Jonathan Mooney - Award Winning Author, "Normal Sucks" Entrepreneur & Activist

Jonathan Mooney

Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer, speaker, and do-gooder who did not lean to read until 12 years old. He faced a number of low expectations growing up—was told he would flip burgers, be a high school drop out and end up in jail. Needless to say their hopeful prophecies didn’t come to pass. Opposed to being a high school drop out, Jonathan became a college graduate from Brown university with an honors degree in English lit; instead of flipping burgers he ended up writing books, the first of which he wrote at the end of 23 as an undergrad; And instead of becoming an inmate Jonathan become an advocate creating organizations and initiatives that help people who get the short end of the stick.

Jonathan’s won many awards for all of this —The Harry S. Truman fellowship for public services, Finalist for a Roads Scholarship, LA Achievement award from The Lab school of Washington where he shared the stage with Vice President Joe Biden—and he’s been featured in/on HBO, NPR, The New York Times, NBC, Fast company, and many other media outlets. But what Jonathan is most proud of is not that he proved some people who doubted him wrong—but that he proved the many people—his mom, a teacher named Mr. R, his wife Rebecca—right, not just about his potential but about the potential for all of us who live and learn differently.

In his inspiring and paradigm-shifting new book NORMAL SUCKS, Jonathan meditates on his life, and shares the realization that saved it: he wasn’t the problem—the educational system and society’s concept of normal were. Vanity Fair called the book "invaluable" and "as an exploration of what it’s like to grow up feeling different, it’s incredibly cathartic." I’m so excited for you guys to connect with Jonathan, check out his important and impactful work, and follow along as he continues to change the conversation surrounding education, learning, and what’s possible.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Jonathan Mooney. I’m a dyslexic writer and advocate and I’ve spent my entire professional life as a disability and neurodiversity rights activist! I’m also extremely ADD so the question of what I’m working on right now is totally overwhelming: I’m on a 50-city Normal Sucks tour celebrating the differences in all of us, part of a team-building a platform to help every human find their strengths and talents called Thrivly, working on a novel set in a new eugenics hospital, and planning my oldest son’s bar mitzvah!

How did you get started?

When I went to college I tried everything to hide my differences and felt that I had no place. On my first day on campus, I met another student who was out and proud of his neurodiversity and I shared my experience with dyslexia with him. He had what at the time appeared to be a ridiculous idea that we should write a book together to give other people hope that they could make it, too. We did, and it was published shortly after I graduated in 2000. I received so many emails about how this book gave people with differences hope and my life's path was set!

What inspired the work that you're doing?

I was the kid that had such a hard time sitting still that I spent most of the school day hanging out with the janitor in the hallway. I was a kid who had such a hard time keeping my mouth shut that I grew up on a first-name basis with Shirly, the receptionist in the principal’s office. And I was the kid who had such a hard time reading out loud that I spent most of the day hiding in the bathroom with tears streaming down my face. Everything I’ve done as a writer, advocate, and social entrepreneur originated from the desire to make sure nobody experiences shame for being different like I did.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

When I was in third grade I had a teacher named Mr. R., who believed that everybody had something right about them. One day he came to me and said that he had noticed I was a good storyteller. I was so good at telling stories, he said, that I could be a writer. I was nine years old -- no one had ever said that to me before! I looked at him and said, “Are you out of your goddamn mind? I can’t spell!” He looked at me and said, “Screw spelling, follow your passion for storytelling,” and that’s what I’ve done my whole life thanks to Mr. R.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

Never sitting still, doing work that matters, speaking out about injustice in every form, and mountain biking with my boys!

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

Coffee, running, staying off of social media, yoga, Tantric sex (kidding...kind of), Thom Yorke’s new album.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

I had a plan for suicide when I was 12, and in high school my best friend and I “joked” that we wouldn’t live to be 30. So many people with cognitive and physical differences are given the message that they are “less than” and that their life isn’t worth living. My younger self would be proud that we made it, but more importantly that we’ve dedicated our lives to making sure other people make it, too.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

Normal sucks.

What is your biggest dream?

That we can build a more inclusive, just, and equitable world where every human being has a right to be different.

To learn more about Jonathan, his work, and his new book you can visit his website Jonathanmooney.com and you can find Normal Sucks here and on Instagram @thejonathanmooney and Facebook @theJonathanMooney and Twitter @_JonathanMooney and at #NormalSucks

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