October is ADHD-Awareness Month! In the spirit of increasing awareness of the exceptional strengths that people with ADHD have and the challenges they often face in a world designed for neurotypical people, we are reading and reviewing two books that attempt to capture and enhance part of the ADHD experience. As neuropsychologists who offer ADHD testing in Cincinnati, as well as Autism testing, understanding and appreciating the complexity of neurodevelopmental differences is paramount.
First up: Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, Ph.D. While this book may not be explicitly about ADHD, it is a manifesto for “procrastinators” who have been unfairly and harmfully labeled as “lazy.” Dr. Price writes that “procrastinators often get caught in a cycle of perfectionism, anxiety, distraction, and failure.” This description rings true to those of us who work with people with ADHD. We also recognize, sadly, the truth in Dr. Price’s observation about the wide-spread belief that a person’s worth can be measured by their productivity. This observation, along with the idea that people have learned to discredit or minimize their feelings (like accomplishment) and needs (like rest) and the nagging thought that “there is always more to do” makes up “The Laziness Lie.”
Dr. Price’s description of The Laziness Lie was eye-opening. The book explores the historical, societal, and political bases for the Laziness Lie. Aided by this new perspective, we see how people with ADHD (and some neurotypical people) struggle to find footing in systems that are not designed for them. Dr. Price’s empathy for this struggle is evident in their writing. It is a well-researched book and Dr. Price comes across as confident, knowledgeable, and credible. This is important because many readers, conditioned for years to believe in the Laziness Lie, will not immediately buy into the edicts in the book. Across chapters like those titled ‘You Deserve to Work Less’ and ‘Shrugging Off Society’s “Shoulds,”’Dr. Price offers alternative ways of thinking about productivity, rest, fulfillment, and joy. This is balanced with practical guidance, actionable advice, and real-world examples of Dr. Price and the community of both neurodivergent and neurotypical people.
People with ADHD (and the neuropsychologists that work with them) and other procrastinators may likely benefit from reading this book. It is also likely to be refreshing, challenging, and liberating to anyone feeling “exhausted, exploited, and overworked.” Parents get a special shout-out within the book; as do people struggling with depression, employees within systems like the corporate world and academia, cultural minorities, and other marginalized or struggling groups.
We highly recommend this book and we hope that those of you who read it are convinced to prioritize boundaries, rest, and compassion. We hope you’ll come back next week to read our review of How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis, LPC.
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