Best Attention Deficit & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 12, 2023

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are common conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. To help those who suffer from these conditions, there are a variety of books available that provide valuable information and guidance. These books cover topics such as understanding ADHD, managing symptoms, improving focus and attention, and developing coping strategies. Some books are geared towards children and adolescents, while others are written for adults. Whether you are looking for self-help or resources to support a loved one with ADHD, there are many helpful books available to choose from.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing Cover #TOP 1
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing
ftb score rating icon 9.8
DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help Cover #TOP 2
DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder Cover #TOP 3
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Attention Deficit & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Books

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

Davis LPC, KC
Apr 26, 2022
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing Cover
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

This book, titled "How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing," offers a new perspective on cleaning and organizing that frees readers from feeling ashamed or overwhelmed by a messy home. Author KC Davis presents a revolutionary approach to housekeeping that emphasizes self-compassion and simplification of to-do lists. Her practical advice helps readers prioritize tasks, avoid procrastination, and find creative shortcuts to transform a messy room into a functional space. This book is an excellent resource for anyone struggling with anxiety, fatigue, depression, ADHD, or lack of support in managing their household.

DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help

Pink, Mr Richard
Emery, Miss Roxanne
Jan 19, 2023
DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help Cover
DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help

DIRTY LAUNDRY is a must-read for anyone with ADHD or anyone who loves someone with ADHD. Written by the creators of the popular social media account @ADHD_Love, this book provides an unfiltered look into the chaos of real life with ADHD. It offers simple tips that work for the ADHD brain, helping readers transform self-hatred into self-acceptance. The authors also provide valuable insights for partners, parents, and friends of those with ADHD, helping them move from frustration to patience, understanding, and love. Filled with heartbreak and humor, DIRTY LAUNDRY is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to better understand and support neurodivergent individuals.

Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder

Maté MD, Gabor
Feb 7, 2023
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder Cover
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder

Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Maté is a groundbreaking guide to understanding, treating, and healing Attention Deficit Disorder. Maté challenges the commonly held belief that ADD/ADHD is a genetically based illness and instead offers hope and advice to those who live with the condition. Drawing on his own experience as an ADD sufferer and parent of diagnosed children, Maté explains that environmental stress is a significant factor in the development of ADD. This book provides essential and life-changing reading for the millions of ADD sufferers in North America today.

ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood

Hallowell M.D., Edward M.
Ratey M.D., John J.
Jan 4, 2022
ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood Cover
ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood

ADHD 2.0 is a groundbreaking book by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey that provides cutting-edge research and strategies to help individuals with ADHD thrive. The authors draw on the latest science to offer an arsenal of new strategies and lifestyle hacks for minimizing the downside and maximizing the benefits of ADHD at any age. They provide behavior assessments to discover an individual's unique strengths, specific elements to look for in the environment to enhance creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, and ways to take advantage of new findings about the brain's default mode network and cerebellum. This book is a must-read for anyone with ADHD or who knows someone with ADHD.

Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential

Peg Dawson
Richard Guare
Guilford Press
Jan 2, 2009
Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential Cover
Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential

Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential is a comprehensive guide to help parents and teachers manage children's executive skills. The book offers easy-to-follow steps to identify a child's strengths and weaknesses, use activities and techniques to boost specific skills, and problem-solve daily routines. The book is filled with real-world examples and solutions, making it an easy and accessible read. This book is a great resource for parents of children who are struggling with executive skills and provides practical and detailed advice. Overall, it offers hope for children who are struggling and empowers parents to make small changes that can lead to big improvements.

Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed (Health and Wellness Workbooks for Kids)

Miller LCSW MSW, Kelli
Althea Press
Jun 26, 2018
Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed (Health and Wellness Workbooks for Kids) Cover
Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed (Health and Wellness Workbooks for Kids)

The Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids is a great resource for parents looking for engaging activities to help their children manage and regulate their ADHD. This workbook is designed for children ages 7 to 12 and includes skill-building exercises and action-oriented learning to help kids reframe the way they think about ADHD. What sets this book apart is its strength-based approach, which helps kids see their ADHD as a special asset rather than a hindrance. Overall, this practical workbook is a must-have for parents, teachers, and counselors of children with ADHD.

CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents: Over 200 Worksheets & Exercises for Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression & Conduct Disorders

Lisa Phifer
Amanda Crowder
Tracy Elsenraat
Robert Hull
PESI Publishing & Media
Sep 26, 2017
CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents: Over 200 Worksheets & Exercises for Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression & Conduct Disorders Cover
CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents: Over 200 Worksheets & Exercises for Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression & Conduct Disorders

The CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents is a comprehensive workbook that offers over 200 worksheets, exercises, and activities to help children cope with and overcome a range of struggles, including trauma, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders. Written by experienced clinicians and teachers, this practical and easy-to-use resource is adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy and includes client activities that children can do themselves, either in-session or as homework. The book is authored by Lisa Weed Phifer, Amanda K Crowder, Tracy Elsenraat, and Robert Hull, and published by PESI Publishing, Inc. It's an excellent resource for parents, therapists, and educators who work with children and adolescents.

Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

Hallowell M.D., Edward M.
Ratey M.D., John J.
Anchor
Sep 13, 2011
Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder Cover
Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

"Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder" is a groundbreaking and comprehensive book that explores the varied forms of ADHD, from hyperactivity to daydreaming. The authors dispel common myths, offer helpful coping tools, and give a thorough accounting of all treatment options as well as tips for dealing with a diagnosed child, partner, or family member. The book's strength lies in its conversational tone, encyclopedic content, and its grounding in clinical experience. Highly informative and reassuring, this book is a must-read for those seeking answers about ADHD.

Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents

Barkley, Russell A.
The Guilford Press
Jun 12, 2020
Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents Cover
Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents

The fourth edition of "Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents" by Russell A. Barkley is a must-have resource for parents of children with ADHD. The book provides the latest information and resources on the disorder, including a proven eight-step behavior management plan, tips for building academic and social skills, and advice on how to work with school and healthcare professionals. The book also includes a new chapter on health risks associated with ADHD and practical tools for parents. Dr. Barkley's compassionate approach and wealth of experience make this book a valuable guide for parents.

Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD

Tamara PhD Rosier
Sep 21, 2021
Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Cover
Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD

Your Brain's Not Broken by Dr. Tamara Rosier is a compassionate and practical guide for anyone with ADHD or those who live with or love someone with ADHD. The book explains how ADHD affects every aspect of life and offers critical tools to improve personal and professional life. Dr. Rosier emphasizes that having ADHD does not mean that one's brain is broken, but it is wired differently. The book provides a refreshing perspective on ADHD and empowers readers to embrace their differences and overcome challenges. Overall, Your Brain's Not Broken is an insightful and encouraging resource that can help readers live better with ADHD.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the best books about ADHD?

A quick look at the 10 best ADHD books of 2022. Best classic: “Driven to Distraction”Best for women: “A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD”Best for adults: “Thriving with Adult ADHD”Best for everyday life: “Order from Chaos”Best for parents: “What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew”

2. Is attention-deficit disorder the same as ADHD?

You may have heard the terms ADD and ADHD used interchangeably. Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are indeed the same condition, it's just that ADHD has had several name changes in the last three decades.

3. What books are used to diagnose ADHD?

Healthcare providers use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (DSM-5)1, to help diagnose ADHD. This diagnostic standard helps ensure that people are appropriately diagnosed and treated for ADHD.

4. Are books good for ADHD?

Are ADHD books effective? No research suggests ADHD books can treat or relieve symptoms associated with the condition. But online reviews by people with ADHD, therapists, and parents indicate that reading self-help books can be helpful to understand and manage the condition.

Editor's Notes

During our attention deficit & attention deficit hyperactivity disorder book research, we found 1,000+ attention deficit & attention deficit hyperactivity disorder book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 47,755 customer reviews through our big data system to write the attention deficit & attention deficit hyperactivity disorder books list. We found that most customers choose attention deficit & attention deficit hyperactivity disorder books with an average price of $14.26.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.