The Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults Workbook

Rating:
Summary: Overview And Ideas For Coping
Review: Grown-ups have ADD too. Lynn Weiss was the first to tell us so, and she brought the concept to national awareness.

Her title, "Attention Deficit Disorder In Adults" mises the pizzazz enjoyed by flashier titled books, but the content is succinct and superb. The much larger "Driven to Distraction" is more thorough, by far, but it also has 100 more pages. Weiss' gives the reader just enough to start the reader exploring ADD seriously for the first time.

Kenneth A. Bonnet Ph. D. is promoted with her, as he penned the introduction. Feel free to skip it; there is nothing useful there.

Just as anecdotal as any other psychology-related popularly written book, the reader will see several case studies to which he or she might relate.

Weiss lists and describes the emotional pain felt by most ADD sufferers, from self-esteem to anger and more.

She presents the positives of ADD, and how having it isn't a condemnation to a life of rags and sad frustrations.

Unlike some other books, Weiss isn't playing the game that ADD is a blessing, but she objectively acknowledges what it is, and what can be done about it. She discusses with candor romantic relationships. There is an excellent question-answer section for friends and family.

The best value comes from the chapter on restructuring. At a certain point, someone with ADD knows what's going on, but what they want to know is how to deal with it. Weiss shows the way with example charts that can realistically applied.

The singular drawback to this book is its need for an update. Research has been exploding with new ideas in medication, diagnoses and management. Weiss tackles all of this in a 60+ page Appendices section, with contact information for support groups, organizations, and sample official letters to interested parties. Year to year, these lists can quickly become out of date.

I'm a big fan of Weiss for the reason that through every one of her books, she's a pragmatist. No silly games of "I think I can, I think I can," but good old-fashioned how-tos.

Other helpful books in the ADD reader's library will be "Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell and Ratey, "Uncommon Gifts" by James Evans (very encouraging, especially for men), and "Managing Attention & Learning Disorders: Super Survival Strategies" by Elaine K. McEwan.

I fully recommend "Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults" by Lynn Weiss.

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Overview And Ideas For Coping
Review: Grown-ups have ADD too. Lynn Weiss was the first to tell us so, and she brought the concept to national awareness.

Her title, "Attention Deficit Disorder In Adults" mises the pizzazz enjoyed by flashier titled books, but the content is succinct and superb. The much larger "Driven to Distraction" is more thorough, by far, but it also has 100 more pages. Weiss' gives the reader just enough to start the reader exploring ADD seriously for the first time.

Kenneth A. Bonnet Ph. D. is promoted with her, as he penned the introduction. Feel free to skip it; there is nothing useful there.

Just as anecdotal as any other psychology-related popularly written book, the reader will see several case studies to which he or she might relate.

Weiss lists and describes the emotional pain felt by most ADD sufferers, from self-esteem to anger and more.

She presents the positives of ADD, and how having it isn't a condemnation to a life of rags and sad frustrations.

Unlike some other books, Weiss isn't playing the game that ADD is a blessing, but she objectively acknowledges what it is, and what can be done about it. She discusses with candor romantic relationships. There is an excellent question-answer section for friends and family.

The best value comes from the chapter on restructuring. At a certain point, someone with ADD knows what's going on, but what they want to know is how to deal with it. Weiss shows the way with example charts that can realistically applied.

The singular drawback to this book is its need for an update. Research has been exploding with new ideas in medication, diagnoses and management. Weiss tackles all of this in a 60+ page Appendices section, with contact information for support groups, organizations, and sample official letters to interested parties. Year to year, these lists can quickly become out of date.

I'm a big fan of Weiss for the reason that through every one of her books, she's a pragmatist. No silly games of "I think I can, I think I can," but good old-fashioned how-tos.

Other helpful books in the ADD reader's library will be "Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell and Ratey, "Uncommon Gifts" by James Evans (very encouraging, especially for men), and "Managing Attention & Learning Disorders: Super Survival Strategies" by Elaine K. McEwan.

I fully recommend "Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults" by Lynn Weiss.

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I bought this book, suspecting that I might have Adult ADD. I was hoping to get a book that presented a general overview of the condition, with an emphasis on adults. Though the book focuses on adults, I was disappointed because like previous reviewers of this book, I found that it's geared toward those with the hyperactivity vs. inattentive type. Although I could empathize, I couldn't related to many of the stories about extremely dysfunctional relationships and coping styles, so the book wasn't very helpful to me.

I believe that I've never been diagnosed with the condition precisely because of the lack of the hyperactivity symptoms (e.g. acting out behavior in class) that the book focused on. I overcompensated in various areas to function & "succeed" the best I could. I was disappointed that the book didn't really get into this aspect of Adult ADD (overcompensation), and seemed to focus on adults who had "failure after failure" and experienced a great deal of verbal and/or physical abuse as a result, as well.

There were some helpful tips in managing ADD symptoms such as distractability. e.g. She suggested working on pacing of tasks and creating a conducive environment. However, she presented some of the ideas as if all those with ADD would benefit. e.g. She wrote "Sound screens are important," explaining that "white noise" like TV or the radio could help an individual focus on a task. Perhaps, but personally, white noise doesn't work for me, and distracts rather than focuses my attention. I need complete silence, and must wear earplugs to concentrate. I appreciated her inclusion of the white noise idea, but I think it would've been better if she presented it as one option, not a suggestion for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Very good info for starting out...
Review: In answer to some of the criticism voiced below, I do recognize the limitations of this book. It isn't really that thorough an examination of the problem. What it does do is provide plenty of examples of ADD as it is likely to be manifested in adults, and it begins to address many of the issues and challenges that these people face.

Adults with ADD were likely never diagnosed as children and have developed ways of coping that many would find admirable. However, whatever mechanisms they've come up with to deal with the challenges they have faced thoughout their lives, there is almost always a certain sense of frustration, a sense that one's full potential has not been reached and may never be. Lynn Weiss addresses these concerns and offers hope for many who may never even have realized they were ADD, who perhaps at best sensed that there was something wrong with them but had no idea what and how to cope with it.

With its case studies, informational appendices and with chapters devoted to issues such as coping strategies, relationships and on -the-job experiences, Lynn Weiss offers a very substantial introduction to the topic. I'm sure that some of the other works cited by reviewers below can only add to one's knowledge. This is definitely a good first step, however.

Rating:
Summary: It IS my first book on ADD in adults and it IS useful
Review: In answer to some of the criticism voiced below, I do recognize the limitations of this book. It isn't really that thorough an examination of the problem. What it does do is provide plenty of examples of ADD as it is likely to be manifested in adults, and it begins to address many of the issues and challenges that these people face.

Adults with ADD were likely never diagnosed as children and have developed ways of coping that many would find admirable. However, whatever mechanisms they've come up with to deal with the challenges they have faced thoughout their lives, there is almost always a certain sense of frustration, a sense that one's full potential has not been reached and may never be. Lynn Weiss addresses these concerns and offers hope for many who may never even have realized they were ADD, who perhaps at best sensed that there was something wrong with them but had no idea what and how to cope with it.

With its case studies, informational appendices and with chapters devoted to issues such as coping strategies, relationships and on -the-job experiences, Lynn Weiss offers a very substantial introduction to the topic. I'm sure that some of the other works cited by reviewers below can only add to one's knowledge. This is definitely a good first step, however.

Rating:
Summary: My ADHD "bible"
Review: This book would probably be helpful in dealing with adhd that is hyperactive but if you have the primarily inattentive type...pass on this book. As a matter of fact, there is a quiz to "self-test" yourself. If you are primarily inattentive this test will not be accurate. In fact, as I re-call the author even says something to the effect if you don't have a positive on this test...you aren't adhd. Now, I know the field of adhd has changed and grown... and maybe the book just hasnt caught up. If you are adhd-hyperactive, I can see this book being helpful. If you arent hyperactive I cant see any help at all... in fact someone telling you you don't have something your doctor says you do have is only confusing. If you are a woman...."woman and add" is the best book i have read...and there is alot about inattentive type adhd.