Square Peg: My Story and What It Means for Raising Innovators, Visionaries, and Out-of-the-Box Thinkers

by Todd Rose, Katherine Ellison (Primary Contributor)

In the seventh grade, Todd Rose was suspended—not for the first time—for throwing six stink bombs at the blackboard, where his art teacher stood with his back to the class. At eighteen, he was a high school dropout, stocking shelves at a department store for $4.25 an hour. Today, Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Square Peg illuminates the struggles of millions of bright young children—and their frustrated parents and teachers—who are stuck in a one-size-fits-all school system that fails to approach the student as an individual. Rose shares his own incredible journey from troubled childhood to Harvard, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology along with advances in the field of education, to ultimately provide a roadmap for parents and teachers of kids who are the casualties of America’s antiquated school system.

With a distinguished blend of humor, humility, and practical advice for nurturing children who are a poor fit in conventional schools, Square Peg is a game-changing manifesto that provides groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms, and why today’s dropouts could be tomorrow’s innovators.

Genres: Parenting, Education, Nonfiction, Memoir, Adhd, Research, Self Help

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Todd Rose is the cofounder and president of The Center for Individual Opportunity, and a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His work is focused on the science of the individual and its implications for advancing self-knowledge, developing talent, and improving our institutions of opportunity. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Jenny GB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Todd Rose's book claims to be a how-to guide to raise out of the box kids as well as a "game changing manifesto" that provides "groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms". Wow, boast much? Not surprisingly, this doesn't live up to that hype. This book is primarily an autobiography of Rose's life, particularly as it relates to his misbehavior and trouble in school. Even now and then Rose discusses some research on topics such as emotions powerfully affect behavior or that failing is a good thing. None is this is earth shattering and these ideas have been around for a long time. Also, he seems incapable of giving advice to teachers or parents except in vague terms or being snarky about it. For example, he advises parents to hug your kids and then later tells you to knock it off because you're probably bothering them now. His idea of summing up his chapters is to throw in irrelevant information, such as there are two ways to make the word syllabus plural (I bet he couldn't wait to put his "revenge" for one Harvard student's comment in print) where as I'm wondering who cares about that? We all have petty issues with other people, but forcing all your readers to read about it is pointless. He also seems rather too gleeful about his misbehavior, especially flaming bags of poop (which again merits a "big idea" mention) and scoring detention so that he has somewhere to go during lunch (which I have mixed feelings about and find very sad). He also for some reasons keeps mentioning that parents have to play the long game and keep steps ahead of their kids which he refers to as chess and definitely NOT checkers. Actually, I think both games require strategy and thinking ahead if you're playing them properly. Checkers doesn't have as many options for moves, but is also a dynamic game where the move you make will affect your opponent's decisions and thinking ahead can predict those outcomes. I would also caution anyone reading this book that Rose is a little too enthusiastic about the future in technology. As a teacher, I've seen firsthand that most e-books are the exact same quality as certain textbooks because, surprise, they're being developed by the same companies and these companies can't think creatively to develop something brand new. Khan academy is also mostly a false hope. Khan has done a good thing, but he's done it poorly and sometimes done it mathematically incorrect. I love the ideas of video learning, but why not make it interactive? Why not push students to think about why you're doing what you're doing? Anyway, that's a whole different rant.

It might sound like at this point I hate this book, and I don't. Rose really relates his story in a moving way. I'm finding it hard to empathize with him because my life has been so vastly different, but some of my students must feel this way. His description of the hard time he had being bullied is of course quite moving and definitely wrong. The reason why I'm so frustrated with this book is because it promises some ideas, but doesn't really deliver any accept having to buy all your students some expensive new technology or questionable value. I'm sure all kids love goofing around on computers, but the idea that it instantly makes learning awesome is a false one. To Rose's credit he does point that out and talk about the need for good teachers and not just paid babysitters to watch over the students as they play on computers. However, he then fails to offer any alternative idea to teachers. He's a bit better about providing parental advice, but it's still stated in vague terms and contains ideas that I hope everyone has heard of, for example praise the effort and not the outcome on a task. The most interesting and intriguing thing Rose discusses was a few innovative schools he visited. I'd love to hear more about how they work! My overall impression of this book is that I'm not impressed. As a story of a man's struggles to overcome his adversities it's a good story, but as advice book to parents and teachers or as groundbreaking science about learning revealed it's just doesn't work.

[Kyle Schutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

clearly something is wrong with education. one size fits most leaves too many kids behind.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert Camus said, "We are all special cases." Square Peg: My Story and What It Means for Raising Innovators, Visionaries, and Out-of-the-Box Thinkers by Todd Rose, with Katherine Ellison, certainly proves that we are all special and unique, especially in the way we approach learning. Square Peg is both a memoir and a personal manifesto. Todd Rose was a bright child who could not seem to avoid trouble and was quickly labeled a delinquent. Part of his problem was the way the educational system reacted to him in a misguided attempt to change or alter his behavior. Rose ended up a high school drop out, but he later went on to become a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Rose elaborates on four ideas derived from the study of complex systems and recent neuroscience findings: variability is the rule (our perceptions and reactions are much more dynamic and diverse than previously thought); emotions are serious stuff (children's emotional states do influence their ability to learn); context is key (the circumstances can effect the behavior - this includes labeling children with a disorder); feedback loops determine long-term success or failure (chaos theory and small changes making a difference). At the end of each chapter Rose offers a summary of the "Big Ideas" from that chapter and "Action Items" for parents.

It was enlightening to see what Rose's mother and grandmother did right as Rose makes a case for student centered education. He makes it clear that we can't fix a child's behavior. Behavior is an extremely complex system that originates from the interaction of a person's biology, past experiences, and immediate context. If we can understand this complex systems, we could learn to do a better job as teachers and parents in supporting and educating kids, rather than setting them up for failure. Once a child is caught up in a negative feedback loop, it is hard to escape.

Medicating ADHD children so they can fit into the environment of school, while beneficial for many, may not completely address the root cause of a child's learning difficulties. The stress children can feel while at school does not help their ability to learn. Finding a way to use current technology to help all children individualize their education could potentially transform education and help many overcome their special needs or limitations. For example, Rose himself had problems with his short term memory, so the ability to record a multi-step series of instructions with built in reminders would have benefited him enormously.

Square Peg is entertaining as well as informative. I appreciate the "Big Ideas" and "Action Items" at the end of each chapter. It is a nice way to summarize what points Rose believes are the most important from all the information and personal anecdotes he provides. Square Peg includes an epilogue with Rose's current research findings, chapter notes, and a bibliography.

Very Highly Recommended - I truly enjoyed this book!

http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading for those who don't follow a conventional path through school and life. The author dropped out of high school mid-way through his senior year and is now a professor of education at Harvard. This book provides very helpful points for parents and unconventional students. He describes four primary concepts to keep in mind: (1) variability among people means that conventional systems aren't appropriate for everyone; (2) emotion plays a big part in how students (and authority figures) react to any given situation; (3) context is important for enabling success...he quotes Einstein saying you can't judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree; (4) feedback loops can send an individual into a spiral of self-destruction OR in a positive direction...pay attention to how events and responses play out.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Square Peg is a book every parent who has a troubled child should read. There are so many parents out there who have forgotten what it means to be a kid, especially being a kid in today's times. I'm not sure when it happens, but it seems that as soon as adults turn into parents, they lose all sense of reality and common sense. They like to believe that what they are doing is best for their kids, when sometimes it is not. This book explains the trouble the author had growing up because of all the trouble he got himself into. His impulsivity always made him look like a kid with no future and no chance of doing anything good with his life. Boy, did he prove them wrong.

Before I go on about this review, I would like to point out what some of the other people have said about this book in the reviews. It surprises me how people view and understand books once they are finished with them. It's almost like they expect to be entertained the whole time, while at the same time, if it doesn't come loaded down with dates of research titles and articles, then it must not be good enough to read. People have gotten to the point that, in order for them to agree or believe with what the author is saying, they need a list of facts from tons of research articles first. That should never be the case and the reason why is because as soon as a person reads one article, they start pulling it apart because of what some other research paper said before that refutes a new one. If books were as judgmental as we are about them, a lot of people would probably never get to read the books they want because they would get turned away so often.

This author, a Harvard professor now, came in and basically said, look, you don't need all this filler in order to understand your child. He didn't load down this book with tons of research titles, although a few show up now and then, but instead provided pointers as to what parents should be doing. One of them, don't always think medicating is the solution, because it is not. He mentions this, even though he takes them. Another thing about his solutions, which probably goes against the grain for many parents struggling with this, is that he doesn't provide medicating options, but a more humane approach. He focused on getting the reader to understand how a child's environment affects their behavior and how it can help or harm them. A lot of the reviews showed disappointing remarks because some felt that all he did was talk about himself, which shows you that they were only looking for facts and figures. Why read this book at all if that is what you want? There are plenty of journals to read that provide just facts and figures then. Go be irritating somewhere else.

So what makes this book different from all the others? The author shows his thought process about how he viewed the world and how the world viewed him. He made this a personal journey about all his troubles and what he did to fix them and arrive on top. He combined the idea of his personal struggles with how the world views trouble makers like him and what they try to do about it. He wanted to show the world that kids like him can come out on top, if they get the support they need.

Parents who struggle with children who are trouble makers often believe that their children have no future because of their constant misbehaving. This is not true, because of how the public education system is set up, most children who are not able to adapt, instead of the school adapting to their learning style, end up dropping out or getting kicked out. Mr. Rose explained that if he had the kind of educational opportunities that digital technology has brought to schools today, his grades probably would have been better and his classroom performance on par with everyone else, but because teachers are not trained to deal with kids like him, he was often sent to the principal's office for discipline.

The other issue he mention in the book was using medication. His mom was concerned about it and he provided his thoughts on it as well. Of course, medication should never be used on a child, just because the parents don't have the patience for handling their child's unlimited flow of energy, doesn't make it ok to sedate them just because. There are plenty of books on how to cope with children who are hyperactive. I choose not to say ADHD because it is a label that is often abused and used on a child who shows the slightest sign of being hyper. Can you imagine if some of the greatest minds of our history were medicated as children, where we would be today? Exactly.....think about that for a minute.

If you want to find out why your child is misbehaving all the time, read this book.
If you want to understand why your child is struggling in school, read this book.
If you want your child to end up just like the author did, read this book and pray, but don't rely on the first option.
If you want to know what you should be doing as a parent to help your child, read this book.

If you want a miracle cure, look elsewhere, but still pray, and if your not religious, think hard.
If all you want is facts and research results so you can find their flaws, read research journals, and leave this one alone.
If all you want is entertainment while reading this book, read some comics instead.

In order to solve your child's misbehavior you first need to understand where it is coming from. Most of the time, your child doesn't know. So the best thing you can do is be there for them, even when everyone else isn't.

Give them hugs, talk to them, tell them you love them, and provide positive feedback, even when you think they don't deserve it. Sometimes a random trip for ice cream can make their day.

They need to know that you are always there for them, even in very hard times, otherwise they lose hope in themselves.

One last thing, don't read this book hoping to copy everything the author did, read this book so you can understand what to look for in your child's environment that is hurting them and helping them so you know what you need to do.

I really enjoyed this book because it shows that you have to look at everything in a child's life that is helping/hurting them. Sometimes it is even the parents style of parenting that might be hurting the child. You should also consider that but never rule it out. If you are a helicopter parent, STOP IT, and let them live a normal live. If you are too free-spirited as a parent, then maybe providing some rules and boundaries will help them. Kids need structure but never at the level of what helicopter parents have.

Never rule out the smallest thing because the sad part about all this is that their developing brains don't know how to express themselves about what they are feeling or experiencing until they are adults, and by then, it is too late to know what to do to fix it. They won't be able to tell you that the medication you forced them to take was actually hurting them when they were a kid. So take your time about introducing that because medicine should only be used as a last resort, not a quick fix for the parents.


If you want to know why I didn't give it five stars, it was because it was a very short read. I was hoping for more, just to learn more about the work he is doing now to help kids.

[C.G.Koens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember where I first heard about this book, but I think it's been on my bookshelf for about a year. I could honestly go anywhere between two stars and four stars with this one, for a variety of reasons, which is why it got three.

Two Stars: I agree with another reviewer who said the premise of the book "raising innovators, visionaries, and out-of-the-box thinkers" wasn't really what this book was about at all. This is Rose's personal biography of his difficult school career, and how he overcame his own demons to find success as an adult academic. In addition to his life story, the other half of the book was how to make public schools work for kids who need individualized learning help. He clearly spells out the negative side of the public school system, but goes to technology as the answer. Ever heard of homeschooling? But I digress. At any rate, I didn't leave this book with a list of ideas on how to raise innovators, visionaries, or out-of-the-box thinkers, necessarily...BUT...

Four Stars: I actually really enjoyed his personal story. Because of my own experiences with my kids who have struggled with focus, cortisol issues, and learning challenges, I appreciated hearing about it from his point of view. There were also ideas that he threw out there that weren't necessarily new to me, but a reminder to individualize the education for each child, so that they learn, not so that they check a box. As a mother and a teacher, I was encouraged that there is hope, and to stay the course on creating individualized learning plans for my kids to give them the best start possible.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a child who learns differently, no matter what their challenge is you need to read this book. Presented in a relate-able way from someone who has lived the experience of "being different". Each chapter is short and manageable as far as information and he provides a recap of the most important parts for you to take away.

[Jeffcamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, compelling book that education leaders should read. The author was a hyperactive, disruptive, mostly unlikable child. He flunked out of school. But he went on to be accepted to Harvard. How does that happen, and what can we learn from his experience?

The author has some practical advice that will interest parents and should also interest policy makers. Given its brevity, it merits a wide audience.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this as a child, not as a parent, but this book was incredible. I can relate so much to this man's story. My mother read it, and she said that it was like reading my story - I want to thank Todd Rose for this, and I would recommend this book to anyone is a kid who "thinks outside the box" and parents raising said kids. This was brilliantly written, and was something I could relate to personally.

[Tess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more a memoir than an education book. The author has some wonderful insights on the struggles of ADHD and other assorted issues. There is also some interesting research. However I found myself noticing that he never took full responsibility or showed remorse for the terrible things he did while growing up. I know he struggled growing up but the excuses became tiring.

[Jaime]

So glad I read this. Changed the way I view Claire's behavior.

[Zoe Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking read, but I wasn’t expecting an emphasis on learning variability so much as just learning about boys as students. I think Rose ultimately did a good job writing and made some good points, but I’m not thoroughly convinced by the end of the book about everything he wrote about. Overall, it does seem like education needs a thorough change- I wish he had spent more time talking about school programs in other countries that also do an exemplary job of differentiating for different learners.

[DVA · Rating 3 out of 5]

His experience with school is personally relatable and there is some valuable information for parents. However, I was disappointed to learn 7/8 through the book that he’s been taking Ritalin throughout his turnaround and subsequent journey. That’s fine, but then, at least with respect to the authors anecdote, it’s impossible to distinguish the impact of stimulants from the impact of context and feedback loops.

[Hana Bostikova · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book and vulnerability of sharing made me root for the author. I did not really like the “self-help” part at the end of each chapter necessary as the story telling is really clear. Maybe it would gain more magic if the interpretation and moral was a burden of the reader.

[Helen Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to read in connection with Normal...

[Rob Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest and revealing. Great perspective for educators.

[Elisacg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about the life of the author, Todd Rose. Very engaging and easy to read. So happy to know he ended up doing pretty well in life. Gives me hope that my ADHD son may end up OK too.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review here

I participate in a Facebook group where the discussion centers largely around learning differences in students, and ideas for helping those students receive an education that works for them. The group was born when a friend of mine met a lot of resistance from both her child's teacher and the school/school district in trying to get her daughter help. She also met plenty of resistance from the educational system in trying to figure out why she was struggling in the first place.

I've learned a lot about 2E children (2E=Twice Exceptional, meaning simultaneously gifted and learning disabled) from that group and from doing my own research. I have often suspected that my Bria has a minor learning disability, even while being extraordinarily gifted in some areas. We went through an especially difficult period with her in the fourth grade, and, with a lot of work on our part, she has risen above many of the difficulties she encountered then. She's a determined--and very smart--child who now makes As and Bs, and has a goal to go to BYU. She just has to work really hard for those grades in certain subjects (cough cough math cough cough).

Anyway, being in this Facebook group has really opened my eyes to the struggles many of our students face in the classroom today. It's truly amazing how the system can fail so many of our children, and yet still be good-intentioned.

Square Peg - My Story and What It Means for Raising Innovators, Visionaries and Out-of-the-Box Thinkers, by L. Todd Rose is a great book with great ideas for our modern classrooms. Todd Rose was himself a 2E child. And the system failed him. He tells the story of how he was given a poetry assignment, and because he actually enjoyed writing poetry, he did it. His teacher failed him, thinking he had cheated, since Todd didn't try on any assignments, as a general rule. Even when Todd's mother plead his case to the teacher, the teacher held firm to the failed grade.

This story made me so angry! And even though that was probably 20-30 years ago, things like this still happen quite commonly in our educational system.

Rose's book is simultaneously a memoir and a textbook which teaches parents and teachers how to cater to individual learning styles. He has great ideas for using all of the technology available today to help the students that struggle in a traditional learning environment. I liked how he had 'Big Ideas' and 'Action Items' after every chapter. I liked even more that the action items often included things like "give your child a hug!" Rose, who was diagnosed with ADHD as a youth and consequently dropped out of high school with a 0.9 GPA, is now a faculty member of the Harvard School of Education. His story is inspiring, and his ideas for our children even more so.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are looking for ways to help a child who isn't flourishing in a traditional school setting. I would also recommend it to parents of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, as a big part of the book centers on that particular condition.

[Laura (booksnob) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Square Peg is, in part, a memoir about L. Todd Rose's experience growing up a misunderstood, wild and out of control kid with ADHD. He is every teachers nightmare, throwing stink bombs in school. He ends up making a lot of mistakes including, failing high school and is three steps short of being a juvenile delinquent. He had a couple of things going for him though, a mother who loved and accepted him and the will to succeed. He uses this will to succeed to reinvent himself. Square Peg is the story of how he went from being a failure at the very bottom of the educational system to a Harvard graduate student.

Square Peg is also a book for parents and educators who are looking for answers for helping kids survive and thrive in a failing education system. If you have a child with dyslexia or ADD or Asperger's you probably already know that your child doesn't do well in the current educational system. Rose provides specific techniques and ideas on how to be a better parent and how to be a more effective teacher when working with kids that are active learners.

Both of my kids have ADHD and Dyslexia. School has been a major challenge for both of them. I am a high school teacher who wants my students and my own children to succeed and yet I know that what L. Todd Rose states in his book his true, School is failing to educate some kids. We must find a way to teach school so that every learner can succeed. Right now dropout rates for high school students are staggering and many of these students are "intellectually gifted".

One of the ways to reach struggling students is to use digital technology in the classroom. Currently I am teaching with digital media (Ipads in the classroom) and am rethinking and relearning a new way to teach my curriculum. I am trying to create a paperless classroom (the wave of the future) as well as being creative with lessons on the Ipads. I love it and I believe my students do too. I plan to teach the staff in my building some of the techniques I am trying digitally in my classroom. I love to be an innovator! Did I mention I have ADD?

Square Peg arrived on my doorstep at the right time. My son is struggling in school and one of the reasons why is because he is bored with worksheets. Rose's book has given me a new outlook and strategies to help him and encourage his teachers to think "out of the box" when they teach him.

I LOVE the way the book is set up. Each chapter begins with a relevant quote and the chapters are easy to read, entertaining, informative and positive. At the end of every chapter are listed the Big Ideas as well as Action Items.

Square Peg is a informative book for parents and educators alike. I think it might be my new teaching mantra as I have recommended it to several of my colleagues already. I'm going to end with one of my favorite quotes included in the book.

"If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow."
John Dewey

[Sogzewalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the author says that there is not one factor in his growth beyond being a challenging child with misbehaviors, the one thing that comes through over and over again is that his mother stood in the gap for her child and believed in him. The other beliefs about himself he discovered on his own.
So here is to the mother's and grandmothers who refuse to give up on their children!

[Julianna Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember much of this book. It wasn't terrible, just not very memorable.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot about education lately. I got this book because of this NPR article, "Standards, Grades And Tests Are Wildly Outdated, Argues 'End Of Average,'" Feb. 16, 2016 (http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/0...). I also watched his TED talk, https://youtu.be/4eBmyttcfU4.

After his article and TED talk, I thought, "Yeah, but not everyone will work for Google. Not everyone will be president of the United States or even of a company. I'm not sure you can change the whole system to supposedly meet the needs of a handful of students and the expense of all students."

So I started with this book.

"The conventions prevailing today in most schools throughout the world, in which rote memorization is still, anachronistically, prized originated in early-nineteenth-century Prussia, where the compulsory school system was designed to churn out loyal and obedient soldiers and factory workers. The model was never meant to nurture individual potential or creativity, but rather to instill uniformity and compliance." (p. 16)

I've come across this "rote memorization" argument a lot lately when reading about education reform. But when I hear a 7th-grade math teacher say that her students don't know what 3 times 4 is, I have to argue that, actually, there is still a place for memorization in our children's education: times tables, for instance.

I have more to write about this book ... I just need a bit more time to do more research.

Notes:

"As many as 18 full- and part-time positions would be eliminated, including five Spanish teachers at the elementary level who would be replaced by language software. Also on the chopping block: one high school librarian and an instrumental music teacher." (http://www.omaha.com/news/education/w...)

[Patrick44 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert

I am at the midpoint in the book where he is starting to get his act together. Up to this point I think he is a sociopath who is coddled by his mother. His father seems a distant and strict character who does not try to make any attachment with him and does not try a more personal approach to modifying his behavior. As a child he is totally self-involved with no desire to control his behavior (and, again, not much real help in getting it corrected). He proved that he could have changed his behavior any time it benefited him when he reinvented himself at the new school ... and again when his girlfriend got pregnant and he decided that it behooved him to become responsible. At both of these times he was, again, self-serving and it continued to be 'all about' him. At this point, also, I don't see how he gave any indication of being an innovator, visionary or out-of-the-box thinker; he was just a stinker.
I will continue only to see how such a rotten-behaving kid got to where he is today.

[Susan Olesen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh? ADHD kid goes from high school dropout to Harvard professor while his family lives on the brink for more than 10 years. While he is the absolute picture of my son, down to the core, and I share much in common with his wits-end mother, beyond that, the book told me nothing I did not already know. Swapping chapters or sections of self-reflection with current trends in research, the book seemed choppy and shallow in places. I have read better books on similar subjects (Gladwell's Outliers), read more meaningful books on education (anything by Jonathan Kozol), and better books on psychology. If you're new to the ADHD family and at your wit's end and need to know that there is hope for your child, this is a great book to read. If you're looking for a good book or deeper answers, choose something else. If you need to read something for an education or psych class, this is a short, easy read that should fit the bill nicely.

[Sandy D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting memoir by a guy who grew up in the 80's and 90's with severe ADHD. He dropped out of high school after failing too many classes to graduate, but did get his GED, go on to college, and eventually grad school...ending up teaching at Harvard.

His story reads like some of the stories I've read in special needs forums online...some horrid teachers, some amazing teachers & mentors, and a very patient and perceptive (and long-suffering) mother. It is extremely well-written, and I particularly liked the chapter summaries and tips for parents.

Rose's thoughts on the use of technology in classrooms and how current budget changes are changing schools are also very timely and perceptive. I'm going to buy a couple copies of this to give to teachers. :-)

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was a really rough elementary school kid, diagnosed with ADHD, who became a middle school troublemaker and eventual high school drop out. Surprisingly, he eventually ended up a Harvard graduate and faculty member on their education team. His story is very interesting and he has a lot of forward-thinking ideas about learning disabilities that include variability, context, open loops, and more. I read as much about ADHD studies and theory as I can, and this one didn't disappoint. However, some of his observations felt like they were already out there, so I didn't find it groundbreaking. But his take on it is worthwhile. If you're at all interested in ways to consider your "square peg" in several different lights, I'd recommend this one.

[Mark Klempner · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I had mixed feelings about the split perspective the author offers: one minute he is offering himself as an example of someone who was a screw up in his K-12 education. The next minute he is offering information and research findings as a member of the faculty at Harvard College School of Education. But by the end of the book I felt that this dual approach not only kept things interesting but both of those Todds had valuable information and life experience to offer. I wish all teachers and principals would read this book to help them deal with the square pegs that are trying to force into round holes.

[Vichna Belsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. oddly, I also like the smell of skunk.

A great line: (paraphrased)

There is a difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.

I felt like this so much spoke to me because I have that kind of brain where I can understand so much about something but forget all the labels. This was disaster in History, and caused a lot of trouble in Science, where my marks never nearly reflected my grasp of what was happening.

[Janey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book not only helped me understand my son’s impulsivity and learning “differences,” but also my own. If you and/or your child have learning differences (Rose didn’t call them disorders, which I loved immediately), then you’ll want to read this book. He has an important perspective and I appreciate his work on trying to reform our current educational system to fit everyone and not just the “average” pupil of which doesn’t exist.

[Amy Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening first-person account of what it's like to be "THAT kid" in the classroom—and of how to help him be successful if you're his parent, teacher, or community.

The rest of its title, all that "visionary thinker" stuff, is not so much in this book, but Rose's story was still thought-provoking.