View from the Cliff: A Course in Achieving Daily Focus

This is an excellent book; the structure basically consists of three part scenarios. A scenario is presented wherein an ADD person performs an act "outside the socially/cognitively/emotionally acceptable box; this is followed by a "mock" internal appraisal (usually a self-denigrating put-down by the individual); then an explanation of why the ADD mind responds to his/her unique response negatively; and finally a step-by-step cognitive/behavioral approach to thinking about the event in a more affirming context. Issues include disordered lifestyles, environments, impulsive acts, overidentification with suffering and injustice, etc. This stuff works! And it's written in a style that is neither too pedestrian that a discerning reader would be turned off nor in the often fulsomely upbeat manner along the lines of "Wow, I'm so lucky I have ADD!" ONE bit of ADVICE, however. This book should NOT be read as an introduction to ADD behavior. It should be read after you've read some of the basic popular books like Hallowell and others. Lynn Weiss, a psychologist who has ADD, is assuming you come to the book with a fairly broad understanding of the issues confronting people with ADD-behavior. That is reasonable, although it would have been nice if she had mentioned it.

I, too, was offput by the cover, but once I opened it and read the Table of Contents, I spent the next two hours locked in my room highlighting text and tabbing pages for quick reference. I absolutely love the way the chapters are formatted. As Weiss points out, ADD people - or so we're labelled by society - are big-picture, bottom-line people. She wastes no time getting to the point. Each chapter is bulleted as: Here's the problem; here's why; here's what TO do; what NOT to do; challenges you might face while attempting this. Perfect.She also notes in the introduction that each reader is designed differently, and in putting the book together she realizes that no one is going to identify with ALL of the troubles she seeks to address. She recommends that each person use the book as s/he needs and not get hung up on anything there that might seem another label or that might not fit the individual. Actually, the introduction is one of the best parts of the book - it deals the most inclusively with the psychology of ADD; the rest deals with tools to handle it day-to-day.

I read this book after being diagnosed with ADD at the age of 52, and I feel like I have been given wings and set free. With the understanding of what ADD is and is not that this book provides, I can look at myself and my life with more compassion. I can understand and sympathize with the little girl who day-dreamed her way through grade school and the teen who felt totally ostracized from others. Even though I knew I was a smart kid, I know now why I had to work three times as hard as others to get through college, and I understand the bosses who fired or refused to promote a ditzy person who managed to screwed up even the simplest of repetetive tasks. I can even understand the failed and inappropriate relationships that have plagued me my entire adult life. With the knowledge of what ADD is and the understanding of its impacts, I have been able to successfully modify my job to be one which can capitalize on my strengths instead of floundering on my ineptnesses. For the first time ever I actually LIKE my job instead of being bored to tears by it, and I am able to do it well enough to have received a promotion.My continuous struggles and frequent failures at things I knew I was smart enough to do I can now see in a different light and can forgive myself. This book has changed my life.

This was as very insightful book. It helped me to understand just how my brain works. It was as if it were written about me. It was enlightening. This book does not make a person with ADD feel deficient in anyway. It points out the strengths and weaknesses and how to harness them. The suggestions were very helpful and easy to follow. I intend to read it again just to help keep me on track.

As a recently diagnosed adult with add, I have read quite a few books on the subject. With out question this is best book on the subject I have read. The author categorized arpox 50 separate challenges we have, and then clearly explains Why we have the problem, what we can do about it and why it's hard. On my first read I took careful notes of apox 10 sections of the book. (When issues arise considering the other challenges I can go back) These notes are helping me understand my past, who I am now and how to best move forward. Creativity is one of my great strengths in five pages she helped me to improve this skill. Lyn has inspired me to change the name ADDHD. My clarified vision now is that the way my brain works truly makes me special and uniquely valuable to the world.