Neurodiversity

Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder

Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder

  • Downloads：2974
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-10-16 00:51:36
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Edward M. Hallowell
  • ISBN：0345442318
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

In 1994， Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder。 Widely recognized as the classic in the field， the book has sold more than a million copies。 Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD， and the news is great。 Drug therapies， our understanding of the role of diet and exercise， even the way we define the disorder–all are changing radically。 And doctors are realizing that millions of adults suffer from this condition， though the vast majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated。 In this new book， Drs。 Edward M。 Hallowell and John J。 Ratey build on the breakthroughs of Driven to Distraction to offer a comprehensive and entirely up-to-date guide to living a successful life with ADD。

As Hallowell and Ratey point out， “attention deficit disorder” is a highly misleading description of an intriguing kind of mind。 Original， charismatic， energetic， often brilliant， people with ADD have extraordinary talents and gifts embedded in their highly charged but easily distracted minds。 Tailored expressly to ADD learning styles and attention spans， Delivered from Distraction provides accessible， engaging discussions of every aspect of the condition， from diagnosis to finding the proper treatment regime。 Inside you’ll discover

• whether ADD runs in families
• new diagnostic procedures， tests， and evaluations
• the links between ADD and other conditions
• how people with ADD can free up their inner talents and strengths
• the new drugs and how they work， and why they’re not for everyone
• exciting advances in nonpharmaceutical therapies， including changes in diet， exercise， and lifestyle
• how to adapt the classic twelve-step program to treat ADD
• sexual problems associated with ADD and how to resolve them
• strategies for dealing with procrastination， clutter， and chronic forgetfulness

ADD is a trait， a way of living in the world。 It only becomes a disorder when it impairs your life。 Featuring gripping profiles of patients with ADD who have triumphed， Delivered from Distraction is a wise， loving guide to releasing the positive energy that all people with ADD hold inside。 If you have ADD or care about someone who does， this is the book you must read。


From the Hardcover edition。

Download

Reviews

Kelley Bean ，

Gave me a better understanding of ADD and fixed my expecations for family members with it。

Mark Walker ，

Truly written for people who have or think they have attention deficit。

Candy Sparks ，

Meh， outdated research and not as good as their first book。

Kate ，

"In 1994， Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder。 Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD， and the news is great。 Drug therapies， our awareness of the role of diet and exercise， even the way we define the disorder -- all are changing radically。 In this new book， Drs。 Edward M。 Hallowell and John J。 Ratey build on the breakthroughs of Driven to Distraction to offer a comprehensive and entirely up-to-date guide to living a "In 1994， Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder。 Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD， and the news is great。 Drug therapies， our awareness of the role of diet and exercise， even the way we define the disorder -- all are changing radically。 In this new book， Drs。 Edward M。 Hallowell and John J。 Ratey build on the breakthroughs of Driven to Distraction to offer a comprehensive and entirely up-to-date guide to living a rich and productive life with ADD。"Tailored expressly to ADD learning styles and attention spans， Driven to Distraction provides accessible， engaging discussions of every aspect of the condition， including new diagnostic procedures; whether ADD runs in families; links between ADD and other conditions; ways people with ADD can free up their inner talents; the truth about the new drugs and how they work; exciting advances in nonpharmaceutical therapies; sexual problems associated with ADD and how to resolve them; and strategies for dealing with procrastination， clutter， and chronic forgetfulness。 Driven to Distraction is a wise， nurturing guide to releasing the positive energy that ll people with ADD hold inside。" ~~back coverReading this book， I discovered more things about myself that are the result of my ADD， most specifically: piles。 I've always made piles and they've always gotten out of hand; I thought it was just me。 I looked around my house and remembered all the enormous piles I've dealt with and removed， and then I looked around again at all the new piles that have taken their place。 "Then， one unsuspecting day， we walk into our disorganized office and see that it looks like a dumpster was emptied in it， and we fall to our knees and cry。 We feel overwhelmed and inept。 Incompetent。 Lost。 And so sad。" What a perfect description of my life！ "Most people will counsel you on how to get superorganuized。 I urge you to ignore that advice if you have ADD。 It is just not in the cards for you。 But it doesn't matter。 Instead， put your energy into getting well enough organized to reach your dreams。" Talk about your get-out-of-jail-free cards！ Following this excellent， practical advice will mean giving up my dream of a minimalist， uncluttered house and office， but obviously that's exactly what I need to do。This book has this kind of practical， supportive advice for so many of the problems and difficulties that plague people with ADD。 I can't recommend it strongly enough！ 。。。more

Liv ，

I really liked how kindheartedly the author conveys lots of good advice here。 I appreciate the variety of anecdotes provided and I really appreciate the admission that the North American psychiatric system is quite a mess and frequently fails patients。 I like that frequent tips are "get diagnosed"， "hone your strengths"， "know yourself"， "don't isolate"， "ask for help" as well as the concept of "good enough"。 A lot of info here unfortunately comes heavily from heteronormative， middle to upper cl I really liked how kindheartedly the author conveys lots of good advice here。 I appreciate the variety of anecdotes provided and I really appreciate the admission that the North American psychiatric system is quite a mess and frequently fails patients。 I like that frequent tips are "get diagnosed"， "hone your strengths"， "know yourself"， "don't isolate"， "ask for help" as well as the concept of "good enough"。 A lot of info here unfortunately comes heavily from heteronormative， middle to upper class and male perspectives。 I'm also a wary of the oft-repeated advice to "Marry the right person"。 I believe a way to interpret this is "don't marry the wrong person"。 I also believe it's about surrounding oneself with people who both accept you as you are and support you in achieving your goals。 I do think that it risks advising people to marry on the basis of the other's usefulness to them and to have their spouse pick up their slack。 Also this advice re finding a partner is okay until the last sentence:"10。 Think of the person you’d really like to see yourself with。 Then ask her out。 What’s the worst that can happen？ You get rejected。 So what？ Remember， no is just the first step on the way to yes。"Maybe it means "move on till you find someone who says Yes right away"， but obviously without this caveat it comes off as "ignore her boundaries"。 I also know that not everyone wants a partner or does well with one。 Some people make for terrible partners or have had experiences that make relationships uncomfortably stressful。 Some people just don't work that way。 I'd like to have seen more explicitly inclusive ideas， like how friends support each other。 That being said， I do like that when you extrapolate the advice you can see that the main intent is to encourage people to maintain healthy human connections， which benefits everyone。 。。。more

Rafael Musni ，

The fact that so many resources on ADHD list this book as the most important or influential or helpful book on ADHD shows how far psychology is from becoming a serious field of science

Winston Davidson ，

This book gave me valuable insight and validated the pain I experienced in school as a child。 The key to overcoming the issues ADHD presents begins and ends with knowledge， and this book provided plenty of that valuable insight。

Tatiana Udalova ，

ADHD is everywhere around us。 I wanted to read this book to understand how I can be a better friend and a partner to people with ADHD - this book gave me an insight into their lives and their struggles - things I wouldn’t have known or thought about。 I feel like I can be less angry or annoyed - because I am aware of it。I have slipped through some of the sections。 I also didn’t find many examples helpful - for example， giving an example of a CEO of the company isn’t relevant to majority of people ADHD is everywhere around us。 I wanted to read this book to understand how I can be a better friend and a partner to people with ADHD - this book gave me an insight into their lives and their struggles - things I wouldn’t have known or thought about。 I feel like I can be less angry or annoyed - because I am aware of it。I have slipped through some of the sections。 I also didn’t find many examples helpful - for example， giving an example of a CEO of the company isn’t relevant to majority of people。 Also， giving tips as “find a a good accountant， a good lawyer… or a hired adviser” I found discouraging， it would have been better rephrased without assuming everyone has means to hire people to give advice。 Nevertheless， a very good starting point into the world of ADHD。 Perhaps there’s another book to read which may help me become more helpful for people with ADHD （or ADD， same thing imo）。 。。。more

Carol Wray ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I felt like the author overlooked individuals who were single and talked a lot about married couples。 It took me a long time to read it since I would get very distracted。 There was some very helpful information and resources for ADHD folks。

Christa ，

I listened to the first chapter and some of the language/science seemed to be a bit outdated and discovered the book was published in 2006。 So I stopped listening and decided to wait for ADHD 2。0 to become available at my library。

David Kaiser ，

Helpful in identifying issues could be more concrete about offering solutions

sonder ，

A bit uneven， as there was some useful information mixed in with the fluff。 Overall， it was an ok primer for someone who knows nothing about ADHD， but I was hoping for useful strategies to manage it。

Ellen Hamilton ，

So incredibly helpful and life changing- just as Driven to Distraction was。 As an adult who was recently diagnosed with ADHD， Hallowell and Ratey know how to succinctly and empoweringly write a book full of inspiration， tips， and how to！

Molly ，

I wish that this book had been required reading in graduate school。 I understand that to read multiple hundreds of pages on each DSM diagnosis is not feasible， but wow， this book is incredible。 If you read one book on ADD- let it be this one！ This has changed my perception of the diagnosis， prognosis， and how to help my clients with ADD。 It has helped me to take the blinders off， and see where ADD could be having an impact， and how to help my clients or myself or family members know what to do a I wish that this book had been required reading in graduate school。 I understand that to read multiple hundreds of pages on each DSM diagnosis is not feasible， but wow， this book is incredible。 If you read one book on ADD- let it be this one！ This has changed my perception of the diagnosis， prognosis， and how to help my clients with ADD。 It has helped me to take the blinders off， and see where ADD could be having an impact， and how to help my clients or myself or family members know what to do about it。 The authors share conventional and unconventional wisdom throughout the pages。 I love the humor throughout the whole thing， and yet they clearly take the issue seriously。 Conclusion: If you or anyone you love， heck anyone you even LIKE has ADD- read this book。 You will not regret it。 If you are a clinician of any kind- read this book。 。。。more

Ian Sommer ，

Well laid out table of contents and index to easily find information about particular aspects of ADHD。Hallowell also has a podcast called Distraction https://www。distractionpodcast。com/ Well laid out table of contents and index to easily find information about particular aspects of ADHD。Hallowell also has a podcast called Distraction https://www。distractionpodcast。com/ 。。。more

Laura ，

Skimmed this。 Couldn't hold my attention。 Repetitive。 Skimmed this。 Couldn't hold my attention。 Repetitive。 。。。more

Levina ，

Didn't know that I needed to read this until I did。 It is a great resource to understanding and working with ADD/ADHD。 Didn't know that I needed to read this until I did。 It is a great resource to understanding and working with ADD/ADHD。 。。。more

Annie ，

I really enjoy this as an introduction to ADHD。 It focused more on teens and adults which was helpful for me。 It was Thorough without being overwhelming， science with splashes of humor。 I listen to it on an audiobook so it moved quickly。 I would recommend it

Shuyan Lu ，

the chapter of sex and ADD gave me a wow。

Bryon Brandt ，

A book of Heart and Hope for a condition I've struggled with for a long time。And enough information about medications to make me more comfortable in trying one。I cried when reading Driven to Distraction。It was like my Biography。Not Where I'd Been and What I'd Done。But what it was like to Live the Life of Bryon。Someone knew。 Even if they didn't Know Me。If you struggle with ADD， you may find the same gift here。 A book of Heart and Hope for a condition I've struggled with for a long time。And enough information about medications to make me more comfortable in trying one。I cried when reading Driven to Distraction。It was like my Biography。Not Where I'd Been and What I'd Done。But what it was like to Live the Life of Bryon。Someone knew。 Even if they didn't Know Me。If you struggle with ADD， you may find the same gift here。 。。。more

Matt ，

Seems like a repeat of previous book， and also a sales pitch for his dubious and expensive tests。

T ，

Some bits are useful but also has info that is very out of date （even the title）。 Especially for women。 It is a book written nearly 20 years ago by men， so don’t take it as gospel。 There are questionable passages/ideas amongst the good stuff。 However it’s not pathologising ADHD which is helpful。 He is very much leaning into his “my brain goes all over the place” but he maybe should recall that while ADHDers do that they also lack patience waiting on others to get to the point！

Theres ，

Worth a skim， of the first few chapters in particular， but there's a lot of fluff in there too！ Worth a skim， of the first few chapters in particular， but there's a lot of fluff in there too！ 。。。more

Dardan Velija ，

A very good book about the topic and psychology in general。 Has received mixed feedback due to the style but I think a very good read to start for people who face the challenge themselves or who have ADHD in the family。 Easy to read for everyone。 A good read for anyone actually， as you will always have to deal with people with ADHD either socially or professionally and will help understand them better。

Sarah ，

This was my biggest takeaway from this book:"Too often， teachers and parents focus all their attention on weaknesses， but it is the talents and strengths that get you through。"I also enjoyed reading the real stories from people with ADHD or parents with children who have ADHD。 It was interesting to know their process of minimizing ADHD symptoms。 This was my biggest takeaway from this book:"Too often， teachers and parents focus all their attention on weaknesses， but it is the talents and strengths that get you through。"I also enjoyed reading the real stories from people with ADHD or parents with children who have ADHD。 It was interesting to know their process of minimizing ADHD symptoms。 。。。more

Elzbieta Zdunek ，

This book is incredibly uneven。 Nothing out of ordinary in any creation; the problem with Delivered from Distraction is that its recipient constantly changes， which creates a lot of confusion and even more anger。 Is it a book for parents of children with ADHD？ Doubtful。 Many of the anecdotes tell stories of people diagnosed in an advanced age， after a lifetime of misery and disaster。 No parent will recognize their hyperactive Tommy in a story about an alcoholic with anger issues。 Is it a book fo This book is incredibly uneven。 Nothing out of ordinary in any creation; the problem with Delivered from Distraction is that its recipient constantly changes， which creates a lot of confusion and even more anger。 Is it a book for parents of children with ADHD？ Doubtful。 Many of the anecdotes tell stories of people diagnosed in an advanced age， after a lifetime of misery and disaster。 No parent will recognize their hyperactive Tommy in a story about an alcoholic with anger issues。 Is it a book for adults with ADHD？ Hard to believe that either， too many solutions require a time machine to implement them and make the whole endeavor look hopeless。 For instance， as per page 118， “the keys to happiness and success in adult ADD are to marry the right person and find the right job”。 Easy peasy。 It gets even better in the follow up， “the keys to happiness and success in childhood are to have the right parents and find the right teachers”。 Such a message for people with a lifetime of feelings there’s something wrong with them is rather an invitation to give up completely than an inspiration to act。 Overall， there’s too much of Edward M。 Hallowell in this book to make it truly useful for a general public。 Mr。 Hallowell has been blessed with a network of support from the youngest age， from the parents， to a powdery teacher， to a spouse; as well as funds and methods to both pursue any career he wanted to change schools and therapists on a whim; and he treats that as an universal default for everybody around。 The abundance of tangible and intangible resources makes it look easy to just act and do things。 The happy endings in the stories about happy people are rather hindering than inspiring。 The authors on one hand are aware that ADHD comes with short attention span and impatience， but it doesn’t stop them from serving multiple and very similar boring stories about little Joe or Bobby and the hardships they suffer at school before their loving parents find an expert therapist。 It’s glitter and unicorns after that。 Another default that Edward M。 Hallowell applies is the preachy Christianity。 Even if you aren’t religious， well， you have to be to succeed， as brutally force-fed in the chapter about the 12 Steps Program。 The success will also somehow happen， because there are absolutely no steps and solid advice HOW to act。 There is a lot of rambling about what happens and what shall be done， but no practical hint how to put things into action。 We are being told to find talents and spouse， and something that works for us。 I guess if you don’t believe in the higher power that’ll magically provide all that the moment you get diagnosed， you’re screwed。 What is also in abundance is the toxic positivity。 While it is important not to see one’s future as doomed with the ADHD diagnosis， Hallowell tries to paint ADHD as a blessing or even the best thing that could happen to one， mostly because of creativity。 The fact that with the short attention span it is extremely hard to channel the creative skills is conveniently omitted; instead， Hallowell keeps on arguing that the condition shouldn’t be called Attention Deficit Disorder because when hyperfocused， patients have a surplus of attention。 This is a huge problem with this book: fixation on unnecessary things and on how it should be instead of finding and presenting solutions for the reality that is。 It is hard and heartbreaking to give such a low note， because the beginning is brilliant， especially the metaphors how does ADHD feel and what does it make to the individual and their self-esteem。 Unfortunately， later chapters might bring more harm than good。 Irritation they bring for sure。 。。。more

Lady V。 ，

While it definitely did not go as far as I would have preferred， I would like to give some praise to this work for at least fighting back for neurodivergent people， and refusing the reductive analysis of a lot of other psychologists where disorder is uncritically assumed as inferior to the 'normal'。 Beyond that， it's not particularly remarkable as far as lay introductions to ADHD and managing it go， but it gets the job done。 While it definitely did not go as far as I would have preferred， I would like to give some praise to this work for at least fighting back for neurodivergent people， and refusing the reductive analysis of a lot of other psychologists where disorder is uncritically assumed as inferior to the 'normal'。 Beyond that， it's not particularly remarkable as far as lay introductions to ADHD and managing it go， but it gets the job done。 。。。more

Daniel Noventa ，

Solid foundational tips on dealing with ADHD and some suspiciously advertise-y segments that feel too personal。 Overall well rounded and starts getting off kilter as you’d expect and experience with ADHD， so， either very clever， or very organic; either way， amusing。

Adrian ，

Recommended by my sister。 Poorly organized， repetitive， and not enough material to make an entire book。 Reading it illustrated and explained some of the behaviors I see in my family， but didn't actually provide many real， concrete suggestions。 Recommended by my sister。 Poorly organized， repetitive， and not enough material to make an entire book。 Reading it illustrated and explained some of the behaviors I see in my family， but didn't actually provide many real， concrete suggestions。 。。。more

Colton ，

A very informative read。 Light on practical applications but it definitely helps clarify what ADHD is and how it permeates an adult life。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0