gambling and debt, increased risks of unemployment and underemployment, increased risk of criminality, increased risk of accidental injuries and suicide, and an increased risk of premature death (p.28-9). All of this is avoidable with treatment and support! And if you think that ADHD is over-diagnosed and treated, given that at least 2.5 percent of the population has this condition (a very conservative figure) but only 0.02 percent are routinely prescribed ADHD medication in the UK, (p.78) there is evidence that it is, in fact, massively under-diagnosed and under-treated.

I received an advance copy of this book from Bloomsbury via Netgalley (my views expressed here are my own!) but I cannot wait to get my own (hard) copy of the book to reread. I highly recommend this book to anyone with ADHD, or who thinks they might have ADHD, to anyone with friends or family or colleagues with ADHD, and to anyone who would like to learn more about this condition.

James and Alex do not shy away from the science in this book – you will learn about the genetics, brain structures and brain networks involved in ADHD – which is not surprising since they have both had long careers in science communication, but they do so with humour and recognition that much of their readership will have difficulties with sustained attention and focus! They are also open and vulnerable about their own struggles with ADHD and co-morbid conditions, and the impact that these have had on their mental health. And, finally, they give their readers tools and things to consider for dealing with ADHD in their own lives or the lives of those around them.

I will leave you with one of my favourite moments in the book. In Chapter 11 (Emotions and rejection in ADHD) they describe the parts of the brain involved in emotional regulation, including ‘the amygdala (from the Greek word for almond, because of the shape of this brain part, not its flavour, probably)’ (p.183) before, towards the end of the chapter, when describing two of the emotional co-morbid conditions (alexithymia and anhedonia), they use the expression: ‘the almond-flavoured amygdala.’ (p.195)

Go and buy this book! Learn about ADHD and how to support the people in your life (including yourself, if you have this condition) to lead lives where we ‘can be more successful and internally peaceful.’ (p.265)

An explicit and clear guide to being an adult with ADHD. From James Brown and Alex Conner who have been running a podcast around this subject.
The personal journeys are interesting and relatable. There are science based facts and some great myth busting of misconceptions and misinformation that people may pick up from social media.
Invaluable to understand any friends or relatives with ADHD. Some great tips for coping and shining a light on where emotions are involved.
As I am not neurodivergent, the writing doesn’t flow in a way I can absorb easily, this book is really for people with neurodivergence, but it is incredibly useful and packed with relevant information and insights.
Really interesting and if you know anyone with ADHD this would be a wonderful help. This is a fascinating subject and great to get some clarity.
Thank you to NetGalley for the informative and very interesting read.

Having binge listened to the podcast after my adult diagnosis of ADHD, it comes as no surprise that this book is utterly brilliant. It’s an abundance of evidence based information (backed up by multiple pages of references!) that helps to break down and explain the many facets of ADHD. It is totally engaging and endlessly relatable and should be mandatory reading for all those newly diagnosed and those who know and are supporting them. Kudos, and apologies for the compliments.

Brilliant! This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand adult ADHD, whether for personal insight or to support someone else navigating this condition.

What I particularly love about "ADHD Unpacked" is its comprehensive approach. It doesn’t just delve into the personal and social challenges associated with ADHD; it also addresses the often-overlooked professional aspects. This is crucial, as many misunderstandings stem from issues like masking and a general lack of awareness in the workplace.

I wish they could make this book mandatory reading for employers, managers, HR professionals, occupational health specialists, etc. It stands out as the most thorough and clearly articulated resource I've encountered on adult ADHD— and I’ve explored a lot, having been diagnosed with both ASD and ADHD as an adult.

The writing is fun, engaging, and so relatable that I could easily slap my photo and name on the cover, calling it an autobiography! This is a book I will read, re-read, reference, and recommend to anyone eager to learn more about adult ADHD.

Finally a book that has humour and scientific evidence. I really enjoyed all the more technical explanations going beyond the usual explanations "this is how your brain works on a basic level", delivered in a friendly and digestible way.
thanks for writing such informative and fun book, thanks for raising awareness too.

An insight into ADHD that's easily accessible. I imagine it will be really valuable to people trying to get to grips with an ADHD diagnosis, especially those recently diagnosed as adults.

However, it might be even more valuable to those with a family member or friend struggling with ADHD because the authors have also had their own difficulties with their diagnoses and learning to life with it. As someone who has an adult son with a recent diagnosis, this book has helped me see his problems more clearly and hopefully understand his daily battles to live a "comfortable" life.

"Unpacked" cuts through the nonsense and uses humour a lot, but treats the condition seriously, and recognises medical and scientific fact. The quackery and false info so common on social media is given short shrift. There is a lot of solid information in these pages, presented in a manner that's easily digested.

Recommended reading for anyone curious about this often much misunderstood condition. I would especially urge anyone with an Human Resources or staff management role to read it so that they can recognised how to recognise traits, support their employees and make adjustments that could enable them to give their best in the workplace.

Books on ADHD are still relatively few in number, and books on ADHD by people who actually know what it's like to have ADHD are fewer still.
This book is one of those - a rare gem. Its authors are also incredibly knowledgeable and the evidence base they tap into is extensive.
I hope that in the future there will be loads more books with this balance of information, analysis and lived experience but for now, this is one of the few around.

Finally, a fully scientific, evidence-based and up-to-date book on ADHD, which debunks the myths, the sugarcoated study results and explains the true experience.
A book I wish I had written, and yet, glad that the authors have done it very well for us.