Neurodiverse is something we all all. Neurodivergent is something only some of us are. By understanding the difference and the importance of both, we can not only learn more about ourselves but be a part of a more well-rounded society. Wise explores how and why we need to fundamentally shift our thinking on neurodivergent folks, to better understand the big conditions like autism and ADHD, but also to understand the full picture of what falls on that spectrum in order to best support those individuals and use their strengths to help society as a whole. She challenges the pathology paradigm and offers nine principles to facilitate change.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn’t necessarily learn a lot more about my condition, but that’s not the aim of this book. It made me think about my neurodivergence in a larger context, better understand those who are on this spectrum but have different conditions than I do, and encouraged me to start thinking about the future of neurodiversity and neurodivergent people.

One quote that stuck out to me was, “Medication helps me meet the expectations of the environment.” Before I started medication, life was a lot harder, and even though I still have trouble fitting in and keeping up in a world designed for neurotypical people, my medication definitely takes the edge off of the overwhelm, and it helped me to think about it as a tool to function better in these environments that aren’t designed for me.

Definitely recommend this one.

A good new addition to the slim landscape discussing neurodiversity. This hands-on guide proves society is better when we choose to change our long-held beliefs.

As someone who works with and trains in mental health this book intrigued me as I am always wanting to expand my knowledge and diversity of reading to support me in relating to others.

This book was useful and a great celebration of neurodiversity, but I feel this book is aimed more at novices in this area, so would definitely recommend as a good read, but issue the caveat that this is just another view and not everyones.

This book is an absolute joy. It is so well written, easy to understand, accessible. Neurodivergence is a nuanced and intricate topic, and Wise makes it a safe, inclusive spot to understand and process.

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

I’m not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me. I've given a rating due to the book description and cover.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book's title caught my eye as someone who is interested in mental health and currently studying to work in healthcare in the future. The concept of neurodiversity is fairly new to the mainstream, and the average person who isn't already interested in the topic for one reason or another probably hasn't heard of it. While this book raises several good points, I can’t help but feel like a lot of them might be fueled by the very unique experience of accessing mental healthcare in the United States, that isn’t at all reflective of the experience in other countries and as such I do not feel like it’s in any way universal. Nevertheless, as I said, I agree with several of the points raised by the author, and while several of the things they bring up are purely anecdotal, they also raise the very important point of how several aspects of neurodiversity are under researched and thus can’t truly be anything but.


I do not share some of the points brought up, but I do credit this book with the effort of opening a conversation and bringing up several points to reflect upon. I think my main “gripe” with this book is the way it’s written: Wise tends to overuse anaphoras and repeat the same exact concept several times over, just worded slightly differently. It makes for a reading experience that’s a far cry from the streamlined argument it should be: it would have benefited from a few rounds of editing for ease of reading and accessibility. Ironically (for a book about neurodiversity) as someone whose brain doesn’t always cooperate when it comes to concentration, nothing is worse than reading something that repeats itself over and over before getting to the actual point.

I requested this book as someone who has been a foster carer for young people with autism and ADHD for almost 2 decades, and a manager with neurodivergent members of my team. I was hoping for a balanced exploration of neurodivergence / neurodiversity in society, how it manifests, and how we can ensure accommodations and inclusions for all.

What I got instead was one long opinion piece lacking nuance, balance or tolerance for other viewpoints. The overall feeling I came away with was that the book was “shouty”, with key term definitions not explained. This could alienate the very people the author is trying to reach. It’s prime fodder for those who want to pick it apart. In addition, the author tried to relate too many of society’s ills to the treatment of neurodivergent individuals and therefore not devoting enough time to any.

Unlike some other reviewers however, I rather enjoyed the many social media post references. It was a brilliant way to include other marginalised groups with different experiences of intersectionality, and a great reminder that social media is the place that activism happens today - where we can hear the voices of people who have been silenced for too long. I also enjoyed the analogy of intersectionality being like literally standing in the middle of an intersection.

The idea of this read was very exciting to me as a professional working with neurodiverse individuals. Unfortunately , I am sorry to say it did not live up to my expectations and it proved to be a difficult read. A lot of the concepts explored could have more value if delivered differently, but the arguments felt too biased and unilateral to find them compelling. I struggled to get to the end of this read.
Regardless, I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to explore this text that has so much potential in exchange for this honest review.

We're All Neurodiverse was such a welcoming read! It's nice to read a book that spreads positivity about being neurodiverse rather than just how to "fix" it or "be different", it's a celebration of who we are and the many ways that we can positively utilize the way our brains work.

We’re All Neurodiverse is a powerful guide that seeks to revolutionise society’s perception of neurodiversity. Building on the work of Dr. Nick Walker and the community who developed the fundamental principles of the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Wise challenges neuronormativity, white supremacy, and capitalism. Readers are provided with foundational knowledge about neurodiversity, suggestions on how society can improve, and practices to ponder for the future.

This is not an academic text, nor is it written to be. The majority of work on neurodiversity has come from within the community; from non-academic collaborations and advocacy. As such, much of the book is based on non-academic sources and the author’s own advocacy and experiences. This is not a weakness, particularly for such a young movement and when so many voices are excluded from traditional research, including many of those who have been influential in the development of the Neurodiversity Movement.

I have highlighted several aspects of the book below, which particularly stood out to me.

Wise explores key aspects of noteworthy movements that were precursors to the Neurodiversity Movement, acknowledging the influential people involved in each of these. This provides much needed context to the social conditions and histories that led to its formation, and therefore a better understanding of the current state of the Movement.

You may have seen the popular infographic of the neurodivergent umbrella which is commonly shared online, and frequently sparks debates about which differences are considered neurodivergent. Wise was the creator of the original graphic. The book provides a helpful discussion of what this encapsulates, why neurodivergence is a social identity, and the importance of inclusivity (with a heavy nod to Kassiane Asasumasu who coined the term ‘neurodivergent’). The significance of this is highlighted with quotes from a diverse range of people, discussing what being neurodivergent means to them.

Three neurodivergent people of colour (Dr. Mari Cerda, Mia Patterson, and Derrick Quevedo) wrote substantial contributions to the chapter on intersectionality, discussing their experiences of race and neurodivergence. It was welcoming to see space provided for these voices. There are also discussions of the author’s personal experiences with other intersectionalities, as well as quotes from neurodivergent people with multiple intersectional identities. As with the neurodivergent umbrella chapter, these additional experiences provide more depth than the views of one author alone.

Feeling broken is an all-too-common experience for many neurodivergent people and exacerbated by a society that eschews those who appear to deviate from the current accepted norms. When neurodivergent people are constantly bombarded with this message, it can be hard to unlearn. In perhaps the most common — and important — theme throughout the book, Wise reminds us that neurodivergent people are not broken and there are less harmful, more affirming ways to view neurodivergencies.

The concept of brokenness links to a discussion that neurodivergent people are not disordered and there are alternatives to this language (such as disabled or neurodivergent). In many spaces, the use of disorder is a polarising topic of contention. It takes time to shift our thinking from the only frameworks we have known (the Pathology Paradigm, for many) and this can be a protracted and confronting process. Wise emphasises that it’s also okay to have differing opinions or if the ideas presented are not suitable for each person. However, if you would like to begin shifting your approach, there are suggestions for starting the process.

Many readers will be left digesting what they have read for a long time afterwards. While most of the concepts in the book were not new to me personally, I found it enlightening; it is a book I will come back to again. If we embrace just some of the concepts suggested in We’re All Neurodiverse, we will see that neurodivergent people are not broken and we can work towards a neurodiverse society that recognises the inherent value in all people.

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for the digital review copy of We’re All Neurodiverse. All opinions in this review are my own and have not been solicited from the author or publisher.

"We're All Neurodiverse" by Sonny Jane Wise is an audacious journey into the depths of the understudied, underrepresented world of neurodivergence. The author handles the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, race, and neurodivergence with dexterity, providing eloquent, compelling perspectives on a topic that often stokes controversy.

Emboldened by the belief that neurodivergence should not be perceived as deviation or error, Wise crafts a convincing argument against the standardized metrics for 'normality.' The open, educational discourse shines a spotlight on the infamous pathologization of certain divergences throughout history - an enlightening act, unearthing neglected narratives.

The book’s entry-level accessibility is commendable. By demystifying neurodiversity-related jargon and concepts, Wise invites novices to partake in the ongoing dialogue. However, as a 'Latine neurodivergent' reader, I found certain aspects falling short of my lived experiences, causing a disconnection at some point.

Regardless of its flaws, "We’re All Neurodiverse" raises critical questions, challenges common misconceptions, and broadens horizons - an undeniably valuable contribution to the neurodiversity discourse. It paints an intriguing portrait, albeit selective, of our diverse human mindscape.

Very grateful to Netgalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the advanced reader copy.

I was intrigued by this book’s title, something on the face of it can sometimes be a bit controversial in neurodiversity circles. So many of us hear ‘but we’re all a bit neurodiverse’ which I’ve personally found, as someone who is autistic, a troublesome argument. I’m keen though to read other view points and challenge my own opinions and wondered if there was something further behind the title I might be missing. Therefore wondering what perspective this book might take I decided it was worth a read to see if it would broaden my own ideas.

What worked well about this book is Wise’s argument that there is no ‘normal’ as such and having a neurodiverse brain doesn’t make you wrong or faulty. I understood the point they were making and in some aspects of this completely agree. However for me overall the book felt quite flat.

Reading through it I felt a little bit as if I was reading an introduction to an opinion piece or a student’s university essay abstract. While there was a lot of opinions and thoughts I found there wasn’t too much to back it up which would have made the argument a lot stronger. I also felt the argument and its development never really happened and the book never really moved off the starting blocks. Wise did not introduce anything new to existing arguments or develop them fully which left me feeling quite disappointed and wondering if I was missing something key.

As someone who identifies as neurodivergent, I was genuinely eager to delve into this book and grateful to have the opportunity to do so. Certain sections of the book, particularly those featuring personal stories and contributions from individuals with various neurodivergent backgrounds, stood out as highly valuable and enlightening. However, I couldn't help but wish for a more substantial emphasis on these aspects, as they added a profound depth to the book. My experience with some of the book's chapters left me perplexed, they read like a google search - this didn't align with my expectations for a truly neuro-friendly exploration of the subject matter.

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Phooh.... Where do I begin..? I say this with the best of intentions. As a fellow neurodivergent person, I can see the message that the writer is trying to convey, but I find the method they adopted to convey that message simply terrifying. It appears that the writer could not decide whether to make this book a memoir of their own journey with mental health struggles, or to present a collective voice of the neurodivergent community, or simply an angry rant about a wide variety of concepts/societal constructs, including (somehow) capitalism??

Reading the angry, ranting parts about the DSM and the medical system reminds me of how it feels like to walk past people in the city who are shouting some political/religious/cultic propaganda while trying to stuff a flyer in your hands; it's that unpleasant. The DSM and the medical system definitely have their faults, And yes, history of psychiatry looks quite a bit like a horror story - lobotomy, pathologisation of non-heterosexual people, electroshock therapy, just to name a few. And I do agree that improving acceptance of differences as a society is important. I'm not sure if the writer has attempted to research more deeply into the DSM beyond googling its history. If they did, they should know that there have been academics and researchers who have been making proper scientific arguments about taking the DSM down for decades. The reason why we still needed something like that is because without any tools to make accurate diagnoses, we can never begin to contemplate what the best practice/evidence-based treatments are. And without being able to do that, how are we ever going to have any hope of getting the right support? So, it's all well and good to make this argument, but what does the writer propose as an alternative solution? Acceptance is important, but if we couldn't even get the supports we needed in a timely fashion, what practical use could getting rid of the word "disorder' or even all mental health diagnoses do us?

This brings us to the other elephant in the room here, which is that majority of the book was about the author's (very strong) opinions and beliefs. The number of times the word "I" appeared throughout the book probably makes this clear enough. In the writer's words, "We cannot have the Neurodiversity Paradigm replicating the Pathology Paradigm, which is why we cannot do what the Pathology Paradigm does – defining and labelling people’s experiences for them". The writer then acknowledged that they used to impose their views on others neurodivergent people who sincerely view their own conditions as disorders. Sounds great. But soon after, the author concluded the chapter with, "When we call ourselves neurodivergent, we are rejecting the concept of disorders." Even if I were to treat this whole book as one loooong opinion piece, the opinion seems to be all over the place.

I absolutely agree that our lived experience should be regarded as an important voice in research, policy making and healthcare. But if this is how the loudest voices of those with lived experience choose to make their voices heard, I truly fear for our future. This is why with a heavy heart, I'm giving this book a 1-star review.

I’m challenged by this book but possibly not in the way the author intended. As a computer scientist I have been surrounded for decades by many people who are on the autistic spectrum and/or diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. I also have people in my immediate family who are dyslexic which is also on the author's list of things under the neurodiverse term. Although the subject of dyslexia is barely touched on in the book.

Many of those I know on the autistic spectrum have never been formally diagnosed as it was less common to do so in the first decades of my life. Some have been diagnosed later in their lives. I have long strongly felt that we need to stop regarding anyone with these traits as having a disorder but simply it is part of their personal makeup and we are all individuals. I often wonder if one day there will be a term for those who are quite the opposite end of the autistic spectrum from that end which is regarded as having a disorder. In short, the premise of this book appealed to me as I thought I was in agreement with the author.

However, the book grated on me quite a lot. There is a lot of personal opinion with liberal uses of ‘I need’, ‘I want’, ‘I believe; and ‘we must’. There is little reference to scientific research but a lot of reference to social media posts which are often simply the opinions of people other than the author and are not backed by academic research.

The author is also very keen to blame capitalism and white supremacy for any neurodiversity being regarded as a problem by society in general. There are around forty uses of the phrase ‘white supremacy’. She states that the Neurodiversity Movement needs to be anti-capitalist and needs to actively challenge capitalism. Despite having read the book, I am not able to vocalise exactly how these things negatively impact on neurodiversity in the eyes of the author as her argument was confusing at times.

A lack of quotations often makes it hard to always distinguish the author’s opinion from that of someone being quoting. There was also some strange use of capital letters in the middle of words in one section. And use of the word ‘folx’ which is maybe modern speak for ‘folks’ or maybe simply a typo to be corrected in the final print?

My final thought in finishing the book was that the author would be prejudiced against me as I cannot compete for dramatic labels with her and the people she is writing on behalf of. I am also white.

With thanks to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read, and I especially liked that it focussed on a real variety of Neurodiversity.
I'm not sure how much info I will retain as I found it quite difficult to follow at times, but it was certainly eye opening.

An interesting book which broached the subject of neurodiversity. I enjoyed the book but did not agree with everything in the book. We have ADHD in our family and live by the idea that we are all different and all have our challenges in life and that is all just part of the colour of life and family.

United States Publication: November 21, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I was very interested to read this title and so pleased to get an ARC from NetGalley. I have a daughter who is autistic and ADHD, as well as friends who are neurodivergent, so I have a personal interest in neurodiversity as well as a basic human interest.

I really struggled with how to review this title and what "rating" to assign it. There were a few sections of this title that I really appreciated but overall I was disappointed in the content. The first few chapters literally read like a "copy and paste" from an in-depth Google search on neurodiversity. It made me wonder if the author had an editor because it didn't feel like it, and that feeling continued on throughout the whole of the book. The author, being autistic/ADHD/bipolar/BPD, is passionate about neurodiversity (that probably didn't need to be stated) but their passion is more a zealous interest than one that is tempered. They might say that being tempered in their zealous advocation for neurodiversity is exactly what a neurotypical person would suggest, but I would disagree given my personal interest in the topic. A zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. That's a recipe for accomplishing the opposite of what the person wants.

I was dismayed at the number of sources Wise used and leaned on that came from social media and blogs, they leaned so heavily on those sources that it watered down the academic sources and when studying a topic like neurodiversity academic sources are preferred with the social media sources serving as secondary support for the research, not the other way around.

Wise seems to have a soapbox to stand on when it comes to their opinions, or theories, about the influence of capitalism and white supremacy on neurodiversity. I came away from the book confused about this argument. I am very aware of the damage capitalism and white supremacy have done, but I'm not sure they play as big of a part in neurodiversity as Wise posits. I think their argument is a zealot's argument.

The transformation Wise wants to see happen in the world amounts to the pendulum swinging all the way to the other side, which simply isn't realistic. They forget that neurodiversity is a relatively new field of science as far as the world is concerned. Even 100 years ago, hell even 50 years ago, we didn't what we now do about the brain and the diversity of how it functions within each person. That should be taken into account when discussing the influences of systems on neurodiversity and the changes that might need to take place to better accommodate the diversity that we are becoming ever more aware of. I don't disagree with most of the accommodations that Wise says need to occur, but it will take time and thoughtful, tempered communities to put accommodations into place. And as we know from the rotten roots of white supremacy, patriarchy, and the like the time it takes to uproot is several lifetimes, not just one.

In advocating for neurodiversity, one should be careful to not demonize the neurotypical and Wise's book comes close to doing just that, as well as shaming those who do identify as neurotypical.

"Less pathology leaves room for curiosity."

I chose to request this book from Netgalley (Thanks Netgalley!) as it caught my eye... and I was wanting to find the language to support therapy clients who struggle with feeling 'broken' and have a low sense of self worth post ASD diagnosis. I often feel frustrated with the way our society is so quick to label and pathologise and put the blame on the individual, especially young children. Sonny Jane Wise understands this, herself having ASD and ADHD along with a whole host of other labels, and advocates for a 'Neurodiverse Paradigm' whereby we see ALL individuals as neurologically different, rather than broken or inherently wrong and needing to be fixed. After all, what does being 'normal' even mean?

I found myself agreeing with a lot of Wise's viewpoints, but I also struggled with the fact that this whole book feels like an opinion piece from her personal experiences; there's very little science or hard facts here to back up her viewpoints. The fact that she's taken quotes from social media posts also made me question the validity of her writing. I also struggle with the idea of certain conditions coming under the neurodiversity umbrella- psychosis or schizoprenia for example - very real illnesses that cause significant suffering. She compares such conditions to how homosexuality used to be considered a mental illness- that it's all based on how society views such neurodiversity. I believe it's more about the IMPACT the condition has on the individual and the amount of distress they are in, as to whether a condition should be pathologised.

This book made me think on quite a deep level, and consider my own prejudices and points of view when it comes to neurodiversity. I'd recommend it as an introduction to the idea of neurodiversity, she writes and explains concepts in an easy and conversational way. It was a very hopeful and uplifting view of neurodivergence.

This is a very hard book to review because of its subject matter. I have thought long and hard about what star rating to give it and my gut says two. I am concerned about sharing this but here it goes.

I chose this book because I wanted to learn a bit more about neurodiversity. I’ve done a little bit of learning/training during neurodiversity week through a great outside company & I wanted to learn a little bit more. I also know a few people in my circle who are neurodivergent & I have often wondered if I am neurodiverse too as I recognise some specific behaviours. On reflection I do not feel this was the right book to choose to learn more.

The book’s prose is relatively easy to read and the layout is good, as you might expect for the subject matter. There are more voices in here than just the author’s so you also get other perspectives. There are also a lot of footnotes with links to further learning which means it feels well researched.

In addition:

There a LOT of opinions in this book.

This book touches on more than just neurodiversity and goes into a lot of detail about disability/ableism, racism, gender and other protected characteristics not aforementioned.

Now those 2 things above may be something that you expect/would want to be included or they enhance the reading experience for you. I personally prefer my non-fiction books to be more factual & did want to learn more about neurodiversity in a standalone environment, as I had done before. Coming across both drew me out of the book a bit and made it hard to read.

I was really intrigued by the title as I’ve personally felt that for a long time - generally we all look different and sound different so why wouldn’t we be different in our minds? Unfortunately the book itself just didn’t do it for me in the end and to be honest, I wish I’d really not read it.

Thank you to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc.