The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Brightest People Can't Read and How They Can Learn

by Ronald Davis

'Radiates optimism and encouragement and offers a programme for success' Disability NowA breakthrough book that gives dyslexics the key to literacy, The Gift of Dyslexia helps you understand the disorder that inhibits the reading and writing of fifteen per cent of children and adults - and also gifts them with greater levels of creativity and multidimensional thinking.Based on personal experience of dyslexia, Ronald D. Davis offers insights into the learning problems and stigmas faced by those with the condition, and provides tried and tested techniques for overcoming and correcting it with his Davis Procedures, now used in over 40 countries worldwide.Covering reading, writing, diagnosis and guidelines for teaching dyslexic children and adults, this is an invaluable guide for dyslexics and their teachers and loved ones.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2010

Reviews

[Ann Addley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny but even struggling with dyslexia all my life I have read few books on the subject.

This book showcases a system developed by Davis through his own disability and extensive work with children. It explains many symptoms in a way that can be easily understood by non dyslexics. The book then lays out a series of exercises aimed at correcting the problems caused by dyslexia.

I found this book quite inspiring, to hear from someone who had shared my frustrations and understand more about the way I process things. I have done several of the exercises and they appear sound. I am currently doing some research in to Davis Dyslexia practitioners in my area. I will update this as to the results I achieve.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will admit I was quite disappointed in this book. It had been recommended to me and was not all all what I was expecting. I was wanting more of an indepth look about dyslexia and it's causes and some of the common problems (besides reading) that people with dyslexia can suffer from as well as other ways that it can benefit them. The book however was far too simplistic. It took a totally behavioral approach to dyslexia, saying it was the result of "confusion" which caused the brain to process things incorrectly and then those incorrect ways stayed. Which didn't quite sit right with me. My dyslexia is different to most in that I don't have trouble reading, in fact I read very quickly, partially because I have trouble breaking down words into letters. So I don't know if it's because it's different that I had trouble relating to a lot of things discussed, or because it mostly talked about children's experiences and focused so much on reading. The author talked about trigger words and how dyslexic people had a hard time with words that didn't have a concrete meaning. He then named all his theories to help with this problem, complex long names that had no literal meaning. He specifically didn't put in the book how you could help yourself, but only how his method could be used to help other people. Definitely not the book I was looking for. I'm very glad I borrowed a copy from the library and didn't buy it.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being told you are dyslexic at the age of 58 would be a shock to anyone. or me it is an even greater shock because I have always associated dyslexia with an inability to read. Dyslexics brain are wired up differently. The author seems quite caught up in his methodology. Although it has been undoubtedly successful it is questionable whether this approach will work every time with every person. It didn't work for me.

[Richardas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I was rather disappointed with the book. The solutions it gives to deal with the disability are too simplistic and mainly concern improving reading skills. The only thing I like about the book is that it presents dyslexia as a gift which should be embraced in order to uncover one's true potential.

[Beth Lorow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure what to make of this book. Its "take" on dyslexia is vastly different from anything I've read or learned. Focused primarily on dyslexia being a symptom of disorientation experienced by people, the "cure" is a method developed by the author. Parts made great sense and parts confounded me.

[Петър Р. Дойчев · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книгата дава един доста интересен поглед към дислексията - от съвсем неочакван и твърде интересен ъгъл. Действително ли дислексията е дар, а не разстройство или състояние, който причинява толкова тревоги на родителите на засегнатите от него ученици, както и на самите тях, а пред техните преподаватели поставя понякога толкова трудни за преодоляване предизвикателства? За себе си Рон Дейвис казва, че в детството си е бил третиран като умствено изостанало или аутистично дете. Подиграван, отхвърлен и физически малтретиран. Вече в зряла възраст, изправен пред много и мъчителни въпроси за себе си, на които никой не е дал задоволителен отговор, Дейвис се затваря в една хотелска стая, където именно го спохожда откровението, съпътствало много от гениите, в момента, в който са правели своите велики открития. След няколко дни на размисъл и конструиране на своята теория за дислексията Дейвис напуска хотелската стая преобразен. Едно от първите неща е да отиде в библиотеката, откъде да вземе и неподозирано бързо и леко за самия него да прочете първата си книга - да, роман за деца, но и огромен напредък за човек, който през целия си живот не е успял да прочете нито една книга. Дейвис решава да помогне и на други с откритията си и теорията си за същността на дислексията. Пише книга, в която дава конкретни терапевтични насоки. Тя намира сериозен отзвук сред родителите на деца с дислексия и на много места по света се работи именно по нея. Специалистите са по-скоро скептични, още повече, че на места в книгата се въвеждат почти мистични, метафизични елементи, като тренировката да гледаш себе си не с физически разположените си върху главата очи, а с имагенерно око, което авторът учи в книгата си как да бъде ситуирано в пространството над главата. Дори и да говорим за метафорично изразяване, идеята на Дейвис за трето око звучи странно. Много от обясненията, които дава обаче звучат доста разумно и логично - още повече, когато сериозната наука се затруднява да даде категорично становище за същите явления.

[S J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Help for Parents

Great book recommended by so many.
I like talking through each technique.
However I feel I would prefer a professional help to work through it with me.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating! Much here to ponder.