In Normal Sucks, Mooney explores the origin and meaning of "normal" and discusses the process by which we internalize normality, to the detriment of our mental (and sometimes physical) well-being. He also writes that he did not achieve success "despite" his learning differences, rather, he believes he was successful because of them and warns against treating learning differences as something that is automatically negative.

The most poignant moment in the essay (this book is set up like an essay written to his children, much like Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me") is when he says he did not *have* a disability, rather he *experiences* disability in environments that were unwilling and/or unable to adapt to his differences. In a way, Mooney is telling readers to be themselves and to advocate for themselves in order to get the accommodations they need. In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with the people; there is an issue with the society that takes such a narrow view of humanity. I'd suggest everyone read this book, then read Late Bloomers (by Rich Kaarlgard), which discusses early achievement (a different kind of normalcy that has become popular in the last few decades) and gives reasons and examples about why and how being a Late Bloomer may actually be a good thing.