More Attention, Less Deficit Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD by Ari Tuckman

I’m puzzled by my reaction to this book. Ari Tuckman is a renowned, compassionate ADHD clinician. I intend to take some of his on-line courses, offered through my professional societies. All of his advice in this book is excellent, built upon many years of experience. It’s also written in an extremely ADHD-appropriate structure – short articles, lots of formatting to highlight key points. And I’m just not sure I see how my clients with ADHD are going to translate it to action. Not because they shouldn’t. Not because they can’t: they are entirely capable. But because they won’t?

As I read this book, I found myself saying repeatedly that this is a teamwork book. That this might be the perfect book for both a person with ADHD and a partner to read, so the partner could informally coach the ADHD-abled person as s/he tries the focus and organizing techniques in this book. Without someone holding the ADHD-able person accountable, I’m just not sure what’s going to happen.

My suggestion for the person with ADHD – read this book exactly as intended: skipping around; reading what applies to you the most urgently first, then moving to next-most-urgent, etc.; read it out loud, in a very quiet place, in the noisiest coffee shop you can find; mark it with a highlighter, stickies, whatever you need. Apply it as diligently as you can. And ask someone who cares about you to read it as well. Don’t be afraid: things can get better.

My suggestion for the person who cares about a person with ADHD. Read it cover-to-cover. Use it as a solid foundation to ask questions, for your doctors, therapists, the person you care about. Use it as a starting point to support that colleague, friend, family member. Don’t be afraid: things can get better.