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Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal

My Adventures in Neurodiversity

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Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal

By: Robin Ince
Narrated by: Robin Ince
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This audiobook is read with warmth, humility and humour by the author, Robin Ince, and includes an audio-exclusive Q&A between Robin and scientist and author Camilla Pang.

'Authentic, heartbreakingly wonderful and refreshingly grounded — this book captures the internal neurodivergent experience with rare grace and warmth' - Camilla Pang

'Tingles with the joy of being different. This book made me so happy' - Chris Packham, naturalist and author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar

A powerful, personal exploration of anxiety, ADHD and neurodiversity, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal reminds us all – no matter how weird we feel – that it’s okay to be a little different. We all are.


What if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn’t a sign of weakness, but strength?

For over thirty years, award-winning broadcaster and comedian Robin Ince has entertained thousands in person and on air. But underneath the surface, a whirlwind was at play – a struggle with sadness, concentration, self-doubt and near-constant anxiety. But then he discovered he had all the hallmarks of ADHD and his stumbling blocks became stepping stones.

In Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, Robin uses his own experiences to explore the neurodivergent experience and to ask what the point of 'being normal' really is. Packed with personal insights, intimate anecdotes and interviews with psychologists, neuroscientists and many neurodivergent people he has met along the way, this is a quirky and witty dive into the world of human behaviour.

'This is a comforting hug of a book. Insightful, warm, funny and compassionate, it will make readers, whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, feel less alone' - Laura Bates, bestselling author of Everyday Sexism

'Weirdness is inescapable, and no one does it better than Robin Ince. A superb book, celebrating the needed weirdness in us all' - Chris Hadfield, astronaut and five-time bestselling author

Attention Deficit Disorders Entertainment & Celebrities Health, Lifestyle & Relationships Mental Health Neurodiversity Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Funny Witty Inspiring Feel-Good Heartfelt Health
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Critic reviews

You need Robin Ince in your life (Natalie Haynes, bestselling author of A Thousand Ships)
Weirdness is inescapable, and no one does it better than Robin Ince. A superb book, celebrating the needed weirdness in us all (Chris Hadfield, astronaut and five-time bestselling author)
This is a comforting hug of a book. Insightful, warm, funny and compassionate, it will make readers, whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, feel less alone (Laura Bates, bestselling author of Everyday Sexism)
Witty and wise, and [full of] powerfully personal insights on neurodiversity (Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library)
Authentic, heartbreakingly wonderful and refreshingly grounded – this book captures the internal neurodivergent experience with rare grace and warmth (Camilla Pang, author of Explaining Humans)
Tingles with the joy of being different. This book made me so happy (Chris Packham, naturalist and author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar)
Another curious and captivating book from the always-excellent Robin Ince (Robert Smith, The Cure)
Erudite and revealing (Stuart Murdoch, Belle and Sebastian)
One of the UK's most accomplished comedians (The Guardian)
This is a life-saving, brilliant book that will bring comfort and understanding to everyone who picks it up. Robin's fierce wit and intelligence combine to create a tender, timely and deeply necessary intervention in the conversation around neurodivergence. This is writing at its very best – I laughed, I cried, I felt profoundly moved, I felt less alone. I will tell everyone I know to read this book (Lucia Osborne-Crowley, author of The Lasting Harm)
All stars
Most relevant
Robin has always been a wizard of words and someone who shines a spotlight on science and humanity through his stand up, his books, his radio programmes and now poetry too. It came as no surprise that the fizzing mind that shoots off at twenty different and fascinating tangents in his life shows is one that is neurodivergent. However, until now we've only seen the brilliance and delight that his neurodivergence brings. A sense of wonder and a desire for knowledge and a need to share. That's wonderful for the audience but for fellow neurodivergent folks it can leave them feeling inadequate. He's successful and funny and confident and so he clearly doesn't have any struggles. But of course he does. Like so many people on the spectrum his superpowers also bring with them the anxiety and self doubt and meltdowns that are a staple of life for so many. This book is incredibly brave in how he honestly and openly explains the trauma, the self-loathing and the tantrums (for want of a better word) caused by his previously undiagnosed ADHD. It shines a light that will illuminate neurodiversity for those wanting to understand and may well provide comfort and a feeling of "Ohhhh it's not just me" for those on the spectrum. OF COURSE everyone on the spectrum is different but Robin talks not only of his own experience but interviews others and looks into some of the studies that have been done to give a range of opinions and experiences and some useful data. I would urge you to read this if you are neurotypical so you can understand friends, colleagues and loved ones better if they are on the spectrum. I would urge you to read this if you are on the spectrum and want a book that isn't all memoir or all science but is a useful window into the would of neurodiversity. If, however, you are not diagnosed but think you may be ADHD/autistic/anywhere on the spectrum and are wondering if you should seek a diagnosis and wondering whether it would help you - I beg you to read this book.

Compelling, informative and enlightening

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Having lived with mental health issues throughout most of my life and been given various diagnoses by professionals, none of which seemed to fit my actual experience, I have arrived at this remarkable book and suddenly, as the title states, my life makes sense! As a child I was always on the periphery, desperately trying to fit in with my peers but never quite getting there and if I did make friends I then spent my time literally hiding from them because I wanted to be by myself. I don’t think much changed as an adult! Life has been hard but I think I finally understand why events happened. I listened to this book and then immediately listened to it again. I never do that! I also bought the physical book and will be buying another to gift to my son. I genuinely can’t recommend this book highly enough. There are many authors and publishers who claim that their book will change your life, there is no such claim accompanying this book but believe me, it has changed mine.

And suddenly, life makes sense!

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A brilliant author and poet and a helpful, entertaining and informative look into neurodivergence. Read it, tell your friends and buy it for your dog.

Brilliant book for alll to read

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A fascinating non-linear book dealing with neurodiversity from the inside. Robin has been brave enough to open up about such personal and life-changing experiences, and at times I was left speechless by the openness. However, it isn't another celebrity-bares-all kind of ghost-written memoir. It is read by Robin who obviously wrote every word, and I assume all the gags. It is uplifting and positive, and the final interview chapter was a fine way to finish an excellent book. If only a few of the cynical "they never had adhd when I was a lad/lass" people would read this, they might just change their minds.

Honest and brave - Robin at his best.

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What a lovely listen, I got a lot of this book and I’ve listened to a lot of Neurodivergent material. I would recommend this to anybody who themselves is neurodivergent but also friends and family who might not understand it.

Thanks Robin. Im really looking forward to meeting you in Okehampton soon.

Amazing

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