Quick and Actionable
I’ve been following Jesse’s podcast (mostly through YouTube “ADHD Nerds”) for a while now.
I love this book- there are so many books I start but never finish, or buy and never crack open. Not this!
He has a gentle, friendly cadence and each chapter has a handy summary.
I can’t afford his Substack right now but I thought this would be a small way to support all of his work.
At first glance I thought this was too short but flipping through it I realized that this would be the perfect resource for those who have just been diagnosed. It’s also good for those who live or work with someone who has ADHD.
His section about living with emotional intensity is so spot on 😅
I will be forever grateful to him for recommending Dani Donovan’s Antiplanner on his YouTube channel- that gargantuan, (and-at-times-somewhat-overwhelming-but worth-it), thing has continued to help me as well 😂
The ADHD creator space is vast and forever unfolding but Jesse is worth your time!
Something here for everyone
The first time I talked to Jesse was when he came on the Focused podcast as a guest, and some of the things he was describing resonated so much with me that I sought out my own ADHD diagnosis. While I don't believe I quite fit the criteria for someone to be officially diagnosed with ADHD, I've found some of the advice that Jesse shares to be spot-on and incredibly helpful. I particularly like his description of a "Smile File" and have started building my own.
Even though I don't have ADHD, I really like this book! Jesse's writing style is very approachable, and the tactics he shares can benefit anyone. It's an easy and enjoyable read, and if you are a productivity nut like I am, you should pick this one up - regardless of whether you struggle with an official ADHD diagnosis.
I’ve quietly coped w/ ADHD my whole life, but because I was high functioning until my pregnancy I didn’t say much about it. But my struggle with symptoms spiked during post partum, and @adhdjesse’s newsletter helped me find a community and support. He’s got a new book out!
If…
Don't know that a book has ever made me feel so seen before. If you have – or think you have – ADHD, I cant recommend this book enough.
Only a lil' way into it and I can already tell it's going to have a positive impact on my life. Thanks, @adhdjesse
Simple actionable strategies for focus and motivation
It has been a pleasure to read this well-edited and formatted book. The style is clear, concise, personable, and interspersed with some wonderful illustrations. I read this book in order to understand the mindset of some people close to me, and to learn more about how they thought, to help avoid conflict between us, and for myself to be more cooperative, considerate, and compassionate towards them. I found this book was helpful in that respect. I imagine for many people it will be a revelation, and will help them understand themselves. There is quite a lively community on substack as well, connected to this book. I think it is more than a book, and actually a comprehensive support network, if you want that.
Sums up my ADHD life and helps me get through it!
I can relate to so much in the book which is great as it provides helpful things to do and strategies that I'm definitely going to use! I've even made reminders for them just so I don't forget about them.
Gentle realizations and global affirmations!
I was laughing at and through relatability!
I had gentle realizations and global affirmations throughout.
It was so affirming to know that the systems that I already have in place are what's recommended to help me. And now I have a whole bunch more ideas to consider and implement.
I also really appreciated that this wasn't directed at children or people with children.
-she/her diagnosed at 41
Probably the best introductory book on how to manage your ADHD better
There’s a lot of excellent book on ADHD, A LOT.
Yet, if you have ADHD, you also know that finishing a book is not necessarily a small feat.
This will not be a problem here.
Straight, to the point,packed full of actionable, simple, and more often than not, FUN strategies, this book is an absolute blast.
As an ADHD coach, this will now be one of the first reads I will advise to my clients, especially those who have a hard time with books ❤️
10/10
I loved this book! Ive spent years compiling various "tips and tricks" to hack my adhd, and this book has everything in one place, and then some! Highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn how to best help their adhd brain. cant recommend enough!
Excellent for ADHD+Gifted (2e)
I am a long time follower of Jesse Anderson's short form content and was eager to see his thoughts expanded in this book. Coming from the view of a therapist working with gifted kiddos and their families, this book is relevant, topical, useful and relatable. I recommend this for 2e teens and their parents.
Incredible Book!
Jesse gives a lot of great information and advice while keeping the book easy to read. As I read, I learned so much about myself and my journey with ADHD and learned useful techniques to navigate life. It’s also a great book for friends and family of people with ADHD to read. He’s able to explain our brains in a way the can help others understand how work.
Quick read with lots of actionable advice
I really enjoyed this book as someone who suspects they have ADHD and is just getting started on the journey. There were lots of aha moments for me, but more importantly I felt like there are things I can take away to try to manage better like the visual timer or associating a number for things I need to bring with me when I leave (ie, 1. Phone, 2. Wallet, 3. keys). I'll definitely refer back to this frequently as I'm sure I've already forgotten some of the great strategies, but Jesse has got us covered with the great summaries at the ends of the chapters.
I am so excited for Jesse J. Anderson and his new book “Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD.”
If you or an adult in your life have ADHD, check this out! It’s packed with helpful info and tactical tips (and cute illustrations - cheers to you, Nate Kadlac)
Jona Markova
Even though this book delves into a topic usually filled with medical jargon, it's written in plain and easy-to-understand language. It strikes a nice balance between explaining the ideas and giving you practical tips you can try in your daily life.
I found this book super helpful for getting motivated and figuring out how to start things, which can often be the toughest part.
I definitely recommend it if you've ever felt like all those productivity and efficiency strategies people talk about just don't work for you.
This book has the power to change your life. I highly recommend it!
Michael Pichan
Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson is a phenomenal book that everyone should read, especially parents, teachers, managers, leaders, etc. whether you have ADHD or not.
Besides the many written and illustrated eye-opening life examples, Extra Focus provides many simple and actionable tips and strategies that have already made life a little less perplexing.
Tushar Joshi
Extra Focus - the first book anyone should read to know about ADHD in 2023
ADHD is an evolving concept that has changed scientists' understanding for many years. For a new reader, weeding out older ideas and figuring out the latest information about this subject becomes a daunting task when there are so many books and materials available written over many years.
Jesse's book Extra Focus brings forward the latest understanding and crisp points about ADHD in a concise way.
I will recommend anyone who wants to know more about ADHD in 2023 to read the book Extra Focus first to get an initial idea about the recent trends in the understanding and myths related to the name of the condition.
Understanding that others are going through the same confusion and guilt about this condition provides a huge relief. Jesse's story helps the reader connect with the book and relate many ideas from their experiences.
I liked the highlights that explain why many current self-help books and methods that work for neurotypical people may not work for neurodivergent brains and the suggestions he offers to overcome those limitations.
There are action plans and strategies worth reading, many of which can help the reader improve their management of the condition. The strategies section is valuable and leads to absolute happiness while reading. Strategy summaries provide help to reinforce the concepts.
With the initial start obtained from this book, the reader can venture into the world of ADHD to learn more from the scientific books and research with proper direction. This book is a valuable addition to the journey of understanding ADHD.
Just finished @adhdjesse 's new book on adult ADHD in one sitting.
I had high hopes for it, since the writing in his newsletter is always excellent.
And he exceeded my expectations! Big recommend!
Concise, Conversational Insights into the ADHD Mind
I'm a fan of the author's quick tweets about ADHD. So often I feel deeply seen by those tidbits of text. The expansion of his work into book form is even more insightful. He writes concisely and conversationally about what it's like to have an ADHD mind and offers many helpful ideas for how to work with your brain's quirks. I will definitely keep this book on hand to remind me of creative ways to approach my brain. I plan on loaning it to a few key friends & relatives too. It's also easy to read.
The Book I REALLY Needed
I’ve been following Jesse’s newsletter on ADHD for about a year now, so I wasn’t sure how much new information could be offered in this book.
But the entire thing is FILLED to the brim with new, helpful information. I appreciate how this man speaks so succinctly and personally. I never feel like I’m reading from some Life Coach who has it all figured out and wants to patronize his audience. Reading Jesse’s work feels like sitting down with a neurodivergent friend who Gets It.
The chapters are super short (LOVE THAT!) and give readers actionable steps to take towards improving their life with ADHD. I also appreciate that Jesse doesn’t sugarcoat the condition, but he doesn’t demonize it either. It’s a straightforward collection of amazing tips that I don’t think I’d be able to find elsewhere, and I’ll be sharing it with my ADHD parents too (whether they get around to reading it is a different story!)
I wish this book existed years ago
I'm open about how I received an ADHD diagnosis as a child, and as a result, I've had quite a few friends and acquaintances who have received an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, or suspect they have ADHD, ask me what books they should read about ADHD. And I haven't really had anything to recommend to them, as so many books on ADHD are written from a parent's perspective about children with ADHD.
Not this one.
If you're an adult who has recently received an ADHD diagnosis, or think you might have ADHD, this a practical, empathetic guide to understanding your brain and working *with* it.
For so many of us, our ADHD brains feel like something we fight against. This book's perspective is that if you understand why your brain does what it does, you can design systems and processes to help you succeed.
One of my favorite parts about this book is how you can tell the author thought about the reading experience for someone with ADHD. It's skimming-friendly but also well-sourced enough that someone who wants to go on a hyperfocus marathon can find plenty of sources to dig deeper on a particular topic. You don't need to read it from cover to cover, and jump in to sections based on what interests you or what you're working through at the moment. There is a good balance of personal anecdotes and scientific studies.
I wish this book had existed years ago. Whenever someone comes to me now about their adult ADHD, I know exactly where to send them.
One of the best ADHD books I've read
I really, really wish I had this book when I was diagnosed two years ago. All of Jesse's research is up-to-date but refreshingly accessible without being overwhelming. I love how the book is sectioned off to be a future resource as well something that has a throughline.
I've read many, many other books on ADHD but there's really nothing like this out there. Jesse's honest and practical writing sound as down-to-earth as his weekly newsletters while being backed by research. This book has less to do with the neuroscience of ADHD and is more a very pragmatic guide of living with and managing ADHD.
Helpful and affirming!
As an adult, I've come to realize that I probably have ADHD, although I have never sought an official diagnosis. I've just worked through strategies over the years to help myself function reasonably well in a busy world, but I've struggled and don't have much family support in this area.
As I read this book, I found myself nodding in agreement frequently. Honestly, I laughed and I cried as I read through some of the sections, and it was so affirming to read that I am not alone in the struggles and attempts to find focus in life.
The early sections of the book led me to interesting discussions with my own children, which helped me to see that some of them have similar struggles. I have focused so much on my own difficulties that I didn't really notice theirs, but thankfully now we can work together!
While the section on Unraveling the ADHD Mind helped me to better understand what's going on in my brain, I found the suggested strategies to be the most helpful part of the book. There are several that I hadn't considered before that I am going to try.
In addition, it's a pretty quick read so it kept my attention even though I'm constantly surrounded by distractions!
I highly recommend this book to any adult who suspects they may have ADHD and to those who have an official diagnosis. Thank you to the author for tackling this topic in such a relatable way!
My new go-to for managing ADHD
I've subscribed to Jesse's email newsletter for quite some time now, so was thrilled when I found out he had a book on the horizon. While it's a quick and easy read, it's one I see myself coming back to often. There are tons of useful tools and tricks to help manage ADHD. I strongly encourage both those with ADHD as well as those who have neurodivergent individuals in their lives to pick up a copy.
The most helpful book on adult ADHD I've read!
Having just been diagnosed last year (at age 41) with ADHD, it's been like drinking from a fire hose trying to absorb all the resources and books I can find. Jesse's perspective (both on Twitter and in his email newsletter) has risen to the top of the voices I look to most, making his book a must-read. And it did not disappoint. It was both easily digestible (I read it in one sitting!), but most importantly, it was incredibly practical. Jesse provides so many tools and ideas for navigating the various challenges ADHD can present - almost all of them easy to implement immediately. I can't recommend this book highly enough for any adult looking for tools to help leverage the strengths and overcome the challenges that come with ADHD.
Great book for ADHDers and productivity
Jesse Anderson is talented in his writing about neurodiversity and Extra Focus is a must-read for ADHDers. He shares some topics that he talks about already in his popular podcast and youtube channel, including my favorite focused on the 4C's (Captivate Create Compete Complete) -- a concept that squashes the neurotypical "Eat That Frog" productivity mentality. Throughout the book, Jesse interweaves concrete examples as solutions to challenges faced by ADHDers with cute pictures -- offering really good tips and an engaging voice that is accessible and captivating for neurodivergent communities. This is an easy read and one I recommend for ADHD folks and anyone interested in productivity.
The Book I Needed Years Ago...Especially Now!
When I first found out about ADHD, I finally understood what I was experiencing. I started looking around for ANYONE who was not a medical person to make sure I was not alone, and not all in my feelings. Through the pandemic, I found that I truly was not alone, that there was a name - neurodiversity - that I could use as well as ADHD, and now Jesse's book. As I read it, I knew that he knew that I knew that he knew (yes, it does make sense). I highly recommend it for anyone at any level who needs to know and deal with this brand new(er) world.
Fun and helpful
It's a quick and easy read that outlines the high level challenges associated with ADHD and tactical approaches to adulting. Get it for yourself or a friend!
Lisa Howe, MSW
Our whole family is loving @adhdjesse’s book. It’s helping me as a mom and spouse of ADHDers!
Tina Reed Milnes
I read this in a day (hyperfocus flex, ha) and think it might be the first book/article/etc that feels like it’s been authored by someone that actually has ADHD, not simply studied it. This book delivers much more than what seems to be the standard neurotypical’s insight on “here’s how to be productive” list, which is rarely applicable to someone with ADHD. I’ve been in treatment for ADHD for almost 20 years (even after a too-late-in-life diagnosis), so some of these cognitive behavioral strategies I’ve been already been utilizing but I encourage anyone considering this read to not allow chance redundancy to be what holds you back from picking up.
And from just a personal side- from the very first chapter, I felt as if someone was reading my most internal thoughts or opening pages from a childhood diary. Sometimes it just feels nice to know how closely others relate without turning it into a big “woe is me” whine fest : )