Untypical cover art

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
Narrated by: Pete Wharmby
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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 (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Mental Health People with Disabilities Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Inspiring Thought-Provoking Autism

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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  
This book helped me understand my daughter- aged 33. I wish this book had been written 30 years ago.

Now a real conversation can begin between me and my daughter.



It helped me

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Incredible and validating to hear so much of my life on a page as a late-diagnosed autistic person.

Validating

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I would (and regularly do!) recommend this book to absolutely everyone, autistic or otherwise, to get the most realistic, accurate and heartfelt account of autistic life ever put into words. I'm also an autistic/ADHD teacher, and to hear specific and relatable anecdotes of personal and professional experiences just felt so affirming and permission-giving. I wish everyone could understand this, so read the book!

Can I give it more stars please?

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As an late diagnosed autistic person this for me is the most useful text I have ever read in my entire life. Thank you Pete for sharing your experince, thoughts and hopes. Your book has shone a light on my lifetime of suffering in a neurotypical world which gives me hope for my future and for those I share it with. 🙏

Enlightening and simple truth

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Brings a lot of relatable aspects together for the reader. Encapsulates everything very well. Great to have as many perspectives as we can put there.

Thanks for a good toned book

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A must read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Really does explain everything from a Neurodivergent perspective .A MUST READ 👍

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Loved this helpful, approachable book, and very grateful it has been written. It’s very brave, but has helped our neurosparkly family so much already. Thank you, Pete.

Spot on

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I’d followed Pete on Twitter for some time and always found his insights about autism fascinating. Listening to his book has been a real treat - hours of his easy to understand and relate to descriptions and analogies of the differences between the neurotypical and autistic worlds. My dogs are enjoying being walked miles so that I can listen for longer! It would be wonderful if every senco/teacher could listen to or read this. I will be buying a hard copy to refer to and help spread the word. Thank you for writing this excellent book!

Just brilliant

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Very well written and read. Seems to chime with my neurodivergent family and much here for neurotypicals to reflect on.

Autistic adults need to be heard.

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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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