10 Best ADHD Books in 2024

Studies show that ADHD symptoms in children persist into adulthood 60% of the time [*]. Because of its global prevalence, parents must equip themselves with the appropriate tools for raising a happy and healthy child.

ADHD can be overwhelming for both parents and children. Thankfully, there are solutions. This guide highlights the ten best ADHD books for parents, kids, and teenagers in 2024.

10 Best ADHD Books in 2024

There are so many ADHD books on the market that it can be challenging to narrow your selection. The good news is that we’ve done it for you! Here are the ten best ADHD books to read in 2024.

1. What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew by Dr. Sharon Saline and Dr. Laura Markham

In this book, Author Dr. Sharon Saline shares proven strategies for parents of children aged six to 18. She uses her 25 years of counseling knowledge to impart guidance for improving experiences in school and at home.

The book focuses on the neurological aspect of ADHD while keeping things readable and empathetic. It also features exercises parents can try with their children.

$14.76 on Amazon, $18.00 on Barnes and Noble

2. Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents by Russell A. Barkley

With over 475,000 copies in print, this book is among the leading parent resources in raising and nurturing children with ADHD. It features the latest information on the disorder, including health risks, facts on modern medication, and discussions on interpersonal relationships.

Overall, the book helps parents understand why children with ADHD act the way they do and how to get an accurate diagnosis and find the appropriate support.

$15.99 on Amazon, $21.95 on Barnes and Noble

3. Smart But Scattered Teens by Richard Guare, PhD, Peg Dawson, EdD, and Colin Guare

Parenting a teen with ADHD is different from parenting a child with ADHD. It poses unique challenges and may require a different approach. This book highlights science-based programs for parents to help their children develop executive skills and become more self-reliant.

The book also features worksheets and exercises for parents to address their child’s needs.

$13.99 on Amazon, $15.95 on Barnes and Noble

4. 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD by Cindy Goldrich MEd

If you’re looking for practical, sensible, and optimistic advice, this book is for you. It combines expert information with practical advice parents can use to improve communication, enhance cooperation, and nurture strengths according to eight fundamental concepts.

The book is based on author Cindy Goldrich’s seven-session Calm and Connected: Parenting Kids with ADHD workshop.

$16.47 on Amazon, $19.95 on Barnes and Noble

5. Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child by Edward M. Hallowell and Peter S. Jensen

ADHD and ADD may have different names, but they are the same disorder. The difference lies in how the symptoms manifest.

This optimistic book on ADD focuses on nurturing children’s strengths and reconstructing negatives into positives. It helps parents turn negative traits like stubbornness into healthy persistence, impulsiveness into creativity, and intrusiveness into eagerness.

$14.54 on Amazon, $17.00 on Barnes and Noble

6. Raising Boys with ADHD: Secrets for Parenting Healthy, Happy Sons by Mary Anne Richey and James W. Forgan

Unlike most ADHD books, this guide covers preschool years and early diagnosis for young boys with the disorder. It also discusses the struggles and opportunities for teen boys transitioning into college and work.

In addition, Raising Boys with ADHD looks closer at the social implications of the disorder. It discusses how to manage boys who tend to become aggressive, intense, emotional, and disruptive due to an ADHD diagnosis [*] and what you can do to improve their ADHD social skills.

$13.95 on Amazon, $14.95 on Barnes and Noble

7. Mindful Parenting for ADHD: A Guide to Cultivating Calm, Reducing Stress, and Helping Children Thrive by Mark Bertin, MD, and Ari Tuckman, PsyD

Mindfulness is a tried and tested therapeutic tool for children, teens, and adults experiencing difficulties. This book takes that core concept and bases its advice on proven effective mindfulness techniques for children with ADHD.

This concise and accurate guide imparts tips on behavior management and other science-based mindfulness tools that can be applied in everyday life.

$18.72 on Amazon, $24.95 on Barnes and Noble

8. Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories by Kay Marner, Adrienne Ehlert Bashista, and Edward Hallowell

This book is not like other self-help literature. Instead of focusing on practical tips, it features personal essays from parents and caregivers of children with ADHD. Each essay is raw and honest, discussing lessons learned and extraordinary experiences.

You’ll read about topics like getting your child diagnosed, observing your child’s social interactions, experiences with therapies and medical treatments, and the impact on marriage and relationships with others.

$16.90 on Amazon, $8.99 on Barnes and Noble

9. The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond by Donna Goldberg

While not explicitly about ADHD, this step-by-step guide takes parents and caretakers through methods for creating systems that work for every unique family. The book features assessments parents can facilitate to learn more about their child’s learning styles and study habits, guidelines for keeping daily responsibilities manageable, and tips for children with learning disabilities.

$9.30 on Amazon, $16.99 on Barnes and Noble

10. Boy Without Instructions: Surviving the Learning Curve of Parenting a Child with ADHD by Penny Williams

Boy Without Instructions is author Penny Williams’ personal experience with parenting a child with ADHD. Her recounting is genuine, gritty, harrowing, and refreshing, discussing her transition from grief to confidence. It’s a gripping and empathetic book all parents of children with ADHD can relate to.

$14.07 on Amazon, $6.99 on Barnes and Noble

The Bottom Line

Managing ADHD in children can be just as overwhelming for a parent or caregiver as it is for a child. However, raising a healthy and motivated child doesn’t have to feel impossible with the right resources.

We hope our list of the ten best ADHD books will help you feel more equipped and ready to face the challenges of this diagnosis. For additional resources, check out our printable ADHD handouts, which provide psychoeducation and coping skills to help kids and teens manage ADHD symptoms.

Sources:

1. Targum SD, Adler LA. “Our current understanding of adult ADHD.” Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 2014.
2. Amori Yee Mikami, Smit S, Adri Khalis. “Social Skills Training and ADHD—What Works?“ Current psychiatry reports/Current psychiatry reports, 2017.