Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to Adhd: Help for Your Family At Home, School and Work [Paperback]

The major point I would like to make is that Thom Hartmann has written several books - I think it's confusing trying to figure out which one(s) to read. His "A Different Perspective" was fantastic. But his "Complete Guid" is the best. If you are into NLP, his "Healing" book is useful. [My take on NLP is: Neuro Linguistic Programming - learn how people's eyes literally look in a particular direction when they are thinking certain types of thoughts {and succeed in poker) - control your involuntary physiological responses to transform your behavior - e.g., train your mind to be tranzuil (instead of fearful) when you see a black cat.]

Thom Hartmann's approach is effective [in my opinion and in direct contrast to the newest review I saw] because it helps me get get a handle on the various problems AND it offers effective advice on how to leverage ADD strengths.

I hope this proves useful.

I am the founder & CEO of The Optimal Functioning Institute™, which trains ADD Coaches in a comprehensive 2-year training; "Focus" has been one of five ADD books that are REQUIRED reading for my students since 1994. I mourned the fact that it was taken out of print. Even though my students could still get it through a special agreement with the author, I rejoice that it is back so that everyone can read it. The "Guide" has now replaced "Focus" on our required reading list.

Hartmann is knowledgeable, imminently readable, and never pathologizes ADD. His use of the "hunter/farmer" metaphor to differentiate the ADD brain wiring from non-ADD, allows those of us with that kind of brain to focus on what is GOOD about us rather than trying to "fix" what's "bad."

I have always recommended FOCUS as a "first read" for certain individuals, and will now recommend the Guide in its stead. In my experience with thousands of ADDers, entrepreneurs, people who are fearful of "labels" yet searching for help, those who have been prescribed medication but no practical help to support them, and those who have read the sensationalist press primarily and are looking at ADD with a jaundiced eye as a result, have all responded positively to FOCUS. Because Hartmann writes so clearly and economically, it has always been my choice for ADDers who have trouble reading because they just can't concentrate long enough to get through a paragraph, much less a book.

This is a "feel good" book -- buy it and read it for the afterglow as much as the information.

Sincerely, Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, A.C.T., MCC The Optimal Functioning Institute™ founder & CEO

However, as an adult with ADD who was diagnosed just a year and a half ago, I hoped to to find some helpful hints to improve my performance at work and in my every day life. Hartmann is a bit long on new paradigms but a bit short on "This is what you should do" type advice. Still, I'm glad I took the time to read the book and get to know his ideas and perspective on ADD.