Creativity

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ASD and related, Netgalley, Psychology

“Creativity: The Human Brain in the Age of Innovation” is about creativity, one of the most cherished and mysterious manifestations of the human mind, and what it is in the human brain and its interaction with culture, that allows us to expand how we think about things, generate new knowledge, and to explore unchartered territories. Based on a growing body of scientific literature, Elkhonon Goldberg points to several brain structures and processes that are involved in the creative process: the frontal lobes, the right and left hemispheres and their respective contributions, subcortical structures, various biochemical systems, and intricate neural network processes that work in concert for the creative act to happen. To that end, he discusses the brain mechanisms of deciding what is important and what is not; of confronting cognitive novelty; and the marshalling of previously acquired knowledge to generate new insights culminating in a creative product.
An active researcher neuroscientist and clinician neuropsychologist, who also has a keen interest in history, Elkhonon Goldberg offers an original, and arguably the first coherent account of how multiple brain mechanisms come together in order to culminate in the creative act. While a large body of scientific material is discussed, the book offers much more than a mere review. It presents a novel understanding of how the creative process takes place, and is full of original insights challenging current assumptions and theories.

Asperger’s On The Inside

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ASD and related, iTunes

Asperger’s on the Inside is an acutely honest and often highly entertaining memoir by Michelle Vines about life with Asperger’s Syndrome. The book follows Michelle in exploring her past and takes the reader with her on her journey to receiving and accepting her diagnosis.
Instead of rehashing widely available Asperger’s information, Michelle focuses on discussing the thoughts, feelings and ideas that go along with being an Aspie, giving us a rare peek into what it really feels like to be a person on the spectrum.
A must read for all those who enjoy deep personal stories or have a loved one on the spectrum that they wish to understand better.

Anxiety for Beginners

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ASD and related, mental heath, Netgalley

Anxiety for Beginners offers a vivid insight into the often crippling impact of anxiety disorders, a condition that is frequently invisible, shrouded in shame and misunderstood. It serves as a guide for those who live with anxiety disorders and those who live with them by proxy.
Combining her own experiences (rendered in emotive detail) with extensive research with experts (neuroscientists, psychiatrists, psychologists and fellow sufferers – including some familiar faces), Eleanor Morgan explores not just the roots of her own anxiety, but also investigates what might be contributing to so many of us suffering around the world.
Anxiety for Beginners is, at its heart, a book about acceptance, as Morgan discovers the ways in which people can live a life that is not just manageable but enjoyable, learning to accept anxiety as part of who we are rather than spending a life fighting and being ashamed of it.

Odd Girl Out

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ASD and related, Biography, Netgalley, Top Pick

What do you do when you wake up in your mid-forties and realize you’ve been living a lie your whole life? Do you tell? Or do you keep it to yourself?
Laura James found out that she was autistic as an adult, after she had forged a career for herself, married twice and raised four children. Odd Girl Out tracks the year of Laura’s life after she receives a definitive diagnosis from her doctor, as she learns that ‘different’ doesn’t need to mean ‘less’ and how there is a place for all of us, and it’s never too late to find it.
Laura draws on her professional and personal experiences and reflects on her life in the light of her diagnosis, which for her explains some of her differences; why, as a child, she felt happier spinning in circles than standing still and why she has always found it difficult to work in places with a lot of ambient noise.
Although this is a personal story, the book has a wider focus too, exploring reasons for the lower rate of diagnosed autism in women and a wide range of topics including eating disorders and autism, marriage and motherhood.
This memoir gives a timely account from a woman negotiating the autistic spectrum, from a poignant and personal perspective.

Anxiety Relief for Kids

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ASD and related, mental health, Netgalley

If you have a child with anxiety, you need quick, in-the-moment solutions you can easily use now to help your child face their fears and worries. Written by a psychologist and expert in childhood anxiety, this easy-to-use guide offers proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure skills you can use at home, in social settings, or anywhere anxiety takes hold.
Being a parent is tough work. And when your child has an anxiety disorder, the tough gets upgraded to downright hard. You love your child, and it hurts to see them afraid or constantly worried. But life needs to be lived, and schedules often need to be kept—especially if your child is in school! So, how can you manage your child’s anxiety during those trying moments when you just need to get from A to B without losing your sanity?
Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety provides quick solutions based in evidence-based CBT and exposure therapy—two of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders. You’ll find a background and explanation of the different types of anxiety disorders, in case you aren’t sure whether or not your child has one. You’ll also learn to identify your child’s avoidant and safety behaviors—the strategies your child uses to cope with their anxiety, such as repeatedly checking their homework or asking the same questions repeatedly—as well as anxiety triggers that set your child off.
With this book, you’ll find a wealth of information regarding your child’s specific anxiety disorder and how to respond to it. For example, if your child has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), the skills you use to help them are different than other anxiety disorders. No matter your child’s specific symptoms or diagnosis, you’ll discover tailored interventions you can use now to help your child thrive.
If your child has an anxiety disorder, simple, everyday activities can be a real challenge. The practical solutions in this book will help you deal with your child’s anxiety when it happens and restore balance and order to both your lives.

Everyday Mindfulness for OCD

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ASD and related, Netgalley

If you’ve been diagnosed with OCD, you already understand how your obsessive thoughts, compulsive behavior, and need for rituals can interfere with everyday life. Maybe you’ve already undergone therapy or are in the midst of working with a therapist. It’s important for you to know that life doesn’t end with an OCD diagnosis. In fact, it is possible to not only live with the disorder, but also live joyfully. This practical and accessible guide will show you how.
In Everyday Mindfulness for OCD, you will discover how you can stay one step ahead of your OCD. You’ll learn about the world of mindfulness, and how living in the present moment non-judgmentally is so important when you have OCD. You’ll also explore the concept of self-compassion; what it is, what it isn’t how to use it, and why people with OCD benefit from it. Finally, you’ll discover daily games, tips, and tricks for outsmarting your OCD, meditations and mindfulness exercises, and much, much more.
Living with OCD is challenging; but it doesn’t have to define you. If you are tired of focusing on how you are living with OCD is and are looking for fun ways to make the most of your unique self, this book will be a breath of fresh air.

Beyond ADHD

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ASD and related, Netgalley

Beyond ADHD weaves Emmerson’s personal story of his ADHD diagnosis, exploring along the way the latest medical, scientific and societal explanations and tools for managing and living with the condition. Including interviews with a number of experts at the forefront of next-generation ADHD diagnostics and treatment, he questions the cookie-cutter way ADHD is commonly diagnosed and treated. Suggesting that the list of symptoms often used to identify ADHD can be attributed to many other disorders and conditions, he explores how and why ADHD diagnoses have increased by 50% in the last ten years. 

Emmerson advocates a different approach to ADHD, arguing that it should be a diagnosis of exclusion rather than the other way around, and that we must look past the label, recognizing that individual symptoms vary and treatment plans should be better tailored to the individual. He examines mental and behavioral issues from all sides, including the possibility that nurturing – rather than trying to alter or suppress – the active, “360-degree” mind is a viable way for those diagnosed with ADHD to realize their gifts and lead purposeful lives.

Autism and Aspergers Syndrome in Adults

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ASD and related, Netgalley, Top Pick

Autism is still persistently viewed as a disorder or impairment, but this concept needs to be challenged. Written by a university lecturer with decades of experience in the field, this helpful book presents an up-to-date overview of autism and Asperger syndrome. Dr Luke Beardon examines aspects of adult life, including further and higher education, employment, dating and parenthood, and what they mean for autistic people. Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Adults is written for autistic children, teenagers and adults, their families and friends, and all professionals interested in autism.

Topics include:
· terminology and what’s preferred
· diagnosis and related issues
· tips for undiagnosed adults
· understanding the impact of autism on the individual
· sensory issues
· transition into adulthood
· friendships and intimate relationships
· the criminal justice system – what happens when autistic people break the law
In this sensitive and insightful book, Dr Luke Beardon tackles myths and stereotypes about autism, and clearly explains its implications in adulthood.

The Asperger Teenager’s ToolKit

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ASD and related, Netgalley, Top Pick

Dealing with the everyday realities facing teens with Asperger Syndrome, this book presents a toolkit of tried-and-trusted ideas to help them work through difficulties and find the solutions that work best for them.
This book covers everything they need to know to thrive in their adolescent years, including how to hack your own internal alarm system to overcome anxiety and other difficult emotions.
It also arms teenagers with everything they need to navigate sexuality and relationships, develop a healthy self-image, deal with bullies, be smart with money and stay savvy online… In short, no issue is left unexplored.
Fun and informative, this is a must-read for teens with high-functioning autism, and for those who want to understand what adolescence is like on the spectrum.

Developing Resiliance in young people with Autism using Social Stories

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ASD and related, Netgalley

Young people with autism can be particularly susceptible to setbacks, often leading to depression and a sense of hopelessness. Using Social Stories™, this book introduces a different way of looking at common life setbacks, and offer tools to overcome these obstacles, build resilience and develop coping strategies for the future.
Based on Carol Gray’s highly effective Social Stories™ model, this new guide shows how to help individuals with autism deal with challenges specific to them, and how to bounce back from the negative experiences that they encounter. This book is an invaluable guide for learning to create personalised Social Stories™ that can be used to develop resilience in people with autism and help them to cope better with adversity.