A friend of mine recently asked if maybe, I had ADHD, considering that, as for many conditions, women and men are often having different ways to cope and therefore women being less identified. Out of curiosity, I picked a few books to understand a bit more what ADHD means, and whether I could identify to this.

On the one hand, I really liked the approach of the author saying that we are all more or less on the spectrum for ADHD, with some aspects of our behaviour being more or less under what is called ADHD.

On the other hand, he kind of started losing me, when he started describing ADHD as one of the most important qualities imaginable, making people having it more courageous, better focused on what really matters, and so on. The fact that the author speaks of a superpower in the title was a hint, but to me it felt like too much at some point, not so much highlighting the positive, than making it all about it.

Still it was an interesting read, thank you to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read it.

Dr. Anders Hansen’s Unlocking the ADHD Advantage offers a refreshing, empowering perspective on ADHD, framing its challenges as potential strengths. With scientific insights and practical strategies, Hansen highlights how traits like impulsivity, restlessness, and hyperfocus once served an evolutionary purpose and can still be harnessed effectively in today’s world. The blend of historical context, actionable advice, and inspiring personal stories makes this book an engaging read for anyone affected by ADHD. While some parts may feel basic for readers already familiar with ADHD, Hansen’s positive, holistic approach brings valuable encouragement and a unique outlook.

Really interesting points and ideas to follow, especially as someone recently diagnosed with ADHD, thank you

I found this very well researched and helpful for learning techniques on how to manage and thrive with ADHD. It was thorough and well-written.

A new, positive take on ADHD, the interspersion of personal stories and practical tips were informative and helped in rewiring my thinking that this learning disability IS a disability and instead, it is in fact, a super power that I can harness to achieve my goals. Sometimes veered into the overly positive, self-helpy vibes that I can get from a well-being book, but nonetheless, I still enjoyed the read.

G e f ä l l t m i r s e h r. A d h s ist keine Krankheit sondern ein Segen. Positives über Adhs in einem Buch zusammengefasst.

"Unlocking the ADHD Advantage" gives a refreshing take on ADHD, showing it as a unique way of thinking that can boost creativity and success, rather than just a disorder. The book mixes personal stories with practical tips, highlighting the strengths of ADHD traits. As someone with ADHD, I found it empowering because it focuses on turning what might seem like weaknesses into strengths. This book helped me see the positive side of ADHD and appreciate it more.

Unlocking the ADHD Advantage" by Dr. Anders Hansen offers a fresh and positive look at ADHD, turning what are often seen as difficulties into potential strengths. Dr. Hansen, a top psychiatrist, explains how traits like impulsiveness and trouble focusing might have been helpful for our ancestors. The book is full of practical tips and real-life stories, showing how you can use these traits to lead a more productive and satisfying life. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an encouraging view of ADHD. Thank you for NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Unlocking the ADHD Advantage" offers a fresh view on ADHD, setting it up not as a disorder but as a unique way of thinking that can be harnessed for creativity and success. Combining personal experiences with practical advice, we're able to see the potential in traits often seen as things holding us back. As a sufferer of ADHD this was an empowering read, emphasizing strengths and providing strategies to turn what I view as weaknesses into benefits. This book is a helped me embrace the positive aspects of ADHD.

This was a very interesting and a very informative book to read. I always think it is fascinating to read about different kind of mental conditions, and how our brains work, especially how other brains work, that have their opwn special way. So this was a verys nice book about ADHD.

‘Unlocking the ADHD Advantage’ by Anders Hansen aims to reframe the challenges associated with ADHD as unique strengths. The book emphasises how the traits of an ADHD brain, often seen as limitations, can actually be harnessed as superpowers in the right context. Hansen's approach is both encouraging and enlightening, offering readers a fresh perspective on what it means to live with ADHD.

Accuracy: ★★★★☆
Hansen provides a well-researched exploration of ADHD, combining scientific studies with real-life examples to back up his claims. The book does a good job of accurately portraying the complexities of ADHD, highlighting both the challenges and the potential advantages. However, while the science is solid, some readers might find the optimism a bit overstated, as not every ADHD trait will translate into a superpower for every individual.

Perspective: ★★★★☆
The perspective offered by Hansen is refreshing and empowering. By focusing on the strengths that can come with ADHD, the book helps to reduce the stigma often associated with the condition. However, it is important to note that the book may not fully address the difficulties that many individuals with ADHD face daily. While the positive outlook is motivating, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those who struggle significantly with the more challenging aspects of ADHD.

Relevance: ★★★★☆
The book is highly relevant to today's conversations about neurodiversity and mental health. As more people seek to understand and embrace different ways of thinking, Hansen's work contributes valuable insights into how ADHD can be viewed not as a disorder, but as a different way of functioning that has its own unique benefits. The book's relevance extends beyond those with ADHD, offering valuable lessons for anyone interested in personal development and the power of neurodiversity.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆
While the content is compelling, the book's engagement level may vary depending on the reader. For those with ADHD or a deep interest in the subject, the positive framing and practical advice can be highly engaging. However, the tone can sometimes feel repetitive, and the relentless focus on the positive might not hold the attention of readers who are looking for a more balanced or nuanced discussion. The book does its best to be inspiring, but it might not be as engaging for those who are currently struggling with the more difficult aspects of ADHD.

Readability: ★★★★☆
Hansen's writing is clear, accessible, and well-organized, making the book easy to read and understand. The author does a good job of breaking down complex ideas into digestible pieces, ensuring that readers can follow along without getting lost in technical jargon. The book's structure allows readers to easily dip in and out, making it suitable for those who may find it difficult to maintain focus for long periods—an important consideration given the target audience.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
The enjoyment of this book will likely depend on the reader's personal experience with ADHD. Those who resonate with Hansen's message may find the book uplifting and empowering, while others may feel that it oversimplifies or glosses over the more challenging aspects of the condition. The book's optimistic tone is refreshing, but it may not fully address the frustrations and struggles that many people with ADHD experience. As a result, while the book is enjoyable for some, it may not hit the mark for everyone.


‘Unlocking the ADHD Advantage’ by Anders Hansen offers an inspiring and positive perspective on living with ADHD, reframing it as a unique superpower rather than a disorder. The book is well-researched, accessible, and relevant to current discussions on neurodiversity. While its optimistic tone is encouraging, it may not fully resonate with those who face significant challenges due to ADHD. Overall, it's a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding ADHD from a strengths-based perspective, but readers should approach it with an awareness of its limitations.

This was okay. But I think I had more issues with it than not. And I kind of feel like bullet pointing them:
-The format didn't work for me. Ironically it wasn't ADHD friendly in my opinion. Lots of long paragraphs and history that buries the lede.
-While some of this information could be deemed helpful, at this point there is so much info out there about ADHD and I don't think this brought anything new to the table. This information has been more than covered in other books, websites, Reddit, Instagram, tiktok, etc.
-This felt a little repetitive. Like how many times did I need to read that ADHD was a strength for hunters however many thousands of years ago.
-In that same vein, while the book acts like it's gender neutral, it really seemed to be written for men. The aforementioned hunter references for example, encouraging pursuing a career as an entrepreneur, etc. Not really relatable or realistic for women, on average.
-Weirdly anti medicine.
-And insists that exercise can solve all problems. I mean I think exercise is great, but my nephew exercising for four minutes a day is not going to solve his ADHD.

Anyway, I feel like the recent ADHD books that I've read haven't offered anything new for me. I have such a strong desire to read more about ADHD, but it needs to be eye opening or revolutionary. Not a rehashing of topics covered elsewhere.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

As an individual with ADHD I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this book. It was very eye opening and made me feel less alone in the constant struggles. Great tips and tricks, and even how to use it to my advantage. Appreciated this read!

This book is tailored towards those with a passing understanding of ADHD (though most readers motivated to pick a book such a this one likely already know a whole lot more thanks to the flood of ADHD reporting in recent years).

That being said, it is written in an accessible manner and contextualises ADHD traits as making sense for most of our human evolution. My biggest takeaway was the fact that ADHD also exists on a spectrum, with degrees of the "traits" affecting different people in different ways. The book makes a great case for why ADHDers are good creative brainstormers, well suited for entrepreneurship and benefit a whole lot from exercise (especially early in the day). None of these assertions are groundbreaking but I appreciated that the author provides a medico/scientific explanation for each "super power". My only complaint is that every time the author draws his way to a conclusion, it is immediately followed by aa disclaimer ("this gene is closely linked to entreprenuerial tendencies, however it doesn't mean having this gene makes you an entrepreneur" .... ad nauseam)

This review was provided thanks to an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

Overall, this isn't a bad book. Unfortunately, it's mainly the history and actual science behind ADHD, which is interesting, but not what the title necessarily implies.

Hansen goes into great detail about many facets of ADHD, both neurological and behavioral, and has great facts and case studies. At the end of each chapter he has a sort of summary that recaps the facts presented as the 'ADHD Advantage,' and provides 'tips' for adjusting behavior. These tips aren't anything new, and read as a checklist of things Buzzfeed has written about so many times already--take more breaks, exercise more, try not to multitask.

I don't suggest this to anyone seeking true 'tips' to utilizing their ADHD, but it was interesting from the scientific perspective. I highlighted some things to research more later or share with others. I feel some sections near the beginning could have been shortened, and the back half could have been expanded.

"Unlocking the ADHD Advantage" by Dr. Anders Hansen helps you embrace your ADHD traits for a happier and more productive life. Dr. Hansen explains how traits like restlessness and impatience, which were once evolutionary advantages, can be harnessed today to enhance focus, manage impulsivity, and boost creativity. With practical strategies and inspiring stories, this book shows how to turn ADHD challenges into powerful tools for success.