The Power of Different

The Link Between Disorder and Genius

By: Gail Saltz

Narrated by: Gail Saltz

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A powerful and inspiring examination of the connection between the potential for great talent and conditions commonly thought to be "disabilities", revealing how the source of our struggles can be the origin of our greatest strengths.

In The Power of Different, psychiatrist and best-selling author Gail Saltz examines the latest scientific discoveries, profiles famous geniuses who have been diagnosed with all manner of brain "problems" - including learning disabilities, ADD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism - and tells the stories of lay individuals to demonstrate how specific deficits in certain areas of the brain are directly associated with the potential for great talent. Saltz shows how the very conditions that cause people to experience difficulty at school, in social situations, at home, or at work are inextricably bound to creative, disciplinary, artistic, empathetic, and cognitive abilities.

In this pioneering work, listeners will find engaging scientific research and stories from historical geniuses and everyday individuals who have not only made the most of their conditions but who have flourished because of them. They are leaning into their brain differences to:

• Identify areas of interest and expertise
• Develop workarounds
• Create the environments that best foster their talents
• Forge rewarding interpersonal relationships

Enlightening and inspiring, The Power of Different proves that the unique wiring of every brain can be a source of strength and productivity and contributes to the richness of our world.

©2017 Gail Saltz (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Understanding my own battle with Dyslexia

This book was enlightening - the first time I have ever heard my own strengths and weaknesses so precisely laid out and holistically described. Thank you for making this into an audiobook so that those of who love to ‘read’ but struggle to ‘read’ quickly in printed format can enjoy it.

Excellent book

Great book on the differences of the brain. Through real stories the author shows how a brain difference can be linked to genius. This is must read for a person who has been diagnosed or has a loved one who may be mentally different.

Great overview

This book was an interesting and important Sunday off the strengths of minds with atypical wiring. An important book where it is all too easy to focus on deficits.

Made me feel okay to be me!

please pass this book around to your friends. it will help save lives. we are okay, just different.

Loved loved loved it!

Please write a whole book expanding on the autism chapter! This book gives me hope at a very difficult time!!!

Different Brains for Different Gains

In a world where Meyers Briggs assessments, conflict styles, and change preferences are flooding organizations and leadership structures, The Power of Different is such a great listen. By discussing the gains and challenges of different brain types, I developed a new appreciation for the complexity of the topic of cognitive brain science.

Beyond understanding, the author makes a fantastic case for removing "crazy" and "nuts" from our vocabulary because given what we already know about cognition these terms no longer make much sense or serve any helpful purpose.

Encouraging to parents

I loved the way the author clearly and specifically defines brain differences/disorder in their distinctions and full spectrum. As a parent of divergent thinking son, who’s diagnosis is not yet in the DSM, the book is very encouraging in describing how we can parent, very specifically to our child’s strengths, to help what’s going right and embrace the journey. The whole book is evidence for my theory that the explosion of divergent thinking brains harkens and is an upgrading of the human species.

incredibly validating and encouraging

I was deeply moved by the description of ADD, anxiety,and to some degree dislexia, due to the precision in which it summarized my own life. I thought I had ADD, but had no clue that it encompassed​ and explained the complete set of cognitive challenges I've struggled with from my earliest childhood memories to now as a working adult, husband, and father. Nor did I realize it had anything to do with my aptitude and creativity in math science and music. I've managed to work my way into a fitting career as a research engineer, through what I perceived as hard work alone, without ADD medication or coaching, despite ongoing challenges with planning, organization, time/task management, task switching, reading, paying attention, short term memory, and convergent thinking. After reading this, I'm inspired to try to get an accurate diagnosis​, and hopefully some help.

Thank you

Absolutely loved it. I was telling my friends about it before I finished it! I hope to delve deeper into this matter

When there is always negatives this helps find the silver lining.

Though I wouldn’t agree that I wouldn’t change my diagnosis (OCD, debilitating anxiety, major depression and complex PTSD) my husbands bipolar 1, my daughters autism or my other daughter’s major depression. Finding a silver lining helped us with our acceptance of diagnosis. Sometimes finding a positive helps when your brain loves to live in the negative. Does our family deal with some serious issues? Absolutely! However I refer back to this audiobook when I need the silver lining. What this book really helped me realize is that most people have a mental health issue they are dealing with and maybe being one size fits all is ok. It’s ok to have differences. I love to refer to it as such. It helps you to feel better in your skin. On this journey to love myself this was a huge part of that.