Customer Reviews

Adult ADD Factbook - The Truth About Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Updated November 2011

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I have done a lot of reading in my time. Mostly fiction and architecture and design, but more recently I have gotten into politics, culture and sociology -- trying to understand where my nation is headed and why it is where it is at this point. One of my favorite books is Hedges' "The Death of the Liberal Class." I also heard him recently on NPR and it blew me away. So, what does that have to do with this ADD book? Well, I have been looking at more recent books about ADD because of all the apparent controversy and recent series of articles in the New York Times and I have been wondering if it was really a fad diagnosis or what. I never expected to run across a book that would give me information that could be the key to our nation's troubles at the physiological level. Certainly was not expecting to find that in a book about ADD.

I have not been able to find a book that tells it like it is, something recent that gives a really good understanding of what is really going on, or at least what the big findings are to this point in time and whether they are scientifically valid findings that can actually explain the brain processes, if there are any such findings. I kept running into books that were somewhat vague and heavy on story-telling and case descriptions and such. That might be nice for someone with ADHD, but for folks like me, who have no hint of such challenges as impulse control problems, procrastination, forgetfulness, disorganization, and such, it has been almost a trite experience. UNTIL NOW.

This book was a page turner for me. I read it all in one evening (it is about 120 pages in length). That should be added to the description, how comprehensive it is. Even though this book is a chapter from a forthcoming book called "The Culture Genes," it is a very long chapter. This book based on that chapter clearly hints that the book itself is going to be a well-documented shocker, possibly turning our conventional wisdom on its head. So far, Sterling has done that -- turned my frame of reference about ADD on its head. But, then, again, it isn't really Sterling turning it all upside down, but the very definitive research that has occurred in the last 15 years.

This is no light-weight book and it has 518 citations done as end-notes. When the author says he is connecting the facts (dots) like no-one else has, he is understating it. This book woke me up about our culture like I have never been woken before. I don't want to spoil it for others. I don't want to spoil it, but I have to say this, at least. I am going to get myself genotyped and see if I am one of the 6% with the "straight-arrow gene."

I suppose there will be a lot of controversy about the conclusions in Sterling's book, but, all the documentation is there and it is, well, pretty overwhelming (my next project is to go through the citations in an organized and detailed manner -- that could take some time, but this book has me hooked). He's not basing the book's conclusions on his experiences or opinions, but on significant and substantial research findings. Clearly, he is the messenger and not the originator. There is a huge credibility to that.

At any rate, I highly recommend this book. It will literally allow you to understand ADHD like you may never have understood it before, even if you have read many other books on ADHD.

Finally a book which explains my ADD brain from a scientific view I understand. There are soo many ADD books telling us how to "Master It, Survive It, Control It etc..." but none that explain "IT" until this book. Dr. Sterling uses current scientific research to explain the cause of the ADD brain (non-optimized dopamine) and also discusses the many controversies surrounding ADD. This book helped me understand why I struggled needlessly for years with misdiagnosis, wrong medications and the many other issues those of us with ADD endure. Is also brings to light the continuing conflicts we face due to ignorance on the part of those enlisted to help us.

More importantly this book helped me to understand me. In havinging my mannerisms, quirks, implusivity, forgetfulllness, hyperactivity and the other endless descriptions given to my ADD behavior explained I am able to remove my self-doubt, begin to accept me (and my ADD brain) just as I am. That alone is worth the price of admission.

What I enjoyed the most is how Dr. Sterling challenges commonly held beliefs and wants the truth to be told. Hoepfully books like this will keep the conversation honest and encourage more research into the ADD brain.

During most of my adult life, I knew my brain was an unreliable organ. Now I know why.

Ron Sterling's *Adult ADD Fact Book* explains the workings of the ADD brain. There's plenty of science in this book, but it's written to be accessible to the general reader. PubMed citations allow readers to review original research for themselves. Here's a book that doesn't scold me for being unable to micro-manage my non-dopamine optimized brain.

I was sorry to hear that ADD people are not necessarily smarter or more creative than non-ADDers. Still, I'm glad to know why I function wonderfully in an emergency but probably won't be able to find my car keys if the house is *not* on fire. The author explains why Adult ADD is so often misdiagnosed and pokes holes in America's irrational fear of "stimulant drugs" -- actually *not* stimulants for ADDers, they instead turn dopamine-poor ADD brains into dopamine-optimized brains that think clearly and calmly.

I recommend this book to anyone who's tired of scolding himself and ready -- finally! -- to understand his ADD brain.

I'm more of a true crime reader, news, etc. In other words I'm not a big book junkie. This one caught my eye however due to a personal connection I have with the diagnosis and subject matter. The book was a good smooth read with page after page of fascinating facts and examples of people that share the same stories or situations I'm familiar with. The book stays on target to the subject and doesn't wander all over the places like some books do. A true page-turner and excellent data to arm yourself with about ADD. If you know anyone or personally struggle with ADD this is a must have book.