ADHD Is Awesome

A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD

By: Penn Holderness, Kim Holderness, Edward Hallowell - foreword

Narrated by: Penn Holderness, Kim Holderness, Nathan Rosborough, Ann Marie Taepke, Tyrrell Harrell, Lola Holderness

Read by the authors.

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The engaging, uplifting antidote to traditional ADHD books (which, let's be honest, if you have ADHD you'd never read anyway).

You live in a world that wasn't designed for you. A world where you're expected to sit still, stay quiet, and focus. Because of the way your brain is wired, you can feel like you’re failing at life. But you are not failing. You are awesome.

Award-winning content creators Kim and Penn Holderness are on a mission to reboot how we think about the unfortunately named "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder." As always, they are doing it by looking in the mirror, because they don't just study ADHD; they live it.

Penn was in college when he was diagnosed with ADHD, although the signs of having a brain that worked just a little bit differently had been there since he was a kid. Rather than view the diagnosis as a curse or give in to feelings of inadequacy or failure, he took a different approach, one that he wants to share with fellow ADHDers and the people who care about them.

Drawing on their often-hilarious insights and the expertise of doctors, researchers, and specialists; Kim and Penn provide fun, easy-to-digest advice and explanations, including:

• What it's actually like to live with an ADHD brain.
• How to find humor in the pitfalls, sob stories, and unbelievable triumphs (like the time they won The Amazing Race!) that come with ADHD.
• How to tackle the challenges ADHD presents with a positive outlook.
• Targeted tools and techniques to play to your unique strengths.
• Fun extras like ADHD Bingo, an ode to cargo pants, and what the world would look like if ADHDers were in charge.

Take it from Penn: Having ADHD can be scary, but it comes with incredible upsides, including creativity, hyperfocus, and energy. You might even say it's kind of awesome. Whether you have ADHD or want to support someone else in their journey, this is the guide you need to make the life you want.

©2024 Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness (P)2024 Harper Horizon

Next book!!!

Thank you for making my adhd feel normal and not the deficits that are daily struggles. Newest most difficult struggle I’ve ever had is managing my adhd while raising children (2 out of my 4 have adhd) who have different aspects, but similar struggles. Next book idea! Raising children with adhd while managing your own. Thank you for making me feel empowered in my challenges in my own adhd though. Loved this book!

I felt seen and learning to love my ADHD!

I laughed, cried and feel like so much of my “character flaws” have been explained. Now that my traits have been named, I can put certain accommodations in place and learn to love my ferrari brain with bicycle breaks. Thank you for writing this book.

Great listen - only tells part of the story

This was a fantastic listen of ONE person’s experience with ADHD filled with stories and tips navigating ADHD life. But we only learn about Penn’s challenges and there are many other positives and challenges ADHDers can face.

Great job pen!

out of all the books I've read on ADHD, this is the first one that I'm actually planning to try to listen to with my son as well, I think there's a Fighting Chance he'll get through it!

The ADHD book we’ve needed

Thank you so much for writing a book that gives me hope and excitement about my ADHDer instead of fear. It was so powerful to get information and insight from a successful adult who has been walking the walk, as well as getting Kim’s take as she walks next to Penn. In addition to hope, you gave me the ability to show grace with more freedom and abundance than I was previously capable of. This book is a gift. Anyone who loves someone with ADHD can benefit immensely from your story.

Such a fun and informative listen

Penn and Kim did a fantastic job of giving great objective information while telling their personal story which is equal parts entertaining and informative as well. This book gives wonderful insight into what it's like to navigate close personal relationships with empathy, compassion, love, and accountability. It gives us all hope, both those newly diagnosed as well as those of us who were diagnosed years ago, that we can have meaningful and successful relationships. That we can have lives that aren't built on foundations of shame and regret. Thank you.

Learned I’m not alone and my self esteem is so much higher!

This is an absolutely must read! I have listened/read it at least 3 times in its entirety. I have told so many people about this book! I just need to buy them by the case I am so convinced this book is a must read for everyone not just adhd family members and themselves but anyone who exists and has to communicate- I understand

Interaction between authors was great!

As a parent I thought this book was informative, interesting, and entertaining. The chemistry between Kim and Penn is amazing. They really show what it is to help each other in a relationship with ADHD. I can only hope for this type of support in a partner for my daughter. It was hard at first recognizing and understanding ADHD in her and being able to meet her where she needs it. This book gave me lots of ideas to try. Also, it helped to remove the stigma surrounding it.

Genuine voices

I enjoyed very much the authors’ additional commentary while they read the text. It was as much like listening to a podcast as an audiobook. I really appreciated their authenticity.

ADHDer Approved

In classic ADHD fashion, it took me a couple months to finish this book. As a person with ADHD, who is married to someone with ADHD, and who has a kiddo with ADHD, I had several “they get it” moments. The also appreciated that several strategies were shared, along with not only the practical application, but also the research behind them.