ADHD Confessions: Rousseau as self-help

In ADHD Confessions: Rousseau as Self Help, Richard Orange explores how the traits Rousseau described as his “restless temperament” fueled his groundbreaking ideas across multiple disciplines and influenced major historical events. Drawing from Rousseau’s autobiographies, the book presents his personal struggle with impulsivity and impulsiveness as a form of creative strength, offering insights that resonate with modern understandings of ADHD. Orange suggests that embracing rather than fighting these traits allowed Rousseau to harness his unique mind, making the case that his tumultuous inner life contributed to his extraordinary impact on the Enlightenment.