ADHD and Creativity: A Superpower with Kryptonite

James Fell—the “Sweary Historian”—learned he had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of 53 and said, “Well, that explains a lot.” He’s come to consider it a kind of superpower for creative thinking, a powerful tool in his becoming a bestselling author. Alas, it also comes with a load of kryptonite in the form of childhood trauma and anxiety. James Fell, at the age of 42, left the business world to become a writer. Before long, he was one of the best-known fitness authors in North America. A decade later, he made a sudden shift to writing “sweary history” stories. The column is read by millions each month and has been compiled into two bestselling books.