Driven to Distraction

Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood

By: M.D. Edward M. Hallowell M.D., John J. Ratey

Narrated by: John McDonough

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Through vivid stories of the experiences of their patients (both adults and children), Drs. Hallowell and Ratey show the varied forms ADD takes - from the hyperactive search for high stimulation to the floating inattention of daydreaming - and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment.

©1995 Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D. All rights reserved. ©1995 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Essential read/listening for people who are new to ADD

Recommended by an friend who had been diagnosed as an adult. My son got diagnosed at age 7 with ADHD and this book is factual, non- judgement, informative and gives lots of advise. It has open up a new world for me and now I understand my son so much better what is going on inside of his brain. This book should be required for teachers - it might help thousands of misunderstood children early on.

Great book on the subject of ADD.

Greatly written. Super informative. Plain English. Clear examples. Thorough. Learn about the history and science. And most importantly, practical. Narrator was very good: clear and great to listen to.

As an adult recently diagnosed with ADHD…

This resource was a great starting point to learning about how my brain works. There were so many times when listening that I found myself nodding or having mini-epiphanies. It’s wonderful but a bit overwhelming with the amount of resources and information out there about ADHD, but this book lives up to its reputation as the “ADHD Bible.”

Long but well worth it!

For those that suffer from ADHD or wonder if they might suffer from ADHD, this is the book for you! This book, for those that do suffer, will change your life. It is difficult to get through a book that is not as exciting when you have a D HD, however, this book should be required for all people who are diagnosed with ADHD. It will give you a more clear picture of how to gain a diagnosis and create habits that will provide for a much better future. In short, you must read this book.

Fantastic ADD Primer

I have a much deeper understanding of ADD. I can better appreciate and understand the challenges that individuals with ADD, like Mozart, Ben Franklin, Einstein, and others are going through.

Still a great listen

Still a great listen many years after it's initial release. Dr. Hallowell takes the shame and stigma out of having ADHD that so many other authors keep trying to put back in by denying ADHD or distracting readers from it's seriousness. Instead, Hallowell, who knows ADHD personally as well as professionally, offers a hopeful, encouraging perspective. Not as advanced as later works (including his own) but still a fine introduction to people who've been recently diagnosed.

lifesaving book!

great info. well written. life changing.

if you are always behind the 8- ball, you might have ADD. read this book.

You're not the only one!

What did you love best about Driven to Distraction?

It validates and defines a 'disorder' many of us thought was an innate flaw. It's a relief to "put a name to it" as so many of his clients say. It's so good to know that there are experts out there who know and study what you are going through, and that there are promising solutions and help.

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

The stories will leave you involuntarily nodding your head at the symptoms and chuckling (sometimes sadly) about the missed cues. The stories and anecdotes, however edited they may be, make each of us who struggles with ADD feel so much less alone.

Have you listened to any of John McDonough’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope, but I enjoyed his friendly and wise-sounding voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No way.

A great jumping point on ADD

Initially I tried to read the paperback, but I could only get so far before my own distraction inclinations set it. I decided to use the audio book to push me through it and learn many of the concepts discussed by Dr. Hallowell.

Read this book if you want to understand what ADD is and is not; how to discuss ADD; and som basics on how to manage living with ADD.

Narrator is great but even better when sped up!

very informative

This book gave me a lot of information that I never had about adult ADD, and ADD in general. I would recommend to anyone that has a family member with ADD or suspect you may have symptoms yourself