The Neurotypical’s Bible

Sometimes it feels as if neurotypicals were given a handbook to life upon being born, consisting of all the essentials to living in a functioning society.

Every bit of communication seems flawless - almost telepathic and hypnotic at times. I was at a small Thanksgiving party hosted by a (neurotypical) friend of mine last year, and every conversation seemed telepathic - the group knew how to keep a conversation going, how to smoothly transition topics, how to involve everyone in the conversation making sure everyone got a chance to speak, had a shared sense of humour, knew what each other was going to say before it was said...


I felt envy at the ease in which communication came for them. When I communicate, I constantly feel overwhelmed and stressed, and I am always thinking:

- Am I making an appropriate amount of eye contact?

- What questions can I form on the spot to "seem interested" in this topic I know nothing about?

- Am I fidgeting too much?

- Am I speaking too much?

- Is it my turn to speak?

- How do I seamlessly transition topics from pop culture to something I know more about?


I do seem to have more passionate, fruitful, unmasked, and much less awkward conversations with fellow neurodivergents, perhaps because our communication patterns are so similar (double-empathy), so, perhaps we too, have our own handbook to life.


Alt: Yellow book titled "The Neurotypical's Bible by Abe List" on the left with the inside of the book consisting of ten chapters listed in roman numerals: Introduction, communication and telepathy, some people are more equal than others, how to make friends, navigating confidence and shame, to question or not to question, is honesty truly a virtue, and masking ableism - essentials"