Welcome to
Neurospicy
A Memoir Of Madness, Magic ADHD and Dyslexia
Dedicated to breaking down the barriers of Dyslexia and ADHD through the inspiring story of, John O'Shea.
Recent reader responses have been incredibly moving:
“I finished Neurospicy last night in the dark — day four with no electricity — and I enjoyed every sentence. It made me laugh, cry, and giggle. You are one big inspiration and a man of strength and resilience. I loved every bit!”
— Issy Rubanhiner
“Profoundly relatable, irreverent, and inspiring… I love the way you reframe dyslexia and ADHD as sources of creativity, grit, and unconventional wisdom. It's candid, fun, and honest — blending vivid travel stories, entrepreneurial highs, catastrophic failures, and hard-earned lessons into a guide for anyone with a 'spicy' brain… or loving someone who does.”
— Fitforjoy Podcast
Painted by Finn O'Shea and Daen Calebrano
In my experience
Success and failure are two sides of the same coin. By sharing my personal experiences of both, especially as they relate to my dyslexia and ADHD (which I playfully call Spicy in the book), I hope to offer useful insights to others.
About John
“My mind is telling me you have already climbed this mountain so why go back?”
Over 30 years
John authored a book on dyslexia, “Dyslexia: How Do We Learn”, which became a bestseller for four months, selling over 15,000 copies and being released in eight countries in the 1980's.
Now, at 58
This book is a follow-up book that explores my journey over the last three decades with both dyslexia and, more recently, ADHD. This journey has been filled with massive successes, massive downfalls and failure and day to day challenges that people with Dyslexic and ADHD face every day.
With this new book
I want to push boundaries and create something innovative. My vision is to expand the project into a theater play and an educational, entertaining based game that will allow these mediums express the issue in a more realistic way than a book.
My life to date has been amazing.
📚I wrote my first book called “Dyslexia: How Do We Learn” in the 1980s.
🌏I've lived with Aboriginals in far north Australia who now call me uncle.
✈️I've travelled through the Middle East with nothing but a tent, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel and all before I was 24 years old.
♻️I developed Ollie Recycles, an educational program for schools that teaches children about recycling, reducing, and reusing resources to create a more sustainable future.
🏔️I was a founding council member and chairman of Wollangarra Outdoor Education Centre, an independent, non-profit organization situated beside the Macalister River in Licola. Through outdoor education, Wollangarra provides a vital step towards a healthier environment, stronger community conservation in the nearby mountains, and happier young people. Learn more on Facebook.
The Power of Neurodivergent Minds
Why does NASA employ dyslexic people? Their strengths translate into real-world success. They're deliberately recruited for their exceptional abilities in areas like 3D perception and creative problem-solving, skills so essential for space exploration.
First Book: Dyslexia: How Do We Learn
Dinny McDinny my aboriginal father and me
Dugong killed in The Gulf of Carpentaria facing out to sea so its sprites returned to other animals
Dinny McDinny Making Spear, Aboriginal Elder Yanyuwa people
Me Making a Spear, Police Lagon McArthur River 80's
Family and friends visiting McArthur River
Nancy McDinny Grand Doughty Dinny McDinny and me in King Island
Painting of cover book by Finn and Daen
Painting the book cover
Painting the book cover
Catching waves at the legendary surf break of Uluwatu in Bali
Catching waves at the legendary surf break of Uluwatu in Bali
Mike Nemesvary, a former Bond stuntman, whom I cared for as a nurse after he broke his back
Mike Nemesvary, whom I worked as a nurse for in London
My children participating in a working bee at Wollangarra
Anny and Nancy McDinny getting ready to prepare damper and fish
Camping with tents, an experience I would rather avoid
Eileen McDinny, my Aboriginal mother, at Borroloola
Rock climbing at Mount Arapiles, where the motto is: if you are not flying, you are not trying
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Don't miss it!
Given that ADHD and Dyslexic individuals
can be highly effective in senior and leadership positions, and 30% to 40% of entrepreneurs are ADHD or Dyslexic, my aim is to highlight the advantages and disadvantages but always focusing on strengths of being Spicy Brain.
More About Neurospicy
This is not an autobiography as I don't think my life is that interesting, and not something to spend good money on when a bottle of wine could be more beneficial! It's about my 58 years of experience with dyslexia and ADHD, how I have changed - I have a far greater understanding and respect for my gift, my neurodivergence, spicy brain.
I hope this adventure can help others navigate the world of Dyslexia and ADHD in a positive way.