The Gift of Adult ADD: How to Transform Your Challenges and Build on Your Strengths

I read this book b/c my psychiatrist recommended me to read. Of course reading a book w/ ADHD is hard b/c at times its hard to concentrate. However this book totally engaged me from the start. As an adult w/ ADD you start to compensate for your behaviors and one of mine was being very emotional. I felt like I had blocked emotions (my ability to really feel things as they came) as part of my compensation. This book literally tore down what I had blocked for so long and let me know it was okay to have struggles in my life w/ ADD. It opened up my ability to see how it really effected my everyday life. There are a ton of books about ADD/ADHD so it would be daunting for someone to try and chose the right one to read. Dr. Hallowell has many books and I have read part of one but Mrs. Webb's book was perfect for me. I will say though the activities in the book are hard to implement as it asks you to reflect back on memories of someone I don't have any memories to coincide w/ the activity-thats what makes the activities hard. The ending was perfect and was exactly what I needed to hear(read). I've been able to be successful in my life despite my ADD but I will say that my feelings w/ a lot of others w/ ADD completely resonate w/ them. I would really hope that if you are thinking about reading a book about ADD/ADHD read this one first before you delve yourself in any other books.

When searching for books on Adult ADD I was drawn to this book because of the title. So many books, blogs, etc. concentrate on the challenges faced by adults with ADD and the negativity associated with those challenges - impulsiveness, distractibility, high energy, and the need for stimulation. This book is a breath of fresh air for me & has helped me find the courage to be who I am. It has "activities" throughout the book that encourage the reader to journal their thoughts. The author provides examples of successful ADD'ers and their stories she has collected through personal interviews. The author's insights are entertaining and thoughtful and has given me validation that it is good for me to focus on what's "right" about me ... providing the motivation needed to address my weaknesses.Chapter 10 sums it up by saying "The gifts ADD confers do not eliminate the many challenges and failures that will be faced by an individual in a culture that does not value differences. Even with success, you may always feel like the proverbial round peg in a square hole". That being said, I would recommend this book to therapists who want to truly help adults with ADD focus on and find their "sweet spot" versus just trying to "fit in". I would recommend this book for anyone with ADD who wants to feel empowered to embrace their uniqueness, and those who are involved with adults with ADD - to develop and understanding and compassion for our "challenges" which truly are gifts.

This is not only the most informative book I have yet to read on the subject of ADD in adults, but it helped remove the negative stigma so frequently felt by those of us who are living with it. I have begun to view this condition with a much better understanding of myself, changing my self-pitying attitude of being “afflicted “ by a negative condition to that of gratitude for my inherent Gift of Creativity, of Artistic Vision, and other abilities “normal folk” just don’t have.I no longer see myself as having a Deficiency but as simply possessing Different attributes!I’m not lacking anything! I actually feel that I am in possession of more blessings to be grateful for.I now embrace my Gift of Adult ADD!

I bought this book after seeing Dr. Honos-Webb speak on a different topic (parenting). She spoke with such wisdom and insight, and addressed some of the most important questions and fears regarding parenting today -- and she did it in such a simple way. I am a lifelong lover of learning and I can honestly say that I have never seen a speaker come at a topic so directly yet so intimately. It was a life-changing talk.It made me want to hear more of Honos-Webb's take on the world - so much more that I went home and ordered all of her books (which is a lot to say for a single mother watching every dime!):  Listening to Depression: How Understanding Your Pain Can Heal Your Life , The Gift Of ADHD: How To Transform Your Child's Problems Into Strengths , The Gift of ADHD Activity Book: 101 Ways to Turn Your Child's Problems into Strengths (Companion)  as well as this one.Her books are more than I had hoped for. Honos-Webb approaches depression, ADD and ADHD in a uniquely positive way. There are new insights and food for thought on every page. She is also a wonderful writer. I am a writer and an editor myself and I was continually impressed with not only the beauty of the ideas she expresses but the beauty of her words as well.Honos-Webb sheds extraordinary light on these topics. Her books should be required reading for everyone who cares about the human mind.PS And if you ever get a chance to see her speak, seize the opportunity. This woman should have her own TV show! (Could she be the next Oprah????? We can only hope.)

How I wish ADHD was discoverable in my early childhood; not as much for others as for myself. I have read enough standard (because they did not address ADHD) self-help books during my lifetime to have a BA&S. Always trying to make my personality conform, never knowing I already have a perfect ADHD personality; I've enjoyed my personality tremendously. Never having these natural gifts explained; I've never understood why I can't seem to complete many of my actually nice paintings because of my giving over to unending distractions. I have laid my frustrations on my responsibilities, more important tasks, more immediate. I can now call the name to distractions, stop myself from going there, and stay better on course. I know it will take the rest of my life to alter years of inbred thinking, but at least I have renewed hope with new practices. Thank you Lara-Honos-Webb.

This is the best book on adult ADHD I've read. This is the first and only book on adult ADHD I've read that instructs people with ADHD to focus on theor qualities and strengths instead of learning how to patch over, cope with and aplogise for their weaknesses whilst they try and fit in.No would place an academic, detail-orientated convergant thinker in a position where they would be lambasted for a lack of creativity and exuberance, so why should someone with ADHD try and fit into a role that they're phsychologically unsuited to and antithetical to their personality? This book is about forgetting what you've always been told you should be able to do or should be doing and capitalising on your strenghs - strengths that in today's fast-paced digital era are becoming more and more valuable. In short: why should you waste your valuable time here on earth being forced to do things that bore you silly when you could be building a career doing something less conventional you excel at?The author also points out that the three areas you will need to work on (likely on an ongoing basis) are: 1) learning to stay focused, 2) listening, and 3) paying attention to details. She wisely points out that it is actually easier for someone with ADHD to work on and develop these skills than it is for someone with these skills to develop the skills and character atributes typically innate in those with ADHD.I woud also recommend 'Choose Yourself' by James Altucher.

Informative and interesting to gain knowledge about the ubject would recommend

Wonderful book, nice to see the positive side of ADD being written about.

This book provides a unique take on Adult ADHD. It focuses on some of the strengths that adults with ADHD bring to the table, including intuition, emotional sensitivity, and the ability to hyperfocus. The book is optimistic in it's focus on strengths, but also realistic. I would highly recommend this book for anyone with Adult ADHD, or anyone with an ADHD adult in their lives. ADHD is so often misunderstood, and gets a bad wrap by people who dismiss it as 'laziness' having a bad diet, etc. For anyone skeptical of the ADHD diagnosis, this book is useful in dispelling certain myths.

Good book, but rather a motivational guide, secondary literature is rather weak, not enough scientific proof or references given to back the claims up. I would have wished for a book which is analysing the potential, rather than giving the same motivational speech every chapter.