Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically
Devon Price, PhD
Harmony, 2025

“Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically” (Harmony, 2025) is Dr. Devon Price’s second book about unmasking autism. His prior title, “Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity” (Harmony, 2022), focuses on discovery, tools, and helpful techniques once someone receives an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, including self-diagnosis, and begins to unmask, especially as they search for autistic community, celebration, and connection. While “Unmasking for Life” still grows from Price’s stellar academic research and diverse anecdotal examples, it expands on unmasking to include the core skills necessary to tackle the most challenging areas he notices in the ASD community.

In addition to Price’s research and examples, he offers exercises, affirmations, questionnaires, and sample scripts to practice the five core skills he recommends: acceptance, engagement, transgression, tolerance, and creation. Acceptance includes learning to tolerate changes that typically disrupt the carefully (often protectively) woven fabric of an autistic person’s day. The examples Price utilizes almost remind me of exposure therapy.

Price also dives into aging with autism, my favorite part of “Unmasking for Life.”  The lifespan statistics are dismal for aging autistics. Masking until your 50s, 60s, or 70s is a contributing factor, as well as the dearth of research available.

Readers who like any other Devon Price book, especially “Unmasking Autism,” Emily and Amelia Nagowski’s “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle,” Fern Brady’s “Strong Female Character,” and Eric Garcia’s “We’re Not Broken,” should enjoy this book, too.

Thank you to Dr. Devon Price, Harmony, and NetGalley for the eARC!

This is by far my favorite Dr. Devon Price book, and the first I am certain I will both go back to reread and recommend to others. The actionable suggestions for navigating an unmasked life from the author felt specific, thoughtful, and useful.

The main theme I took away from this book is that navigating adulthood while being autistic can be a really hard thing to do, but by doing certain things to support your needs and identity you can make a life in which you thrive. It was so affirming to hear stories of what others have struggled with and how they’re finding the right lifestyle and community for themselves. The chapter on work was so deeply relatable and was my personal favorite. Reading this prompted me to examine elements of my life from a new angle (working with tolerance, setting effective boundaries, being a digital passive observer like the interviewee Delilah).

I would recommend this book over “Unmasking Autism” by the same author if you already have a decent basic knowledge of autism. This is totally a personal opinion, but this book reads as a greatly improved version of that book to me.

Overall I do recommend this book to anyone who is working on unmasking and is ready to make changes to create a more enjoyable life for themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Devon Price for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 💚

Firstly, thank you to Harmony / Rodale Inc. and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Having read “Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity” and finding it particularly relevant to me as a 30-something who came to the painful realization of their autism in the last several years, I was very excited to dig into this book. Both books have many similarities: reoccurring first-person narratives interwoven with overarching experiences many non-typical (read: anyone not a cishet white man) autistics go through, lots of up-to-date numbers with references, and some very poignant descriptions of how autistic folks are treated which aren’t often mentioned elsewhere with such clarity.
The only big critique I could possibly have of this book is that I felt that it didn’t stick to the 5 core skills for unmasking identified early in the book (Acceptance, Engagement, Transgression, Tolerance, and Creation), which were declared to be the point of focus for the subsequent chapters. The following chapters focused on a particular aspect of autistic folks’ social lives – friendship, family, work, love and sex, and life – and some of these topics were more straightforward regarding tips on how to unmask in different settings. It was not surprising to me that the chapters on friendship and life were seemingly the easiest to digest with this in mind, while the chapters about family, work, and love and sex often just advised the reader to leave the relationship or job if one cannot find cohesion or respect in those situations. Again, its unsurprising that the advice boils down to getting out of a situation in which you are being mistreated, but considering that autistic people are at significant risk of manipulation, C-PTSD, and trauma from those we rely on mistreating us, it felt disappointing to just leave it at that.
But I did appreciate the book’s willingness to take a both/and approach to unmasking for autistics: it is both immensely frustrating that neurotypicals/allistics often refuse to try to understand us and it is important for autistic folks to learn new skills with the aim of being more genuine in our interactions with them. With lots of open-ended questions and opportunities for journaling, the book approaches the topic with curiosity and encouragement to do some self-reflection, without shaming us for being disabled – because autism is a disability and not a choice or mental illness, contrary to what the overarching majority discussing autism would want you to think.
If you like Price’s other writings and want more of the same but with a bit of a differentiated focus, it’s likely you’ll enjoy this book too. If you’re unfamiliar with his work and want something written by an actually autistic person, I’d recommend this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Being autistic, this book is such a great resource for myself and other autistic individuals!

Allistic people often program autistic people to mask starting in childhood. We are often constantly told (overtly and covertly) that we aren't acceptable as ourselves, that we are too much and not enough, etc. Allistic-centric societies often see us as "wrong" for having brains that are different from allistic brains.

Dr. Price understands what it's like to mask, as well as the trauma masking causes. We can't force our brains to be allistic any more than allistics can make their brains autistic. It's deeply harmful to have to mask, and Dr. Price gives us tools for unmasking and being our authentic selves.

This book should be read by allistics and autistics, in hopes of creating a better path forward where masking is no longer a burdensome/traumatic expectation.

Great read, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent. Always support a book that doesn't encourage a person to change or be "fixed", but instead change the things around them and find what works best.

A wonderful read!
Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Unmasking Autism was a thoughtful, validating read that gave me a lot to reflect on. Devon Price does an incredible job of unpacking what it means to "mask" as an autistic person—basically, all the ways people hide or downplay traits to fit into neurotypical expectations. What really stood out to me was how he connects masking to trauma and burnout. The chapter on how masking starts in childhood, often as a survival strategy, hit especially hard. It made me think about behaviors I’ve normalized without realizing how exhausting they are.

I also appreciated that Price includes the voices of other autistic people throughout the book. It gives the whole thing a more communal, well-rounded feel, rather than just being a solo memoir or academic analysis. That said, some of the later chapters felt a little repetitive, like certain ideas were rehashed instead of expanded. Still, the overall message is empowering: you’re not broken for struggling in systems that weren’t built for you.

It’s part personal, part research-based, and very readable. If you're autistic, questioning, or just want to understand masking better, this book is absolutely worth your time. It gave me language for things I didn’t even know I was feeling.

I have nothing but love and admiration for this writer, but especially this book. As an Autistic person, it speaks to my struggles, where I’m trying to find a balance in how I express myself. I know that my brain is different and can’t be expected to work the same way as a Neurotypical brain does, but at the same time, I unfortunately have to navigate this world that was not designed for me and seems at times actively hostile. Hopefully with help from stuff like this book, I can find a way.

Thanks so much to Dr. Devon Price, Rodale/Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Price’s Unmasking Autism was a revelation and a book I have recommended far and wide. So I was beyond excited to dig into this new resource. Unmasking for Life is a practical guide adults early in their unmasking journey will find invaluable. I love the spirit of the book, with sample scripts to help open lines of communication. Like most resources of its kind, readers may find themselves taking what works and leaving what doesn’t. This is also a really powerful and valuable resource to help normalize the diversity inherent in the neurodiverse community. As Price mentions, the rates of Autistics who align with other marginalized identities or have niche proclivities is quite high. Sometimes it just helps to be reminded that it’s okay to do things differently if that’s what works best for you. You don’t have to live your life by neurotypical-society’s rules! What a reinforcing and life affirming message. You’re not playing the game wrong, you’re playing a rigged game, and you *can* just stop playing. My only criticism is that so many of Price’s recommendations revolve around socialization. And, while there were one or two mentions of pacing oneself and saving spoons, I almost felt like I was replacing my Neurotypical To Do list with a Neurodiversity To Do list. But maybe that’s a me issue? Overall, a great resource that I highly recommend.

This is the first book I've read where Autism and Autistic were written with capital As. Since Autism is a medical term for a diagnostic condition and therefore a proper noun, I will also capitalize it.

Filled with a ton of excellent practical advice and helpful information, I did a lot of highlighting of the digital ARC and I look forward to rereading and annotating my own pre-ordered physical copy.

I learned that many countries ban Autistic immigrants; I learned why I have a compulsion to talk to people; and many of my deepest insecurities were partially healed by having them discussed in this book.

This is not just a book about unmasking but really a manifesto/handbook for Autistic living. It is a phenomenal read and I would give it more than 5 stars!

Another great resource for Autistic adults from Devon Price. I love this author and can't wait to see what they come up with next. I just wish he would do some more research on modern ABA practices, it's not the forcing of neurotypical masking that it once was. We're moving toward an assent based therapy model and focusing on client safety, rather than how to mask and "fit in".

4 Stars

I read Devon Price's other book, Unmasking Autism and found it very helpful, especially so soon after being late diagnosed as a mid 30s woman. This one was helpful for the most part, as well. I did skim some of the sections on parenting and love/sex as they weren't relevant to me. I wish the section on love was more pertinent to someone in a long-term committed relationship instead of just dating and whatnot. I found the section on Work especially helpful, as that is what I struggle with the most. It's nice to know that I'm not alone, but a shame so many employers just don't understand or aren't willing to accommodate us.

Recommended for ASD folks who are struggling with masking, just want to learn more about themselves/their options, or those who love or work with someone on the spectrum and want to understand them better.

Thank you NetGalley & Rodale Inc for the ARC

Unmasking for Life is another great resource from Devon Price! Clear, informative, and well-written; this is a must read for any neurodivergent person who is trying to live their life with more joy and less shame.

Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! I definitely recommend it if you are either Autistic or are neurotypical and just looking to better understand Autism and how you can help make this a more inclusive world. It is absolutely filled with a ton of information and very useful and practical tips and exercises and will leave you with a lot of things to think about.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A great resource for those who are looking to learn how to unmask and live a more authentic kind of lifestyle. I didn't ever know that I was masking, but learning more about it has helped me to mask less and less.

After finding Unmasking Autism one of the best books out their in understanding how Autism is often actively hidden by many autistics who often also go through much of their life undiagnosed, I was thrilled to learn Price was working in a follow up book. Unmaking for Life is exactly the next step I needed. Price gives a clear and freeing perspective on self acceptance within the context of work, family, friendships, romance and life goals, stressing how lives outside the social norms of our capitalistic and performance driven worlds can be rich, fulfilling and authentic.

Price stresses that while autistic people often mask as a defense mechanism to protect against rejection it comes with a high price that results in anxiety, isolation, depression and self harm. The lie is that these things are necessary to access relationship, financial security and purpose. Each chapter takes the reader through a series of questions and perspective setting that provides a blueprint for navigating social structures as an autistic person without apology

I’d highly recommend this book for anyone struggling to understand how to live more authentically in a world that is set up to exclude their participation and value, as well as anyone who has an autistic person I their life who wants to understand their loved one’s experiences better and learn how they can be part of the change in how society sees difference and disability. .

Dr. Devon Price does it again with an amazing book that I felt was written just for me. I already own 2 copies of Unmasking Autism, one for myself and one to loan out, and this one is gonna be the same. I'm so happy to have gotten an ARC and will be recommending it to anyone and everyone I can.

"Unmasking for life" is the perfect guide after reading "unmasking autism." This book is laid out SO well, with loads of examples and details that make applying the "workbook" type end of chapter questions to your life really easy. I was grateful to see such a huge range in topics that often aren't included in a lot of autism books. Hello sex, I'm looking at you! Would highly recommend this to any neurodiverse person who is looking for ways to unmask in each area of their life. The care and safety that Devon makes sure to cover in each of these areas, knowing it isn't always safe for people to unmask, is also just such a beautiful thing. I am so grateful for this ARC! Will definitely be buying a copy to reference back to in the future. You could spend years digging in a little more and coming back to the chapter check-in/questions over and over as you grow in the unmasking journey.