Listen free for 30 days

  • Boy Without Instructions

  • Surviving the Learning Curve of Parenting a Child with ADHD
  • Written by: Penny Williams
  • Narrated by: Jayme Mattler
  • Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (32 ratings)

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Boy Without Instructions cover art

Boy Without Instructions

Written by: Penny Williams
Narrated by: Jayme Mattler
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.00

Buy Now for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Number-One Best Seller on Amazon!

2014 USA Best Book Awards Winner: Finalist, Parenting & Family

Most books on ADHD don't dare expose the genuine grit of the moment-by-moment peaks and valleys of this special parenthood - the gut-wrenching, crying on the bathroom floor, feeling like you're losing your mind truth of the matter that is learning to successfully parent a child with ADHD. Boy Without Instructions: Surviving the Learning Curve of Parenting a child with ADHD changes that.

Williams shares her unfiltered thoughts and emotions during her progression through this learning curve during this harrowing ride. Right before your eyes, this initially grief-stricken momma transforms from obsessed-with-ADHD control-freak and helicopter mom to optimistic and (mostly) confident parent of a child who happens to have ADHD. Boy Without Instructions validates your grief and guilt, yet reveals that it's truly possible to craft a (mostly) joy-filled life for your child with ADHD, yourself, and your family.

©2014 Penny Williams (P)2016 Penny Williams

What listeners say about Boy Without Instructions

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    21
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Misleading and problematic

As a psychologist and parent of a child with ADHD I found this book quite problematic. If you follow Penny’s blogging and other writing you know her son has ASD. Many of the examples and behaviours in this book that are chalked up to ADHD are actually due to ASD - extreme rigidity, perseveration, restricted interests, severe emotion dysregulation and meltdowns. Yes some of these things are common in adhd but not to the extent described in the book - which is also likely why they had so much difficulty with meds. This story is validating for parents but without mentioning that her son was later diagnosed with ASD the book neglects to inform the reader of important details that could help their own families. It’s heartbreaking to hear that proper diagnosis was not offered to them - it was painfully clear to me that ASD was a likely culprit an hour into the book. Unfortunately it’s only mentioned once in relation to her son with about 35 minutes remaining. Not speaking of this sooner really misses the mark on helping more families.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book!

Excellent book and the narrator was great to listen to! I was emotional just listening to it because I felt I was reading about my own son.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book!

An honest and true account of the trials, tribulations and triumphs that come with parenting children with ADHD and other special needs.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!!

It was as if the author is writing from our lives with a couple of small differences. Listening to this was like having a trusted confidant in what seems like a very lonely space in the parenting journey. I’m a parent with adhd so advocating for my child is exponentially harder when I have to learn how to take care of myself and advocate for myself. The great news is that my son and I are both making strides in the right direction. This book is now a MUST READ recommendation to anyone who asks me for resources. The only downside is that (I felt) it ended too soon. I would have loved to hear more! I’m not sure if it’s because the author decided to end it there deliberately or if more still needs to be said as time goes on.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It’s nice knowing you’re not alone!

It’s a must listen! I binged this in under 2 days. Gave me great perspective of our future struggles and how to advocate. Additionally it was really nice knowing you’re not alone.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Listen

Abssolutely loved this, and could relate on sooo many levels. Thank you Penny Williams!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book

enjoyed it a lot. I related as a mom of a son with ADHD. i cried numerous times. The narrator was great.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for brad key
  • brad key
  • 2016-09-07

not at all what I expected

Narrator was the only bright spot. No answers. just a frustrating story about a difficult situation. if you are looking for a story that might relate to your ADHD experience, this is the book for you. if you are looking for how to, or answers, look elsewhere.

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Bethany R.
  • Bethany R.
  • 2020-08-27

She lost me at the word "dope"

I wanted to love this book, the context was intriguing and I hoped I would find some useful information from someone who has gone through my current situation. But when she said "we didn't want to dope our child" she completely lost my respect. That was very judgmental. Had she used the word 'medicate' I would have kept reading because I understand that not everyone decides to do that. But by using the word 'dope' I felt very judged because I do choose to MEDICATE my son. And let me tell you, it has made his school experience 100x better.

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for JG
  • JG
  • 2016-05-03

Loved this book!!!

I loved this book. I related so much with Penny. I laughed and cried. the narrator was great too. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a child with ADHD.

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for jenna
  • jenna
  • 2016-06-30

great introduction to the world of adhd

I found this book to be a fascinating look into how family life is altered by a kid with severe adhd. It certainly changes the way I look at the condition and how parents deal with it.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for B. Dickinson
  • B. Dickinson
  • 2021-01-26
Listener received this title free

A Memoir, Not A Guide

An intimate memoir of a mother's struggle with her child's ADHD. Reads more as a personal journal than a guidebook for other parents, so keep that in mind. There are definitely some touching and authentic moments, though rather unpolished in structure and writing style. The narrator speaks clearly, but her voice quickly becomes monotonous, and she has a depressing vibe. There aren't many peaks and valleys in her tone. I don't know that I would recommend this audiobook to others unless they are simply looking for shared experiences in their parenting journey.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Michele
  • Michele
  • 2018-02-10

Thank God.

This book is my story and my son’s story. I’m so grateful that these words were said.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tanya
  • Tanya
  • 2021-12-12

Honest Account of Parenting a Child with ADHD

I can relate to and appreciate Penny’s experience parenting a child with ADHD. I’d rate the audiobook higher if the account was summed up in half the time. There was a lot of repetition which frustrated me as the listener. However, this is not to say I regret listening to the book. It was inspirational to hear of a mom that’s been able to work with the challenges ADHD brings to an individual and family. It is also less isolating when I hear of another mom’s similar struggles as I often find that my friends and family don’t understand.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Stacy Clarke
  • Stacy Clarke
  • 2020-11-20

All teachers should be required to read this book.

I absolutely loved this book. It felt as if I were describing my own child and all of her disabilities. She became so broken-hearted along with her father and me that we made the decision to homeschool just shortly after returning from Christmas break of her Kindergarten year. We could no longer accept the lack of support and effort that she was receiving. I never dreamed that I would be homeschooling one of my children. We adopted our daughter who was born addicted to meth amphetamines. She came to us at 3 weeks old. We expected that she would have ADHD, but we had no clue how many other disabilities that she would have until we started Kindergarten. Our two oldest daughters were A B students from K-12. They never struggled with school and they both excelled academically. I give this momma an A+ for her will to fight for her son’s education. I had just endured hip surgery and a double spinal fusion a month before our daughter started Kindergarten and physically couldn’t keep up the fight that we also found ourselves in. After numerous phone calls, emails, and in school meetings, we threw in the towel and rescued our daughter from that nightmare. I have found myself with tears falling while listening to this beautifully written book. It helps a little bit to know that our daughter isn’t struggling alone with her disabilities. Thank you for sharing your incredibly brave story with us.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for SMF
  • SMF
  • 2020-10-16

Worth a read

I liked her honesty and the ability to tell her story I was able to relate with a lot of her struggles with her child and it has helped open my eyes with my own recently diagnosed ADHD son worth a read for sure.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for C. Jackson
  • C. Jackson
  • 2023-04-20

Mixed Feelings

I'm a neurodivergent mom of 4 neurodivergent kids, 2 of which are boys. Through much of the book I felt extremely frustrated with the author. She was a mom on a mission with completely valid feelings, but I hated how she viewed her son. It felt like she saw him as disabled rather than different. Her expectations that her ND son fit into a NT mold was very frustrating to me. That said, she does get there. She does figure out his mind. She also is raising him in a different time than I'm raising my younger kids and didn't have the luxury of a lot of the information that I have access to. All-in-all, I think its a fairly good story of a NT mom desperately wanting to figure out how to best help her son. It took her a while, but they got there. I hope he's thriving today.