ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD

As a parent to a teenager with a recent ADHD diagnosis, I felt that I had most of the knowledge I needed for daily living. I knew of the Holderness family from their YouTube videos (his songs about ADHD are hilarious) so decided this book would be worth a read. There were lots of sections that we highlighted that became useful reminders or provided a better explanation of why our child thinks or behaves in a certain way. There is a small section that talks about getting school onside with support that was obviously American in terms of how the system works but don't let that put you off, as it is easy to make the switch to English terms like EHCP rather than 504's or IEP's.

Such a great book for anyone with ADHD or living with someone with ADHD. I finished the book and thought, “ADHD *is* awesome!”

Started reading this but in typical adhd style I’ve been distracted and forgotten to finish it… The bits I have read are very informative and helpful though, definitely intend to finish the book and will update my review once I have!

To me the info was quite basic ADHD info you can get from a million other books, podcasts etc. It’s also very “American”, the guy comes across as liking the sound of his own voice. And the husband/wife thing is a bit sickly.

I found reading this a very personal experience. I started with the audiobook and then got the kindle because I wanted to highlight stuff and come back to it later. The description of adhd was at times so close to home it felt weird. But also, there are aspects of the adhd described that don’t suit me. Thanks for writing it. I appreciated reading it. And you mention that there must be some adhd preachers out there, I’m one of them!

I read this with my 12 year old son over the span of many weeks. He has ADHD, and I was looking for something we could read together that was accessible for his age rather than densely academic like so many books out there on the subject (which I have also read and appreciate). ADHD is Awesome includes short chapters, color-coded sections, photos, illustrations and diagrams, which kept us both engaged and made the content easy to digest. Penn’s tone throughout this book is positive and conversational, which is such a welcome and refreshing perspective, especially when reading it with a young person who is just starting to explore what having this diagnosis means for his life. Penn does not shy away from the difficult facets of ADHD, though. He keeps it real and honest, but does not stop at “this is hard”. He commiserates with the reader on the challenges but provides strategies for coping and handling those challenges. I also appreciated the notes from his wife, Kim, throughout the book. She provides anecdotes from a neurotypical perspective on points being made by Penn. There is also a section just for neurotypical caregivers and partners supporting people in their life with ADHD. Since my son and I were reading this book together, these parts gave us an opportunity to discuss our different perspectives on the points being made. Penn also recognizes that ADHD is a spectrum and he is, of course, writing from his own personal experience. This is easily understood from reading the introduction. He is also not a medical doctor, so he understandably does not go into great detail about medication; there are many other notable books you can read on that subject. This book is not academic; it is a real account of living with ADHD from one person’s perspective with helpful tips and strategies to try based on that perspective. Thank you, Penn and Kim Holderness, for creating this book. It was such a meaningful experience reading this with my son, and I know it has helped him understand himself better and given him a positive outlook on his diagnosis.

Very cool book with fun view on adhd, follow them on Instagram too

Der Autor wirft einen humorvollen Blick auf alle Talente, die Personen mit ADHS haben, aber auch auf die Probleme, mit denen diese konfrontiert sind. Dabei ist es auch so gestaltet, dass man auch als Personen mit ADHS unbedingt dranbleiben möchte: mit vielen Farben, Highlight Boxen und vielen Fun Facts.

It’s incredibly good. ADHD is Awesome” is an incredible read that completely reframes the narrative around ADHD. The author brilliantly highlights the strengths and unique qualities that come with ADHD, providing a refreshing and empowering perspective. The book is filled with practical advice, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies that make it a valuable resource for anyone with ADHD or those who support them. It’s a must-read for understanding and embracing the awesomeness that comes with ADHD. Highly recommended for its positive and transformative approach!