Books for Autistic Adults and adults who are exploring their own neurodivergence:

This is a book recommendation list for newly identified or diagnosed autistic adults, or adults who are exploring their own neurodivergence.

The following titles were carefully selected in That Au-Some Book Club – a group dedicated to discussing books about autism and neurodiversity.

It’s important to remember that there are no perfect books. All books related to autism and neurodiversity come with several trigger warnings. Some may contain person-first language, while others may include internalized ableism.

Consider this a working document. It is in no way complete, and we’ll be adding to it continuously. There are a few categories. Other than that, these books are in no particular order. Feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions! Happy Reading!

This post contains links to Amazon and I earn a small commission from the orders. This helps support my book club habit! Titles available on Audible are identified.

CLICK HERE if you’re only searching for CHILDREN’S books.

CLICK HERE if you’re only searching for books for TEENS/TWEENS/ADOLESCENTS.

CLICK HERE to view our “MASTER LIST” of all the books we have approved on autism and neurodiversity.

Looking for autistic authors only?

Listing with a (*) indicate the author identifies as autistic or that the book has autistic contributors.

Listings without a(*) indicate either the author’s neurology is unknown, or the author is allistic (not autistic).

Some titles may show that the author is ND (neurodivergent). Some authors choose not to share their neurology with the public.

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Informational Books and Anthologies

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia*
On Audible

Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities by Nick Walker*

May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future by Chris Martin

Workplace Neurodiversity Rising by Lyric Rivera*

Loud Hands: Autistic People Speaking (Anthology) Julia Bascom*

All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism edited by Lydia X Z Brown et al.  (By autistic women of color)* We are awaiting a new edition to this book.

Typed Words Loud Voices edited by Amy Sequenzia & Elizabeth J. Grace*

Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism by Barb Cook (Editor), Michelle Garnett (Editor), Jen Elcheson (Contributor)*

Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism by Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Elizabeth Bartmess (ed.)*

And Straight on Till Morning: Essays on Autism Acceptance by ASAN and Julia Bascom *

Autism in Adults by Luke Beardon

Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults by Dr. Luke Beardon
On Audible

Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement: Stories from the Front Line edited by Steven K. Kapp*

Exposure Anxiety – The Invisible Cage: An Exploration of Self-Protection Responses in the Autism Spectrum and Beyond by Donna Williams*

Women on the Spectrum: A Handbook for Life by Emma Goodall and Yenn Purkis*

We’ve Got This: Stories by disabled Parents by Eliza Hull*

PDA by PDA-ers compiled by Sally Cat*

The PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson*
On Audible

Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women by Sarah Bargiela*

Trauma, Stigma, and Autism: Developing Resilience and Loosening the Grip of Shame by Gordon Gates*

Memoirs, Autobiographies, Nonfiction-ish Books

Back from the Brink: Stories of Resilience, Reconciliation, and Reconnection by Tim Chan and Sarah Chan*

What I Mean When I Say I’m Autistic: Unpuzzling a Life on the Autism Spectrum by Annie Kotowics*

Uncommon Sense by Adam Mardero*

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby*
On Audible

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Dr. Devon Price*
On Audible

Letters to My Weird Sisters: On Autism and Feminism by Joanne Limburg*

Twirling Naked in the Streets and No One Noticed: Growing Up with Undiagnosed Autism by Jeannie Davide-Rivera*
On Audible

Autistic World Domination: How to Script Your Life by Jolene Stockman*

The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband by David Finch*
On Audible

I Am Autistic: A Workbook: Sensory Tools, Practical Advice, and Interactive Journaling for Understanding Life with Autism by Chanelle Moriah*

Odd Girl Out by Laura James*
On Audible

I Overcame My Autism and All I Got was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder: A Memoir by Sarah Kurchak*
On Audible

Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary*
On Audible

Why Are the Lights So Loud? Stories About Being an Adult Female with Aspergers by Heather Chase*

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum by Jennifer Cook O’Toole*
On Audible

Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels by Sara Gibbs*

Nobody Nowhere: The Remarkable Autobiography of An Autistic Girl by Donna Williams*

Somebody Somewhere: Breaking Free From the World of Autism by Donna Williams*

Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet*
On Audible

But You Don’t Look Autistic At All by Bianca Toeps*

Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate by Cynthia Kim*

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang*

Gender and Sexuality

Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide for LGBTQIA+ Teens on the Spectrum by Erin Ekins*
On Audible

Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Autism by Eva Mendes and Meredith Maroney*

Spectrums: Autistic Transgender People in their Own Words Edited by Maxfield Sparrow*

Supporting Transgender Autistic Youth and Adults by Finn Gratton

The Autistic Trans Guide to Life by Yenn Purkis and Wenn Lawson*

Trans and Autistic: Stories from Life at the Intersection by Noah Adams and Bridget Liang*

How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess*

Autistic Theory and History

Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma by Kieran Rose and Amy Pearson PhD* *Available for Preorder*

NeuroTribes: the Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman
On Audible

Divergent Mind: Thriving In a World That Wasn’t Designed For You by Jenera Nerenberg
On Audible

War on Autism: On the Cultural Logic of Normative Violence by Anne McGuire

A Mismatch of Salience: Explorations of the Nature of Autism From Theory to Practice by Damian Milton*

The Power of Neurodiversity: Discovering the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences by Thomas Armstrong PhD

The Neurodiversity Reader: Exploring Concepts, Lived Experience and Implications for Practice by Damian Milton et al*

For Professionals

The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach by Davida Hartman et. al.

Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson et. al.

Autism and the Predictive Brain: Absolute Thinking in a Relative World by Peter Vermeulen

Novels

I Never Get Lost In the Woods by Aaron Jepson* (novel) *New Release!*

Afrotistic by Kala Allen Omeiza*

Underdogs Series by Chris Bonnello*
On Audible

A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan*
On Audible

Have Geek, Will Travel by Rebecca Blevins*

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll*
On Audible

The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas*

About That Au-Some Book Club

Rainbow infinity symbol with the words That Au-Some Book Club

I started That Au-Some Book Club in June 2019 because I needed motivation to read NeuroTribes. Since then, it has grown to over 10,000 members from all around the world!

We discuss books and host book club “meetings” with authors (and other cool people). It really is a magical place to learn!

You can find highlights from our meetings on the Not an Autism Mom Youtube Channel.

If you’d like to support the book club, please consider becoming a Patreon. I would be more than grateful!

If you’d like to recommend a book for this list of books for Autistic Adults, join us in That Au-Some Book Club!


Not an Autism Mom
Not an Autism Mom

I am a daughter, sister, wife, friend, and MOM. I write about parenting, autism, prematurity, and whatever else comes through these fingertips. Enjoy!

    7 replies to "100-ish Books for Autistic Adults Exploring Their Autistic Identity"

    • […] CLICK HERE if you’re an adult exploring your own autistic identity […]

    • […] 100-ish Books for Adults Exploring Their Own Autistic Identity […]

    • Anonymous

      Thank you so much for your labor in creating these lists!
      May I suggest that Helen Hoang’s book(s) be moved from memoir to novels? 🙂 (smiley face)

    • […] CLICK HERE if you’re an adult exploring your own autistic identity. […]

    • HoDo

      I want to love this site and linger, reading, but those blinky little red save signs send me over the edge.

      • Not an Autism Mom

        Hmmm… I’ll check that out. I’m not sure what signs you’re referring to.

    • Anonymous

      I would love to see all of Helen Hoang’s books listed here. Kiss Quotient was instrumental to me understanding that I’m autistic but all three of her books show different presentations which I really love.

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