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A review by amandakitz
Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg
4.0
Nerenberg does an excellent job in this book of interviewing experts in the field of treating and supporting folks with neurodivergence, including autism, ADHD, synesthesia, HSP, and more, bringing us on a reflective journey learning about each condition, people who navigate these differences every day, and ways to craft a life that supports our unique neurological wiring. Primarily written to and about women, attention is paid to the more overlooked of the sexes, typically underdiagnosed and diagnosed later in life due to high masking.
Having just been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, PTSD, and emotional synesthesia having been born and raised female and entirely overlooked due to high masking and high intelligence, I walked from the testing appointment to the bookstore and this was one of the books I grabbed. I read it at a very critical time of processing my new diagnoses and needing to hear what this book so clearly illustrates in every interview, every reflection, every moment: that we are not broken, we are not alone, and there is a massive amount of research and support available to help. That life doesn't have to be one long exercise in masking and coping; I can design a life that allows me to thrive, in my home, at work, socially, and more.
My critiques are few but important, and I hope they will be addressed in later editions. Being published after the DSM-V, there is no need to include the language of Aspergers when discussing autism. Separating autists into high-functioning and low-functioning under the name of an abusive Nazi has no place in our community. High-masking to low-masking and high-support-needs to low-support-needs are valid and accepted ways of looking at such differences across the autism spectrum without that antiquated term harkening to an abusive history and value hierarchy. I hope in later editions this history is explored, addressed, and more inclusive terms are adopted and used throughout.
Lastly, if we truly want to be inclusive of marginalized and underdiagnosed gender identities in neurodivergent research, diagnostic criteria, and life, there needs to be more attention toward LGBTQIA+ identities and neurodivergence. This book primarily focused on cisgender women and their marginalization, but a much larger percentage of neurodivergent people are gender or sexually diverse than in the neurotypical population, meaning that neglecting us in the research, diagnostics, and narrative not only isn't inclusive, but it is damaging to a large portion of the neurodivergent population. It makes sense that differences in neurology can show up in this way and I hope not only for more inclusive language but also more sex/gender inclusive research, diagnostics, discussions, communities, and so on.
Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it with those 2 caveats. My gratitude to the author and best of luck in future work with the Neurodiversity Project and future writings
Having just been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, PTSD, and emotional synesthesia having been born and raised female and entirely overlooked due to high masking and high intelligence, I walked from the testing appointment to the bookstore and this was one of the books I grabbed. I read it at a very critical time of processing my new diagnoses and needing to hear what this book so clearly illustrates in every interview, every reflection, every moment: that we are not broken, we are not alone, and there is a massive amount of research and support available to help. That life doesn't have to be one long exercise in masking and coping; I can design a life that allows me to thrive, in my home, at work, socially, and more.
My critiques are few but important, and I hope they will be addressed in later editions. Being published after the DSM-V, there is no need to include the language of Aspergers when discussing autism. Separating autists into high-functioning and low-functioning under the name of an abusive Nazi has no place in our community. High-masking to low-masking and high-support-needs to low-support-needs are valid and accepted ways of looking at such differences across the autism spectrum without that antiquated term harkening to an abusive history and value hierarchy. I hope in later editions this history is explored, addressed, and more inclusive terms are adopted and used throughout.
Lastly, if we truly want to be inclusive of marginalized and underdiagnosed gender identities in neurodivergent research, diagnostic criteria, and life, there needs to be more attention toward LGBTQIA+ identities and neurodivergence. This book primarily focused on cisgender women and their marginalization, but a much larger percentage of neurodivergent people are gender or sexually diverse than in the neurotypical population, meaning that neglecting us in the research, diagnostics, and narrative not only isn't inclusive, but it is damaging to a large portion of the neurodivergent population. It makes sense that differences in neurology can show up in this way and I hope not only for more inclusive language but also more sex/gender inclusive research, diagnostics, discussions, communities, and so on.
Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it with those 2 caveats. My gratitude to the author and best of luck in future work with the Neurodiversity Project and future writings