For adults with ADHD, problems with attention, planning, problem solving, and controlling emotions can make daily life an uphill battle. Fortunately, effective help is out there. No one is a better guide to how to get the best care—and what sufferers can do for themselves—than renowned ADHD researcher/clinician Russell A. Barkley. Dr. Barkley provides step-by-step strategies for managing symptoms and reducing their harmful impact. Readers get hands-on self-assessment tools and skills-building exercises, plus clear answers to frequently asked questions about medications and other treatments. Specific techniques are presented for overcoming challenges in critical areas where people with the disorder often struggle—work, finances, relationships, and more. Finally, an authoritative one-stop resource for adults with ADHD who are ready to take back their lives.
See also Dr. Barkley's bestselling resource on childhood ADHD, Taking Charge of ADHD, Third Edition: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"This wonderful book presents information and sharp clinical insights accrued over decades of work by a preeminent leader in the field. Dr. Barkley clearly and thoughtfully discusses the causes of adult ADHD and how to get diagnosed and treated. A 'must read' for anyone interested in learning more about adult ADHD."--Lenard Adler, MD, author of Scattered Minds; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine
"Dr. Barkley’s advice to individuals who have ADHD (or think they might) represents a remarkable blend of science and practicality. This book offers a lifeline to adults with ADHD and their families."--Michael Gordon, PhD, Director, ADHD Program, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University
"Consider this book the Rosetta Stone of adult ADHD. No one but Dr. Barkley could translate the sophisticated grasp of ADHD for which he is well known into lay terms and solid strategies. Comprehensive, immensely practical, highly readable, and wholly compassionate, Taking Charge of Adult ADHD is the definitive guide for adults with ADHD and the people who care about them."--Gina Pera, author of Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
"This book will surely become a classic. If you are an adult with ADHD, Dr. Barkley can help you make sense of your lifelong struggles and develop a clear road map for overcoming them. Stories and examples from others facing the same challenges bring Dr. Barkley's ideas to life. I will certainly recommend this easy-to-read yet scientifically based book to everyone who comes through our adult ADHD clinic."--J. Russell Ramsay, PhD, Codirector, Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, University of Pennsylvania
“Barkley debunks common myths about medications and co-occurring disorders and offers straightforward advice on how to improve quality of life….Verdict: This is a comprehensive and scientifically based yet comprehensible manual for understanding and managing adult ADHD. With this information, adults with ADHD or those close to them can be informed consumers of available treatment options, behavioral strategies, and supplemental support resources.”--Library Journal
(Library Journal 20100707)
About the Author
Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Barkley has published numerous books and five assessment scales, plus more than 260 scientific articles and book chapters on ADHD, executive functioning, and childhood defiance. He is also the editor of the newsletter The ADHD Report. A frequent conference presenter and speaker who is widely cited in the national media, he is past president of the Section on Clinical Child Psychology (the former Division 12) of the American Psychological Association, and of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. His website is www.russellbarkley.org.
Christine M. Benton is a Chicago-based writer and editor.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dr. Barkley's Taking Charge of Adult ADHD the most insightful ADHD book I've read - ever.
December 14, 2010
By Chick A-D-D
Format:Paperback
As a researcher and expert on ADHD, and an ADHDer myself, I've read many books on the topic and written many book reviews. When I was asked to review Dr. Russell Barkley's latest book, Taking Charge of Adult ADHD, for Psych Central, I wasn't sure I'd learn anything new. I was delighted and astonished in every section of the book. Barkley's level of insight, wisdom, and sheer depth of understanding about the mind of an ADHDer is nothing short of brilliant.
The only downside I see is that the book is so packed with profound insights, practical advice, and useful information, that it could have been six books rather than one. For an ADHDer, this is difficult to digest. I'd suggest taking it slowly, ruminating over each section (or page), practicing and applying its insights in your own life and situation, and then moving on...slowly. While the book is dense, it's well worth the effort it might take to suck the juice out of its succulent pages. If necessary, enlist a friend to read it to you, discuss it with you, and otherwise help you glean all you can from its incredible wisdom. If you put the effort into it, you won't be sorry.
Zoë Kessler, B.A., B.Ed. (Adult Education), Author and Blogger, ADHD: from A to Zoë, [...]
The only downside I see is that the book is so packed with profound insights, practical advice, and useful information, that it could have been six books rather than one. For an ADHDer, this is difficult to digest. I'd suggest taking it slowly, ruminating over each section (or page), practicing and applying its insights in your own life and situation, and then moving on...slowly. While the book is dense, it's well worth the effort it might take to suck the juice out of its succulent pages. If necessary, enlist a friend to read it to you, discuss it with you, and otherwise help you glean all you can from its incredible wisdom. If you put the effort into it, you won't be sorry.
Zoë Kessler, B.A., B.Ed. (Adult Education), Author and Blogger, ADHD: from A to Zoë, [...]
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Kelly
Format:Paperback
This is truly a great book! As someone who has been newly diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, this book did a wonderful job of educating me on ADHD and how it affects my daily life. What a relief to find out that my problems are not inherent character flaws, but symptoms of a neurological deficit. Now I can stop waiting around to grow out of certain behaviors (I'm 26 and in grad school) and realize that the is me for life. He offers advice on how to function with these brain deficits and how productivity tips geared toward normal adults wont work on ADHD people. He offers many solutions that are specific for ADHD.
There are multiple parts in the book:
Getting Evaluated for ADHD
Knowing your own ADHD and which symptoms are worse for you
Medication information
Everyday rules for success
Mastering ADHD in different areas of your life (education, work, money, etc...)
My only complaint is that the chapter on executive functions seemed a little too long for me...and I'm sure is the case for most people with ADHD. I would've preferred it broken down into multiple, smaller chapters. But this doesn't take away from the amazingness of the book!
There are multiple parts in the book:
Getting Evaluated for ADHD
Knowing your own ADHD and which symptoms are worse for you
Medication information
Everyday rules for success
Mastering ADHD in different areas of your life (education, work, money, etc...)
My only complaint is that the chapter on executive functions seemed a little too long for me...and I'm sure is the case for most people with ADHD. I would've preferred it broken down into multiple, smaller chapters. But this doesn't take away from the amazingness of the book!
37 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
to me, Dr. Barkley is a superb academic writer and a so so general public writer. Few, if any possess his depth of knowledge on ADHD. In this book, he writes much more (and better) about the effects of ADHD, and much less about strategies to deal with it.
Summing up his strategies for adults are 1) get a diagnosis and 2) get medications. I don't disagree with either of these steps, but there are other that are available. He has a passing mention of exercise, curiously without research citation. I found NO mention of meditation, neuro-feedback, or CogMed or other similar interventions. There was nothing about the dynamics in ADHD marriages (see Melissa Orlov's "ADHD effect on marriage," in sharp contrast).
My comments are in stark contrast to Ari Tuckman's "More attention. Less deficit" book. Tuckman DOES provide attention to alternative treatments, as well as many more concrete strategies to deal with ADHD.
Look for Taking Charge to be very well received. Unfortunately, most will not find the much better books of Tuckman and Orlov.
Summing up his strategies for adults are 1) get a diagnosis and 2) get medications. I don't disagree with either of these steps, but there are other that are available. He has a passing mention of exercise, curiously without research citation. I found NO mention of meditation, neuro-feedback, or CogMed or other similar interventions. There was nothing about the dynamics in ADHD marriages (see Melissa Orlov's "ADHD effect on marriage," in sharp contrast).
My comments are in stark contrast to Ari Tuckman's "More attention. Less deficit" book. Tuckman DOES provide attention to alternative treatments, as well as many more concrete strategies to deal with ADHD.
Look for Taking Charge to be very well received. Unfortunately, most will not find the much better books of Tuckman and Orlov.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mildly helpful workbook
Lots of repetition. The layout is easy to read. Many of the suggestions (except for the medications) I already do. I was expecting a more technical discussion of what causes ADHD. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Joanne Marrow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This is a great book, with some good strategies to help with inhibition and to control impulsiveness. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Justin C Piatt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful
This book was a great resource in understanding Adult ADHD and it will be a great book to return to in the future for reference. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Danielle
4.0 out of 5 stars
informative
Informative book full of information for person who doesnt know alot of adhd. Highly recommended. Covers many different areas. Good read
Published 2 months ago by L. Rifkin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good comprehesive and in great detail
"Taking Charge of Adult ADHD" was a good read, although I keep on going back and using it as a reference. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Nicolaou
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really Good
This book relies on decades of research and study. The symptoms are more than thorough and very validating to anyone who has this disorder and enlightening to anyone who is... Read more
Published 3 months ago by The Bonz
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another ADD book
There are about the 20 or so other "Intro to your ADD..." books out there. This one is slightly better than the rest, so if you haven't read any, this is a good one. Read more
Published 5 months ago by L. SooHoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wholesome
Even though I'm not officially diagnosed for ADHD, but this book pinned down a lot of things amazingly. Read more
Published 8 months ago by TJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Much Needed Resource
I bought this quite recently, based on my knowledge of previous work by Russell Barkley, and I have already recommended it to all my adult clients with ADHD. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Joan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'How to" manual for the ADD adult
As a psychologist who specializes in ADD in all age groups and as a person with ADD myself, I recommend this book to every new adult ADD patient that I see. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Thomas D. Coe
