Today's review is a book I haven't actually finished, but one I've been going over the parts I have read numerous times. It's non-fiction, so if that's not your thing, I understand you popping off somewhere else. Ta-ta! It's also all about A.D.D., particularly adult A.D.D.
Over the last five years, since my diagnosis, I've read numerous books about A.D.D., many of them not worth the paper they're printed on. At least, not for someone who's actually A.D.D. The last thing I need is an author telling me how to be organized. Puh-lease! Driven to Distraction, by Drs. Ratey and Hallowell, is probably the very best book on the subject I've read to date.
Dr. Hallowell is an A.D.D. adult, so the book, though well structured, tends to rabbit trail a bit. Rather, he breaks into the middle of a point with seemingly random anecdotes. I love it. It reads like I think.
If you've ever wondered seriously if you might be A.D.D., I highly recommend picking up a copy of Driven to Distraction. There are check lists, there are descriptions of the subcategories of A.D.D. (such as anxiety or depression in addition). There are numerous case studies - I found myself and each of my kids in different case studies. There are sections on what being an A.D.D. adult does to a relationship, what it does at work, etc. Enlightening.
One of his theories, which I found interesting, is that America, having much higher A.D.D. rates than other countries, was perhaps founded by A.D.D. individuals. It's very much an inherited trait. And our founding fathers weren't the types who fit into someone's system and sat still for anyone. Makes sense to me.
My particular A.D.D. is the daydreamer type, though I'm not necessarily prone to daydreaming. I'm just not hyper. I like to think of it more as an absent-minded professor type. Yeah.
Seriously - if you're thinking maybe you're a daydreamer, a hyper adult who can't sit still, easily distracted, your mind races for hours before letting you sleep, you never finish what you start, you jump into or out of conversations with wild abandon - maybe you should pick up a copy of this book. Just sayin'.
Until I write again ...
Flea
5 comments:
Just what I need. Someone putting a diagnosis and a name on my distracted,daydreamer personality. Oh, look! a chicken!
I've read it and it's really a good book!
ADHD studies have certainly come a long way since the days when my son was diagnosed... I still think it has a LOT to do with what we eat in this country, which is mostly crap. JMHO.
Years ago a doc put me on something, can't remember. I FOCUSED as in sat out with grass clippers and CLIPPED the entire driveway, sidewalk, etc.
I also took down all my kitchen cabinets and started remodeling.
I'm the daydreaming kind and I never finish anything I start. Gah.
Sounds interesting, Flea!
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