Lynn Weiss

I am of two minds with this book. On the one hand, Lynn Weiss has written a book that contains some effective strategies for dealing with ADD. I have ADD and many of the techniques that she identifies are ones that I have learned. Unfortunately, the book is written so poorly that the average person with ADD won't be able to read it enough to get anything out of it (hey! I have ADD and I found this to be nearly impossible to read); which leads us to ...

On the other hand, this book is an show more embarrassment. Weiss has apparently made a career out of convincing herself that she is an authority on attention deficit disorder, but I cannot imagine how anyone other than she, herself, could come to believe that. This book is poorly researched, if at all, and is backed up by no authentic studies legitimating her claims (any "experiment" or "experience" she might claim to have performed or had is - at best - anecdotal).

There is no evidence that she has any experience with mainstream thinking, teaching, or practice when it comes to ADD and its treatment. Indeed, her credentials are unconfirmed, as far as I can determine. She claims to have a Ph.D., although it is unclear just what area her degree is in, or where she received it (she makes vague statements about being in the "social sciences," but that is extremely vague - it includes psychology, sociology, history, economics, political science, and possibly even linguistics). She talks about having counseled people, but just what she means by this is vague. I've examined her website, but it mentions no degrees or experience at all that can be verified as formal, professional, and sanctioned. Her foundation for believing she is right? "... I recognized for the second time in my life that the minute a question was asked of me, I became instantly smart. I could speak what I didn't know I knew. Yet it came out with sparkling clarity, and I immediately knew that what I had said was true." (Embracing A.D.D., p. 4)

In short, it's true because she said it.

Her book is patronizing and condescending. I can understand a desire to minimize the stigma and negative attitudes that can be associated with ADD, but to try to claim that ADD is, in fact, a good thing - even desirable, in a way - is to ignore the fact that people who have ADD are at a disadvantage when even doing ordinary things. To be sure, ADD should never be an excuse, but it shouldn't be worn as a badge of honor, either.

Weiss tries to do an end-run around the entire psychiatric/psychological establishment by redefining ADD -"relanguaging," as she calls it - in such a way as to convert the disorder into - essentially - just a different way of thinking, equal in legitimacy to normal epistemological functioning. Indeed, in some places she seems to want to call it superior to other thinking. It is all a matter of recognizing different "brainstyles," she says, and seeing that they are all perfectly fine.

The book is ultimately dangerous. It perpetuates the modern tendency to accept that everything is okay, all people are entitled to be considered "just fine," and everyone deserves to be rewarded just for being. The harm here is that it ignores the fact that there are treatments and legitimate therapies for people with ADD, and in doing so seems to encourage the person who has ADD to avoid seeking professional help.

I cannot recommend this book. It is harmful and irresponsible. show less

Not really what I need at the moment, but I don't disagree with the premise: it seems more likely than not that what is currently diagnosed as ADHD will someday be considered atypical but not necessarily disordered. Certainly there are ways in which my brain isn't great, but everything has trade-offs. Left to our natural inclinations my family wouldn't talk to anyone except at dinner, but that one conversation lasts two hours and it's entertaining as all hell. Dinner will be late, the show more kitchen untidy, and we'll each likely have forgotten something vitally important during the day, but you'll get quality chat.
Despite the frustrations, I don't think forgetting the odd appointment is too high a price for amusing repartee. YMMV

Library copy show less

As a person with an analogue brain-style (and yes, I was “diagnosed” with ADD in 1994) I really wished I was made aware of Lynn Weiss's work many years ago. All of her books are must reading for persons with ADD (or ADHD) as well as parents of adolescents with the same behavior.

Having obtained a copy of Lynn's 4th revised edition (2005) of “Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults” the beginnings of a major paradigm shift begin (from the 1st edition in 1992) in that Dr. Weiss has a new show more interpretation of ADD based on the realization of “brain-styles” - specifically analogue vs. linear. Analogue being associated with the traits and behavior of ADD. Linear being based on approaching everything in a logical fashion. In “Embracing A.D.D.” she adopts and stresses the diversity aspect of the two brain-styles in providing comparisons of the characteristics and behavior not being “bad” - just different.

After identifying the Five Stages Following Recognition of (Our) ADD, she delves into the Five Core Components of Human Nature and how they are crucial parts of our social and emotional growth and health.

After explaining the Five Faces of ADD, Lynn proceeds to develop and approach to identify and embrace the “true you” using various case studies (as she does through out all the sections).

The balance of the book is the steps and recommendations for integrating and functioning in your professional and personal life using your specific brain-style.

For anyone who wants to understand what ADD really is (and isn't) and the many ways to function and excel in life, this book will certainly be a educational and insightful method of gaining the required knowledge. show less

I read this in 2017 after getting it free in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway, and reviewed it on Goodreads in 2021, but apparently forgot to do so here, so here goes

Throws around the worst self-help cliches to people working on living with a complicated neurological disorder. I have read countless books on ADD (my son is off to an excellent college despite having very serious ADD and other learning disabilities.) This is among the worst since it encourages a rejection of effective show more therapies. Note: I read this a very long time ago and received it free from Librarything Early Reviewers -- obviously, that did not impact my review. show less