Customer Reviews

ADD and Me: Forty Years in a Fog

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ADD and Me: Forty Years In A Fog is the personal memoir of a man with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which he likens to living in a fog. Impulsiveness, distractions, and obsessions complicate his life from childhood to school, military career, and personal relationships - without the natural stability of cognition that other people take for granted, author Ken Patterson has had to find alternative means to cope. An inspirational story filled cover to cover with anecdotes that are sometimes humorous, sometimes dark, but always laced with challenges above and beyond the norm.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Mr. Patterson's story is both funny and sad. Having ADHD myself, I found myself nodding in agreement while reading the book because I could identify with the difficulties, feelings and situations he faced.

For someone with ADHD, the value in reading this book is finding out that other people are dealing with the same issues and that you are not alone. For someone without ADHD, it is important to keep an open mind while reading this book because it may be hard to identify with the author's struggles and writing style. Yet, it will help give a better understanding of people who are ADHD.

Again, an enjoyable read that is also authentic. Highly recommended!

Reading this book was like speaking to Ken. Ken is a good guy who is a very talented writer. Normally, I wouldn't read a book like this, but since I know Ken personally, it was like having him in my living room. I found I had to concentrate on the text more than usual because its a bit all-over-the-place, but so is Ken. Since I like him so much, I found it easy to like the book. I think you will too. -Johnny

This is an amazingly honest portrayal of life with ADD. It is a very masculine book so some parts may be hard for women to relate to. It is very much the story of a MAN with ADD. None-the-less it's a very good read and Patterson's training in creative writing shines through in certain places. At other times the writing is very straightforward.
The long sections on his job losses with be depressing for those of us who have been there as ADDers, and I admire his great courage in being able to go through his colorful and painful job history and replay it all for us with unflinching honesty. Also his courage in detailing the impulsive moments when he did inappropriate things, despite the fact that he is obviously at his core a very decent and honest man. That is what the contradictory nature of ADD is all about.
Because I live in New Zealand the cost of this book plus the shipping cost was prohibitive. Luckily I asked that the libraries in my city buy the book and they did! I'm so pleased that they did. I only know of three memoirs of a life with ADD out there and this is by far the best of the three.