Customer Reviews

A.D.D. on the Job: Making Your A.D.D. Work for You

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book contains some excellent, practical advice for managing attention deficit disorder in the workplace. The format is nonjudgemental enough (she manages to find positive aspects to otherwise negative traits) that I was able to lend this book to a former manager. Also, her division of ADD into "Outwardly Expressive," "Inwardly Directed," and "Highly Structured" worked much better for me than the traditional split over hyperactivity (ADHD vs. ADD). This was an early book after Adult ADD diagnoses first became public, so there may be more recent books out there, but the advice here still works.

This book deals more with choosing the right work environment than giving practical suggestions on how to thrive in your current work environment, given that you are ADD. Weiss pays much attention to choosing the right career and self-employment, and offers tips on how to be successfully self-employed. She uses many one-two paragraph anecdotes of individuals who were either successful or unsuccessful, based on how they dealt with one aspect of their ADD. Weiss does address ADD issues that affect performance and effectiveness in the workplace, but I felt her advice was a bit superficial -- perhaps in a super-caring, ideal work environment, some of the suggestions might work, but in the average work environment, chronic disorganization and lateness will probably result in termination. Her suggestions for enlisting the help of others to deal with these problems may work in a few enviromnents, particularly where the ADD person is highly valued, but I think the suggestions would fall flat in most environments. Overall, the book is probably work reading to help you realize how your work behaviors are common to people with ADD and to learn about how other people have adapted -- but the book won't solve all your workplace problems attributable to ADD.

I am a Business Coach and Professional Organizer who has worked with non-ADD and ADD clients for years, and I still reference this book.

Strengths in this book include: a. an excellent chapter on getting organized (which is a good read for non-ADD'ers who need organized); b. relevant advice on communication, stress and interpersonal relationships on the job; c. descriptions of various types of ADD, including the "Highly Structured Type" or what I call high functioning (these types are usually very organized).

Ultimately, by giving examples for various types of ADD'ers throughout the book, Dr. Weiss gives a much needed perspective.

This is a good manual for making a job more comfortable. I wasn't there yet. I didn't know WHICH job to choose with my ADD, or how to go about making that decision. Another good book to help with THAT is Finding a career that works for you, by W. Fellman. It really helped me think about how to choose in the first place.

The author, a psychologist with ADD, recommends ways to handle ADD at work. Describes how ADD affects the employee, how to get organized, how to get along with peers and the boss, and options such as self-employment. Is also helpful for people who are not ADD and must work with ADD people. Describes three types of ADD: Outwardly Expressive, Inwardly Directed, and Highly Structured. This book does an excellent job of covering the emotional reactions to having ADD and how to handle them. Takes a positive approach.

Adapted from Annotated Bibliography of Learning A Living; A guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia by Dale S. Brown

I think Dr. Weiss' book is great. Being ADD myself, there were many ideas in this book that I found useful. However, the best thing about this book is the section for Non-ADDers who work with an ADDdult. I passed the book on to my colleagues to read. They now have a whole new understanding of why I behave in certain ways, and why I react to things differently. I love it!

At last someone who looks on ADD as something positive, rather than a disease. Bravo! I gained much self confidence reading this book. It is great even if you do not work. Never forget your ADD makes you special and unique!

I found this book on a friend's bookshelf and thumbed through. Before I knew it I was not skimming but reading whole chapters. Hours went by and I still couldn't put down the book!

I was diagnosed with ADD as a kid. And I still feel the same frustrations as when I was a kid struggling through school. I've seen several resources for people with ADD and I've never seen something that adequately described what was going on inside my head. But this book is different. I have never seen the experiences of ADD so well put to paper. The author's thoughts might be too wishwashy for some but I think it fits just right. The idea that ADD is just a different mode of thinking. It has its detriments to be sure, but it also has its bonuses. And as the book says: it's not about making excuses, it's about understanding your unique strengths and weaknesses and using them to your advantage.
Those searching for a clinical understanding of ADD/ADHD should look elsewhere. This is definitely in the "Self-help" category. By the end of the book I found myself rolling my eyes at all the "affirmations". But I would also say this is a good book for people that know someone with heavy ADD and how to best interact with them.
Overall I found it a good starting point on the subject. Not just on the job but in everyday life. And I will be looking into the author's other works on the subject to see what more she has to say.

This book is one of the best I've read on ADD. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone that even thinks they or someone they know may have ADD.

This book was like reading a story about my own life. What an incredible relief to know that I am not the only one experiencing life this way. It's not about making excuses either, but rather taking responsibility for your "wiring," making life choices that work for you, and then moving forward.