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Summary: Buy this Hartmann ADD book - it is his BEST
Review: .
There are lots of reviews detailing the major points and I think they do a pretty fair job. So I won't repeat them.The major point I would like to make is that Thom Hartmann has written several books - I think it's confusing trying to figure out which one(s) to read. His "A Different Perspective" was fantastic. But his "Complete Guid" is the best. If you are into NLP, his "Healing" book is useful. [My take on NLP is: Neuro Linguistic Programming - learn how people's eyes literally look in a particular direction when they are thinking certain types of thoughts {and succeed in poker) - control your involuntary physiological responses to transform your behavior - e.g., train your mind to be tranzuil (instead of fearful) when you see a black cat.] Thom Hartmann's approach is effective [in my opinion and in direct contrast to the newest review I saw] because it helps me get get a handle on the various problems AND it offers effective advice on how to leverage ADD strengths. I hope this proves useful.
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Summary: Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to ADHD: Help for Your Family
Review: A breath of FRESH air! A positive outlook for a commonly negative subject. With a child diagnosed with ADHD, I now have an easily understandable explanatation of why he feels "different" than the rest of his peers. We're proud to be "Hunters"!
Rating:
Summary: Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to ADHD: Help for Your Family
Review: A breath of FRESH air! A positive outlook for a commonly negative subject. With a child diagnosed with ADHD, I now have an easily understandable explanatation of why he feels "different" than the rest of his peers. We're proud to be "Hunters"!
Rating: 
Summary: The most complete and thorough treatment of ADHD I've done
Review: For this book, I wrote a detailed summary of my hunter/farmer metaphor, along with a complete explanation of the neurology and psychology behind it. There's a large section on how and why our schools wound so many ADHD children...and how we can change them so they don't. I've filled in many of the 'secrets' of successful relationships when one or more people in a family have ADHD. And there's an entire section, about a fifth of the book, on ADHD in the workplace. The publisher did a beautiful job of making the book easy to read and reasonably priced, and I hope you'll find this among the most useful and practical of all the books I've written.
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Summary: OLD content worth the price of the book alone
Review: I can't give the content of this book ENOUGH stars! The "Guide" is divided into three parts: Home, School, and Work. The "at Work" section is a complete reprint of one of Hartmann's prior books, "Focus Your Energy: Hunting for Success in Business with Attention Deficit Disorder," with a few updates and corrections and additions (nothing taken out). I am the founder & CEO of The Optimal Functioning Institute™, which trains ADD Coaches in a comprehensive 2-year training; "Focus" has been one of five ADD books that are REQUIRED reading for my students since 1994. I mourned the fact that it was taken out of print. Even though my students could still get it through a special agreement with the author, I rejoice that it is back so that everyone can read it. The "Guide" has now replaced "Focus" on our required reading list. Hartmann is knowledgeable, imminently readable, and never pathologizes ADD. His use of the "hunter/farmer" metaphor to differentiate the ADD brain wiring from non-ADD, allows those of us with that kind of brain to focus on what is GOOD about us rather than trying to "fix" what's "bad." I have always recommended FOCUS as a "first read" for certain individuals, and will now recommend the Guide in its stead. In my experience with thousands of ADDers, entrepreneurs, people who are fearful of "labels" yet searching for help, those who have been prescribed medication but no practical help to support them, and those who have read the sensationalist press primarily and are looking at ADD with a jaundiced eye as a result, have all responded positively to FOCUS. Because Hartmann writes so clearly and economically, it has always been my choice for ADDers who have trouble reading because they just can't concentrate long enough to get through a paragraph, much less a book. This is a "feel good" book -- buy it and read it for the afterglow as much as the information. Sincerely, Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, A.C.T., MCC The Optimal Functioning Institute™ founder & CEO
Rating:
Summary: OLD content worth the price of the book alone
Review: I can't give the content of this book ENOUGH stars! The "Guide" is divided into three parts: Home, School, and Work. The "at Work" section is a complete reprint of one of Hartmann's prior books, "Focus Your Energy: Hunting for Success in Business with Attention Deficit Disorder," with a few updates and corrections and additions (nothing taken out). I am the founder & CEO of The Optimal Functioning Institute™, which trains ADD Coaches in a comprehensive 2-year training; "Focus" has been one of five ADD books that are REQUIRED reading for my students since 1994. I mourned the fact that it was taken out of print. Even though my students could still get it through a special agreement with the author, I rejoice that it is back so that everyone can read it. The "Guide" has now replaced "Focus" on our required reading list. Hartmann is knowledgeable, imminently readable, and never pathologizes ADD. His use of the "hunter/farmer" metaphor to differentiate the ADD brain wiring from non-ADD, allows those of us with that kind of brain to focus on what is GOOD about us rather than trying to "fix" what's "bad." I have always recommended FOCUS as a "first read" for certain individuals, and will now recommend the Guide in its stead. In my experience with thousands of ADDers, entrepreneurs, people who are fearful of "labels" yet searching for help, those who have been prescribed medication but no practical help to support them, and those who have read the sensationalist press primarily and are looking at ADD with a jaundiced eye as a result, have all responded positively to FOCUS. Because Hartmann writes so clearly and economically, it has always been my choice for ADDers who have trouble reading because they just can't concentrate long enough to get through a paragraph, much less a book. This is a "feel good" book -- buy it and read it for the afterglow as much as the information. Sincerely, Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, A.C.T., MCC The Optimal Functioning Institute™ founder & CEO
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting Perspecitve, But Little Help
Review: I found Hartmann's Hunter/Farmer take on ADD an interesting way of recasting ADD as something other than a disorder, to help people with ADD create a positive stories for and about themselves and their ADD. If it helps even a few people improve their self-esteem, then it's worth considering. However, as an adult with ADD who was diagnosed just a year and a half ago, I hoped to to find some helpful hints to improve my performance at work and in my every day life. Hartmann is a bit long on new paradigms but a bit short on "This is what you should do" type advice. Still, I'm glad I took the time to read the book and get to know his ideas and perspective on ADD.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book For Beginning to Understand
Review: I have struggled with ADD my whole life, was diagnosed 7 years ago, and only today am I beginning to really begin to gain a grip on my disability. This book has been a real help to me as I begin to do this. It has provided a series of interesting and import ways to look at ADD rather than bashing my head against a wall as if I understood. Rather, I needed a combination of clinical and personal perspectives that this book is great for. I would only say that I wish that there could have been a greater discussion of how, I as an adult can begin to structure my life in a better way as to minimize the effects of ADD. Instead, I think too often in the book the author resorts to more broad summations and issues rather than getting on his hands and knees in the dirt with me. I think that criticism should not overshadow though the great insights this book holds for all of us who are beginning to make that change with our lives or those parents figuring out how to deal with their children's diagnosis.
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Summary: Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to ADHD:Help for Your Family
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed Thom Hartmann's newest book the"Complete Guide to ADHD". It has been several years since I last read some of Thom Hartmann's work. Although some themes have been reiterated from earlier books in this new book, there are good new insights into old concepts and new issues which I find interesting and helpful. Hartmann always comes across as a thoughtful coach and teacher rather than as a Doctor or a victim telling their story of ADD misery. As I read the "Guide" I realize how lucky I am to have stumbled into his writing and how far I have come utilizing many of his suggestions from earlier books. Five years ago I became aware that there was a name for my chronic disorganization that had created years of negativity and apprehension. I am in my 50's and was considered a goof-off in school.There was no concept for ADD at the time.It was more or less considered weak character or low horsepower. A lousy self image and poor organization skills followed me into business .Though I have managed to do well by by having great coworkers, I had alway lived in ADD terror that I could not manage my business as it got bigger. Once aware of the nature of ADD ;I looked for possible solutions, I tried prescription medications but found I could not tolerate them well. I sought alternatives and I stumbled into Hartmann's books at the library. I was ideally seeking an instant fix .Instead I discovered combination of medium and many small fixes over time and practice.I discovered most of the fixes in Hartmann's books and on his Compuserve ADD Forum . I adopted many of his tips ;one of the best was a mindfulness technique called "original awareness" which is reviewed in "Guide". I also discovered the magic of EEG Neurofeedback which proved to be a godsend for me and my teenage daughter who also had attention problems. Hartmann was one of the first ADD writers to conservatively endorse Neurofeedback for attention training.This gave me the confidence to try it and fortunately it was effective. I was initially skeptical of some of Hartmann's concepts from earlier books especially the concept that ADD has many plusses. As I read the "Guide" I realize how on target he was and is ;once you get some control over your impulses you have often the energy and craziness to go out of the box and try new things.This with discipline can give you a competitive advantage.. The Hunter gene may account for some of our prowess as an innovative nation. Hard-core ADD is considered is small percent of the population but many more of the population have some occasional traits of ADD, so Hartmann's self management tips have common sense value for many more people, especially in business .I found most interesting Hartmann's theories on poor listening skills, reading, and too much passive visual stimulation from TV and computers. This theory plus the theory of how the brain is sculpted by our environments at earlier ages is also fascinating; these theories should interest parents of young children or grandparents of young children. Finally, Hartmann's explanation of how modern mass education evolved was a startling insight. Times change so mass education will probably have to change to adapt to our visually over stimulated new student populations. Once again Hartmann has presented helpful practical insights and strategies for dealing and managing ADD or ADDH in an optimistic spirit .He always inspires me to try new things and to do better.
Rating:
Summary: Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to ADHD:Help for Your Family
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed Thom Hartmann's newest book the"Complete Guide to ADHD". It has been several years since I last read some of Thom Hartmann's work. Although some themes have been reiterated from earlier books in this new book, there are good new insights into old concepts and new issues which I find interesting and helpful. Hartmann always comes across as a thoughtful coach and teacher rather than as a Doctor or a victim telling their story of ADD misery. As I read the "Guide" I realize how lucky I am to have stumbled into his writing and how far I have come utilizing many of his suggestions from earlier books. Five years ago I became aware that there was a name for my chronic disorganization that had created years of negativity and apprehension. I am in my 50's and was considered a goof-off in school.There was no concept for ADD at the time.It was more or less considered weak character or low horsepower. A lousy self image and poor organization skills followed me into business .Though I have managed to do well by by having great coworkers, I had alway lived in ADD terror that I could not manage my business as it got bigger. Once aware of the nature of ADD ;I looked for possible solutions, I tried prescription medications but found I could not tolerate them well. I sought alternatives and I stumbled into Hartmann's books at the library. I was ideally seeking an instant fix .Instead I discovered combination of medium and many small fixes over time and practice.I discovered most of the fixes in Hartmann's books and on his Compuserve ADD Forum . I adopted many of his tips ;one of the best was a mindfulness technique called "original awareness" which is reviewed in "Guide". I also discovered the magic of EEG Neurofeedback which proved to be a godsend for me and my teenage daughter who also had attention problems. Hartmann was one of the first ADD writers to conservatively endorse Neurofeedback for attention training.This gave me the confidence to try it and fortunately it was effective. I was initially skeptical of some of Hartmann's concepts from earlier books especially the concept that ADD has many plusses. As I read the "Guide" I realize how on target he was and is ;once you get some control over your impulses you have often the energy and craziness to go out of the box and try new things.This with discipline can give you a competitive advantage.. The Hunter gene may account for some of our prowess as an innovative nation. Hard-core ADD is considered is small percent of the population but many more of the population have some occasional traits of ADD, so Hartmann's self management tips have common sense value for many more people, especially in business .I found most interesting Hartmann's theories on poor listening skills, reading, and too much passive visual stimulation from TV and computers. This theory plus the theory of how the brain is sculpted by our environments at earlier ages is also fascinating; these theories should interest parents of young children or grandparents of young children. Finally, Hartmann's explanation of how modern mass education evolved was a startling insight. Times change so mass education will probably have to change to adapt to our visually over stimulated new student populations. Once again Hartmann has presented helpful practical insights and strategies for dealing and managing ADD or ADDH in an optimistic spirit .He always inspires me to try new things and to do better.
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