Whether you have ADHD or have a friend or loved one with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, finding stories from therapists, doctors, and those living with ADHD can help you make sense of ADHD symptoms and provide insight into the way ADHD brains work.
Perhaps you’re a parent whose child was recently diagnosed, or you’re an adult wondering why you can’t seem to focus on the right things. Either way, these books on ADHD can help with advice, insight, or, at the very least, let you know you’re not alone.
ADHD Books for Parents
Parenting is challenging enough, and attention issues like struggling to stay focused, constantly high-energy, and the inability to stick with a project can make it feel impossible. These books are for parents who want to navigate their childrens’ ADHD while helping them thrive.
1. Understanding Girls with ADHD: How They Feel and Why They Do What They Do, by Kathleen Nadeau, Ellen Littman, and Patricia Quinn
ADHD is no longer “just for boys.” This informative book breaks down common ADHD issues in young girls and puts them into easy, understandable categories so that you can find what you need quickly.
It’s also not afraid to dive into difficult questions like determining if your daughter’s symptoms are actually ADHD or whether or not medication may be worthwhile for your child.
2. Taking Charge of ADHD, Second Edition: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents, by Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.
This often-cited ADHD book comes up high on most lists, and for good reason. This latest edition includes a section for parents with ADHD themselves, as well as updated information on medication, treatment plans, and behavior solutions to help your child manage their symptoms and move ahead.
3. HyperHealing: The Empowered Parent’s Complete Guide to Raising a Healthy Child with ADHD Symptoms, by Avigail Gimpel M.S.
Avigail Gimpel was a teacher who loved all of her students, but always had a special spot for those with “a special energy.” These kids daydreamed, often struggled to stay on task, and sometimes had a hard time in social or emotional situations.
Her experience teaching these students, as well as raising her own children diagnosed with ADHD, led her on a 20-year journey to identify the best ways to help these children grow into their healthiest selves.
4. Parenting a Child with ADHD: How to Prepare Your Child for School Life, Integrate Executive Functioning Skills, and Foster Successful Friendships by Rose Lyons
Having a child with ADHD adds layers of complexity to the learning curve of parenting. Parenting a Child with ADHD seeks to remind parents that while neurodivergence can make things a bit more complicated, and sometimes add a few extra steps, it’s never a reason to give up. Rather, it is a call to learn, grow, and adapt.
Through practical applications and effective strategies, Lyons lights the way to help you encourage and empower your child to have a fulfilling childhood where they can rise above challenges, beat the odds, and grow into confident adults.
ADHD Books for Kids
Kids are smarter than we often give them credit for, so why not tackle their ADHD diagnosis together? These books are written for kids to help them understand their emotions, find meaningful strategies, and thrive into happy, healthy adults.
5. Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed, by Kelli Miller LCSW MSW
Understanding their ADHD diagnosis can be a frightening time for children, but this helpful workbook reframes ADHD as a positive asset and offers tons of activities for children to better understand themselves and manage their symptoms. Children can learn about the different types of ADHD, find skill-building activities, and learn real coping strategies to help them grow and succeed.
6. A Dragon With ADHD: A Children’s Story About ADHD. A Cute Book to Help Kids Get Organized, Focus, and Succeed, by Steve Herman
Part of Steve Herman’s children’s book series on understanding mental health and emotions, A Dragon With ADHD is perfect for kids who need help understanding ADHD and how it affects their moods. Every book features a pet dragon that personifies a mental health issue: in this case, a pet dragon with ADHD. This cute and friendly book is a great companion for a recent diagnosis or for kids who struggle to understand why they feel different from others.
7. Mindfulness Activities for Kids with ADHD: Engaging Stories and Exercises to Help You Learn And Thrive, by Dr. Sharon Grand, Ph.D.
If you’re looking for ways to teach your children mindful strategies for their ADHD, this activity and storybook is for you. Each story offers helpful questions, activities for feeling overwhelmed, and lots more. Kids can read it by themselves or parents can read it to their kids, perhaps as a calming bedtime story.
8. DBT Therapy Workbook for Kids: 100+ Fun & Practical DBT Activities for Children. Help Your Kid Understand Big Feelings, Keep Calm, Improve Attention, Manage Anger & Anxiety by Kardas Publishing
While this book isn’t ADHD-specific, it focuses on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy techniques for issues that are often present, and even amplified, in neurodivergent children like emotional regulation, anger management, and focus to name a few.
According to a 2016 study by the Center for Pediatric Excellence, when compared with a control group of neurotypical children, children with ADHD were three times more likely to struggle with emotional regulation. This workbook is recommended for children ages 5-11, and has sections that parents and children can do together to work on building skills collaboratively.
Adult ADHD Books
Adult ADHD leaves people navigating careers, parenting, and other demanding aspects of adulthood struggling with attention issues, especially if they never received a diagnosis as a child. These books on adult ADHD offer advice and hands-on practical solutions for dealing with symptoms of ADHD in adulthood.
9. Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder, by Edward M. Hallowell M.D., and John J. Ratey M.D.
Older readers appreciate this ADHD guide for adults with ADHD. It’s full of practical advice, updated medical information, and, most importantly, how to recognize and manage your symptoms.
Driven to Distraction offers both adult and child cases with expert advice from Dr. Hallowell and focuses on the positive aspects of ADHD just as much as the side effects.
10. Taking Charge of Adult ADHD, by Russell A. Barkley
If you’re struggling to cope with your ADHD symptoms, whether you lack focus, can’t stay organized, or struggle in personal relationships, then Dr. Barkley’s hands-on, practical guide may be just what you need. Full of self-assessment tools and skill-building exercises, this workbook is a great start for those looking to better manage their ADHD.
11. ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction–from Childhood through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D.
This is the newest publication from the dynamic neurodivergent duo behind ADHD bestseller Driven to Distraction. Most conversations centered around ADHD are about the particular difficulties and hardships it can bring to the table, but Hallowell and Ratey wanted to take a different approach here.
They believe that lost in the discussion of ADHD is the potential upside. Many successful people in the creative and entrepreneurial world attribute their achievements, at least in part, to their neurodivergence. ADHD 2.0 also argues that with the most recent research developments, including innovations that give a clearer understanding of the ADHD brain in action, neurodivergent people have an ever-expanding ocean of resources to help them live their most balanced and fulfilling lives.
12. The Silent Struggle: Taking Charge of ADHD in Adults, The Complete Guide to Accept Yourself, Embrace Neurodiversity, Master Your Moods, Improve Relationships, Stay Organized, and Succeed in Life by L. William Ross-Child, M.L.C.
A neurodivergent person himself, Ross-Child wrote this revolutionary book in hopes that it would help empower other neurodivergent people to develop their talents, appreciate their neurodiversity, and how to move through the world with confidence and clarity.
The Silent Struggle strives to remind readers that ADHD brains are wired differently. They do not operate in the same way as a neurotypical brain. And while some people may see this wiring variation as incorrect or deficient, it isn’t. It’s just different. Using strategies and organizational support, Ross-Child gives practical advice for how to make your daily life simpler and less chaotic. He also wants you to know that he doesn’t believe you need to be “fixed” and none of these tools are meant to repair “defective goods” or transform you into anything other than the most holistically fulfilled version of yourself.
ADHD Books for Couples
Attention issues can easily affect communication in couples, or leave one spouse with the impression that their partner is forgetful, unorganized, or lazy. These marriage-focused books help realign couples with ADHD to better help spouses understand each other and work together towards a happier marriage.
13. The ADHD Effect on Marriages: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps, by Melissa Orlov
If you struggle to understand your partner with ADHD, or your ADHD symptoms are behind some relationship strife, then Orlov’s part counseling, part understanding book will likely come in handy.
Read first-hand accounts from other ADHD couples tackling issues and see how they overcame, with examples and advice from Orlov. There are also worksheets and exercises to help couples find a solution that works for their styles of communication.
14. The ADHD Marriage Workbook: A User-Friendly Guide to Improving Your Relationship, by Michael T. Bell
Many doctors and therapists are qualified to talk about ADHD and its effects on a marriage, but knowing that the author of this book not only has been studying ADHD since 1999 but also has ADHD himself, may win over uncertain couples.
Dr. Bell wrote this workbook after years of experience in his own marriage, and now offers his advice as well as practical solutions for common issues like communication, frustrations, and more. For couples looking to establish a connection, respect, and love from ADHD-related issues, this workbook is a valuable resource.
15. ADHD & Us: A Couple’s Guide to Loving and Living With Adult ADHD by Anita Robertson, LCSW
Drawing from Robertson’s years of counseling neurodivergent couples, this is an endearingly honest and practical guide to help couples better understand ADHD and the many ways it affects relationships, while also providing tools and skills that empower both partners to feel seen, understood, and respected. ADHD & Us gives valuable insight into how to avoid common conflicts, appreciate your differences, and meet each partner’s needs.
When to See a Therapist
ADHD is a serious diagnosis and you may need a therapist or counselor to navigate different parts of your journey. A trained therapist can help you control your symptoms and establish healthy coping mechanisms in order to lead a more fulfilled, happy life. Find a therapist in your area today.
