Customer Reviews

Learning Outside The Lines: Two Ivy League Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD Give You the Tools for Academic Success and Educational Revolution

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Jon and David's book is targeted for college students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD. However, the study tips and pointers would be useful for ANY high school student, college student and for most graduate students.

The book begins with the personal stories of the two authors - both kids with a lot of problems who went on to transfer to Brown University and succeed despite all odds. Jon had severe dyslexia and didn't even learn to read until he was 12 years old. He tells the story of poignant struggles in grade school and high school that left his self-confidence in shambles. David tells a harrowing story of school and self-control difficulties that led to heavy drug use and dropping out of high school when he was 15. The story of their frustrations, fears and struggles will resonate with any kid whose learning style has made it difficult to succeed in our school system, and with any parent who has tried to help a child with ADHD or LD problems.

After reading the personal stories of the two authors, anyone reading the book will think: "If these two guys can graduate from high school, and then get into and graduate from an Ivy league school, anyone can. How did they do it?" The next several chapters describe specific, useful study skills and savvy tips for succeeding in the classroom and doing well on tests and papers. Their suggestions are brilliant.

They begin by describing useful techniques and tips for taking class notes -- especially geared for students who have failed at traditional note taking systems and who regularly lose any notes they do take. Jon and David suggest many useful strategies to provide the structure and organization that those of us with LD and/or ADHD typically lack.

After helping students set up excellent note-taking systems, Jon and David move on to classroom participation. Their ideas and suggestions are perfect for any student who is typically shy or intimidated about speaking up in class. This is one of the chapters I wish that every one of my graduate students would read. Again, Jon and David break down a process that may be intuitive to a few students but which baffle many. By taking their suggestions, students can confidently raise their hands, speak wisely, develop better relationships with their professors and improve their grades.

Another chapter that I will assign to the grad students I teach and coach, is a section about reading course material. The tips are geared for students who had difficulties reading and need to learn how to skim material, look for the important sections and retain the material they do read. Wisely, Jon and David point out that most professors assign more than it is possible for students to read. Therefore, they give techniques and tips for making the best use for covering overwhelming amounts of material.

Then writing - the most difficult task for most students - and again, the specific suggestions are so good that they will help all students - not just those with disabilities. Test-taking skills are handled in the final academic chapter. I felt that I learned good tips.

I am a clinical psychologist and professional coach to graduate students and university faculty. I'm going to recommend this book to many of the graduate students I work with. Plus, when my children are in high school, I'm going to suggest that they read and apply these tips - even though they don't show any signs of the kind of academic struggles that Jon and David so compellingly describe.

Bravo to these courageous young men who have done a great service to any struggling students by writing this book. I'm sure that we're going to hear more from them over time.

Even if you are not one of us different thinkers, you need this book. This book is so much more than a study skills book. It is a guide to taking control of your life as well as YOUR education. The key word here is YOU! We all know the education system sucks for those of us that happen to think out side the box. "One size fits all" education has beaten us down long enough. Cole and Mooney have once again proven that just because some kids have trouble in school doesn't mean they are not smart! They didn't set around and think up ways to improve grades they lived these methods and wrote this book while in school. Let the education Phd.'s think about that for a minute while you get this book and get on with your life! This book is also about helping kids. The proceeds go to Project Eye to Eye A non-profit organization started by the authors to pair LD kids to LD college students as mentors. So do yourself and some at risk kids a favor and BUY this BOOK.

"Learning Outside the Lines" is a must read for any college student, but especially students with learning or attentional differences. As a special educator I was impressed with the quality of advice and learning strategies Mr. Mooney and Mr. Cole set forth in their handbook. Many of the study strategies outlined are the same strategies taught in quality classrooms for the learning different. The upbeat philosophy of "Learning Outside the Lines" gives hope to anyone who doesn't seem to "fit" into the traditional educational system. I have brought this book into my elementary resource classroom to show my students with learning differences that they too can succeed despite their own struggles with learning outside the lines of the typical classroom. I also think it is time for our students to find their own voice and become a part of their own educational revolution. The personal stories of Mr. Mooney and Mr. Cole gave me great insight into the struggles of students with learning differences and how the educational system can crush their natural talents with "a one method fits all" philosophy. "Learning Outside the Lines" is a very readable book for students, parents, teachers or anyone who lives, thinks or learns differently.

I am a Ph.D. student in School Psychology. I am one of those people who gives those tests that decide the fate of children in school. We aren't all bad. I myself was diagnosed with ADD as a child and have spent much of my life trying to find those tricks and strategies to help myself succeed in a world I don't feel I quite fit into. I think this book is an excellent resource for people with and without disabilities if they want to succeed in school. I teach Educational Psychology to college students and by making this book required reading, my students learn valuable study skills AND they get a chance to hear first-hand accounts of growing up with disabilities. What more could I want? Well done, guys.

This book has inspired me to want to read and write more often. I have been learning outside the lines all my life, but it took me over 40 years to discover that's what I was doing. I, like David Cole, have ADHD. Then I find this book by two authors who have turned a disability into a success story. I wish every teacher, parent, and student could read this book!

"Driven to Distraction" by Dr. Hallowell, was another book that made me feel this way, but "Learning Outside the Lines" was even easier for me to read. It is written in the way I like to read. It has bold headings and short paragraphs. It gets right to the point and I don't have to spend a lot of time reading descriptive words, I get the picture as I'm reading this book.

I feel the passion these two authors must have felt when they wrote this book. They are not giving you theory. I was doing so many of these things they talked about when I was in graduate school for Library Science and was put on probation for having such low SAT scores. I hadn't read more than five books from cover to cover when I began graduate school. It was the first time in my life I got A's! I can tell you from experience what these authors have written here should be seriously taken into consideration in our educational society. Maybe it is time for an educational revolution! What we need is more books like this one instead of looking for a cure with a pill or kids trying to self medicate with drugs and alcohol. After reading this book I felt like there are so many more success stories just waiting to happen.

Like they say in the book, you don't have to follow their methods exactly, what's important is that you find what works for YOU! This book is not just a guide, it's a true success story! I didn't just read this book, I experienced it! Read it and experience it for yourself!

I can Honestly say that this book changed my life. If you are a teacher, a parent or a student of any age with ADD, ADHD or another LD, you need to read this book. Please, it is one of the most important investments you can make. This book does more than just give you the tools to succeed in school, it empowers the reader and helps them realize grow beyond the pain that school charactarizes for most LD/ADHD student. When I read the stories of the authors journey through school, i actually shed a couple of tears, and i'm a 19 year old guy who drums in a rock band. Their stories reflects so much of the pain and feelings of inferiority I still carry with me from when I was younger, it made me feel better, it showed me that i wasn't stupid, because the authors are just like me, and it helped me with the healing process of putting my old ghosts to rest. I have severe ADHD, and even writing this review is hard for me, 'cause i fidget so much.
After reading this book, My grades went from being on average low Cs, to being As and high Bs. This bbok does that additional thing others don't; They may show you the tools, but they don't give the LD student the motivation. This book shows that their are other people out their who have had similar experience to the LD reader. It helps show that no matter what, it is never too late to start doing well. One of the authors dropped out of school and became a drug addict, but he was able to recover, and he graduated with honors from Brown. IF you are a parent of an ADD, ADHD child and LD child, out searching for information and study tips, please, please PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK!!! It can change the life of your child. The same goes for educators, read this and you can help understand your ADD and LD students better.

As the parent of an 11 year old dyslexic I found the book helpful and touching. I am on-line now to buy ten additional books to share with other parents, teachers and tutors who I am sure will find the book as useful as I did. Mooney and Cole have done a wonderful job, their passion shines through in every line. The writing style was a delight to read, not at all dry and boring as are the majority of books of this type. Their biographical information touches the soul and really drives home the point that traditional educational models truly cheat students who "learn outside the lines". The book gives a true picture of how damaged young children can become as a result of teachers who don't take the time to educate themselves about learning differences.

This book should be required reading for all teachers, education majors, and students with learning difficulties. Way to go Mooney and Cole your book is outstanding!

The book is quite long and it has been very useful to just skim and read the sections that apply to me. This same technique of skimming to save time is actually recommended in the book. I especially enjoyed the sections on Cramming, the All-Nighter, and Exam Writing.

I knew before I bought the book that it would be skimpy on tips for Math & Science Students (thanks to Gerard's review). I did find that a few of the techniques/suggestions can be applied successfully to me as well. Altogether it was quite useful and very motivating. I wish I could get more information on LD specific to my field of study, (ie. Science/Math). I haven't been able to find any books of this type. So this book is the next best thing.

Here's an interesting link to a recent article called "How Grades Fail Our Kids": http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/education/article.jsp?content=20040112_73072_73072 , that illustrates one of messages of this book, that our current school system screws students, especially creative thinkers.

I have a twelve year old dyslexic son, and after reading the chapter on Jonathan Mooney's story I looked at my son and saw tears in his eyes. Some were for Jonathan and some were for himself... This book comes from the heart and it shows.

Both Jonathan's and David's stories are lived out everyday in our educational institutions. The educators need to be educated as to the kind of damage and tremendeous influeance they have on our young children. What they say and do is carried forward with these students. We must insure that the gifts of these unique children are recongnised, supported and developed. It is time we stop putting so much emphisis on what they can't do and see what they can. Like Jonathan and David...

As a college student with ADD, this book has helped me tremendously. It offers strategies for notebook organization, note taking, test taking, cramming, and reading (plus many more) that work for ADD students. I highly suggest this book.