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Untypical

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

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Untypical

By: Pete Wharmby
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Summary

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
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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’ve known my whole life I was different. I fit perfectly into the mummy ago has kids with special needs box and found out I’m ADHD and Autistic a few years ago. I found this book a fantastically written and read summary of all the problems I’ve faced in the world. I’m roughly the same age as the author and grew up in the same areas so it was particularly poignant.

I found it very emotional as it was as if the author had just read my life back to me. I’ve struggled with all the same things and it brought back a lot of memories. It has helped me accept my autism though and for that I’m grateful. Also someone else hears electricity!! 😁

The world is definitely changing and hopefully books like this will help change the general publics perception, bring in acceptance and allowances for autism (and hopefully ADHD too). It has already had a great effect on my family who have read it. Including my cousin who is quite senior at one of ‘The Big 5’ (accounting firms) and she’s implementing neurodiversity changes as a result of finding out her husband is autistic and reading this.
Thank you!!

Outstanding

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I loved hearing Pete tell his story in his own words. Really accessible advice and information for parents, teachers, employers and colleagues.

Engaging and informative

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Having learned I'm autistic just in the last few years in my early 40s, I related to pretty much everything in this book. I would love people in positions of authority to read this, to recognise why people might be struggling with the conventional way of doing things

Brilliant

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Wharmby covers many aspects of what the Autistic community keeps telling the world. I hope more now listen, we all need to listen as his conclusion reminds us. Well worth everyone’s time

Accurate, well constructed and paced

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I am a very late self-diagnosed autistic. I found this to be the most accurate expression of what I have gone through, what I suffer with daily, and cathartically validating. Thank you for writing this. I will be sharing it with everyone I encounter going got. I highly recommend this to any allistic person who wants a real insight into the autistic experience, and a handbook for practicing and understanding real inclusivity.

The most realistic and validating expression of the autistic experience

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