Thoughtful and expansive - so enlightening!
One of the recently published books on the hot topic of neurodiversity. Enlightening and informative. Like several others, this author is female, a researcher, and a journalist. She goes into more depth than many others.
Neurodivergent people are born wired neurologically differently, rather than 'disordered' or some other version of 'defective' as it used to be considered. Nothing to be fixed, suppressed or cured. Rather, something to be discovered, explored and celebrated. And accommodated!
Most of the books I am reading on this subject are also written by, for and about women who have each been through their own journey of self-discovery. When neurodivergence is recognized, appreciated and supported, it brings so much more human value, creativity and brilliance into this world. (Albert Einstein, for a famous example.)
The terminology is also evolving, so at this point, the term "neurodivergent" seems to cover it best. (Summer 2023) These people are often recognized as gifted and sensitive as young children.
This book introduces us to more versions of divergent minds than I have read about in other (some already outdated) books so far. Rapidly growing field of knowledge. Much of the most useful discovery and reporting is being done by neurodivergent people, themselves. Valuable and exceedingly authentic.
Whether we are neurodivergent or neurotypical, this book gives us a look into several different versions of neurodivergence. And that is a good thing for all of us. We come in more flavors than vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
Bottom line, neurodivergence illuminates a spectrum of wonderful and powerful human strengths. One of the most helpful features of this book is the wide variety of resources for support or more knowledge.
By the end, the author is looking ahead to ways that neurodivergent people can be recognized, better understood and accommodated in a world of, by and for neurotypical people. And she expands out to touch on relevant racial and culture diversity among this naturally diverse population of the world.
She is looking forward to much needed social, lifestyle and work/school upgrades. She accurately explains that trying to live, learn, work or simply function in this world, not designed for them is highly stressful, exhausting, difficult and even deeply damaging to many neurodivergent people. (The majority of unrecognized adult neurodivergents are under- or unemployed. Suicide rates are high.) :-(
The old maxim about how much a fish needs a bicycle comes to mind. Seriously.
This is an excellent book, full of new info, bright ideas, hope, compassion, support and ways to help us all begin to shift gears to make the world kinder, easier, more productive and constructive for everyone.
