Book Review: Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You, by Jenara Nerenberg

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5

I really liked Divergent Mind. After reading two other books that were very basic, introductory level books on neurodivergence (one of which heavily pathologized it and the other of which was not very useful), this book felt like a breath of fresh air. The author approaches neurodiversity from a positive perspective and highlights both her own story and the stories of other neurodivergent women throughout the book as she discusses ADHD, ASD, SPD and other neurodivergences. I really loved reading about her interviews with different mental health professionals who shared their insight and work and some of her own ideas resonated as well.

This is not an in-depth book about every "disorder," nor is it a psychiatric how-to manual for living, but I did find it to be an enjoyable, uplifting read that helped me to feel seen, understood and less alone as an entrepreneur with a recent diagnosis and as a person with an unconventional vision for a healthier world. I also came away with a long list of resources, books and ideas to pursue next in my own research.

There are a few (6) minor profanities scattered throughout, which may be off-putting to some readers, and she does use the outdated term "Asperger's" in the book (Asperger's is a diagnostic term that was removed from the DSM-V in 2013 and has some problematic ties). The book might not resonate with some people who are more severely disabled by their diagnosis(es) or with people whose life experience is drastically different from the author's.