Attention Seeker: A Neurodivergent Comedian's Guide to Thriving with ADHD

by Darcy Michael

A hilarious and practical approach to living with adult ADHD, for you and those who love you

Living with ADHD can be an isolating and lonely endeavor. Managing even the most mundane daily activities can seem monumental. Getting diagnosed as an adult can help you to finally gain some understanding about how your brain processes, and be the first step on a journey of reflection of how you’ve lived your life and how to move forward. Darcy Michael tackles all of this from a place of full transparency, humility, and of course, humor.

As one of the top comedians to publicly discuss his journey with ADHD, Darcy uses his platform to help people find their way through the fog. Darcy uses poignant moments from his life to illustrate ways ADHD can manifest in your life— how it can impact your ability to nail a job interview, maintain friendships and even parent effectively. Each chapter offers tips and tricks for how to begin overcoming these obstacles…or the option to skip ahead to the next narrative. The chapters include practical exercises, quizzes, and guided practices to help you along your journey, along with “translations” from Jer, Darcy’s husband, in moments when it’s clear that a little more subtext is needed—just like in their social media content.

Darcy’s goal is to create something that those in the ADHD community (and their loved ones) can actually use. A book that isn’t filled with dense passages, that anyone, anywhere, can pick up, flip through, and learn something new. And crack up along the way.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Adhd, Memoir, Biography, Humor, LGBT

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Mikayla Marvannië · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this from Darcy, for anyone who follows him and his husband on tiktok, this is very on brand for Darcy, it's written in his voice and even has Jer's interjections, its not just about ADHD, but it also caters to people who are neurodiverse with the writing style. It's a frank, open and honest book about living with ADHD, about Darcy's life as well and helps you to notice the signs for it, whether in yourself or someone you know. If you're a fan of Darcy and Jer's online content you will love this.

[labibliofille · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO GOOD! I highly recommend the audiobook as it's narrated by Darcy himself, with some interjections from Jer. I laughed, I cried, I felt seen, and I had a great time.

[Jen Benda · Rating 4 out of 5]

**If you dont follow Darcy and Jer on social media this might not make sense. Yes, he discusses many aspects of ADHD, which are very informative but the jokes wont land.

If you follow Darcy and Jer, listen to this one, Darcy reads it with Jer making an appearance. The Laugh in French wouldn't be the same reading it.

I laughed, I gasped,I cried. Didnt know I needed Darcy telling me how to make lasagna, but I did

Fun, quick listen!
Darcy, I tolerate you

[Kevin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one and done. I couldn't put it down. One sitting read. Loved it! This ADHD dad has just recommended this book to their ADHD daughter. The family who reads together separately something, something, something...

Read this book. Be prepared to laugh and cry and laugh and cry. And... feel seen.

[Crystal Haggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't love memoirs ... until this one. Maybe it's because I already feel I knew him as a person and this book justRead. me on a dive into a deeper side. Also, he went in order of his life. No wondering what the current chapter "meant" it was just there, laid out for me.

Darcy made laugh, then cry, then laugh again.

[Kristin N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had high, expectations, and boy, did you exceed them.

Thank you for sharing these tips and your experiences. You have a way of telling your story in such a kind and relatable way.

From a fellow late-life diagnosed ADHD'er.

[Harley Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★: AN ADHD MUMU WITH LEGS (& A CHAOS BAG). I’ve read several ADHD books, and Attention Seeker still made me stop, laugh, and take notes—on both genuinely useful ADHD strategies and hilarious, sticky phrases. That alone puts it in rare company.

Darcy Michael writes with blunt honesty, warmth, and a comedian’s precision. He reminds me a little of a former manager of mine—also gay, also funny—but Darcy is noticeably more positive and self-accepting. His love for pets and plants, and the way he writes about his husband, is genuinely heartwarming without tipping into saccharine.

I didn’t personally relate to all of the gay sex humor or drug humor—but that didn’t matter. The core of the book lands hard (in a good way). His framing of ADHD felt lived-in, forgiving, and useful.

A standout moment was finally getting a name for something I’ve done instinctively for years: THE BODY DOUBLE—needing another person present (not helping, just existing nearby) to finish a task. My son has independently asked for this exact setup, also without knowing the term. That alone made the book feel validating across generations.

Darcy also articulates things I’ve arrived at through trial and error:
🎧 Using HEADPHONES IN PUBLIC as a survival strategy. 🏷️ Naming the problem plainly: “Auditory Processing Disorder can and will send you into a tailspin” (hello, new research rabbit hole)
🔥 Allow the burnout. It’s the body’s way of saying “now is the time to rest.” 🛏️
✅ ADHD’ers are bad at acknowledging completion, always running off to the next thing. Celebrate the wins; tell yourself “job well done.”

Then there’s the philosophy.

Darcy’s love letter to mumus as the ultimate comfort garment becomes a full-blown metaphor for neurodivergent life: personal comfort matters more than anyone else’s opinion. His “living in mumus” motto becomes a way to navigate daily life while accommodating neurodivergence—and calling this an “ADHD book that is a mumu with legs” is… honestly perfect.

Other Random Notes:
🧪 “I’m no scienteer” (strong Disney Imagineer energy)
❄️ “Frozen without the zen” (deeply relatable)
✈️ And three ADHD travel tips that are both absurd and painfully accurate:
■■■Bring a chaos bag. “This is sacred. Do not question the chaos bag.”
■■■Name your suitcase. “C’mon Linda!”
■■■Wear a fanny pack like a tactical ADHD utility belt

What I appreciated most is that this book doesn’t pretend ADHD is quirky fun or a tragedy. It’s honest, funny, and specific. It doesn’t try to “fix” you—it hands you language, permission, and a mumu.

Also: I am absolutely stealing “NEUROFABULOUS.”

Published 3 days ago on 1/27/26, this book currently has a 4.67-star average by 63 GR peeps.

[Katie Runyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! I actually loled several times. I teared up other times when things got real. The interjections and left turns were all perfect. If you’ve seen Darcy online, you MUST read this. I listened to it and cannot recommend the audio book enough.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this was hilarious! Loved listening to it. Part memoir (?) a little self help sprinkled throughout and a lot of funny. No idea who he or his husband was prior to picking this up, but now I need to go follow them.

[Naomi Boylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I purchased this book, I expected to laugh. And I laughed embarrassingly hard in public while reading it. What I didn’t expect was to cry. This book brought about so many emotions and I loved every minute of that roller coaster.

[Jen Benda · Rating 5 out of 5]

**If you dont follow Darcy and Jer on social media this might not make sense. Yes, he discusses many aspects of ADHD, which are very informative but the jokes wont land.

If you follow Darcy and Jer, listen to this one, Darcy reads it with Jer making an appearance. The Laugh in French wouldn't be the same reading it.

I laughed, I gasped,I cried. Didnt know I needed Darcy telling me how to make lasagna, but I did

Fun, quick listen!
Darcy, I tolerate you

[Katie Sue Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolute gold! How does a canadian gay man a decade-ish older than me that Ive never met write a book that speaks to me adhd soul and offer me comfort, peace and the gift of feeling understood all while giggling my way through a book? I honestly don't know, but he did. Darcy, thank you so much for writing this. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Sarah Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page!! My dream is to run into Jeremy and Darcy. They truly are the most beautiful couple, and they bring humor to everyday life. Such a fantastic book, I laughed out loud, and I cried along with Darcy, I highly recommend it!

[Nicole Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story, it made me laugh, its chaotic and I loved it. It's a broken 4th wall the entire book if thats not your thing be aware, but I enjoyed it.

[Julie Pabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book … MUST listen on audio to take in the whole Darcy and Jer.e.my experience! I fell in love with their TikTok shenanigans and they played out perfectly in the book, even down to Jer’s interruptions.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a funny and easy read! had me laughing so much.

[Victoria McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazingly funny and heart felt. I listened straight through and didn't choose my own chaos, but I loved that that was an option. Great read.

[Kris Frisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book..I did the audio book version and I love that Darcy and Jer were both part of the narrators..and Yuma dog, too! I got teary a few times and laughed out loud so many times. Thank you for sharing your lives with us.

[Lee Anne Tremblay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely listen to the audio. Read by Darcy and Jer pipes in from time to time 😆
All the feels with this one, with laughter #1!!

[Tori Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I expected to laugh with this book because it’s Darcy, but cry? This story was incredible, heartfelt, & just all together lovely. 4.5 stars for sure.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This man is very funny! I'm not sure what I was thinking this would be, it's not super helpful on the ADHD vibe IMO but it is a wonderful, heartfelt and very funny memoir.

[Taylah Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still crying, gonna write the bloody review through it because I also have ADHD and will forget to come back to it 😂

This reads like a deeply personal letter, or a conversation and a blunt if that’s more your vibe, with a dear friend. A dear friend with fucking crippling ADHD 😂

I truly cannot rant enough about the level of story telling talent it takes to so flawlessly switch between such earnest sharing of emotion when speaking of losing loved ones into shitting yourself in Amsterdam because of a hamburger, but my god, you did it.

I felt validated and understood as a Neurospicy human, I felt solidarity and hope as a queer human and I felt held and ridiculous as a human human.
That’s a lot of fucking things to feel while giggling like a teenager at an absolute buffet of dick jokes! (I have no doubt there was significantly more before it was sent to the publisher… 😂)

From the very first chapter it is violently clear this book has been a labour of love, the heart it has taken is written on literally every page.

[Shari Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every single word. It was funny, poignant, heartwarming and heartbreaking. I’m so glad I chose to listen versus read, I knew hearing Darcy read this book would make me very happy. Amazing!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️- pure gold, ADHD from a comedian’s perspective was great it listen to! Highly recommend

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Chaotic and not in an ironic ADHD way. I also found it overstimulating. Foot notes, lists, choose your next adventure… it just felt forced and sloppy.

[Tammy Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star because they don't offer zero stars. Hes not as funny as he thinks he is and honestly got on my nerves. His ADHD and mine did not jeehaw. If a friend hadnt bought this book for me I would have NEVER read it

[Jim Jaroszewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 2.5 for me. It wasn't really funny. There were some funny parts.... There are funnier ADHD books out there

[Books Thoughts & Things · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to preface this with, I have been a long-time fan of Darcy and Jer and I am a fellow ADHDer so this book is very relatable to me personally. With that little disclosure out of the way, this book was a chaotic masterpiece and I ate up every second of it.

The book discusses a lot of personal details of Darcy's life and how he has navigated his life, relationship and career all while having ADHD. While he talks about the ups, downs, impulses, and hyperfixations galore he also includes tips and tricks he personally uses to overcome obsticles and he outlines how he was diagnosed.

At times, it felt like I was following my own unpredictable (and sometimes incoherent) train of thought. The amount of times I audibly yelled, "YES THAT'S ME!" while reading this book is comparable to the amount of penis jokes Darcy made throughout (if you haven't read it yet, it's a lot). It made me feel less alone. Not only for the shared ADHD struggles but for the many penis jokes as well. (Please laugh. I thought about that one long and hard...) Annnyyyway... I digress.

This book made me laugh and cry even harder. PSA don't read this book in public or while operating heavy machinery. Reading may cause uncontrollable blurry wet blobs dripping from your eyes either from laughter or sadness. Yes, there is sadness too.

To the non-ADHDer's, you might find yourself thinking, "Does this book have a misprint? Did I accidentally skip a section?" The answer to that question is, nope! That's just how our brains work. Don't worry, Darcy always circles back so it makes sense (that's more than I can say for the rest of us). Just bear with him. I promise it's worth it!

To the non-fans thinking about picking up this book, I'm not sure that this would be as well received to someone who is just discovering Darcy for the first time via this book. If you haven't watched their videos yet, have you been hiding under Yuma's rock?! Go watch them!!! I'll even make it easy for you, here is Darcy's TikTok handle: @TheDarcyMichael.

For those who have been diagnosed with ADHD and who love Darcy and Jer, READ IT. For those who love a hilariously quick witted gay man, READ IT. For those who have tried to follow their dream to fail time and time again, don't lose hope, just READ IT.

If Darcy ever chooses to grace me with his presence and read my review, this note is for you:

You made me feel seen, heard, and validated, which is something so hard to come by in this little ADHD world of mine. So Darcy, I'm throwing your words right back at you, "I will continue to tolerate you and by that I mean, I love you and I'm grateful you're here."

★★★★★ = Angels themselves wrote this book specifically for me / Not a single thing I would change

[Tasheena Styran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Attention Seeker: A Neurodivergent Comedian’s Guide to Thriving With ADHD. The voice and perspective were a clear standout. Listening to the audiobook elevated the experience even further, as Darcy’s emotional delivery made the stories feel intimate, vulnerable, and alive. Hearing him narrate his own experiences added depth that would be hard to replicate on the page alone.

While the actual advice and informational content around ADHD was fairly basic, it was presented clearly and consistently. That was not a flaw for me, because the real value of the book was Darcy himself and the way each concept was grounded in personal anecdotes. I was far more engaged by his lived experience than by any step by step strategies, and the book seemed to understand that about itself.

Emotionally, this book hit hard. I felt deeply connected throughout, especially during his coming out story, which genuinely made me cry. The book felt validating in a way that was personal rather than instructional. One of the most valuable takeaways for me was learning about recognition responsive euphoria, the flip side of RSD, which helped put language to an experience I had felt but never understood. That moment alone made the book feel worth my time.

The structure and pacing were mostly strong, though some sections were clearly designed for a choose your own reading path experience that did not translate as well to audio. Large stretches of dialogue explaining how to navigate the book felt unnecessary for me as a listener, but they did not significantly detract from the overall flow.

The ending was emotionally heavy due to the cancer reveal, which made it less satisfying in a traditional sense, but still meaningful. It felt honest rather than tidy. The writing itself was good and often engaging, though there were a few clunky moments, and the audiobook narration had minor hiccups compared to more polished productions. That said, the sincerity and warmth far outweighed any critiques.

Darcy himself and all the pets were my favorite presence in the book. There were no major letdowns, and while I probably would not reread or relisten, that has more to do with my habits than the book’s quality. The overall vibe was an easy Loved. This is a book that works best for readers or listeners who want to feel seen, understood, and emotionally affirmed more than they want dense clinical information.

[Kara Bayliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so this hasn't been a great year reading start for me. I just finished my first book of 2026 and to do so it had to be an audio book by a comedian about ADHD. A book I am very thankful for. Some people would look down on it, but that would be their mistake. It is funny (I am not saying it's not, I laughed. a lot) . I also learned so much more than I thought I could on a subject and things that I have adjacent to it or part of it and coping skills. A ton of good ones. I also saw so much humanity in this book and the struggles that were there because he was simply someone with ADHD. I used to think that sure, I had ADD and then after I started to read the book I kept pausing. I couldn't find ANY ADD tests or anything of the sort, it was always redirecting me to the ADHD topics. Finally I googled why can't I find ADD things and it turns out somewhere along the line it stopped being considered a diagnosis. It's now ALL ADHD. I don't know if I have it honestly. (I don't do much hyperactive, but I'm digressing and Darcy said that isn't always a part) But the book is true, helpful and it gives suggestions to help with life.

So do I recommend this book? I do, I could not do so enough. I have the written copy. I purchased that and then while plugging along on spotify found it there and listened. I enjoyed that too. I will go back and read the book I pre-ordered because I am sure I was laughing too hard at points so I had to have missed something. But it is a good book. Enjoy it.