View from the Cliff: A Course in Achieving Daily Focus [Paperback]

Lynn Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

View from the Cliff imparts new hope not only to ADD-style thinkers, but to anyone challenged with self-esteem issues or seeking to achieve their goals. With her simple, straightforward program, Dr. Weiss lays out the tools and techniques to help sharpen existing strengths and develop new ones.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332537
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332533
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a book, a strategy as well, November 21, 2004

By 

JackOfMostTrades "Jack" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: View from the Cliff: A Course in Achieving Daily Focus (Paperback)

This is an excellent book; the structure basically consists of three part scenarios. A scenario is presented wherein an ADD person performs an act "outside the socially/cognitively/emotionally acceptable box; this is followed by a "mock" internal appraisal (usually a self-denigrating put-down by the individual); then an explanation of why the ADD mind responds to his/her unique response negatively; and finally a step-by-step cognitive/behavioral approach to thinking about the event in a more affirming context. Issues include disordered lifestyles, environments, impulsive acts, overidentification with suffering and injustice, etc. This stuff works! And it's written in a style that is neither too pedestrian that a discerning reader would be turned off nor in the often fulsomely upbeat manner along the lines of "Wow, I'm so lucky I have ADD!" ONE bit of ADVICE, however. This book should NOT be read as an introduction to ADD behavior. It should be read after you've read some of the basic popular books like Hallowell and others. Lynn Weiss, a psychologist who has ADD, is assuming you come to the book with a fairly broad understanding of the issues confronting people with ADD-behavior. That is reasonable, although it would have been nice if she had mentioned it.

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I keep this book close at hand, April 25, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: View from the Cliff: A Course in Achieving Daily Focus (Paperback)

I, too, was offput by the cover, but once I opened it and read the Table of Contents, I spent the next two hours locked in my room highlighting text and tabbing pages for quick reference.
I absolutely love the way the chapters are formatted. As Weiss points out, ADD people - or so we're labelled by society - are big-picture, bottom-line people. She wastes no time getting to the point. Each chapter is bulleted as: Here's the problem; here's why; here's what TO do; what NOT to do; challenges you might face while attempting this. Perfect.
She also notes in the introduction that each reader is designed differently, and in putting the book together she realizes that no one is going to identify with ALL of the troubles she seeks to address. She recommends that each person use the book as s/he needs and not get hung up on anything there that might seem another label or that might not fit the individual. Actually, the introduction is one of the best parts of the book - it deals the most inclusively with the psychology of ADD; the rest deals with tools to handle it day-to-day.

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Guilt-free Help with Adult ADD, September 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: View from the Cliff: A Course in Achieving Daily Focus (Paperback)

Many adult ADD self-help books claim the "you're not damaged, you're just different" philosophy -- and then proceed to prescribe ways to "fix your problem" with conventional time management and organizing methods. Fortunately, Weiss's approach is more creative, constructive, and strengthening. The author's tone reflects an acceptance of what's generally pathologized and "handled" as a limiting or disabling condition. Noting both strengths and challenges, Weiss succinctly covers many different areas affected by adult ADD, also acknowledging some of the underlying personality issues and emotional aspects. These plusses more than outweigh the inevitable and relatively innocuous happy-talk/pop-psych quotient. I was diagnosed last year, and have taken a great deal of useful support from the book.