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ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer's World
A Hunter in a Farmer's World Paperback � September 3, 2019
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2019
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2,323 people want to read
About the author
Thom Hartmann
84Ìýbooks364ÌýfollowersThomas Carl Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, businessman, and progressive political commentator. Hartmann has been hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and hosted a nightly television show, The Big Picture, between 2010 and 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 3, 2021
Society is the disorder :p
April 24, 2022
While it offers a great perspective of ADHD as an asset the authors do not spend enough time talking about the experiences of people with far less privilege than the primarily white and male success stories they offer as examples. He does spend time talking about the high incidence of ADHD in prisons, outside of a very brief paragraph he avoids discussing the systemic reasons that people of color, and people in poverty are less likely to get treatment for ADHD, and more likely to have harsh sentences for crime. I did appreciate this book but I feel like the author's work would have benefited from including more nuance and some sensitivity readers.
June 4, 2019
My rating: 3/5
I thought that this book was an interesting take on ADHD: the idea that we have “hunters� and “farmers� and that ADHD is basically a holdover from the time that we were hunter gatherers as a society.
Though I wondered how accurate the concepts were in comparison to societies. The author mentioned Japanese as an aggregate being a farming culture, yet there were parts of Japan that we’re hunter/gathering like the Ainu who have for the most part assimilated into Japan as a whole. Why are the rates of ADHD so low, then? Could it be that Asians don’t tend to discuss mental health, if at all? (Don’t answer that because I’m saying it’s a resounding YES!)
I also thought that it was incredibly wordy for the concepts to get across, which are commonly shared in many ADHD related books and circles on the internet. I didn’t really feel like I learned anything from reading this book, though maybe for someone who had a negative mindset towards ADHD might find this a useful guide to understanding ADHD.
I thought that this book was an interesting take on ADHD: the idea that we have “hunters� and “farmers� and that ADHD is basically a holdover from the time that we were hunter gatherers as a society.
Though I wondered how accurate the concepts were in comparison to societies. The author mentioned Japanese as an aggregate being a farming culture, yet there were parts of Japan that we’re hunter/gathering like the Ainu who have for the most part assimilated into Japan as a whole. Why are the rates of ADHD so low, then? Could it be that Asians don’t tend to discuss mental health, if at all? (Don’t answer that because I’m saying it’s a resounding YES!)
I also thought that it was incredibly wordy for the concepts to get across, which are commonly shared in many ADHD related books and circles on the internet. I didn’t really feel like I learned anything from reading this book, though maybe for someone who had a negative mindset towards ADHD might find this a useful guide to understanding ADHD.
March 17, 2022
I love the premise. ADHD is not a disorder but a different way of thinking. He does a great job explaining what he believes to be the evolutionary advantage of hunter children and the edge they have over us neurotypical people when it comes to creative skills. However, the author does not give teachers or caregivers credit in how they go about treating hunter children. I cannot imagine telling my kids, 7 & 9 and both with different types of ADHD, that they are stupid or will never amount to anything because of their diagnosis. I don't know any of my friends with similarly challenging children who would do that. Other than a couple schools that literally put ADHD kids in closets, the schools most of my friends' kids go to are excellent at putting together plans to help the kids learn better. At one point the author asserts that it is teachers, not doctors, that insist on medicating students. B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T. Of course that could be true sometimes that teachers try to insist on some medical backup in the classroom, it's up to parents to advocate for their ADHD kids and say no if they don't think that's what the kid needs. This book was written in what, 2019? It's not the 80s with Ritalin zombies roaming school hallways. We have resources; we have 504 plans and IEPs (in the US anyway); we have ways of helping kids reach their potential without making them feel like shit.
Some of the tactics the author mentions for coping with ADHD seem helpful. I hope to pull some nuggets out to help my ADHD kids and friends.
Some of the tactics the author mentions for coping with ADHD seem helpful. I hope to pull some nuggets out to help my ADHD kids and friends.
November 3, 2019
Review � ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World by Thom Hartmann, Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2019.
The publisher of this book, Healing Arts Press, requested my review and I found the title an attraction as it reflected two of my deeper interests: my dealing with ADHD as a psychologist, and my interest in the era of the hunter-gatherer. ADHD is so prevalent in our current culture that this acronym may not need to be defined, but to be clear it describes those people, generally young people, with a Disorder of an Attention Deficit with Hyperactive. This behavior is often controlled with the prescription of Ritalin or other related drugs because the behavior can be very disruptive in the school classroom.
I recognize that some of what we consider a mental illness may be elevated to special prominence as a valued personal trait in other cultures, e.g. the schizophrenic hallucinations and hearing of voices can elevate a person to the role of shaman in some cultures. This revised and updated edition of ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World recognizes the advantage of having what we would call an attention deficit for the ancient Hunters who needed to constantly scan and be aware of everything going on around them while stalking game. The Hunter needs to be sensitive to the distractive noises in the forest and respond to these noises with his short but intense attention span to give him what he needs to know to make quick or snap decisions. On the other hand, Farmers need is to focus on the process of planting and tending the garden. They are not easily distracted by environmental noises, sustain a slow and steady effort in attain their goal, and see the long range picture. They are not easily bored, but become team players who attend to details with caution and patience. While the Farmer’s consciousness is very task focused, the Hunter’s consciousness may be considered open or diffused. With these traits the ADHD person is easily frustrated and becomes impatient in our Farmer culture.
Many years ago a psychologist friend explained ADHD to me in this way: “A child comes into my office and touches something. I respond with ‘NO.� With more “NO’s� he is soon racing around the office touching everything, looking for a ‘yes.’� In some ways this child is acting like a Hunter, hunting for a “yes� with an awareness of everything that is in his environment, yet in today’s world he would be considered a problem.
The opposite of a person with ADHD is the person who has the ability to focus attention on one task for an extended period of time. This opposite has been considered normal in our culture, but there is a disadvantage to this ability, i.e. the inability to switch between tasks, a limitation that defines Hartmann’s Task-Switching Deficit Disorder, TSDD. For people who pride themselves on their ability to multitask, their multitasking might be considered a disability.
Though the Hunter has been found on every continent, our western culture came out of Mesopotamia about 10,000 years ago when the hunter-gatherers began to learn the ways of the agriculturists. They gradually moved west across what is now Europe and North Africa, and eventually across the Atlantic into North America. The evolution from the Hunter to the Farmer can be considered an evolution in consciousness as the immigration slowly moved west and the successful Farmer learned to focus on the details of farming, details that the Hunter would have considered boring. Yet, there were/are those who have maintained their Hunter consciousness. But with the Farmers� conquests in moving west they became the dominators and takers of what laid before them. The genocide they inflicted upon the conquered showed them to be amoral and predatory invaders of Europe and North America.
But what is the condition now? It is useful to look at what is called a bell-shaped distribution of these traits with the majority of the population in the middle. If we think of this distribution as lying along a 12 inch ruler, then those with extremely focused consciousness may appear in the 2 to 3 inch area, while those with an extremely open consciousness or inability to focus is in the 9 to 10 inch area. The relaxing average person would fall at the middle or in the 5 to 7 inch area, while the relaxed Hunter would be found in the 7 to 8 inch area and the relaxed Farmer in the 4 to 5 inch area. It has also been suggested that the autistic person might fall at zero to 1 inch and the schizophrenic in the 11 to 12 inch area (pg. 55-56).
In considering the prison and the alcoholic populations, the high proportion of ADHD individuals would suggest a genetic ADHD predisposition for these problems. These populations have learned to believe that their condition is hopeless with the alcoholic and incarcerated giving up on the ability to succeed. What we tell an ADHD child can have a very damaging effect if they are punished for the way they are. The effect of explaining to a child that their problem is genetic or medical vs. a learned behavior that can be modified is an important consideration. Offering a child more constructive ways to deal with or think of the problem such as meditation or that the Hunter’s ADHD behavior can be an advantage in some situations can empower the child in coping rather than experiencing it as a disease or disorder. Defining ADHD as a medical problem that may require a lifetime of taking medication can be felt with a sense of hopelessness. Your confidence will be diminished when you are repeatedly told that you are bad, and your performance will likely fail. The money from pharmaceutical companies continues to suggest that ADHD is a failure of genetics or neurochemistry, but by learning that you have a gene of the Hunter and that it was an advantage to the Hunter, you may become open to a positive side of ADHD.
Another factor in understanding ADHD is understanding the roles of the thalamus and reticular formation. These two brain formations control the sensory input to the brain, the thalamus as a gate to the cortex and the reticular formation as an alarm announcing that there is danger. For some people this gate may be slow to open and for others easily opened. For the ADHD it opens slowly as they look for greater stimulation in order to feel alive, thus they are open to taking risks. For those with TSDD it opens easily, maybe too easily, and they seek stimulation with greater caution. Ritalin as a stimulant that creates a greater sensitivity to sensory input makes risk-taking unnecessary to feel the sought after sense of aliveness.
Part Two of Hartmann’s book is “Living and Thriving in the Farmer’s World.� There are a number of ways for the Hunter to succeed and the book offers many examples. In a positive sense the Hunter is voraciously curious and creative with a broad-base of interests. There are many jobs that require these traits. To fit into the Farmer’s world the Hunter needs to break down a task into smaller tasks to compensate for their short concentration span. The Hunter can also learn various forms of meditation to increase their attention span and needs to create a “distraction-free zone.� This would include removing a radio and other distracting technology from his or her environment. Exercising daily can take the place of Ritalin. Knowing well what you are good at and limit your tasks to those things can lead to success. If the task requires a Farmer find a Farmer to do it. Two characteristics of the Hunter are a serious challenge: impulsivity and craving. Impulsivity can be overcome by partnering with a Farmer and postponing all decision for a day. As for craving wait for an hour or two for the craving to pass or redirect it, attaching the craving to something else.
In considering the opposite side of this picture, what are effective ways that managers, parents, and teachers can work with a Hunter? In the workplace, the expectations of the Hunter need to be defined in measurable short-term goals given when possible only one at a time. Evaluating success in meeting the goals needs to happen daily along with a reward for meeting the goals. For the Hunter school child, again setting goals and rewarding performance in meeting the goals need to be short-term and daily. The child should be encouraged to do special projects for extra credit, and a new label should be attached to the child such as Hunter or Lookout, not disordered. Thinking of the child as “gifted� is also a help. Medication is an option but as a last resort.
As a student at U.C.L.A. in the 1960’s I had the opportunity to work in Frank Hewett’s “Engineered Classroom� at the U.C.L.A. Neuropsychiatric Institute. In this classroom the students had a paper cup on their desk in which was place an M&M every five minutes if they stayed on task, and as their ability to stay on task improved the time was extended or switched to a star stuck to a card that was exchanged for a toy at the end of the day, an effective program in training the students to stay longer on a task.
Learning to concentrate can be very difficult for the Hunter without consistent feedback, feedback that can be available in the classroom from the teacher. But for Hunters to read or study on their own such feedback has not been available until the development of biofeedback that measures alpha wave EEG. New biofeedback technology has become available that is affordable and can be effective in the process of learning to concentrate.
The creativity of someone with ADHD has often changed the world. Creativity requires risk taking with motivation from within the person and the belief in one’s own goals. Tolerance for ambiguity, the willingness to stick with the goal in spite of obstacles, and an openness that allows the person to new ways to define the problem are important elements for creativity. With regards to patterns of sleep, an ADHD person is typically known for not get much sleep and may be considered as having insomnia, for going to bed late and waking up in the middle of the night. Again this is a pattern that may have a base in the era of the Hunter. Hunters would have one of their group remain awake for some time while the others slept before being relieved by another Hunter, awake to protect the sleeping hunters from potential predators, whether animals or some other competing humans. Again, Hartmann offers a number to strategies for the Hunter to find ways to sleep in the current Farmer’s world, strategies often hypnotic in nature.
With the prevalence of Ritalin and other similar drugs, Chapter 16 examines the role of these drugs in treating ADHD. Many of the adults who take Ritalin for ADHD swear that they wished they had discovered this medication long before because of how it has made their life so much easier. Yet there are disadvantages. One disadvantage that I found especially interesting is that its long term use affects brain chemistry so that when going off Ritalin other problems surface. One correlate to Parkinson’s Disease is a low level of dopamine. Ritalin increases the level of dopamine so that the natural production of dopamine is decreased. When going off Ritalin the natural production of dopamine may stay diminished thus a possible cause of Parkinson’s Disease. Ritalin can also increase blood pressure, cause weight loss and hair loss, though in general it has been considered safe. Some believe that learning is fastest and best when there is a constant shift between focused and an open state of consciousness. If so, Ritalin may do little to aid learning, but the child’s disruptive behavior in the classroom also limits learning. Again what seems most effective is changing the style of teaching to the style of the Hunter, a style that encourages creativity. A number of medicinal herbs that may also alleviate ADHD including skullcap, valerian, hops, blue and black cohosh, chamomile and lady’s slipper.
Many individuals with ADHD have learned how to cope with being a Hunter in a Farmer’s world and in this world they can find average success and score average on tests but they may also feel or know that they have a much greater potential. But since they appear average they are unable to find the support they need to help them go beyond just being average. These individuals could be a great asset to our society, so we are missing out by not helping them attain their potential creativity with their openness to take risks. They are stuck in being only “halfway to the stars.� Schools, employers and families are missing out on what could be attained if these individuals were provided with what they need to attain their potential.
Hartmann then provides fifteen stories of individuals with ADHD, stories that are very revealing in opening the reader to a greater sensitivity in recognizing ADHD. Following these stories are stories of the lives of six famous people with ADHD and how their ADHD was an asset for all they accomplished in their lives, in their inventive creativity, openness to taking risks, and how their lives changed the ways we now live: Thomas Edison with his more than a thousand inventions, Amelia Earhart with her risk taking and adventurous nature, Benjamin Franklin whose thinking and writings led to his assistance in the writing of our constitution, Sir Richard Francis Burton whose exploration of the many then unknown lands opened the door to the world we now know, Ernest Hemingway whose writings we are all familiar with, and Thomas Carlyle whose written tirades exposed many problems in our modern world.
The Epilogue to the book examines the evolution and migration over the last 10,000 years of the hunter-gatherer from what is now the Near East in becoming the agriculturists of the Western World. Though this evolution has taken different forms in other parts of the world, the Western development of agriculture has gradually led us in our greed to take all that we can from the Earth, greed which has been the cause of global climate change and the impending demise of our society and species as we know it. Our Western religious heritage that has told us that we have dominion over the Earth is taking us to the brink of extinction, a topic I have frequently written about with my interest in the role of our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. I believe that the hunter-gatherers that exist today who know how to live in oneness with the Earth and respect all that is of the Earth are available to show us how we need to live to return to our rightful place in the evolutionary process, a life that would be much more sustainable.
The publisher of this book, Healing Arts Press, requested my review and I found the title an attraction as it reflected two of my deeper interests: my dealing with ADHD as a psychologist, and my interest in the era of the hunter-gatherer. ADHD is so prevalent in our current culture that this acronym may not need to be defined, but to be clear it describes those people, generally young people, with a Disorder of an Attention Deficit with Hyperactive. This behavior is often controlled with the prescription of Ritalin or other related drugs because the behavior can be very disruptive in the school classroom.
I recognize that some of what we consider a mental illness may be elevated to special prominence as a valued personal trait in other cultures, e.g. the schizophrenic hallucinations and hearing of voices can elevate a person to the role of shaman in some cultures. This revised and updated edition of ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World recognizes the advantage of having what we would call an attention deficit for the ancient Hunters who needed to constantly scan and be aware of everything going on around them while stalking game. The Hunter needs to be sensitive to the distractive noises in the forest and respond to these noises with his short but intense attention span to give him what he needs to know to make quick or snap decisions. On the other hand, Farmers need is to focus on the process of planting and tending the garden. They are not easily distracted by environmental noises, sustain a slow and steady effort in attain their goal, and see the long range picture. They are not easily bored, but become team players who attend to details with caution and patience. While the Farmer’s consciousness is very task focused, the Hunter’s consciousness may be considered open or diffused. With these traits the ADHD person is easily frustrated and becomes impatient in our Farmer culture.
Many years ago a psychologist friend explained ADHD to me in this way: “A child comes into my office and touches something. I respond with ‘NO.� With more “NO’s� he is soon racing around the office touching everything, looking for a ‘yes.’� In some ways this child is acting like a Hunter, hunting for a “yes� with an awareness of everything that is in his environment, yet in today’s world he would be considered a problem.
The opposite of a person with ADHD is the person who has the ability to focus attention on one task for an extended period of time. This opposite has been considered normal in our culture, but there is a disadvantage to this ability, i.e. the inability to switch between tasks, a limitation that defines Hartmann’s Task-Switching Deficit Disorder, TSDD. For people who pride themselves on their ability to multitask, their multitasking might be considered a disability.
Though the Hunter has been found on every continent, our western culture came out of Mesopotamia about 10,000 years ago when the hunter-gatherers began to learn the ways of the agriculturists. They gradually moved west across what is now Europe and North Africa, and eventually across the Atlantic into North America. The evolution from the Hunter to the Farmer can be considered an evolution in consciousness as the immigration slowly moved west and the successful Farmer learned to focus on the details of farming, details that the Hunter would have considered boring. Yet, there were/are those who have maintained their Hunter consciousness. But with the Farmers� conquests in moving west they became the dominators and takers of what laid before them. The genocide they inflicted upon the conquered showed them to be amoral and predatory invaders of Europe and North America.
But what is the condition now? It is useful to look at what is called a bell-shaped distribution of these traits with the majority of the population in the middle. If we think of this distribution as lying along a 12 inch ruler, then those with extremely focused consciousness may appear in the 2 to 3 inch area, while those with an extremely open consciousness or inability to focus is in the 9 to 10 inch area. The relaxing average person would fall at the middle or in the 5 to 7 inch area, while the relaxed Hunter would be found in the 7 to 8 inch area and the relaxed Farmer in the 4 to 5 inch area. It has also been suggested that the autistic person might fall at zero to 1 inch and the schizophrenic in the 11 to 12 inch area (pg. 55-56).
In considering the prison and the alcoholic populations, the high proportion of ADHD individuals would suggest a genetic ADHD predisposition for these problems. These populations have learned to believe that their condition is hopeless with the alcoholic and incarcerated giving up on the ability to succeed. What we tell an ADHD child can have a very damaging effect if they are punished for the way they are. The effect of explaining to a child that their problem is genetic or medical vs. a learned behavior that can be modified is an important consideration. Offering a child more constructive ways to deal with or think of the problem such as meditation or that the Hunter’s ADHD behavior can be an advantage in some situations can empower the child in coping rather than experiencing it as a disease or disorder. Defining ADHD as a medical problem that may require a lifetime of taking medication can be felt with a sense of hopelessness. Your confidence will be diminished when you are repeatedly told that you are bad, and your performance will likely fail. The money from pharmaceutical companies continues to suggest that ADHD is a failure of genetics or neurochemistry, but by learning that you have a gene of the Hunter and that it was an advantage to the Hunter, you may become open to a positive side of ADHD.
Another factor in understanding ADHD is understanding the roles of the thalamus and reticular formation. These two brain formations control the sensory input to the brain, the thalamus as a gate to the cortex and the reticular formation as an alarm announcing that there is danger. For some people this gate may be slow to open and for others easily opened. For the ADHD it opens slowly as they look for greater stimulation in order to feel alive, thus they are open to taking risks. For those with TSDD it opens easily, maybe too easily, and they seek stimulation with greater caution. Ritalin as a stimulant that creates a greater sensitivity to sensory input makes risk-taking unnecessary to feel the sought after sense of aliveness.
Part Two of Hartmann’s book is “Living and Thriving in the Farmer’s World.� There are a number of ways for the Hunter to succeed and the book offers many examples. In a positive sense the Hunter is voraciously curious and creative with a broad-base of interests. There are many jobs that require these traits. To fit into the Farmer’s world the Hunter needs to break down a task into smaller tasks to compensate for their short concentration span. The Hunter can also learn various forms of meditation to increase their attention span and needs to create a “distraction-free zone.� This would include removing a radio and other distracting technology from his or her environment. Exercising daily can take the place of Ritalin. Knowing well what you are good at and limit your tasks to those things can lead to success. If the task requires a Farmer find a Farmer to do it. Two characteristics of the Hunter are a serious challenge: impulsivity and craving. Impulsivity can be overcome by partnering with a Farmer and postponing all decision for a day. As for craving wait for an hour or two for the craving to pass or redirect it, attaching the craving to something else.
In considering the opposite side of this picture, what are effective ways that managers, parents, and teachers can work with a Hunter? In the workplace, the expectations of the Hunter need to be defined in measurable short-term goals given when possible only one at a time. Evaluating success in meeting the goals needs to happen daily along with a reward for meeting the goals. For the Hunter school child, again setting goals and rewarding performance in meeting the goals need to be short-term and daily. The child should be encouraged to do special projects for extra credit, and a new label should be attached to the child such as Hunter or Lookout, not disordered. Thinking of the child as “gifted� is also a help. Medication is an option but as a last resort.
As a student at U.C.L.A. in the 1960’s I had the opportunity to work in Frank Hewett’s “Engineered Classroom� at the U.C.L.A. Neuropsychiatric Institute. In this classroom the students had a paper cup on their desk in which was place an M&M every five minutes if they stayed on task, and as their ability to stay on task improved the time was extended or switched to a star stuck to a card that was exchanged for a toy at the end of the day, an effective program in training the students to stay longer on a task.
Learning to concentrate can be very difficult for the Hunter without consistent feedback, feedback that can be available in the classroom from the teacher. But for Hunters to read or study on their own such feedback has not been available until the development of biofeedback that measures alpha wave EEG. New biofeedback technology has become available that is affordable and can be effective in the process of learning to concentrate.
The creativity of someone with ADHD has often changed the world. Creativity requires risk taking with motivation from within the person and the belief in one’s own goals. Tolerance for ambiguity, the willingness to stick with the goal in spite of obstacles, and an openness that allows the person to new ways to define the problem are important elements for creativity. With regards to patterns of sleep, an ADHD person is typically known for not get much sleep and may be considered as having insomnia, for going to bed late and waking up in the middle of the night. Again this is a pattern that may have a base in the era of the Hunter. Hunters would have one of their group remain awake for some time while the others slept before being relieved by another Hunter, awake to protect the sleeping hunters from potential predators, whether animals or some other competing humans. Again, Hartmann offers a number to strategies for the Hunter to find ways to sleep in the current Farmer’s world, strategies often hypnotic in nature.
With the prevalence of Ritalin and other similar drugs, Chapter 16 examines the role of these drugs in treating ADHD. Many of the adults who take Ritalin for ADHD swear that they wished they had discovered this medication long before because of how it has made their life so much easier. Yet there are disadvantages. One disadvantage that I found especially interesting is that its long term use affects brain chemistry so that when going off Ritalin other problems surface. One correlate to Parkinson’s Disease is a low level of dopamine. Ritalin increases the level of dopamine so that the natural production of dopamine is decreased. When going off Ritalin the natural production of dopamine may stay diminished thus a possible cause of Parkinson’s Disease. Ritalin can also increase blood pressure, cause weight loss and hair loss, though in general it has been considered safe. Some believe that learning is fastest and best when there is a constant shift between focused and an open state of consciousness. If so, Ritalin may do little to aid learning, but the child’s disruptive behavior in the classroom also limits learning. Again what seems most effective is changing the style of teaching to the style of the Hunter, a style that encourages creativity. A number of medicinal herbs that may also alleviate ADHD including skullcap, valerian, hops, blue and black cohosh, chamomile and lady’s slipper.
Many individuals with ADHD have learned how to cope with being a Hunter in a Farmer’s world and in this world they can find average success and score average on tests but they may also feel or know that they have a much greater potential. But since they appear average they are unable to find the support they need to help them go beyond just being average. These individuals could be a great asset to our society, so we are missing out by not helping them attain their potential creativity with their openness to take risks. They are stuck in being only “halfway to the stars.� Schools, employers and families are missing out on what could be attained if these individuals were provided with what they need to attain their potential.
Hartmann then provides fifteen stories of individuals with ADHD, stories that are very revealing in opening the reader to a greater sensitivity in recognizing ADHD. Following these stories are stories of the lives of six famous people with ADHD and how their ADHD was an asset for all they accomplished in their lives, in their inventive creativity, openness to taking risks, and how their lives changed the ways we now live: Thomas Edison with his more than a thousand inventions, Amelia Earhart with her risk taking and adventurous nature, Benjamin Franklin whose thinking and writings led to his assistance in the writing of our constitution, Sir Richard Francis Burton whose exploration of the many then unknown lands opened the door to the world we now know, Ernest Hemingway whose writings we are all familiar with, and Thomas Carlyle whose written tirades exposed many problems in our modern world.
The Epilogue to the book examines the evolution and migration over the last 10,000 years of the hunter-gatherer from what is now the Near East in becoming the agriculturists of the Western World. Though this evolution has taken different forms in other parts of the world, the Western development of agriculture has gradually led us in our greed to take all that we can from the Earth, greed which has been the cause of global climate change and the impending demise of our society and species as we know it. Our Western religious heritage that has told us that we have dominion over the Earth is taking us to the brink of extinction, a topic I have frequently written about with my interest in the role of our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. I believe that the hunter-gatherers that exist today who know how to live in oneness with the Earth and respect all that is of the Earth are available to show us how we need to live to return to our rightful place in the evolutionary process, a life that would be much more sustainable.
May 17, 2022
I recently was diagnosed with ADHD after a lifetime of silent struggle. I stumbled upon this book when looking for information that could help me better understand the depths of the condition, and it seemingly came to me at the exact time I needed it.
After feeling pretty torn up and unworthy and downright confused about my place in the world, this book helped me reframe my diagnosis in a way that made me love the way my mind works while simultaneously understanding that my type of mind isn’t in fact a burden, but indeed integral to society.
This is an absolute must read for anyone with ADHD, especially those with a new diagnosis. Hartmann delivers a balance of science, sociology, and humor that will help you process what it means to be a person with ADHD. Thanks to this book I am proud to call myself a hunter in a farmers world.
After feeling pretty torn up and unworthy and downright confused about my place in the world, this book helped me reframe my diagnosis in a way that made me love the way my mind works while simultaneously understanding that my type of mind isn’t in fact a burden, but indeed integral to society.
This is an absolute must read for anyone with ADHD, especially those with a new diagnosis. Hartmann delivers a balance of science, sociology, and humor that will help you process what it means to be a person with ADHD. Thanks to this book I am proud to call myself a hunter in a farmers world.
January 27, 2021
In this book (revised and updated) Thom Hartmann rethinks how we view Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and explains that ADHD people are not abnormal, disordered or dysfunctional, but rather possess unique mental skills which would have allowed them to thrive in a hunter-gatherer society, but leave them frustrated and unsupported in an agricultural-industrial society.
Across the chapters, Hartmann backs his assertions up with evidence, offers non-drug methods and practices to help hunters (as well as those who live alongside them) to welcome their differences, hone their skills, cultivate their creativity, and find success in their lives.
As someone who has been confirmed to have a lot of ADHD traits, I found this book fascinating, inspiring and easy to read. I like that Hartmann draws on biology, genetics, physiology, neuroscience and evolutionary psychology to support his assertions, and found a lot of information that was helpful in understanding, accepting, and developing this aspect of my personality.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Across the chapters, Hartmann backs his assertions up with evidence, offers non-drug methods and practices to help hunters (as well as those who live alongside them) to welcome their differences, hone their skills, cultivate their creativity, and find success in their lives.
As someone who has been confirmed to have a lot of ADHD traits, I found this book fascinating, inspiring and easy to read. I like that Hartmann draws on biology, genetics, physiology, neuroscience and evolutionary psychology to support his assertions, and found a lot of information that was helpful in understanding, accepting, and developing this aspect of my personality.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 18, 2020
Just a new metaphor for thinking about ADHD. Not much new in the analysis.
September 1, 2024
Super interesting book and makes a lot of really interesting points on ADHD as an evolutionary and genetic trait. I found a lot of sections hard to process hence the 4 stars, but still a great read! Highly recommend. Might have to go back and reread this one day.
February 10, 2024
I think it’s a great model. I definitely relate. Always a fan of slandering the pharmaceutical industry. Treating behavior with drugs is like using bombs to dig holes.
But I also think that some of the digressions in this book are just abstract nonsense.
We can have a model that’s a good description without it being a perfect representation of the whole. I think that’s the case here. Much more useful as a narrative tool to describe the internal experience some people have, and to normalize behavior that people maybe don’t understand.
I don’t think this is useful in any sort of predictive or diagnostic way. The book even talks about how some of the genetic components don’t carry generation to generation and even in twins. So there’s obviously parts missing for this to be a comprehensive theory.
Still, it makes me feel seen, and I love the explanation without path apologizing what at the end of the day is just fucking behavior. I’m session with labeling things “abnormal� is very weird and might i even venture. “abnormal� kidding. That’s probably evolutionarily adaptive as well.
But I also think that some of the digressions in this book are just abstract nonsense.
We can have a model that’s a good description without it being a perfect representation of the whole. I think that’s the case here. Much more useful as a narrative tool to describe the internal experience some people have, and to normalize behavior that people maybe don’t understand.
I don’t think this is useful in any sort of predictive or diagnostic way. The book even talks about how some of the genetic components don’t carry generation to generation and even in twins. So there’s obviously parts missing for this to be a comprehensive theory.
Still, it makes me feel seen, and I love the explanation without path apologizing what at the end of the day is just fucking behavior. I’m session with labeling things “abnormal� is very weird and might i even venture. “abnormal� kidding. That’s probably evolutionarily adaptive as well.
May 29, 2019
I thought this book might give me a different opinion on this subject but it did not. I am old school and for better or worse I think ADHD is a label society give kids so that they can medicate and not have to deal with behavioral problems. This society has become so lazy we would rather slap a label on a kid, medicate them into zombies and not have to parent. Only in the last 20 years have we really heard about ADHD so where was it beforehand? My kids were high strung and had trouble sitting still but with a firm parent we were able to keep them inline.
July 7, 2020
The book was a very disappointing, superficial, boring, bland and generalizing reading experience. The book in no way gave me new useful knowledge about ADHD. I can in no way recommend this book if you want a more in-depth and useful knowledge about ADHD or better understanding of people with ADHD.
December 1, 2023
Interesting book, backed up by plenty of research and study. I am 100% behind the author's motivations for writing this and other books on the topic, and he provides compelling evidence for his arguments, backed up by studies. There are perhaps a few parts that could have been broadened or deepened in context, but it's a well-rounded, affirming book on the topic.
July 27, 2022
A helpful reminder that, with so many neurodivergent people in the world, this clearly isn't a problem, but a reality, and building a world that allows for everyone's perspectives and ways of learning to fit into it makes more sense than doing things just one way.
June 15, 2022
Not bad, but to be taken with a grain of salt.
December 26, 2021
This is a great book on ADHD. The hunter/farmer metaphor gets a tad overused at times, but the content is really helpful for anyone who may suspect that they or their kids have adhd. I loved the way he framed it as a difference, not a disability. Like any difference, adhd has positive and negative attributes. I learned a lot. I look forward to reading more from this author.
June 17, 2022
Concise look at ADHD in a positive light rather than a disorder. Very interesting summary with some helpful actionable tidbits. The chapter about faucets was confusing. Overall, a great addition to the ADHD library.
August 12, 2022
Really enjoyed this book, brings a novel perspective on ADHD, uplifts, give hope to ADHDers. Wish it had more in-text references, perhaps it's the academic in me, but at times it's hard to tell what's theory and what's been proven.
March 30, 2021
Interesting metaphor, but please someone introduce Thom Hartman to singular they, thx
September 24, 2024
Reading a book on ADHD hits different after a psychologist tells you that you have it 😅
November 26, 2023
{3.5 stars}
I came across this book on TikTok, where I regularly watch videos featuring neurospicy content. I was intrigued by the concept that ADHD behaviors are not only genetic but may have actually been a preferred survival mechanism. The original of this work is quite old and I was quite surprised I hadn't previously heard of it. Anyway, this version is updated with new research as well as giving a little historical context about how the field has changed since its first publication.
Basically, the author proposes that ADHD is not a disorder but rather a set of skills that in ancient hunter-gatherer society would have been essential to a hunter out in the world. The heightened sense of one's environment and constant re-prioritizing of tasks based on the ever changing situation are skills that would have kept a hunter safe. The need for constant stimulation, impulsivity and ability to act in high risk situations would have made the hunter quite successful. He then goes on to describe the related characteristics, strategies for overcoming or embracing them and gives us some perspective on very successful historical figures who took advantage of ADHD to thrive.
I now fully understand the millennial phrase "I feel seen." If I would have had this book as a kid, I think my life would have been very different. The current understanding of ADHD not necessarily meaning you're bouncing off the walls but that your brain might be the hyperactive part, is so relatable for me. The strategies would have probably been very helpful, although luckily I've already found my own way.
This may be a very dry read for some but I really enjoyed it.
I came across this book on TikTok, where I regularly watch videos featuring neurospicy content. I was intrigued by the concept that ADHD behaviors are not only genetic but may have actually been a preferred survival mechanism. The original of this work is quite old and I was quite surprised I hadn't previously heard of it. Anyway, this version is updated with new research as well as giving a little historical context about how the field has changed since its first publication.
Basically, the author proposes that ADHD is not a disorder but rather a set of skills that in ancient hunter-gatherer society would have been essential to a hunter out in the world. The heightened sense of one's environment and constant re-prioritizing of tasks based on the ever changing situation are skills that would have kept a hunter safe. The need for constant stimulation, impulsivity and ability to act in high risk situations would have made the hunter quite successful. He then goes on to describe the related characteristics, strategies for overcoming or embracing them and gives us some perspective on very successful historical figures who took advantage of ADHD to thrive.
I now fully understand the millennial phrase "I feel seen." If I would have had this book as a kid, I think my life would have been very different. The current understanding of ADHD not necessarily meaning you're bouncing off the walls but that your brain might be the hyperactive part, is so relatable for me. The strategies would have probably been very helpful, although luckily I've already found my own way.
This may be a very dry read for some but I really enjoyed it.
February 23, 2023
I started out enjoying this book. It was informative and flowed well enough. Then when talking about brain scans and monitoring, the author wrote about a brain scanning headband that you too can own for less than $300. He then proceeds to mention the product by name and it's price point at least two more times during the remainder of the book.
I went in to this wanting to read an semi-academic view on how ADHD might be a evolutionary trait. I felt by the end, what I got was a book with advertisements, and more than a few sections where the author got to say "I told you so!"
For a book about people that focus on one thing extremely intently, or are very easily distracted, the blatant product placement is distracting to say the least. I gave it the pass the first time, thinking the author really believed in a product. But then it's mentioned again a few chapters later. It was at that point I lost all interest in finishing the book, and only did so out of spite and the need to achieve my reading goal for the year. Every chapter all I could think was "will it be mentioned again?" and could in no way really sink myself in to the arguments being made to me.
I suppose if you really want to give this book a read, don't bother reading Part 2. It really seems to lose its coherence to the evolutionary argument and lets rampant capitalism take over.
I went in to this wanting to read an semi-academic view on how ADHD might be a evolutionary trait. I felt by the end, what I got was a book with advertisements, and more than a few sections where the author got to say "I told you so!"
For a book about people that focus on one thing extremely intently, or are very easily distracted, the blatant product placement is distracting to say the least. I gave it the pass the first time, thinking the author really believed in a product. But then it's mentioned again a few chapters later. It was at that point I lost all interest in finishing the book, and only did so out of spite and the need to achieve my reading goal for the year. Every chapter all I could think was "will it be mentioned again?" and could in no way really sink myself in to the arguments being made to me.
I suppose if you really want to give this book a read, don't bother reading Part 2. It really seems to lose its coherence to the evolutionary argument and lets rampant capitalism take over.
October 11, 2022
interesting theory, not much evidence
The theory put forth is interesting and helpfully positive, but i was hoping this book would go into greater detail and explore supporting evidence. There really isn’t any evidence put forth, and some of the references are pretty misinterpreted.
The theory put forth is interesting and helpfully positive, but i was hoping this book would go into greater detail and explore supporting evidence. There really isn’t any evidence put forth, and some of the references are pretty misinterpreted.
September 6, 2020
I have an earlier edition of this text. I found it much more coherent this time around and although Hartmann's description of the underlying traits of ADHD are accomplished I am simply unconvinced by his main thesis.
December 30, 2022
One of the most life changing books I’ve ever stumbled upon in my life. I finally feel like I understand who I am and how to navigate it.
February 24, 2025
Having ADHD sucks. This is one of several books I've read that tries to convince those with the 'disorder' that it is more of a blessing than a curse. I can tell you, that is only partly true. Having difficulty trying to control and corral an overactive thought process is an everyday event. If you can catch those thoughts and dial in that process, then direct the thoughts into a channel, so to speak, you then get to hyper focus on them until something else, seemingly more important, something more critical, intrudes and distracts you. Then you're back on the thought roller coaster again.
Medication can help. It can keep your mind more attentive and tuned into a topic long enough to reach the conclusion--hopefully by whatever deadline you're up against.
To your co-workers, family, and friends, you seem impulsive, restless, fidgety, conversation-interrupting, and rude. But, when you're listening to an engaging conversation, and catching all these comments from everyone, your brain is trying to assimilate them into either a picture or a common theme that you can relate to. That would give you a chance to contribute to the conversation. But as the pieces start to take shape, you see a good point to enter the convo, but it happens to not be the right time. "Why did you just blurt that out?" Well, if you didn't, you were about to forget the point you wanted to make. So, the best alternative is to just listen and not speak. Guess what, you now seem an unintelligent wallflower. Welcome to the world of ADHD.
Guess what happens next... All of this stuff you wanted to say, but didn't, builds up in your mind. Then it happens, you find yourself in a conversation with someone, and perhaps overshare details about yourself. "Why are you always talking about yourself?" As Thoreau said, "I would not talk so much about myself if there were anyone else I knew better."
People with ADHD try to mask these behaviors, every day, all day long. By the end of the day, they are mentally, sometimes emotionally, exhausted from constantly thinking of stuff and trying to mask and control what they are thinking about. I mentioned emotionally. They are not the best at sharing with others how they really feel, yet they feel deeply. If they find someone they can relate to and isn't perceived as a threat, they will open up and speak freely. If they feel that someone has ulterior motives, or perhaps is using them for for their own amusement, even if they care about that person, they will not be able to have any sort of openness with them. At least they won't until that person opens up to them. ADHD'ers hate being vulnerable. This book, (I bet you were wondering when I was goign to get back to the book review) (see what I mean?) tries to point out that those with ADHD traits would make suitable hunters: risk takers, pioneers, explorers, leaders, and providers. The traits make them good at constantly scanning the environment and landscape for opportunities.
But once found, they will not be the best farmer types to settle down and manage the mundane daily details over the long term.
The narration was OK.
Medication can help. It can keep your mind more attentive and tuned into a topic long enough to reach the conclusion--hopefully by whatever deadline you're up against.
To your co-workers, family, and friends, you seem impulsive, restless, fidgety, conversation-interrupting, and rude. But, when you're listening to an engaging conversation, and catching all these comments from everyone, your brain is trying to assimilate them into either a picture or a common theme that you can relate to. That would give you a chance to contribute to the conversation. But as the pieces start to take shape, you see a good point to enter the convo, but it happens to not be the right time. "Why did you just blurt that out?" Well, if you didn't, you were about to forget the point you wanted to make. So, the best alternative is to just listen and not speak. Guess what, you now seem an unintelligent wallflower. Welcome to the world of ADHD.
Guess what happens next... All of this stuff you wanted to say, but didn't, builds up in your mind. Then it happens, you find yourself in a conversation with someone, and perhaps overshare details about yourself. "Why are you always talking about yourself?" As Thoreau said, "I would not talk so much about myself if there were anyone else I knew better."
People with ADHD try to mask these behaviors, every day, all day long. By the end of the day, they are mentally, sometimes emotionally, exhausted from constantly thinking of stuff and trying to mask and control what they are thinking about. I mentioned emotionally. They are not the best at sharing with others how they really feel, yet they feel deeply. If they find someone they can relate to and isn't perceived as a threat, they will open up and speak freely. If they feel that someone has ulterior motives, or perhaps is using them for for their own amusement, even if they care about that person, they will not be able to have any sort of openness with them. At least they won't until that person opens up to them. ADHD'ers hate being vulnerable. This book, (I bet you were wondering when I was goign to get back to the book review) (see what I mean?) tries to point out that those with ADHD traits would make suitable hunters: risk takers, pioneers, explorers, leaders, and providers. The traits make them good at constantly scanning the environment and landscape for opportunities.
But once found, they will not be the best farmer types to settle down and manage the mundane daily details over the long term.
The narration was OK.
April 13, 2025
I was so excited about this book. The theory was an excellent one, and I have been fascinated by the idea for quite a while. I was immensely let down after just the prologue - this is just his theory, as simple as that, without much science or research to back it up. The second half of the book wasn’t much better, which was aimed more toward practical application and assistance for living with adhd. It was the most surface level dribble I’ve heard the almost 40 years I’ve been living with an adhd diagnosis. I said “well duh!� Out loud several times. An example - put your phone away so it’s not a distraction. Groundbreaking idea (sarcasm).
One of my biggest critiques is the very one dimensional way he discusses adhd vs neurotypicals. He gives no nuance for personality types, or even different cultures across the world. In chapter 4 he mentioned that in Japan, there is a very low population diagnosed with adhd because they have been farmers there for millennia. However, there could be many explanations for this, including cultural expectations, as well as an underdianosis of adhd.
He makes blanket statement after blanket statement, scraping the top-top of the surface of these issues while never fleshing them out with the nuance they deserve. An example of this is in chapter 8, when he attributes the desire to mug, to be an ER nurse, have “wild, unprotected sex,� and even immigrating to America in the 1600s to wanting to feel alive and are therefore seeking adrenaline. WHAT?? No accounting for privilege, necessity, conviction, other comorbid mental issues, nothing. All just lumped together, which is insane. There are a profuse amount of variables and possible motives for each of these, and to boil it down to one thing to fit his narrative was disingenuous. Not to mention, a person doesn’t have to have adhd to fit any of those descriptions, which makes his point entirely invalid.
This book made me want to pull my hair out the entire time I read it.
One of my biggest critiques is the very one dimensional way he discusses adhd vs neurotypicals. He gives no nuance for personality types, or even different cultures across the world. In chapter 4 he mentioned that in Japan, there is a very low population diagnosed with adhd because they have been farmers there for millennia. However, there could be many explanations for this, including cultural expectations, as well as an underdianosis of adhd.
He makes blanket statement after blanket statement, scraping the top-top of the surface of these issues while never fleshing them out with the nuance they deserve. An example of this is in chapter 8, when he attributes the desire to mug, to be an ER nurse, have “wild, unprotected sex,� and even immigrating to America in the 1600s to wanting to feel alive and are therefore seeking adrenaline. WHAT?? No accounting for privilege, necessity, conviction, other comorbid mental issues, nothing. All just lumped together, which is insane. There are a profuse amount of variables and possible motives for each of these, and to boil it down to one thing to fit his narrative was disingenuous. Not to mention, a person doesn’t have to have adhd to fit any of those descriptions, which makes his point entirely invalid.
This book made me want to pull my hair out the entire time I read it.
February 28, 2024
Thom Hartmann introduces two main ideas, the first being that there is, or are a specific set of genes which cause ADHD. The second idea is that the ADHD gene was the most prevalent when our ancestors were hunter gatherers; however, when human society moved towards agriculture the ADHD gene was not as useful to us as it was pre-farming.
Hartmann illustrates how the traits that come along with ADHD namely, easy distraction, hyper-focus, and an impending sense of doom, were all extremely beneficial in our nomadic hunter-gatherer days.
He shows how in modern society ADHD is wrongly looked at as a disorder; Hartmann shows (by example) when ADHD traits are managed properly it can create success for the individual.
I have ADHD and have read a fair amount of literature and study either directly on the subject, or adjuncts such as focus and attention. The book stands up well with the other literature on the subject and provides fresh insight that at least I haven't seen in any other tome.
Saying all of that, I haven't finished the book because my ADHD brain just decided halfway through a chapter that I was no longer interested.
I won't put the blame for my disinterest squarely on the shoulders of the book because I thoroughly enjoyed what I did read, and have recommended it to friends on at least a dozen occasions. Therefore the book gets four stars from me; however, I would point out that some of the examples of how ADHD can be mismanaged started getting a bit repetitive.
I preferred when he talked about the solutions to coping with ADHD, I especially loved the observation about sales companies pairing a 'hunter' with a 'farmer'.
I came away from this with new knowledge and I will definitely finish it at some time in the future. If you have ADHD, or know or suspect a family member has it, I would highly recommend you buy and study this book.
Hartmann illustrates how the traits that come along with ADHD namely, easy distraction, hyper-focus, and an impending sense of doom, were all extremely beneficial in our nomadic hunter-gatherer days.
He shows how in modern society ADHD is wrongly looked at as a disorder; Hartmann shows (by example) when ADHD traits are managed properly it can create success for the individual.
I have ADHD and have read a fair amount of literature and study either directly on the subject, or adjuncts such as focus and attention. The book stands up well with the other literature on the subject and provides fresh insight that at least I haven't seen in any other tome.
Saying all of that, I haven't finished the book because my ADHD brain just decided halfway through a chapter that I was no longer interested.
I won't put the blame for my disinterest squarely on the shoulders of the book because I thoroughly enjoyed what I did read, and have recommended it to friends on at least a dozen occasions. Therefore the book gets four stars from me; however, I would point out that some of the examples of how ADHD can be mismanaged started getting a bit repetitive.
I preferred when he talked about the solutions to coping with ADHD, I especially loved the observation about sales companies pairing a 'hunter' with a 'farmer'.
I came away from this with new knowledge and I will definitely finish it at some time in the future. If you have ADHD, or know or suspect a family member has it, I would highly recommend you buy and study this book.
March 24, 2025
This insightful book provides a refreshing perspective on ADHD by reframing it not as a disorder, but as a different neurological wiring with evolutionary advantages. As someone with ADHD myself, I found the hunter-farmer analogy particularly enlightening.
The author makes a compelling case that ADHD traits—hyperfocus, quick decision-making, heightened awareness, and creative problem-solving—were advantageous in hunter-gatherer societies. These same traits that can make modern office work challenging were once essential survival skills.
What resonated most was the recognition that our modern world is primarily designed for "farmer" brains (methodical, routine-driven, detail-oriented), while "hunter" brains (spontaneous, big-picture thinkers) often struggle to fit in. Yet the book convincingly argues that many of humanity's greatest innovations came from these neurodivergent thinkers who see possibilities others miss.
This is definitely a book I will reference back to repeatedly. I've already recommended it to many people both with and without ADHD. The perspective shift from "disordered" to
"differently ordered" provides both comfort and empowerment, making it an essential read for anyone with ADHD or who knows someone with it.
It's a welcome reminder that neurodiversity has been crucial to human progress and continues to be valuable in our complex world. If you have ADHD or know someone who does, this book offers invaluable insights that will change how you view neurodivergence.
The author makes a compelling case that ADHD traits—hyperfocus, quick decision-making, heightened awareness, and creative problem-solving—were advantageous in hunter-gatherer societies. These same traits that can make modern office work challenging were once essential survival skills.
What resonated most was the recognition that our modern world is primarily designed for "farmer" brains (methodical, routine-driven, detail-oriented), while "hunter" brains (spontaneous, big-picture thinkers) often struggle to fit in. Yet the book convincingly argues that many of humanity's greatest innovations came from these neurodivergent thinkers who see possibilities others miss.
This is definitely a book I will reference back to repeatedly. I've already recommended it to many people both with and without ADHD. The perspective shift from "disordered" to
"differently ordered" provides both comfort and empowerment, making it an essential read for anyone with ADHD or who knows someone with it.
It's a welcome reminder that neurodiversity has been crucial to human progress and continues to be valuable in our complex world. If you have ADHD or know someone who does, this book offers invaluable insights that will change how you view neurodivergence.
April 21, 2022
What a fantastic and insightful book. I was recently diagnosed with adult ADD. Looking back on my life, it is painfully obvious that I have been dealing with this since childhood.
This book enlightened me to both the struggles of being this way, and also comforted me with the fact that this condition is not an affliction, an aberration or even a disorder, it is a pre-programed genetic variable in the human genome. Part of this realization is actually super liberating, providing a different but scientifically rational description of ADD. I think this realization is more than enough of a reason to read this book but there is more.
There are suggestions and affirmations that provide even more of a reason to explore this book. I have already recommended this book to four different people and I just finished it today.
This book kind of falls apart near the end (in true ADD form), but it is still a thought provoking and insightful (if not outright revolutionary) read that anyone struggling with, living with, or in any relation to, someone with ADD or ADHD should not only read, but absorb.
This book enlightened me to both the struggles of being this way, and also comforted me with the fact that this condition is not an affliction, an aberration or even a disorder, it is a pre-programed genetic variable in the human genome. Part of this realization is actually super liberating, providing a different but scientifically rational description of ADD. I think this realization is more than enough of a reason to read this book but there is more.
There are suggestions and affirmations that provide even more of a reason to explore this book. I have already recommended this book to four different people and I just finished it today.
This book kind of falls apart near the end (in true ADD form), but it is still a thought provoking and insightful (if not outright revolutionary) read that anyone struggling with, living with, or in any relation to, someone with ADD or ADHD should not only read, but absorb.
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