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Summary: This Book Gave Me Ammunition
Review: I often felt like I was fighting without ammunition for help for our son in meetings with his teachers and school psychologist. They were advising us to steer him toward vocational training because he did not handle acedemic settings well. It was upon getting a good diagnosis of the extent of his ADD, and upon reading this book, that we were able to explain ADD in a positive way to him (age 13). From that day on, his attitude changed about life and his potential to enjoy life. Today, he is a Junior in college, working with children at both his church and at the local YMCA. He is a Hunter who has learned to help the Farmers in this world. That will always make him a valued team member in communities that must deal with Hunters who don't know why they don't fit in.
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Summary: A refreshing view of ADD in a realistic positive context.
Review: I was looking for positive books on ADD to use to boost my 11-yr old son's self-esteem after we recently both began treatment for this "disorder". The book gives many examples of successful, creative, and dynamic individuals throughout history who were undoubtedly ADD affected. Hartmann explains in detail his theory that ADD affected individuals represent the "Hunters" of our society - highly observant, quick in thought and action, seeking excitement unlike the more numerous "Farmers" who represent the agrarian development of our civilization with more plodding ways. Many of the successful strategies given are from those individuals who have learned to control and focus this "multi-tasking" part of their personality becoming quite successful in the process. Mr. Hartmann balances this view of ADD as a "gift" with ample examples of the pain, tragedy, or mere lack of success which can occur when the ADD individual is put in the wrong circumstance. This book is refreshing departure from the countless books which rehash the "disorder" with the usual history, diagnostic criteria, and treatment. As a modestly successful ADD individual who has great difficulty finishing a book, I was pleasantly surprised to have finished it in an evening and greatly enjoyed sharing its salient points with my family. My favorite quote in the book was: "I'm not Attention Deficit, you're just boring!"
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Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. The farmers vs hunters analogy was intriquing at the beginning, but by the end of the book, I felt like the author had over-generalized (in some case in accurately generalized) ADD behaviors/characteristics to fit his analogy. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Obviously, other reviewers have a different opinion so take mine for whatever it is worth.
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Summary: A positive look at ADD and a new theory of its origin...
Review: I wrote this book because when my son was diagnosed with ADD the psychologist told him he had a "damaged brain" and gave him a whole gloom-and-doom scenario. Having been the executive director of a residential treatment facility for kids, many of whom had ADD, I thought this was a pretty miserable way to portray ADD to anybody, particularly a child.
In ADD:ADP, I present a "new view" of the origin of ADD -- that it's an adaptive mechanism passed down to us by our ancient "Hunter/Gatherer" ancestors. At first, I only meant this as a paradigm or metphor, but as you'll find from reading my later books on the topic (particularly ADD Success Stories and "Beyond ADD"), I'm becoming convinced that it's actually good science as well. In any case, it's as good a theory as anybody has. <g>
I hope you enjoy the book and look forward to hearing your responses to it...
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Summary: Telling parents what they want to hear, no meds.
Review: If you are a book distributor, you want positive reviews of the books you are selling. If you want to publish a book about ADHD, and you want to sell a lot of books, you tell parents what they want to hear. While I can agree with the point in this book at ADHD to some extent is situational (a hunter temperment within a farmer society)I have to raise obvious concerns about the outcome of any book not giving full credit to the metabolic issue and medications. Personally, I favor natural alternatives to medication, but I recognize the fact that this still addresses the metabolism of sugars in the blood and consequently dopamine levels in certain parts of the brain that "filter" information. While school districts would do well to develop alternatives to classrooms demanding long periods of focused on task attention and strong impulse control, the fact is that districts are currently going in the direction where the money is, high state test scores. It is an extremely painful experience for many parents of ADHD students to NOT provide medication or alternatives to medication while students continue to be hyperactive, un focused, extremely distractible, while exercising little impulse control. I hate to spoil the party in recommending this book, but this is only going to encourage parents to persist with the total impasse with schools and wanting to blame schools when the metabolic issue causing ADHD is not being addressed at all. What parents really need is an alternative to medications such as vitamins, minerals, supplements and/or herbs that can be thoroughly researched, confirmed and offered along side of the products from the huge pharmaceutical companies.
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Summary: The most Important ADD Book Written
Review: If you only read one book on ADD, read th is one, or Thom Hartmann's Complete Book on ADHD, which covers the same turf as this one. This book shouold be required reading by any health care provider, educator, counselor, etc. who works with ADD/ADHD. It offers a positive, hopeful view of ADHD. The truth is, many, if not most of the leaders, visionaries, explorers, pioneers and people who make the big differences in this world have been or are people who would meet the characteristics of an ADD person. Hartmann's book explains it. if you are ADD or love someone who is, it wold be tragic for you to not know the ideas in this book.
If you listen to many of the "experts" on ADD/HD, people with this diagnosis are not only disordered, they are pathologically defective. Thom Hartmann went through this destructive labeling with his child, and came out of the dark tunnel with a new light-- people with ADD are Different-- Hunters in a Farmers world. And in many cases, they function better than the farmers... if the setting is right. This book should be required reading for parents of children with ADD and adults with ADD. It is a wonderful breath of fresh air for people who are feeling bad about the diagnosis and their future. I'm a relatively successful person who is clearly ADD. Thom's way of thinking about it enables me, and my ADD daughter to be proud of our attentional differences. The human race evolved for millions of years as hunters, and for the last 10,000 years as farmers. What do you think evolution prepared us better for? This book will bolster your attitude for dealing with teachers and others who push Ritalin or other stimulants as a quick fix to your or your child's differences.
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Summary: I have Several Copies
Review: In order to Give them to my clients. In researching the topic for my sister's son, I was disappointed in finding book after book jumping on the drug bandwagon. As a Nutritional Consultant, I wanted to help her learn about OPTIONS. As a result of reading this book, she was able to make the appropriate choice for her family. The author looks at the issue from a naturalist's point of view in the sense of looking at behavioral roles as a way to acknowledge a childs inner worth and talents they may possess. My goodness! What a concept; being positive! Is your child " easily distracted", or simply able to process environmental information quickly? This book should be in the family library, whether your child "has" ADD or not.
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Summary: Perception is everything
Review: In response to the guy who said this book isn't "scientific" I say, it's as scientific as the diagnosis. (Which is essentially a catalog of behaviors that annoy teachers, but I digress.) There's no scientific proof that ADHD actually exists as a disorder. Since we don't understand the brain, or why it does things, how can we assume that brain scans actually tell anyone anything? Choosing a positive perspective about annoying behavior is a good start. The book is worth your time, but you should also check out Hallowell or Ingersoll.
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Summary: This book entirely changed how I perceive myself.
Review: In this book, Hartmann pioneered the concept that Attention Deficit Disorder is not necessarily a disorder at all, but rather just a different way of behaving, processing information and reacting to stimuli. The book details how to recognize ADD, and what to do about it. Hartmann presents compelling arguments against medication, but also offers a balanced look at when and why medication may sometimes be necessary, even if it is accepted that ADD is not a disorder. For anyone who has ADD, presents symptoms of it, or is trying to cope with someone else who does, this is mandatory reading.
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Summary: Parents, this is the first book to read!
Review: Is your child disabled by ADD? Damaged goods, limited potential? Absolutely not! Thom Hartmann explains that what some view as a disability, is a strength. Example - Is your child distractible, or in the alternative, able to quickly shift attention and multi-task? Hyper, or able to outwork and perseverve over others? Our ADD/HD children have exceptional strengths that surpass our 'normal' children. Thom Hartmann will help the parent and ADD adult recognize the hidden benefits of ADD and how to capitalize on them and view them, not as a disability to feared and overwhelmed by, but instead as a strength and positive trait. This is the first book I grab for my parents/clients. [...]. This book will change your view of ADD, as it should!
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