Distant Drums, Different Drummers: A Guide for Young People With Adhd (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When people with ADHD have to pay attention to things they find dull, they often create their own excitement..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For review see Ingersoll on p.810.

From the Inside Flap

"I know Dr. Barbara Ingersoll to be a superb, devoted clinician -- sensitive, empathic, truthful, and a profoundly creative thinker. Years before I met her and worked with her, I was recommending her book 'Your Hyperactive Child' to parents of my patients as the best book of its type. DISTANT DRUMS, DIFFERENT DRUMMERS is written for those same parents and for young people themselves. It is designed not only to help them understand their ADHD, but to destigmatize their differences and offer suggestions for how to deal with them. It should be read by all children with ADHD and their parents as a beginning antidote to the self-esteem problems that so often tragically complicate their lives."

Harold I. Eist, M.D., Past President, American Psychiatric Association

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 39 pages
• Publisher: Cape Pubns; 1st edition (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964854805
• ISBN-13: 978-0964854802
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #949,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! An appropriate book on ADHD for "middlers"!, March 26, 1999

By A Customer

We have tried all the others. THIS was the one my son could read, identify with and appreciate. Ingersoll addresses her readers with the assumption that they are intelligent. What a refreshing change! She defines the physiological differences, offers the "hunter" theory of ADHD to explain the roots of the differences, and addresses survival skills. At the end of the book are some short checklists for the kids which allow some introspection, and suggested ways for kids to address what shortcomings they've found. This is the one to try for the 10+ crowd.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best, May 22, 1999

By A Customer

At last there is a book about ADHD that doesn't treat this condition as a horrible disease. If only everyone could read this book and appreciate our differences. I have a 9 year old who would be one to kill the dinosaurs, and a 14 year old who would figure out how to train them to build homes. It really does take all kinds of people to make this civilization work. It's about time for all of us to appreciate each other and treat ADHD kids and adults with respect instead of fear and misunderstanding.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Diagnosed? Start Here!, March 13, 2001

By	K. I. Simon (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Fifteen years ago when my son was first diagnosed, there was little valid information on ADD/ADHD. The books and articles I read left me feeling that the poor child would never get through life without charts and stickers, and that I would probably end up divorced and an alcholic. I stopped reading the books and started enjoying my child.

Eight years ago, my daughter was also diagnosed with ADHD. As was my husband. Life has been far from dull. But, I've learned to laugh and roll with the punches. It's not always easy; I'm a very organized, low energy person. But I wouldn't trade my ADD Family for all the "normal" families in the world. ADD has taken us places and offered us experiences that most of the people have never known.

People with ADD are the catalists in our society the cause us to get things done. The driving force that keeps us from becoming stagnant. If we don't have those people that are impulsive, exuberant and thirsty for knowledge, we have no progress. This is the definition of Attention Deficit Disorder that is honest and true, and this is the definition that needs to be presented to the world.

In her book Distant Drums, Different Drummers, Barbara Ingersoll puts forth just such and explanation of people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It is the first book I have read that takes a postive view and explains it to the uninitiated populace. It's more than time that such a book existed and it should be required reading for all school teachers and administrators. I have bought this book and donated it to my children's schools.

If your child was recently diagnosed, READ THIS BOOK FIRST! There are tough times ahead, but Distant Drums, Different Drummers will give you the certain knowledge that though your life will not be boring, you are raising someone with the ability to change the world around them.