Autism Books for Autistic Adults

Being diagnosed with autism as an adult can be isolating. There is so much information out there for KIDS with autism, but what happens when those kids grow up to become adults? Despite what you may think, there is actually a lot of information and resources available for us adult autistics.
Today I'm sharing some of my favorite books with you that have gotten me through the first year after my official diagnosis in 2020.
***EDIT: Since posting this video, I have learned more about the horrific origins of the term "aspergers" and have since stopped using this term and renamed my channel. One of the titles that I mention in this video includes the word "Aspergers." I do not believe the title implies any malice or ill will - the author was most likely only using the term she felt most appropriate at the time. In future videos I will make sure to address this issue when referencing any materials that use this term. If you are interested in learning more about the origins of this term, please be warned that you will be reading very upsetting information regarding TRIGGER WARNING child violence.
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I'm Tay, a mom of two who was diagnosed with autism at 31 years of age. I'm here to share resources and information I've gathered that have added depth and understanding along the way. Check out my other videos for more info on autism, and particularly how it presents in females.
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You won't find me on Facebook or Instagram (my mental health is much better without them). But I'd love to start a conversation with you in the comments below. What are your favorite books about autism?
Here's some of mine:
Book Links
1. I Think I Might Be Autistic by Cynthia Kim
www.amazon.com/Think-Might-Au...
2. Aspergers in Love and The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome by Maxine Aston
www.amazon.com/Aspergers-Love...
www.amazon.com/Asperger-Syndr...
Maxine Aston's website: www.maxineaston.co.uk/
3. The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May
www.amazon.com/Electricity-Ev...
4. I Overcame My Autism (and All I Got was this Lousy Anxiety Disorder) by Sarah Kurchak
www.amazon.com/Overcame-Autis...
5. The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin
www.amazon.com/Autistic-Brain...
6. Who You Were Meant to Be by Lindsay C. Gibson
www.amazon.com/Who-You-Were-M...
7. Brain Lock by Jeffrey M. Schwartz
www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Twe...
8. Change Your Brain Change Your Life by Daniel Amen
www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Br...
9. The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aaron
www.amazon.com/Highly-Sensiti...
Thanks for watching!
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#autism​​​​​​ #autistic​​​ #mentalhealth​​​ #mentalhealthdx​​​ #diagnosis​​​ #autisticfemale​

[@logicalameetsworld]

I will be sharing this list of books with my wife. I'm very late to knowing more about how Autism shapes my life because growing up I all I heard was how I didn't fit and I was angry when I was diagnosed because I didn't want my family to be right. I spent from 32 after my diagnosis to age 44 hiding and denying it. It took meeting other Autistics and an really good therapist to start to change my thinking. Your videos are very good.

[@marthaneale2434]

I recently read "Different, Not Less - A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your happily ever after" by Chloe Hayden. Chloe is also an actor and plays Quinni in Netflix's Heartbreak High

[@jmaessen3531]

Loved this book and I'm currently binging Heartbreak high. 🥰 I'm so happy and it's so important to see an openly autistic character woven into the story in such a key role.

[@brigitagrine5204]

Untethered soul - about coming back to your body. The body keeps the score (trauma-focused book, but a great read about mind-body connection)

[@1woodwhisper802]

Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age (Sarah Hendrickx) was the first book that I encountered. It's a fairly quick read and gives a lot of info on differences between girls and women through life stages vs. stereotype or even typical psychological training and the DSM as currently written. She also mentions some of the books you have. It really helped me relate and understand my daughter (diagnosed) and myself (undiagnosed, but likely).

[@marissatims6980]

I just started reading this book but I have to mention it because I already love it so much. Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan. It's a ficiton story meant for kids, roughly ages 8-14 but I'm 32 and it doesn't feel weird to read it at all. The author doesn't explicitly say that the main character is autistic but she does describe her as highly gifted. Although, in my opinion she is autistic because of the way she experiences the world. The second book I want to mention is a YA fiction story. When my Heart Joins the Thousand by AJ Steiger. There's something so special about the way this book was written that I still think about it months after reading it. I just love the main character so much. She made me laugh a lot too. I totally get her sense of humor and her viewpoints on the dumb things that society reinforces that must be followed.

[@scottiemomma2314]

Thank you!! It’s very isolating sometimes inside an autistic mind, and it’s so inspiring to find relatable material. You’re a joy to watch 😊

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks so much for your comment!

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

Need every one of these books and you mentioned Temple Grandin!!! Really enjoyed the chapter on her in Robert Greene’s book Mastery.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Haven't heard of that book! Thanks for sharing.

[@junegraham4491]

Diagnosis with anxiety and depression earlier only to find out it was more of a neuro-divergent disorder. I stuggle understand myself for decades…then my daughter turned 16! She’s ADD and is a bit neuro-divergent herself. I just started therapy again to work through my parenting issues. I’m a very black and white thinker, heavily OCD, social anxiety… it’s like what you said. Have a child forced me into a uncontrollable space that I can’t always plan for or control. I would love to hear more about dealing with teens children while also managing my neuro-divergent tendencies.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thank you for the suggestion. 🙏🏼

[@whitneymason406]

Thanks for sharing your books, I'll have to check them out! Two books about autism I recently read "The Horse Boy" and "Look Me in the Eye" are both are really good!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

I think I've heard of Look Me in the Eye before. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@natalies3032]

"Been there, done that try this" by various authors, edited by dr tony attwood. Is something i go back to. It has these different sections where people with lived experiences share tips and stories from their own life on different topics. I really like tony attwood's positive attitude to autism, however some of his earlier books feature the word aspergers as thats what they used to call it back then

[@pilgrimlearning9530]

Thanks for these recommendations! Not a book on adult autism, but I really enjoyed The Reason I Jump. And Dr Caroline Leaf has some really good books on how the brain works, epigenetics, that sort of thing.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

Vis a vis video suggestions I’d love to hear you discuss how to prioritize taking care of oneself because it seems so easy to get burnt out from taking care of others.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Love this topic! I'll add it to my list of video ideas. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@theresaduffy8222]

Thank you for your recommendations. A great fiction book about autism and relationships is “ The girl I used to know” by Tracy Garvis Graves.

[@diondravolk8201]

“We’re Not Broken” by Eric Garcia is fantastic. The author is autistic and he interviews others to tell personal stories, but it also has a politics and history theme as the author is a political journalist. Interesting on many levels.

[@heatonhelp9415]

Katherine May was featured in a great podcast episode of “On Being with Krista Tippett.” Highly recommended! Any podcasts you can recommend?

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Love Krista Tippett! And yes! I can recommend The Aspie World podcast (the term "aspie" is now more appropriately replaced with something like "autistic person" or "person with autism"). I really love his podcast because he has ADHD + Autism like me and it's really interesting to hear his take on how the two work together (and in conflict!). www.theaspieworld.com/autism-podcast/ I can also recommend the Not Neurotypical podcast with Laura Zdan. She details the process leading up to her diagnosis and it was really helpful for me when I was in that part of the journey. www.laurazdan.com/podcast Thanks for watching!

[@badmonkeyking]

Books are so hard for me, 5 of the 6 forms of Dyslexica , but when my brain like a book you could wave your hand in front of my face I wouldn't see it. my newest book read is how to ADHD by Jessica McCabe .

[@johannabjorkell4226]

O found it! This video! Hurray! Sorry for emailing you. 😂❤

[@jmaessen3531]

Hi there! Love these, thank you! Adding them to my reading list now. I hope it's okay to share some more recent books on Autism that I've loved. In case folks want to add to your list above 🤓 I recommend (1) "A day with no words" by Tiffany Hammond, a beautiful kids book for all ages about a little boy who is nonverbal and his family; (2) "So you think you're autistic" by Samantha Stein aka YoSamdySam on KZbin, a workbook to log your self-reflections while you research autism. It has a really visually pleasing cover and pages for those who love space and sparkles; And (3) "Different Not Less" by Chloe Hayden who's also a KZbinr. It's a great uplifting book about her experiences, explanations of different axes of the spectrum (IDK if that makes sense, those are the only words coming to mind right now, so sorry!) like sensory input, social interactions, meltdowns, etc. and just her fantastic sparkly personality with encouragements that we're not alone ❤ Happy reading, neurodivergent squad! 🫶🏼

[@Chaynning]

I’m making books that get me a lot of money and I’m making this autistic book for children that have autism. And it will release soon and I hope you all will like it.