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Driven to Distraction  By  cover art

Driven to Distraction

By: Edward M. Hallowell M.D., John J. Ratey M.D.
Narrated by: Edward M. Hallowell M.D.
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Publisher's summary

Procrastination. Disorganization. Distractibility. Millions of adults have long considered these the hallmarks of a lack of self-discipline. But for many, these and other problems in school, at work and in social relationships are actually symptoms of an inborn neurological problem: ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder.

Through vivid stories of their patients' experiences, Drs. Hallowell and Ratey now offer a comprehensive overview of one of the most controversial psychiatric diagnoses of our day. They show the varied forms ADD takes - and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment. And, as successful professionals who are both living with ADD, they extend a message of hope and compassion to all listeners struggling with ADD in their own lives or in the lives of loved ones.

An enlightening exploration of a condition only recently identified, Driven to Distraction is a must for everyone intrigued by the workings of the human mind.

©1995 Edward M. Hallowell (P)1995 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Driven to Distraction

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From 1 ADDer to another

This is an excellent book. It listens beautifully and is quite short. The narrators were fine and added a lot of structure to the information. There were a lot of common sense suggestions and examples of how to deal with ADD as an adult. I was left with an upbeat feeling that life is doable. IMO, this is a great outcome because it has been difficult for me. The psychiatrist I see doesn't believe ADD can be diagnosed as an adult. Frankly, at 58 years of age, I seriously doubt anyone was regularly diagnosing ADD or ADHD when I was a young child. Just a suggestion, if you find yourself in a similar situation change providers. So, ADDers and ADHDers, listen to this and you should be satisfied, esp if you are recently diagnosed.

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17 people found this helpful

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Excellent Insight into ADD

What made the experience of listening to Driven to Distraction the most enjoyable?

The authors have a great deal of experience and expertise on Attention Deficit Disorder. They explain it in very well and use stories and examples that really help you understand what it is like to have ADD, and what you can do improve your life while living with it.

While it imparts a great deal of information about ADD, I found some big differences between this book and the other books on the topic. First, both authors have ADD that was not diagnosed until they were adults, giving them a great deal of personal insight into the experience of living with ADD. Secondly, they look t D, not as a completely negative condition, they explore the positive traits individuals with ADD possess as well.

The authors provide many suggestions about how to work with your ADD and use its unique characteristics to your advantage.

Any additional comments?

It would be great if the latest version of this book were available, this one was published in 1995 and there is a newer edition published in 2011. Since so much additional research has been done on the subject in the last 16 years, having access to that more current information would be very valuable.

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9 people found this helpful

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Learned more than expected

I'm got this book to better understand the girl I'm dating. To say the least; I have a profoundly better understanding of what she goes through, the triggers of things that are difficult, and how to communicate better and help create situations where her ADHD would otherwise not be factor in anyway. Read it for yourself, or because you care about someone who is suffering from this.

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5 people found this helpful

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OMG it is me!

Would you consider the audio edition of Driven to Distraction to be better than the print version?

If you have ADD audio books are great. If you know a person close that you think maybe or is already diagnosed this is a must read. I have been diagnosed by multiple professionals and teachers from childhood with everything from retardation to being Bi-Polar. They were wrong and this book leaves know doubt in my mind. A psychiatric nurse recommended this book and I can't thank her enough. This book can be life changing but the earlier diagnosed the better.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The tell stories of different individuals both children and adults; both male and female.

What does Edward M. Hallowell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice inflections are perfectly matched to the subject. You feel the words.

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4 people found this helpful

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Same book is 13 hours long on Google

I feel like there's a lot missing here. It's a good book starting out but feels very brief. I looked up the same book on Google Play store and it's 13 hours long instead of only 2 hours. What gives?

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

very short

I expected more than 2 hours. He had some good points but the treatment suggestions were very brief.

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Finally help I can use

Would you consider the audio edition of Driven to Distraction to be better than the print version?

I truly enjoyed the audio version because of the voice changes. Without the vocal variety, I may have missed some important points.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Driven to Distraction?

when the father threw the kid out of the house

Which scene was your favorite?

the case study on the spouse who did not suffer from ADDH

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Peeling the onion of my life

Any additional comments?

THANKS for AUDIO BOOKS

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It can change your life.

Well narrated, I was diagnosed with ADD about 30 years ago when they didn't know much about it and just prescribed medication. All I can say is I wish I knew about and read this book when it first came out.

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Helpful in understanding what ADHD acutally is!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Driven to Distraction?

When I realized that the ADHD brain actually has several advantages over a non-ADHD brain.

Any additional comments?

Don't listen to the "word on the street" about what this disorder is-find out the truth!

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Wilkenc

What made the experience of listening to Driven to Distraction the most enjoyable?

This book gave me the basic information I needed about ADD. Only the abridged version is available, would like to get the full version.

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