Hey Gals,

I was recently diagnosed and am still pretty new to ADD/ADHD. I read the post on books for women with ADD/ADHD, and was wondering what you all think of them, or have others you would recommend.

Also, have you read Driven to Distraction, Answers to Distraction, and Delivered from Distraction? Do all three have very different information, or all they each just updates of the previous? Are they useful for women?

I am a single woman working in the academic world. For the moment, I am looking more for books that focuses more on understanding ADD/ADHD in adults (or specifically in women) rather than advice on organization. If one book may be more suitable for me than another, please do make a recommendation!

Thanks much!

I just read Driven to Distraction and Answers to Distraction. I found a lot of it very interesting, but not particularly geared toward my experience. Although there were chapters directed at Women with ADD, I didn't recognize myself in any of the profiles. I'm not hyperactive, so I'm supposed to be spacey and dreamy, but I'm intense and obsessive (I fit the profile as a child, but as an adult I'm much more assertive). I'm ADD, so I'm supposed to be the partner in the relationship who's always getting blamed and who feels bad, but I'm usually the short-tempered one with little patience who does the blaming and can't tolerate criticism. I was also annoyed by the constant characterization of the examples as male, e.g., "If you're not paying attention to your wife, she may become angry." It did not have any corresponding female examples unless it was in the specific chapter for women, so it was easy to feel a little overlooked.

It had some things I found interesting, but if you're looking for a book specifically helpful to women with adult ADD, I really think this isn't the one you should set your sights on. Sad to say, I don't have any really good recs yet. Still searching!

Understanding Women with AD/HD by Patricia Quinn and Kathleen Nadeau is a great book. Gender Issue and AD/HD by the same authors is also excellent but geared more towards professionals treating women and girls with AD/HD.

One book that I love is "Scattered". I can't remember the guys name for the life of me but it is a very good book that will give you insight as to what causes us to have ADD in the first place. First name starts with G, last name is M.... could be the other way around. I got it from the library. It talkes about all people that have ADD, but has a lot on women too. I've also read the Driven to Distractions. Both great books. I'm reading Women w/ ADD by Sari Solden. Someone on here recommended it to me. It's good so far.

Hi Everyone,

I am just about through Driven to Distraction (okay, read most of it, skipped certain sections that didn't apply so much to myself).

When it comes to books, I am a very impulsive buyer. I will easily spend hundreds on books at one time, take them home, and then proceed to find that few of them hold my attention long enough unless it's REALLY good.

That being said, I was tempted to buy all three books *** to/from Distraction by Hallowell and Ratey in addition to a bunch of others. My level-headed partner would only allow me to buy Driven to Distraction to begin with, for which I am now grateful.

So after all that rambling, my opinion is that I tend to agree with panthoot. It had some interesting parts, but it wasn't the enlightening experience I had expected. I imagine it would have been more so if I were male. Then again, it was written in the mid-90's, so the data was even more male-oriented than it is now.

I am finding the last chapter to be the most interesting, the one focusing on the biology of ADD - but I'm a scientist, so I suppose that's not so surprising.

I've heard great things about Sari Solden's books. I am waiting for her updated book on women with ADD, it was supposed to be available in October, but I haven't found it yet. Maybe I'll just buy the old one.

My councler recommended dilivered from distraction when she dio'nxd me. It shed light onto my life. However, I can't sit and read for more then 5 min. (surprize, surprize) so I just ordered the book on cassette from amazon on monday.

When it comes to books, I am a very impulsive buyer.
Me too! ;) It's hard for me to leave a bookstore without wanting something. I'm a single woman and working on a Master's so while I don't work in an academic setting like you, I'm in an academic setting. Also my older sister is a chemistry professor and researcher so I get to hear about the world of science and academia from her. :)

The first book I read was Driven to Distraction, which I found a good starting point because of the various "cases" that were discussed, so I could see some of the different ways ADD might be expressed in people (and started recognizing it in myself).

Next I happened to run across and buy Sari Solden's book Women with ADD. Again, I really liked that, and it was very helpful to see some of the ways in which women are different. I would definitely recommend it. Among other things, throughout it you get little snippets of what life is like at different stages (starting in childhood) for two different ADD women - I don't think it captures all of us, there's no way you could cover the whole range, but it's interesting to see more than one way in which it might be present in someone's life. I haven't read any of the other books specifc to women yet.

I found some helpful/interesting info in "you mean I'm not lazy, stupid or crazy?" by Kelly & Ramundo.

I am finding the last chapter to be the most interesting, the one focusing on the biology of ADD - but I'm a scientist, so I suppose that's not so surprising.
Thomas Brown has a book just published (2005) in September I think. "Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults." I found this book helpful and interesting too. Chapter 3 on ADD and the Brain had lots of science/biological details in it.

It's got goldfish on the cover. Here's a link about the book and its picture:
http://www.drthomasebrown.com/books/index.html

This link is a PDF and lets you see the Table of Contents, the preface (which includes a description of what's in each chapter) and Chapter 1.

http://www.drthomasebrown.com/pdfs/brownChapter.pdf

From the description I read about Patricia Quinn and Kathleen Nadeau's book on Gender Issues and ADD it sounds like that would have more science and research in it since it's geared toward professionals treating patients.

I hope you're able to find some good info. If you find any books you especially like, please share! :)

~~bythesea

When I was diagnosed my therapist recommended these books and they were all great!

Driven to Distraction (I also loved Answers to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction)by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey

Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Solden to terrific and really gives the female angle on things

You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy? by Peggy Ramundo and someone else has lots of good information too

Recently I've discovered Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults by Thomas Brown -- terrific book which really explains how ADHD can go undiagnosed for years, stressors at different life stages, and how it can get worse due to the natural aging process and female hormones!

Shadow Syndromes by John Ratey and Cathine Johnson is the books I'm currently reading and I'm loving it!! They discuss the milder forms of serious mental illness (ADHD, Addictions, Bipolar, Depression, OCD, Intermittant Rage Disorder, etc.), contrast them with the more serious forms, and explain how they too may need treatment and how they are "fluid" and can get worse due to changing challenges in one's life. Excellent explanations of the biology of the whole thing. This book really is helping me feel less guilty about some of the things my particularly neurobiology has influenced me to do (not saying excuse here -- but just understanding my challenges helps). They also discuss how to care for your brain and benefits of medication.

Enjoy!:)
Scattered

thanks for all your suggestions! I am going to try and tackle some of these during the holiday break. I'll let you know what I think!