Books by Neurodivergent Authors

This rom-com stars a protagonist with Asperger’s, which is a rarity in the genre. Notably, the author discusses her own 2016 diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder in her author biography — and her follow-up standalone book The Bride Test features an autistic love interest, partially based on her parents’ relationship.

In this collection of essays, author Esmé Weijun Wang discusses schizophrenia from two interlocking angles: a journalistic exploration of the medical community’s approach to the disease, and her own experience being diagnosed with and living with schizophrenia.

This semi-autobiographical novel is an American classic, but it’s also an incredible portrayal of depression and the path to suicidal ideation. Sylvia Plath has an uncanny ability to bring the reader into her experiences with the disorder and to make it understandable for everyone.

Humor writer Jenny Lawson’s bestselling memoir examines her experience with severe depression, detailing how she learned to embrace the disorder and thrive. Equal parts poignant and hilarious, this book is a true treasure.

This YA novel follows the character Aza Holmes as she navigates high school, a first romance, and the search for a fugitive billionaire — all while struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The book was inspired by author John Green’s own lifelong struggles with anxiety and OCD.

The first essay collection written by people of color with autism, the book explores the intersections of autism and race, painting a portrait of the way that these identities intersect — and the ways in which this intersectionality has been largely ignored in mainstream discussions of both race and autism.

In this funny and informative memoir, Emily Colas describes her experiences with OCD and motherhood, and her journey to finally seek treatment after years of living with the disorder. More than 20 years since it first published, this book holds up as a hilarious and affecting portrait of American motherhood.

In this contemporary classic, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison lays out her thoughts on manic-depression — both as a medical authority on the disease, and also as someone who has lived with it throughout her life.

Scott Stossel is the editor of The Atlantic, and a contributor for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Drawing on his own experiences with anxiety, he discusses his story, as well as the efforts by the medical, scientific, and philosophical community to understand anxiety.