Customer Reviews

Being in Control: Natural Techniques for Increasing Your Potential and Creativity for Success in School

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you buy this book, you will get three pages worth of information, in a thirty page book that costs [item price] and could have been written by a junior high school student without doing any research. The author advises relaxation, aroma therapy and affirmations; non-specific suggestions that may help anyone a little, but have no particular relevance to A.D.D. or dyslexia.

My dyslexic son had no interest in this book or its recommendations. I was also very disappointed. Spend your money on the many other excellent books on learning disorders on Amazon.

I read this book, and then had two of my children look at it. The adolescent was unimpressed. She said that the pages were distracting and there was too much on each page. The younger child, age 9, said that he liked the book. However, the things he read didn't stick. He liked the pictures but the ideas did not draw him in enough to make him want to practice what he read. In all fairness, though the 9 year old is the type of kid who likes an idea better if he has more of a "why" explanation.

I would have liked the book better if there were only one idea per page spread. If you have two different technquies on the same page spread, the child may move on to the next idea without fully exploring and digesting a particular suggestion. It takes some discipline to practice some of these relaxation and self control techniques.

The pages were bright and the pictures sharp. The pages were held together by a few staples, not a conventional book binding. A better quality binding would help so that the book could lie flat while the child used it.

Despite these criticisms, I think that the book has some value. Children can benefit from learning relaxation and self-monitoring techniques. For children who have a limited repetoire of coping skills, this provides a number of different avenues to try. The book might be more effective if an adult worked through the exercises with the child.

A VERY short book (maybe so people with attention deficit can read the whole thing?). But, some good (although brief) techniques and explainations for ADD/ADHD kids and their parents on focusing. Nice to find some alternative advice on treatment other than drugs.

This book is not only for children with problems, its comprehensive contents are very sound, for children and
for many adults also. Its colourful and the graphics are
warm and friendly. Its positive message on all the pages,
is something I would hope my children will reflect and act
on everyday. The issues covered are not that comprehensive
in themselves, but there again at this small cost. I think
the author has done a lot of research and relayed great sensitivity and caring. I would reccomend this inexpensive
book be part of every childs library
Well done.

This book is great for its target audience. There are many pictures and clear instructions for techniques to improve concentration and to improve handwriting and reading proficiency. I recommended this book to my brother to give to his class that he teaches for special education students. I highly recommend this book and its contents.

This trickery is nothing more than a mood ring with a slide show. You could get better results from a Yoga and Transcendental Meditation deminstration. If you do have the money to spare, make sure you get the gaurantee.

This book was given to my son as a gift. After reading it, he found it very informative,practical and helpful. The techniques were of value to him since they were appropriate for his age level and were something he could use not only for school, but for everday life.

Jason Alster is a multi-talented author with a specialty in natural treatments for attention and learning differences. In Being in Control, the Alster packs short, yet effective techniques in a forty-page book to help young people in their personal, creative and scholastic lives. The book is engaging visually with colorful photos and illustrations. Being in Control continues seamlessly from one-page topics that cover four basic areas: problem-solving, self-help, hands-on approach (tools to make and use. Fun!), and success in school. Alster has written a shining self-help book for children of all ages, including teens. And since I like books that capture my attention, you could say it would be a good read for adults, too.

On a non-stop JFK to LA flight this book made the hours go quickly and enjoyably. I took my time scanning the illustrations and experimenting with the techniques. I interspersed this with scheming how I might use the tecnhiques with my coach clients, napping, switching to the big view out the plane window, and watching the multiply-demanding activities of stewardesses and of parents who were trying to handle their restless children.
Conclusion? Jason Alster's ideas are sound, appealing, practical. Their simplicity and brevity is not a sign of shallowness, but of depth: they truly invite children and adults to explore many facets of themselves in ways that are spacious rather than rigid. As in my book and CD OASIS in the Overwhelm[[ASIN:0977841111, and OASIS in the Overwhelm 28 Day Guide: Rewire Your Brain from Chaos to Calm]], the strategies are simple, easily learned, and can have a profound difference in a person's ability to have an upbeat and "in-control" relationship with mind/emotions/body.
Many years ago when Howard Gardner pointed to the importance of Multiple Intelligences, he blew away the old notion of intelligence - "Johnny has a low IQ - - he has trouble concentrating in school - he's not very smart - he'll never make it in life."
Alster's techniques help multiple intelligences take root and bloom, in children and adults.

Being in Control: Natural Techniques for Increasing Your Potential and Creativity for Success in School

On the internet I found an article from the same author with a link at the book Being in Control. The article was very interesting so I thought the book would be very useful too (we have a son with similar problems). I ordered it and was very surprised to get only a low quality print of some 20 powerpoint slides, hardly bound together, instead of a book. As I live in Europe the freight costs + plus the selling price added up to more than 30$. Our son is nearly 14, and when you look at the pictures used, it seems to me that the 'book' is more for younger children, although I'm convinced the techniques could work for older kids too but then 'customised' for their living world.