There is lots of literature out there about children with Attention (and Hyperactivity) Deficit Disorder, but not much for those who carry it into adulthood. This book is a manual for those coping with their A.D.D. traits and also for family members and professionals who work with them. Rather than labeling it a disease to be cured, the author gives many hopeful and helpful perspectives on working with these unique attributes.

I was surprised when I was told by my coach that even though I was 70 years old, he thought I might have ADD. Now, I had never been labeled with that before, so a short time later, when I saw this book was avilable through the LT Early Reviewer program, I put my name down, and somehow won the book.

I put off reading the book, but then realized I needed to look at it and do some sort of review. So, I have started the book and when I read that ADD people see the big picture among many other attributes, I could see the possibility of my fitting in. And then they see patterns and relationships, which I do, I saw myself closer in. I have always thought of my self as a medium energy person, but I realize at my age, my energy level is higher than most around me. I do believe in learning by doing, although I think of myself frequently as visual person. Lynn Weiss believes that that people with ADD have a great sensing ability, I immediately thought of the Jungian sensate type, which I'm not (I'm intuitive). But then I realize Weiss does not speak in Jungian terms, nor the Enneagram, nor the Big 5. So, she does not track with other systems that much, and maybe that needs to be investigated.

Weiss does believe that people function some place on a linear to analogue continuum. I am certainly analogue, although I have to use linear logic if I want others to follow me in my work environment. My sense of timing is actully right on, but that's because I schedule other people, but sense of minutes going by does linger with me, and will say it appears to me that that bus route has a frequency of 3½ minutes.

Weiss sees three types of ADD:
1. Outwardly Expessed ADD: the active entertainer
2. Inwardly Directed ADD: the resless dreamer
3. Highly Structured ADD: the conscientious controller

I am perhaps closest to a Type 2, but I do have a frequent extravert face. So, I'm still processing all this, and I do want to find out if Weiss has anything to say about procrastination.

The book does not have an index, and it has not been picked up by many libraries. It is certainly worth looking at. ( )

As a person with an analogue brain-style (and yes, I was “diagnosed” with ADD in 1994) I really wished I was made aware of Lynn Weiss's work many years ago. All of her books are must reading for persons with ADD (or ADHD) as well as parents of adolescents with the same behavior.

Having obtained a copy of Lynn's 4th revised edition (2005) of “Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults” the beginnings of a major paradigm shift begin (from the 1st edition in 1992) in that Dr. Weiss has a new interpretation of ADD based on the realization of “brain-styles” - specifically analogue vs. linear. Analogue being associated with the traits and behavior of ADD. Linear being based on approaching everything in a logical fashion. In “Embracing A.D.D.” she adopts and stresses the diversity aspect of the two brain-styles in providing comparisons of the characteristics and behavior not being “bad” - just different.

After identifying the Five Stages Following Recognition of (Our) ADD, she delves into the Five Core Components of Human Nature and how they are crucial parts of our social and emotional growth and health.

After explaining the Five Faces of ADD, Lynn proceeds to develop and approach to identify and embrace the “true you” using various case studies (as she does through out all the sections).

The balance of the book is the steps and recommendations for integrating and functioning in your professional and personal life using your specific brain-style.

For anyone who wants to understand what ADD really is (and isn't) and the many ways to function and excel in life, this book will certainly be a educational and insightful method of gaining the required knowledge. ( )

I received this book as a member of early reviewers. I was excited to get this book as I thought it might be beneficial for both individuals with ADD and people who work with them.

I did not find this to be the case. Chapters are large and rambling. This makes them difficult to follow.

The book glosses over/outright ignores the substantiated treatments and therapies for people with ADD. I can understand the 'we're all fine, just different' line; however, people with vision difficulties go and seek corrective treatment if it is too great and interferes with their lives. This book leans in the direction of encouraging individuals with ADD to avoid seeking professional help.

Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the title - it is Embracing ADD - not Working With ADD. ( )

I am of two minds with this book. On the one hand, Lynn Weiss has written a book that contains some effective strategies for dealing with ADD. I have ADD and many of the techniques that she identifies are ones that I have learned. Unfortunately, the book is written so poorly that the average person with ADD won't be able to read it enough to get anything out of it (hey! I have ADD and I found this to be nearly impossible to read); which leads us to ...

On the other hand, this book is an embarrassment. Weiss has apparently made a career out of convincing herself that she is an authority on attention deficit disorder, but I cannot imagine how anyone other than she, herself, could come to believe that. This book is poorly researched, if at all, and is backed up by no authentic studies legitimating her claims (any "experiment" or "experience" she might claim to have performed or had is - at best - anecdotal).

There is no evidence that she has any experience with mainstream thinking, teaching, or practice when it comes to ADD and its treatment. Indeed, her credentials are unconfirmed, as far as I can determine. She claims to have a Ph.D., although it is unclear just what area her degree is in, or where she received it (she makes vague statements about being in the "social sciences," but that is extremely vague - it includes psychology, sociology, history, economics, political science, and possibly even linguistics). She talks about having counseled people, but just what she means by this is vague. I've examined her website, but it mentions no degrees or experience at all that can be verified as formal, professional, and sanctioned. Her foundation for believing she is right? "... I recognized for the second time in my life that the minute a question was asked of me, I became instantly smart. I could speak what I didn't know I knew. Yet it came out with sparkling clarity, and I immediately knew that what I had said was true." (Embracing A.D.D., p. 4)

In short, it's true because she said it.

Her book is patronizing and condescending. I can understand a desire to minimize the stigma and negative attitudes that can be associated with ADD, but to try to claim that ADD is, in fact, a good thing - even desirable, in a way - is to ignore the fact that people who have ADD are at a disadvantage when even doing ordinary things. To be sure, ADD should never be an excuse, but it shouldn't be worn as a badge of honor, either.

Weiss tries to do an end-run around the entire psychiatric/psychological establishment by redefining ADD -"relanguaging," as she calls it - in such a way as to convert the disorder into - essentially - just a different way of thinking, equal in legitimacy to normal epistemological functioning. Indeed, in some places she seems to want to call it superior to other thinking. It is all a matter of recognizing different "brainstyles," she says, and seeing that they are all perfectly fine.

The book is ultimately dangerous. It perpetuates the modern tendency to accept that everything is okay, all people are entitled to be considered "just fine," and everyone deserves to be rewarded just for being. The harm here is that it ignores the fact that there are treatments and legitimate therapies for people with ADD, and in doing so seems to encourage the person who has ADD to avoid seeking professional help.

I cannot recommend this book. It is harmful and irresponsible. ( )