Some good content that would so benefit from a refresh

I tried to get through this book but simply could not progress past a certain point. There is valuable content and information here. I did not connect with the author’s tone; it is deliberately distanced and observational but it translated in a number of places as condescending (I’m confident it wasn’t the intention.) The information was also told in an academic manner which doesn’t engage as much in the audiobook format, and the overall themes are disempowering if you yourself have ADHD and are seeking information (this is a very difficult and impactful impairment, you don’t even understand or know your own impairment, etc.) While it deeply knows the physiological, it doesn’t resonate on the emotional or social level, except to warn sternly for those it considers in denial, which is seems to assume most are. For those who are functioning adults who are keenly aware of the challenges, and who are seeking balanced advice, I think I found other reads that worked better for me personally. I would recommend this based on the information but did not enjoy the overall message or tone and it put me off to the degree I could not finish the book. I think the author could recut this with some input from the patients and have an overall more impactful outcome that is more empathetic and informed by experience and engagement, versus observation and sympathy.

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How to understand and manage adhd

There are many adhd books but this one is one of the best I have ever read

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Great book!

For the parts I could pay attention to (not by any fault of the book) it was great. Definitely gave lots of great information and helped explain a lot.

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1 person found this helpful

Not what I thought

Looking for a book to help with adhd. This was more just “what it is” just a lot of filler info if you ask me.

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2 people found this helpful

Written in a format not suited for those with ADHD

If you are listening to this book, you probably have ADHD. Because of that, the author should have considered his audiences lack of attention span a bit more and formatted the it as such. Even with Vyvanse 30mg, I frequently found myself zoning out or daydreaming. I think I probably took in 30% of the book. However, I understand that could be related to other factors like my young children around me etc. Nevertheless, I still found myself zoning out at times even when driving. I will probably have to listen to this 3x before finding it very useful.

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Enlightening

Nice to have an audio version of a book that's a little hard to focus on in parts. Well organized, and the examples of ADHD people dealing with symptoms is very useful and relatable at times. I like the hard focus on information that's been confirmed through research. There's also an attempt to be warm and a little funny, which is extra endearing, considering the material can be a bit of a bummer.

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Very basic and negative.

Made it to chapter four and there was no mention of any of the benefits or possitive traits. An ongoing list of how the "mental disorder" only causes problems. Repeats the worse case over and over.

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uninspiring.

A monotone delivery, repetitive in content, provides more explanation rather than solutions. Felt like a traditional scientific approach focusing on deficits and pitfalls rather than looking for positives alongside the negative.

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Let me sun it up for you.

This book in one sentence.

Go get diagnosed at an expensive clinic, and take drugs for the rest of your life.

This book simply didn’t need to be written at all. And anyone telling you that the only way to manage life is through drugs. Is an idiot. If you want to go the pharmaceutical route, that’s your prerogative. Don’t waste your time on this book telling you just that. If you’re looking for a way to deal with a disorder that isn’t simply taking drugs… I’m this ain’t it.

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Like a Lump of Coal for Christmas

Taking charge of adult ADHD might be one of the worst books I've ever read and certainly the worst book on ADHD I have ever encountered.

The book is hollow, cold, and alienating. When it's not delivering an encyclopedic overview of every single aspect of ADHD in verbose, masturbatory language, it's full of vague "why don't you just" advice, similar to what you would get from a boomer coworker. "Try to live a healthy lifestyle," "Don't spend your whole paycheck," and "Remember to ask yourself if you really need to buy this" are some verbatim highlights from the chapter on handling money. These are not the section headings- these are the actual lines of advice, presented as though you would have never thought of them without this book. Not only is the book's advice next to useless, but also serve as simply more things to be added to the mental to-do list that mounts so much pressure on the minds of those with ADHD.

It also repeatedly contradicts itself. For example, in one chapter, it warns against not relying on others to do things for you as a coping mechanism, but then goes on to suggest getting a co-worker to tutor you or getting a family member to handle your finances for you in later chapters.

It really truly does read like a couple of boomers sat down at a kitchen table and brainstormed some vague life advice, wrote it down and packaged it up, putting all the effort into making the book as long as possible, restating points over and over and adding countless empty words. It treats the reader like they know nothing and haven't been able to do anything with their life thus far.

Even the delivery is poorly suited to the subject, being dry, inflexible, and difficult to hear without experiencing mental drift. There are quoted passages at the beginning of each chapter, but these are delivered in the same way as the rest of the text, leaving the listener confused as to what is quoted and what is written.

I found myself extremely frustrated listening to it, several times exclaiming things like "are you kidding me?" as I reached to skip to the next chapter. It really is an absolute slog, and I suggest anyone use their credit on Jessica McCabe's How to ADHD instead.

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