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DIFFICULT: The Power of Pattern Thinkers in a World That Can't Stop Repeating Mistakes
Difficult: The Hidden Power of Misunderstood Minds is a groundbreaking nonfiction book that reframes what it means to be “difficult” in a world designed to reward confidence over clarity.
With the same cultural resonance that Susan Cain’s Quiet brought to introverts, Difficultshines a light on a different kind of overlooked mind: the pattern thinker. These are the individuals who hesitate before answering, revise their thinking in real time, and resist false clarity—not because they’re uncertain, but because they’re structurally precise.
From Temple Grandin’s curved chute to boardroom misfires, the book draws on history, neuroscience, personal experience, and systems design to argue that what society calls “difficult” is often just early—and that these minds are essential for building systems that endure. But they are too often misunderstood, underutilized, or filtered out entirely—especially in environments built around charisma, fluency, and consensus.
Difficult makes the case that precision under pressure is not a personality flaw—it’s a cultural necessity. And recognizing it may be the most urgent institutional shift of the decade.
This book is both an anthem for the misread and a manual for the systems that need them
Agent Inquiries Welcome
DIFFICULT
Agent Inquiries Welcome
If Difficult resonates with your agency’s commitment to publishing bold, paradigm-shifting nonfiction, I would welcome the opportunity to speak. The book blends literary narrative with cultural critique, appealing to readers of Susan Cain, Oliver Sacks, and Maria Popova. It builds on the critical success of Quiet Brilliance and extends its reach—this time not as a guide, but as a story. At its heart is a reframe of neurodivergence as early clarity, not disorder. And in the life of Temple Grandin, we find the deeper truth: that many of our most necessary minds are labeled difficult simply because they are wired for difference.
I’m seeking representation not just for this book, but for the larger conversation it belongs to. With a platform that includes published works, public speaking, and active advocacy within business and neurodivergent communities, I bring both a growing readership and a deep commitment to long-form, culturally urgent work. If this project aligns with your interests, please feel free to reach out via the contact page. I’d be honored to discuss further.
With thanks,
Jeffrey-Michael Kane
344 Saint Joseph Street
Unit 239
New Orleans, LA
70130
+1 (770) 359-8500