Untypical: How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it cover art

Untypical: How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it

How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Untypical: How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it

By: Pete Wharmby
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

It’s time to remake the world – the ground-breaking book on what steps we should all be taking for the autistic people in our lives.

The modern world is built for neurotypicals: needless noise, bright flashing lights, small talk, phone calls, unspoken assumptions and unwritten rules – it can be a nightmarish dystopia for the autistic population. In Untypical, Pete Wharmby lays bare the experience of being ‘different’, explaining with wit and warmth just how exhausting it is to fit in to a world not designed for you.

But this book is more than an explanation. After a late diagnosis and a lifetime of ‘masking’, Pete is the perfect interlocutor to explain how our two worlds can meet, and what we can do for the many autistic people in our schools, workplaces and lives. The result: a practical handbook for all of us to make the world a simpler, better place for autistic people to navigate, and a call to arms for anyone who believes in an inclusive society and wants to be part of the solution.

©2023 Pete Wharmby
Brain & Nervous System Children's Health Mental Health Neurodiversity People with Disabilities Physical Illness & Disease Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences Inspiring Thought-Provoking Autism Health

Listeners also enjoyed...

Looking After Your Autistic Self cover art
But You Don't Look Autistic at All cover art
Drama Queen cover art
Your Child is Not Broken cover art
Divergent Mind cover art
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults cover art
Spectrum Women cover art
The Action Hero Teacher cover art
I Will Die on This Hill cover art
Laziness Does Not Exist cover art
Our Autistic Lives cover art
Understanding Autism in Adults and Aging Adults: 2nd Edition cover art
How to Be Alone cover art
Different, Not Less cover art
The PDA Paradox cover art
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child cover art

Critic reviews

‘A wonderful, compassionate, important book, exploring the many faces of neurodivergence, and offering ways for everyone to make life kinder for those who are wired differently.’ – Joanne Harris

‘Pete eloquently and passionately explains the the challenges of having to navigate our round-hole world as a square peg and therefore is a comforting and validating read for anyone who is Untypical. Rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, whichever neuro-shape you are, this book can help us all to create a more inclusive society.’ – Dr Meg Arroll

‘A wonderful book about achieving better awareness and a more inclusive society for people on the autism spectrum.’ – Roger Clark

‘This brilliant, funny, important book shows how we can all make the world a bit better for everyone but especially our neurodiverse friends, loved ones and possibly ourselves.’ Sarah Hart

All stars
Most relevant
I saw so much of myself in his experience. His thoughts are well organised and include suggestions for how things could improve. Those regarding education would be beneficial for everyone.

Really interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is the best book I have read on the subject of autism. I find it so helpful that now I recommend it to everyone! The author somehow managed to explain very well, difficult concepts of how it feels to be autistic, what difficulties autistic people experience and what neurotypical people can do, to make a world equal for everyone. Big applause and thanks to the author👏👏👏.

Fantastic book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Really helpful in terms of understanding how we might make the world a more accessible place for neurodiverse people

Honesty of author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

…for educators, nhs staff, doctors, family, friends, employers, police, hairdressers, shop workers, bus drivers, airport staff and yes everyone!!!
Thanks to Pete Wharmby for an excellent book, I’m already looking forward to hearing it again!

A MUST READ…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I will listen to this again and again. Interesting, well explained and thought provoking. Thankyou!

Superb!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews