The perfect guide to Autism? - Neurodiversity for Dummies [Autistic Book Review]

[@SusanneHatnichts]

I love the "for dummies"-serie. They make well-understandable, deep looks in all facets of a topic. I read them to get a head start on a topic or if I just want something easy to read where I can be sure it won't trigger me. Thanks for showing you're community these book series. 😊

[@spotterofgold]

Wow. 2024 is turning into quite a year for ND helpful books by and for NDs. We have Jessica McCabe's How to ADHD ; Dani Donovan's Anti-Planner; I just bought a Special Edition of Scientific American magazine at my local food co-op titled "Diverse Minds"; inside are 26 different articles on the various forms of ND, including an interview with Authors/KZbinrs Penn and Kim Holderness about their new book, ADHD Is Awesome, which "...seeks to correct misconceptions about ADHD and accentuate the plus side of the condition", Penn being the ND in the family; and now this gem! Thanks, Paul. Your videos have really helped me fill in some of the blanks while I was wondering why my brain was so different, and about ADHD and Autism co-existing in some of us. Huge help!

[@flamingshortsflamingshorts1633]

They are ALL fakes. No neurodiverse person has ever had a book published. How is this magicians trick done ...

[@ChantalM3]

I'm curious--did that Diverse Minds edition cover complex trauma as a form of ND?

[@elijahtalbot1149]

There’s also the Is This Autism? series that was released either early this year or last year as well. I’m currently reading through the first volume and have been quite impressed with the quality of the content.

[@jimwilliams3816]

What most interests me is that it sounds like it may help move the needle toward recognition that all human behavior has a strong neurological basis. IMO, one of the most damaging attitudes inflicted on people with atypical cognition is that all behavior is wholly learned and freely chosen. It really isn’t, and that’s true for everyone.

[@misspat7555]

I always say I can control some of what I think, and a lot of how I behave, and that’s it. No, we don’t control all of our behavior, and there’s a tendency to back people into corners and leave them only bad choices due to inadequate resources. 🫤

[@PC_Ringo]

This book looks like it would be a good resource to use as a conversation starter with neurotypical people, or perhaps others in your life who are sceptical of your neurodiversity.

[@pikmin4743]

sounds great, thank you for the preview

[@anilorismith7946]

Great book review‼️ I plan to send a copy of this primer to each of my providers, including the head of a peer support department at the recovery agency that provides the meds & support services for my chronic pain issues.

[@AMK3152]

Thanks Paul. That looks like an interesting read. Great review x

[@anitapepita]

This is a book I'd like to have! There's a book in the series called Understanding Autism for Dummies, written in 2006, but for some reason I'm reluctant to buy it (maybe because it's quite "old" now, and I fear it's not "up to date" when it comes to today's view of ASC).

[@bes03c]

Side note, a Korean friend of mine received a "For Dummies" book as a gift and was really insulted. She didnt realize that it is a popular series. She just thought it was an insult.

[@letsreadtextbook1687]

I'd say it's culture shock. The social ethics in korea is such a high standard that no korean in their right mind would title a book "for dummies"

[@jbr84tx]

I can see how someone might be offended by the title if they didn't know the aim of the series: to inform those who are not experts on certain topics and to avoid technical jargon.

[@consuelonavarrohidalgo5334]

​@@letsreadtextbook1687 Not even in many countries. It insults the readers.

[@LukeSumIpsePatremTe]

Next, buy her "How to be miserable" by Randy J. Paterson PhD

[@hollygF1M]

@@letsreadtextbook1687get them Fly Fishing for Dummies

[@r.1599]

I don't know why, but I read the title as "Neurotypicalism for Dummies". I was thinking, 'Oh good, the poor dears are so challenged in logic and everyday functioning. What a great idea to help us understand them!' So I was totally confused when you started describing the content. This is a completely un-ironic comment, and I really do think there should be a "Neurotypicalism for Dummies" book written.

[@misspat7555]

I watched a video once about “Jessica”, the median American. I filled in a few blanks where the facts were too vague, and gave her a completely average biography: Jessica is a 38-year-old woman. She is married, and lives with her husband, one child, and one dog in the suburbs of eastern Texas. She drives her pickup truck a half-hour each way to and from the school where she works as a secretary. She has an associates degree. She lives paycheck to paycheck, even though she and her husband both have full-time jobs. Her sister and parents live within an hour’s drive of her. Yeah, Jessica is very boring; the funny thing is how many women said in the comments they were close to being Jessica! 🤣

[@ChelleLlewes]

I LOVE the For Dummies books! And I've been waiting for this one (*yay!*)! I'll be visiting my local bookstore toute de suite!

[@saransong5547]

Thank you for the review! Sounds like a great starting point to understanding a wide range of neurodiversity! 👍

[@suzyh74]

Thanks Paul. I bought the Kindle version a couple of days ago because although I know a lot about Autism and teach on the subject, I don’t know very much about the other conditions and I’m being asked more and more to include these in some of the sessions I provide. So thanks for the recommendation

[@maggiemanzke7926]

Thanks for this book review - this could be an exciting addition to many libraries!

[@elijahtalbot1149]

I have a copy and have been quite impressed with it. They are also releasing an update of the book on Autism Spectrum Disorder in May of next year so I’m looking forward to that.

[@sarahlogan2075]

Thank you, Paul, for this video.

[@YourAverageTechDoomer-05]

Thank you. I hope your efforts will contribute to the world to be more understanding towards neurodiveristy 💪

[@BlumpkinSpiceLatte]

Considering getting this book for my mom for the holidays 😂

[@Sophia-nv7tw]

Same haha😂

[@MsCarterElise]

Amusingly, I had something of a fixation on these books growing up. I remember carrying them around in middle school - I always wanted to be learning about new things but I knew I didn’t have a framework for them, so these books were perfect. I used to laminate the inserts too. I can remember the ones that I had and the ones I really liked and disliked. I liked the Complete Idiot’s guides too. I’d get so excited to find new ones. Thanks for reminding me about this!

[@jbr84tx]

Sounds like a really helpful overview of most types of neurodivergence. Nobody will feel demeaned or judged as defective in this book. Great. OK, so what did they leave out?

[@ankaretharmer3362]

Thanx Paul, I think I'll get this book!

[@user-hf6kf7ur9h]

22.42 uk Thank you so much. I hope to purchase this book soon. I really value all of your videos they have given me such valuable insight.

[@cujimmy1366]

When you know you need a copy in every room in the house, but in a few days they end up in the same room.

[@peterdalton200]

I have several titles in the series: Autism/ADHD/Scuba Diving/Cricket/Catholicism/Australian Politics for Dummies.

[@ChelleLlewes]

Me, too. In fact, I broke a pretty solid bookcase from the weight of them. They really are incredibly well written and edited.

[@ChelleLlewes]

...um...*Australian Politics???* 😆

[@racebiketuner]

Great review! Nuggets!

[@emilyf3722]

Fantastic review but I’m not even finished with it and I’ve already seen six ads. I’m only going to finish it because there are only two minutes left and one just showed within the past minute.

[@thevioletskull8158]

Oof

[@thecat3309]

that was a nice video - thanks

[@jeremywilliams1664]

In 2025 there is “Autism for Dummies” and “Autism Spectrum for Dummies” being released that should be great!

[@celinahuezo5518]

Thanks for your information. I've been a practicing wiccan for a very long time and there is a new book released this month called disabled witchcraft. It's for any practicing witch who has a disability. I'm excited to get it because it's hard for me in my practice a lot of times so I'm hoping to be shown simpler rites and ways to practice.

[@ChelleLlewes]

I've not yet heard of that, so thank you! I shall alert my own coven and community to look for it!

[@caseyt8447]

I’ve been searching for something to give my work to distribute to all the supervisors and this fits the bill perfectly I think. ❤ Thank you for your content, it’s been very helpful among many other creators in my newly started journey to peel away the many layers of my autistic masking.

[@GrandDuchessAniya]

Added to my Amazon wish list...

[@cookeepuff]

Wow, incredible!

[@MountainWoman68]

Ordered.

[@murtazaarif6507]

I like the Dummies books. I agree tbese books have a really good way of explaining information, especially ideal for the lay man who appreciates non-scientific language. It would be even more interesting if Dummies published a book on Aspergers Syndrome.

[@thevioletskull8158]

Aspergers is no longer a thing (though some people still identify with it) because it's outdated and is seen as ickey because Nasi came up with it to "identify the smartest auststic people""

[@anteshell]

Aspergers Syndrome is past history now. It has been recognised to be part of autistic spectrum.

[@carrywater7758]

Asperger's Syndrome for Dummies

[@ChelleLlewes]

That term is falling out of use because of its namesake, and most people I know have stopped using it. We use autistic. We *are* autistic.

[@murtazaarif6507]

Yes I agree. It's taking me getting used to as my psychiatrist wrote Aspergers Syndrome in my report but I am shifting to saying instead that I am on the Autism Spectrum.

[@DailyLifeofaCatvn]

❤❤❤❤❤ 0:40

[@Gwenx]

I need these books to be translated if they arent already as my family cannot read nor understand complex english lol 😅

[@Thing-vc2qm]

The video is great but it could much shorter or better summed up. For the time being I'm just watching at x2 speed. 😆

[@Anirossa]

Just ordered it, as someone with ADHD, dyslexia, OCD and that is also is working on getting a ASD diagnoses, is it definetly a lot in there for me

[@funkymonkey8777]

❤

[@JustClaude13]

Everyone is neurodiverse, but like Baskin-Robbins, there is a variety of flavors. Most people are some kind of vanilla. Autistic people are more of a rainbow ripple. Schizoid people are rocky road. But we're all in the cone together, so we need to take care of each other. Bipolar people are Neapolitan. Sometimes chocolate, sometimes strawberry, hopefully mostly vanilla.

[@ChelleLlewes]

NO!

[@sedwards2207]

Who wants to be bloody vanilla anyway!

[@asmrwithdora8464]

Is dyspraxia included?

[@birgittnlilli9726]

Oh no, you cant show someone who has too many books already a new book. Now I wanna buy it 😂 By the way, has someone tipps about books concering autism especially in women? 😊

[@weevilinabox]

There's no such thing as "too many books", just "too little shelving" or "too small a house".

[@birgittnlilli9726]

@@weevilinabox I can totally see that :D

[@Susanne6581]

Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum by Sarah Hendrickx, (the updated version 2024!). She also has a video on youtube that I watched first before getting her audio book so I knew I would probably like it. I've since bought a hard copy! KZbin Video called: Girls and Women and Autism: What’s the difference? - Sarah Hendrickx

Is there a book for asd in woman out rhere

[@s.KatjaB]

Aspergirls by Rudy Simone.

[@HalfGodHalfBeast]

I wish it was called something other than "for dummies" reffering to the whole series really

[@gabrielbelouche3954]

The series gave us a nice meme format tho.

[@jimwilliams3816]

I get the intent of the marketing shtick, but yeah in my case they might have sold me more of their books with a different approach. It always felt like the guides might be facetious and superficial, though the ones I have gotten were pretty decent. It feels kind of appropos here, because it sounds like it may offer simple explanations to put to the people who think neurodivergence and neodiversity are bogus.

[@jbr84tx]

Right. Wouldn't it be better to say, "For the Ignorant"?

[@LilChuunosuke]

Unfortunately, the book series has been around since the early 90s when it was far more socially acceptable and seen as more funny and quirky. They'd have to rebrand an entire 33 year old book series, which would be a pretty big deal that a lot of higher ups would be opposed to. So i don't think that'll happen anytime soon.

[@LukeSumIpsePatremTe]

They could easily just print another version "for geniuses" and charge $20 more.

[@Undel_]

No way this is real. Looks like meme to me. Neurodiversity is a complex topic with a lot of nuances. It can't be put in a dummies series book.

[@keithwilcox7489]

Sorry I find the title too triggering

[@thevioletskull8158]

Why?

[@jbr84tx]

I guess you are not familiar with the "For Dummies" series. It is very popular. Its target audience are those who want simple, straightforward explanations of a topic without all the technical jargon. It doesn't mean you're stupid.

[@LilChuunosuke]

Understandable. I've never liked the title of this book series. But the "for dummies" series is a 30+ year old book series that takes a variety of topics and breaks it down into its most simplistic form as a way to introduce newbies to the topic in question. It is not intended to be rude, but silly and whimsical. It's just a pretty outdated sense of humor.

[@ChelleLlewes]

There's also a sister series called, ...For Compleat (sic) Idiots. It's not a slam on anyone.

[@sonicfan82]

@@thevioletskull8158 I was thinking that too, sometimes I think some people are just, a bit too sensitive.

[@rthompson968]

There is absolutely nothing natural about the cause of autism. I wouldn't get the book just based on that comment alone.

[@jbr84tx]

Does anyone really know the cause of autism? Or Bipolar? Or ADHD?

[@rthompson968]

@@jbr84tx probably not, but don't tell me it's "natural".

[@LilChuunosuke]

Just because its a disability, doesn't mean it's not natural? It's natural in the sense that since we are a species with higher cognitive functioning, it's in the best interest of the survival of our species to be neurodiverse, even if that means some of us are disabled, because if the world changes in favor of neurodiverse people, it would protect our species from extinction.

[@racebiketuner]

@@rthompson968 While not common, it is natural for a small number of us to be on the spectrum. Roughly 2% of the population develops differently.

[@ChelleLlewes]

We don't yet know the, "cause," of autism...if that's actually the word you meant to use. Autism is a divergence in synaptic pathways. It's not a disease. It's not contagious. And for me, it's not even a disability in that while I have all the traits, they do not limit my ability to function in any way. And we are completely normal. We are simply different.

[@SusanneHatnichts]

I love the "for dummies"-serie. They make well-understandable, deep looks in all facets of a topic. I read them to get a head start on a topic or if I just want something easy to read where I can be sure it won't trigger me. Thanks for showing you're community these book series. 😊