Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception [Paperback]

Hartmann is clearly not only an individual in his thinking, but is blessed with the talent to express, and enlighten us into no-nonsense solutions to fulfilment, not only for our own lives, but also for our brethren and future generation.

Just occasionally in our lives, you meet someone who inspires you. You latch on to their thinking, and get carried along with the obvious benefits that practising what you believe in can, and will, enhance your well being. Simply looking at the positive opportunity that is present at each moment of defeat or gloom makes you a better person. It makes you value yourself for who and what you are, rather than turning inwards to a life of self-destruction that is all too prevalent with ADD. Whether or not the author publicly admits to it, I sense that he too may have ADD. However, he has used it to his advantage, and most certainly to thousands of fellow sufferers, (not to mention those who care and educate ADDers too) who have the privilege of listening to, or reading his teaching.

If you are reading this, then you simply have to buy a copy, (or preferably two, and pass the other on). You owe it to yourself, and most probably also to those who surround you in your life. You will not be the same person again. As the recent Apple Computer advertising slogan said - think different. The author makes you realise that being yourself with ADD is no handicap, but merely a different person, thinking differently. Believe in it, and see the difference in yourself.

I suspect I have ADD so I bought this book as my second on the subject. I found the hunter and farmer analogies very useful and thought-provoking. That's what I really liked about this book. It's in parallel with how I like to think. He really has got a fertile mind and manages to bring together concepts that make a lot of sense. I would say that if you are a fervent self-help kind of person this is a great book for that. One has to still do the work of piecing a working program for yourself - I love doing that anyway.
What's been very frustrating for me is trying to improve my procrastination, organisational skills, mind shutdown, energy, paradoxes .. the list goes on. Relying on the overwhelming number of self-help books out there, especially books on getting things done just haven't worked. Now I know why.

This book will provide you a framework and an overview of pretty much what makes you tick. Especially how you think. The really encouraging part is Thom presents this as a gift. A way of seeing the world and how we live in it. Great inventors often had ADD. If medicated to single-focus mind they probably would have become very ordinary. Their brilliance dulled.

If medication isn't your way but meditation and other self-healing methods are then you'll find an enthusiast in this book.

The other most useful info in this book is that to get things done a ADDer needs the right environment. Once you are sure you have ADD then you can embrace this paradoxical self and get the most out of it. For instance to get things done there must be no distractions. Think CAT. A cat notices every movement, every new thing. You've got to take that all out if your in "open mind mode" to stop firing off into another direction. Also I'm now buying into making lists and using organisational tools. I've thought in the past surely I'll remember, but often I don't. Paperwork becomes invisible. To function optimally one has to accept how you think and then not fight it but accept certain ways have to be adopted to function best in our current world structure.

An example of thinking things through and being paradoxical is multi-tasking. A typical ADDer can do several things at once, yet a single distraction or two and he's lost his flow completely. I had to think about that one:)

Another is if your in the zone you can stay single minded for literally hours, days and weeks. Yet another time you can't even start because you have mind shutdown. The most frustrating thing for me at school and at work as a computer programmer I would look at words and information and it would just be a refection of those same words and information. The brain simply just doesn't react at all!! At work this would go on for weeks at a time.
Usually this happens when it's become boring to you. The brain simply says "its boring I'm not wasting a single twinge on it". I think CAT again when it finds you boring for some reason.

To be honest I'm not sure people without ADD will identify as much with this book as much as those with ADD. I understand Thom has ADD which explains why I and others with ADD relate to what he's saying.

This review doesn't do justice to this book. It's packed full of wonderful information, insights and encouragement, I hope you buy it and love it as I did.

update 05.12.10
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I recently read How To Be Smart With Your Time: Expert Advice from the Star of Dragons' Den. Its the best book I've read on identifying where your time goes, getting focus and identifying your passions. Read my review as I've covered in depth my personal journey as well as the book contents. You'll notice the ADD mind in the behaviour :o)

Creator of the Beginner Tai Chi (DVD)

Quote from book - "If as you read this book, you see yourself described, it may hit you as a revelation. I've shared this information with many ADD adults, and invariably they are startled, concerned, and ultimately pleased to finally understand one of the principal forces which have shaped their lives"

With nearly 10% of the western world's children suspected of having ADD, this book is a welcome reference to teachers, parents and even adults that suspect they themselves have ADD without being diagnosed with it. This book offers a different perspective and outlook for people with ADD and Thom has done his homework in compiling this book, as he has a vested interest in the subject.

This book is different to his other books, in that it's more of a scholarly work, but is by no means difficult to interpret or take heed of the advice offered. There are many aspects to ADD and Thom approaches them all, some in depth others more briefly, his take on what sort of job a person with ADD should have, is fascinating to read and is a positive outlook for people with ADD.

The book throughout is layered with interesting snippets of information about people connected with ADD in someway and this promotes the positive outlook of ADD and is good to read. Thom's theories are very plausible and make sense in the modern world, his perspective is well worth reading and every schoolteacher should read this book. 179 pages later, highly recommended.