Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed For You

Written by Jenara Nerenberg

Narrated by Tegan Ashton Cohan

A paradigm-shifting study of neurodivergent women—those with ADHD, autism, synesthesia, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorder—exploring why these traits are overlooked in women and how society benefits from allowing their unique strengths to flourish.

As a successful Harvard and Berkeley-educated writer, entrepreneur, and devoted mother, Jenara Nerenberg was shocked to discover that her “symptoms”--only ever labeled as anxiety-- were considered autistic and ADHD. Being a journalist, she dove into the research and uncovered neurodiversity—a framework that moves away from pathologizing “abnormal” versus “normal” brains and instead recognizes the vast diversity of our mental makeups. 

  

When it comes to women, sensory processing differences are often overlooked, masked, or mistaken for something else entirely. Between a flawed system that focuses on diagnosing younger, male populations, and the fact that girls are conditioned from a young age to blend in and conform to gender expectations, women often don’t learn about their neurological differences until they are adults, if at all. As a result, potentially millions live with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed neurodivergences, and the misidentification leads to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and shame. Meanwhile, we all miss out on the gifts their neurodivergent minds have to offer.

Divergent Mind is a long-overdue, much-needed answer for women who have a deep sense that they are “different.” Sharing real stories from women with high sensitivity, ADHD, autism, misophonia, dyslexia, SPD and more, Nerenberg explores how these brain variances present differently in women and dispels widely-held misconceptions (for example, it’s not that autistic people lack sensitivity and empathy, they have an overwhelming excess of it).

Nerenberg also offers us a path forward, describing practical changes in how we communicate, how we design our surroundings, and how we can better support divergent minds. When we allow our wide variety of brain makeups to flourish, we create a better tomorrow for us all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062877499

Jenara Nerenberg

Jenara Nerenberg lectures widely on psychology, rhetoric, and diversity of thought. She is the founder of The Neurodiversity Project and The Interracial Project, and her work has appeared on NPR, CNN, and the BBC, as well as in Fast Company, Time, Greater Good, and elsewhere. A graduate of Harvard University and UC Berkeley, she speaks internationally at universities, libraries, and organizations with a focus on critical thinking, debate, and overcoming self-censorship.

Reviews for Divergent Mind

[ruth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a sort of safe place to land for adhd women. With so few options for adult adhd literature, this one should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

[Emily Webb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was fascinating. Really accessibly information and great narration. Recommend!

[Sophie Hunter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mind blown listening to this! How has it taken 51 years to understand so much. Thank you so much ?

[Tiffany Noel Nichols · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can’t even put into words how this made me feel emotional and overwhelmed but in positive OMG this is MEEE ? I need my family to listen. Thank you so much for this book snd all the work put into the research Thank you!! ?

[Meghan Marie Wawak · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book changed my life for the better. If you are a woman wondering if you are on the spectrum, this was written for you especially.

[s49hf84x45 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is insanely ahead of its time. I’ve lived 35 years of my life having my experience invalidated every step of the way. No therapist could help me understand what was truly going on, and words like anxiety, depression and BPD were the only language I had to explain why I was different, but those words still never felt right. Discovering now that I am a highly sensitive person has explained every question I’ve ever had about myself- from unexplained toe-walking as a child, to my difficulty in work environments all my life. I’ve discovered who I am, and I can finally love myself instead of looking at myself as disordered, disabled and anxious. Thank you so much

[Kristy Barnes, LPC · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a therapist. Such a helpful, needed book! I have & will continue to recommended it widely!

[TANUKA GUPTA · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a late diagnosed ADHDer, this book is the first one that I have read on neurodivergence. Needless to say, I am awed by the resonance and depth of information. Must read.

[Mary venturini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a good book, I seriously cannot recommend it enough!!!!

[Denisse Maldonado · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written, the pace was great too. Easy to follow. I bookmarked so many pages! Thank you for writing this book.

[Emilie Pacey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very engaging and informative overview of neurodivergence and the advances being made in our understanding and approach to support for neurodivergent people.
Gave me lots of places to deepen my personal exploration of this topic.

[Gipsie Doudeau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very suitable for neurodivergents, anyone feeling a bit different from childhood for whatever reason, entourage of neurodivergents, therapists, people & culture and HR professionals willing to actually embrace the word diversity companies claim to welcome.

Finally a fresh take on neurodiversity begging to stop pathologising differences. Bold analogies with other diversity traits that used to be considered mental illnesses - such as homosexuality. Let's take the next step to understand and accept each other.

[Brooke Seurer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the perfect book to begin to discover your own or others neurodivergent minds. From autism to Sensory disorders, ADHD, you will feel seen and gain a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you

[Alex · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even if this is your first introduction into the world of neuro divergency it is an amazingly written book. Even though it focuses on women I feel that every gender will benefit from this book.

Not as scientific yet far more sociological. Putting the experience into an everyday perspective. As most others have mentioned. You really feel seen :)

[Ashley Jordan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enlightening and beyond helpful. Especially as someone who is late diagnosed ADHD, and likely on the autism spectrum and (as I’ve now realized) a highly sensitive person, or HSP, this book helped me find definitions for things I’ve been experiencing for years and language to help me communicate these things at home and at work.
10/10 definitely recommending this book to everyone—even those who don’t think they know anyone who is neurodivergent.

[Kianna Bair · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Community, celebration of self, and informed growth. I love it!

[sharon herriot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written and thoroughly researched. It is packed full of useful information from language, labels and diagnoses to simple tools that those who are neurodivergent can utilise to adapt and manage in this sensory-overloading world.
I am not neurodivergent, but learnt such a lot in reading this that will help me better support those with neurodiversity in my life.
A fascinating reframing of ‘disorder’ to welcome difference and the wonder of human skills and perceptions. Well worth a read.

[huma5everdeen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant! Should be made mandatory for all educators, doctors, healthworkers. Everyone who work with kids and young adults. To be honest, all parents too. Amazing!

[V Amos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very concise in how being nuerodivergent presents differently in AFABs (A female at birth). The author gives many examples as well as stories from people they have interviewed.
I found myself making a little mental check mark to almost every autistic marker. This book is a great starting point and will be beneficial when I seek my own ADHD/Autism diagnosis.

The author really made it a point to not feel shame or guilt over being different. Instead, they changed language around from “disorder” to “difference” which really helped readers to think differently about sensory processing. I’m going to listen to this book again and go back to bookmarked areas. So many places of helpful ideas.

A definite read and/or listen to anyone suspecting they might be autistic, ADHD, SPD, etc.

[Sandra McCrea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Be prepared to be hurt mentally of you identify as female

[Patricia Delfin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very clear and open look into a wider perspective on HSP, Autism and ADHD for women. Great insight, thank you.

[Annie Apple · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My God, what a great book! I had no idea that my adhd, spd and synaesthesia was related to my long standing anxiety and feelings of being different to everyone. Excellent read.

[Shanna K Highsmith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I felt Heard, for the first time in my life. At 51 I found answers to my life looking like it does and the challenges I have faced.

[john guiney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

true, informative, and a hope that what is said does become the reality that is necessary!

[Heather Scooby · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really insightful! Learned so much. Definitely recommend!!! There is so much to adhd than I ever knew. I honestly always thought it was hyper disorder. Than I found this book.

[Philosophia_Nova · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredible book that has taught me so much about neurodiversity in women. Read this because my daughter has been “diagnosed” as on the spectrum and this book gave me so much insight into what her daily experience is like. Highly recommended, especially for teachers and parents with neurodiverse kids.

[xylo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It truly gives you insight into what it means to be neurodivergent. Those of us who think differently and view the world differently. I love all the resources. Half way through i purchased the physical book.

[Ari Nowacka · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

written with good intentions but it mixes information about ADHD, autism, being sensitive without care for the differences between those. It may be a good starting point for exploration of what it means to be neurodivergent but afterwards you may be confused when other books speak differently about it. Focusing on women is very important since they are truly forgotten when talking about mental disorders so points for that

[Sandra Werkmeister · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narrator is too much like a computer generated voice. Content is good.

[Mew Bunnies · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

DNF’d. Thought this would be more about neurodivergence but it’s more of a collection of experiences. Which would be great if the experiences weren’t Frankenstein’d together until it’s hard to separate autism, adhd, and SPD from one another.