About the Author
Works by Sari Solden
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life (1995) 419 copies, 7 reviews
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers (2019) 220 copies, 3 reviews
Journeys Through ADDulthood: Discover a New Sense of Identity and Meaning with Attention Deficit Disorder (2002) 86 copies, 2 reviews
Le TDAH au féminin - Célébrez vos forces et dépassez vos limites (Guide pratique) (French Edition) (2021) 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Michigan
California State University (MS|Clinical Counseling) - Occupations
- psychotherapist
marriage and family therapist - Organizations
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association
- Short biography
- I graduated from the University of Michigan and then spent 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area where I earned a Masters Degree in clinical counseling at California State University. I became licensed as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and served as the specialist on adult AD/HD for the Family Service Agency of Marin County, California. I currently serve on the professional advisory board of the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association. I was proud to have been the 1996 recipient of this association’s award for outstanding service by a helping professional. (LMFT)
- Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Michigan, USA
Members
Reviews
A radical guide for women with ADHD : embrace neurodiversity, live boldly, and break through barriers by Sari Solden MS
I have conflicting feelings about this book. Nearly all of it is material I've come to through the lens of PTSD and anxiety, and so the first half was retreading old ground. Then, in ch 8, I started taking notes. Again it was subject matter I've seen in other contexts, but reframing it within ADHD is really helpful.
I could have done with less fluffy cheerleading and more cold practicality...but then, well. That's a related issue: there was little time given to twice exceptional (2e) people show more (aka testing gifted/high IQ & also neurodivergent), which is me, and which is obvsly what I want more info on.
On the other hand, I probably could have used this book 25 years ago...if only I'd had a diagnosis then. So, this may be recced highly for younger adults & my 3 stars are far more arbitrary than usual. show less
I could have done with less fluffy cheerleading and more cold practicality...but then, well. That's a related issue: there was little time given to twice exceptional (2e) people show more (aka testing gifted/high IQ & also neurodivergent), which is me, and which is obvsly what I want more info on.
On the other hand, I probably could have used this book 25 years ago...if only I'd had a diagnosis then. So, this may be recced highly for younger adults & my 3 stars are far more arbitrary than usual. show less
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldy, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden MS
I have such mixed feelings about this book.
While there was some good information in it and the exercises / journaling prompts were useful, much of it was just not what I was looking for.
The authors' voice sometimes comes across as condescending and the book really leans more toward an approach that pathologizes ADHD, which is neither particularly useful nor up to date. Books that take this approach can often leave the person with ADHD feeling terrible about themselves rather than empowering show more them to understand the unique way their brain works so they can work with that and thrive as the powerhouse creatives they often are!
The book is more reflective than instructive in that much of the benefit you will get from reading it will be found in actually completing the workbook sections. There is not much strategy provided.
I found the information therein to be very "light." If you're looking for a book that includes strategies for improving executive functioning, learning how to thrive with your ADHD, or appreciate the more positive neurodiversity approach to ADHD, you will probably not like this book.
If you have recently been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and think that some prompted self reflection about how ADHD could have been manifesting in different aspects of your life could be useful for you, you might find some value in it. I do recommend, however, that you also read other books alongside this one that focus more on a positive neurodiversity message and on strategies for improving executive functioning.
One quote I did like:
"As psychologist Abraham Maslow is reported to have said, 'One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.' Personal growth doesn't emerge from a comfortable space; creation is messy, and discomfort accompanies everything worth birthing. When you remember this, you will be erecting the internal scaffolding on which to build future confidence and successes." show less
While there was some good information in it and the exercises / journaling prompts were useful, much of it was just not what I was looking for.
The authors' voice sometimes comes across as condescending and the book really leans more toward an approach that pathologizes ADHD, which is neither particularly useful nor up to date. Books that take this approach can often leave the person with ADHD feeling terrible about themselves rather than empowering show more them to understand the unique way their brain works so they can work with that and thrive as the powerhouse creatives they often are!
The book is more reflective than instructive in that much of the benefit you will get from reading it will be found in actually completing the workbook sections. There is not much strategy provided.
I found the information therein to be very "light." If you're looking for a book that includes strategies for improving executive functioning, learning how to thrive with your ADHD, or appreciate the more positive neurodiversity approach to ADHD, you will probably not like this book.
If you have recently been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and think that some prompted self reflection about how ADHD could have been manifesting in different aspects of your life could be useful for you, you might find some value in it. I do recommend, however, that you also read other books alongside this one that focus more on a positive neurodiversity message and on strategies for improving executive functioning.
One quote I did like:
"As psychologist Abraham Maslow is reported to have said, 'One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.' Personal growth doesn't emerge from a comfortable space; creation is messy, and discomfort accompanies everything worth birthing. When you remember this, you will be erecting the internal scaffolding on which to build future confidence and successes." show less
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden
Without this book, I firmly believe I would have spent the next 40 years of my life in a haze of mediocrity, doubting myself and my abilities. Because of this book, I sought diagnosis and help, which is already making a world of difference.
This is not a book of (un)helpful hints and admonitions to try harder to stick to your schedule. Solden paints a clear picture of how ADD/ADHD affects every aspect of a woman's life, from her ability to manage her household and her job to her ability to show more see herself as successful and worthwhile. Solden spends a great deal of the book explaining how having ADD/ADHD is different for women and how we can break free of the expectations society and we, ourselves, impose on us. show less
This is not a book of (un)helpful hints and admonitions to try harder to stick to your schedule. Solden paints a clear picture of how ADD/ADHD affects every aspect of a woman's life, from her ability to manage her household and her job to her ability to show more see herself as successful and worthwhile. Solden spends a great deal of the book explaining how having ADD/ADHD is different for women and how we can break free of the expectations society and we, ourselves, impose on us. show less
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden
I liked this book overall and found some sections very helpful, but I did find some of its ideas dated. I'm not sure if it's dated for being revised in 2005 or not...
For example, one of the screening criteria is about balancing chequebooks. I think this task is pretty irrelevant these days in North America, and I doubt many people under age 50 ever had to learn how to do it!
I thought there was a missed opportunity to talk about neurodiversity and especially ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), show more which, like ADHD PI, is often under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially in women. It also has several overlapping symptoms with ADHD.
I wish this book approached at ADHD PI with a less genderized perspective. I expect ADHD PI is under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed across all genders, although it disproportionately affects women since it's the more common form found in women. There's also a lot of unnecessary heteronormative and traditional gender role ideas throughout the book.
I found it hard to keep the fictional bio stories straight throughout the book since they were spaced so far apart. Seems kind of ironic for a book about ADHD. show less
For example, one of the screening criteria is about balancing chequebooks. I think this task is pretty irrelevant these days in North America, and I doubt many people under age 50 ever had to learn how to do it!
I thought there was a missed opportunity to talk about neurodiversity and especially ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), show more which, like ADHD PI, is often under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially in women. It also has several overlapping symptoms with ADHD.
I wish this book approached at ADHD PI with a less genderized perspective. I expect ADHD PI is under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed across all genders, although it disproportionately affects women since it's the more common form found in women. There's also a lot of unnecessary heteronormative and traditional gender role ideas throughout the book.
I found it hard to keep the fictional bio stories straight throughout the book since they were spaced so far apart. Seems kind of ironic for a book about ADHD. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 8
- Members
- 732
- Popularity
- #34,694
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 12
- ISBNs
- 27
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- 5
- Favorited
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