Understanding dyslexia is a journey of discovery, support, and learning. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone with dyslexia seeking deeper insight, these seven books offer practical strategies, research-backed knowledge, and real-life experiences to help navigate challenges and embrace strengths.
1. Overcoming Dyslexia - Sally Shaywitz (2020 edition)
Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a leading expert from Yale, presents a comprehensive guide to understanding and supporting individuals with dyslexia. This updated edition incorporates the latest brain research and provides practical checklists for identifying dyslexia at different ages. It also offers strategies for improving reading skills and advice on collaborating with schools to secure appropriate support.
Great for: Parents, educators, and anyone seeking a research-based understanding of dyslexia.
Key quote: "A circumscribed, encapsulated weakness is often surrounded by a Sea of Strengths: reasoning, problem-solving, understanding concepts, critical thinking, empathy, and vocabulary."
Author's affiliation: Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
2. The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain – Brock L. Eide & Fernette F. Eide (2011)
This book shifts the focus from dyslexia's challenges to its strengths. The authors, both physicians, explain how dyslexic brain differences can enhance creativity, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking. They highlight how many inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs have dyslexia, helping readers recognize its advantages. An updated edition was published in 2023.
Great for: Individuals with dyslexia, parents, and anyone interested in the strengths of dyslexic thinking.
Key quote: "Dyslexic brains store information like murals or stained glass, connect ideas like spiderwebs or hyperlinks, and move from one thought to another like ripples spreading over a pond."
Authors' website: Dyslexic Advantage
3. This Is Dyslexia: The Definitive Guide to the Untapped Power of Dyslexic Thinking – Kate Griggs (2021)
Kate Griggs, founder of the charity Made By Dyslexia, challenges outdated perceptions of dyslexia by highlighting its strengths. She explains six key dyslexic thinking skills, including innovation, creativity, and problem-solving, exploring how these abilities are increasingly valued in today's job market. The book also offers practical advice on supporting dyslexic individuals and includes a foreword by Sir Richard Branson.
Great for: Dyslexic individuals of all ages, parents, educators, and employers looking to understand and support dyslexic thinking.
Key quote: "It's imagination, intuition and empathy that sets us apart from the machines. And that's Dyslexic Thinking."
Author's website: Made By Dyslexia
4. Dyslexia is My Superpower (Most of the Time) – Margaret Rooke (2017)
This book shares firsthand stories from over 100 children and teenagers with dyslexia (ages 8–18), discussing both challenges and strengths, such as creativity, empathy, and resilience. The book also includes advice from these young people on what has helped them most, as well as stunning illustrations (also provided by dyslexic children) to accompany their tips and strategies. A wonderful resource for dyslexic students to see themselves reflected and celebrated in print.
Great for: Children and teens with dyslexia, parents, and educators seeking real-world perspectives and inspiration.
Key quote: "If you find a way to deal with global warming or clean out the oceans, no one will say, ‘I’m not listening because the spelling is wrong."
Author's website: Margaret Rooke
5. The Adult Side of Dyslexia – Kelli Sandman-Hurley (2021)
Dyslexia doesn't disappear in adulthood, but it is often overlooked beyond school years. Dr. Sandman-Hurley shares moving accounts from dyslexic adults gathered through in-depth interviews, covering their school experiences, work lives, and personal relationships. Alongside the personal stories, contributors offer practical tips and coping strategies for handling literacy challenges, boosting confidence, and managing the emotional impacts of dyslexia. Whether you’re an adult with dyslexia or supporting one, this book provides valuable insight and guidance into navigating life as a dyslexic adult.
Great for: Teens, adults and educators who want to understand dyslexia beyond school years.
Key quote: "Acknowledge, advocate and accommodate."
Author's website: Dyslexia Training Institute
6. Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain – Maryanne Wolf (2008)
In this engaging book, cognitive neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf explores how humans developed the remarkable ability to read, blending neuroscience, history, and psychology. Wolf clearly explains what happens in the brain when we learn to read, how reading has evolved culturally, and why reading difficulties, such as dyslexia, occur. With clear language and vivid examples, the book offers useful insight into the complexity of reading and its deep connection to how we think and learn.
Great for: Parents, educators, and anyone curious about how the reading brain works and why dyslexia exists.
Key quote: "We were never born to read."
Author's affiliation:UCLA Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice
7. Dyslexia and Me: How to Survive and Thrive if You're Neurodivergent – Onyinye Udokporo (2022)
Onyinye Udokporo, an educator and entrepreneur, shares her lived experience of growing up with dyslexia. This book blends personal storytelling with practical advice, helping individuals with dyslexia embrace their strengths and find strategies for success in education and beyond. Udokporo also discusses self-advocacy, confidence-building, and navigating a world that often misunderstands dyslexia.
Great for: Teenagers and adults with dyslexia, as well as parents and educators who want to understand the lived experience of dyslexia.
Key quote: "This book has been written because I want people to know that dyslexia can be found in people of every colour, creed, or circumstance."
Author's website: Onyinye Udokporo
Why These Books Matter
These books offer a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, providing practical strategies, advocacy tools, and fresh perspectives to better understand dyslexia in all its complexity. They reflect the real experiences of students, adults, families, and educators, as well as the latest research on how dyslexia affects learning, thinking, and identity.
Looking for more? Visit our blog for additional resources, guides, and insights to support students with dyslexia.
