Overcoming Distractions: Thriving with Adult ADD/ADHD

by David A. Greenwood

We know that Attention Deficit Disorder makes it tough for children to focus in school. But what happens when those kids grow up? How can they make the transition to a successful professional life? And how can newly diagnosed adults meet the challenges of the workplace? David Greenwood, an ADD sufferer who now works as a well-respected PR consultant, answers the question for anyone who wants to thrive with ADD or ADHD—not just survive!
Learn how to :
 
Overcoming Distraction s includes plenty of case studies, testimonials from ADD/ADHD specialists, and numerous action plans for making Attention Deficit Disorder work for you.

Genres: Adhd, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Psychology, Health, Productivity

189 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This is not a help book. This is a "Look at me" pat on the back the author has created for himself. What little actual advice there is so super generic. Seriously, short of references to others with ADHD this has little to nothing to actually do with how to work with this disorder. It didn't give any insights to what to do for coping mechanisms. I would have loved that. Or maybe a way to explain what ADHD is like for another. I always find that impossible. OR how to get through a job that isn't a dream fit. I mean I guess if you have great parents, amazing friends, a supportive spouse and can have that dream career this book might be relatable. But if you struggle with any of these, if felt foreign.
This is super dry and just dragged on. Like seriously how DARE you try to even ask someone who is seeking advice for their ADHD ask them to struggle through this. GRRR... This book actually has irritated me. Honestly, short, brief and engaging are the to rules for those with ADHD. How can you fail at all three?!

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Repetitive, and took too long to say what he wanted to say. (Ironically.)

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, and not just because I have ADHD.

[Einzige · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though I don’t have ADHD I figured that in an era of unprecedented distractions there might nevertheless be valuable information and techniques that could be applied generally. However I didn’t get to test this idea. The extent of techniques you will get in this book are:

-Get 8 hours of sleep
-Exercise Regularly
-Have quality social interactions
-Meditate
-Think positively
-Plan your days

This is book is just 150 pages of anecdotes from people the author knew and a couple of doctors providing the most generic and cautious advice possible.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overcoming Distractions starts off so rough and repetitive, to the point where I was sighing heavily. I, an adult with ADHD, have the tendency to pick out very small details and get fed up with repetitions when consuming media. Even though I have the tendency of repeating myself... A LOT. I had the extreme need to, and WANTED to re-edit this book, so the reading experience was a smooth experience for myself. I had A LOT of ideas on how to tackle this editing conundrum. 
These repetitions, in my opinion were over the top, making the first couple of chapters difficult for me to get through. I am glad that I was able to ‘muster the brain troops’ and get through the mess that was Chapter 1 & 2, as this book eventually starts to iron itself out, even if it is still not perfectly edited. 


Overcoming Distractions mainly explores and interviews business owners and entrepreneurs about: their ADHD diagnosis stories, the difficulties they had growing up, schooling difficulties, and how they overcame these difficulties and started running successful businesses. 
If you are looking for a book that explains ADHD on a medical level, or any of the other conditions that co-exist with ADHD such as Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Anxiety etc: This book does not break down any of these concepts, and only briefly discusses some of these conditions I have listed. As badly edited this book is, I will give the author some credit: He does discuss that he is not a medical expert, just a guy with ADHD sharing his and others stories of their successes.
I am currently not in the ‘small business/ entrepreneur' bracket, but I was able to tailor some of the advice that the author and the people he interviewed provided, in a way that works for me.


I was going to give this book 2 stars due to the sloppy editing and repetition. Although some of the advice that I was able to tailor to my own self is useful. I have already started adding some time management activities suggested in this book to my schedule, and they seem to be working a charm currently.
 Also, the stories about the struggles with ADHD that the author himself had and the people he interviewed were relatable to my own experiences (yes, I’m looking at you academia!). Therefore, I have notched this book up to 3 stars. 


[Naomi Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In irony of ironies, it took me much longer to finish this book than it should have because I kept getting distracted. I think part of why I finished it was because I was waiting for 45minutes for my dr.'s appointment. I think it took me awhile, however, not because of ADHD problems, but because this wasn't quite what I was expecting. It didn't feel as organized or as clear as I wanted it to be. I felt like it didn't quite follow through on the promises it made. There was some good advice, but it's not something I will keep long term. *shrug* Just wasn't for me. I bought a book that is geared toward people with ADHD who are in female bodies, so I'm hoping that one is more helpful.

[Elyse · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book is to be believed, 90% of those who have ADHD are successful entrepreneurs who did poorly in school. Its specific lens can make it hard to relate to many of the stories. Because of this and because of its scattered, often repetitive structure, it’s better read as a stream of thought collection of individual life experiences than as an accessible toolkit. Finally, although the author repeatedly says people should not hesitate to talk to a doctor about whether medication is good for them, an anti-medication bias nonetheless seeps through.

[Kari Esh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a vanity piece written so the author can prove he’s capable of finishing a book. It’s a lot of repetitive, anecdotal advice that doesn’t seem ADHD specific: find a job you enjoy, surround yourself with people who support you, manage your time. It lacks the information on the disorder and coping strategies that a reader would come to a book on the subject to find.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with experiences and viewpoints and insights into Adult ADHD that I haven't read about before. But about a third of the book consists of repetitious restatements of points that could have been edited out.

[Amy Drees · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like the title of this book because it's about way more than just... distractions. Greenwood talked to a bunch of people thriving with their ADHD and provided the details of how they got there. I like his approach because you get to read about a LOT of tools and solutions, not just his. He doesn't take meds but provides the wisdom from those who do. He manages his ADHD in other ways AND supports those who manage it through meds. And this book talks about all those ways you can manage your ADHD.

He talks about the pitfalls we have with ADHD and he talks about the successes we have BECAUSE of our ADHD. It's a two-way street. It's just a very different one than the majority of the population. And it just means we need different tools to live well.

I like this book. I recommend.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an entrepreneur who may have ADHD, I found this book helpful, as it profiles several people who seem to think like me and have discovered career paths where they are able to be creative, self-directed and rely on partners & employees for everyday tasks. The books is not a how-to guide and it's only partially tactical - the main goal of the book seems to be to show that adult ADHD doesn't have to be a disability - it can be something that can be channeled into a great career with the right support systems in place. I can understand where it might be off-putting to those who are currently struggling, but personally, I found that message inspiring.

[Rogue Blackwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is mostly anecdotal. If you've done any reading on executive functions or productivity in general it's about the same advice.

I was hoping for more clear directions or exercises to try. Types of organization that works for others with adhd. Instead, it's mostly stories of people being successful and finding what works for them.

Also, it seems more geared to extrovert adhd people than introverts. It's heavily focused on support people in your life. Which for an introverted solopreneur that's not helpful.

If you're looking for stories to relate to you may find some of that here though.

[Naomi te Wildt]

The first entire three chapters feel like an autobiography. I didn’t learn much about what adhd is or how people cope with it - I learned about why the author switched careers and how ADHD made him more/less successful in various roles. Chapter 7 was when it started pivoting from being all about him to being more about how other people have had “successful careers“ and how ADHD is “a superpower“ not a death sentence for one’s career.

[Lauren Niewold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t finish…
As someone newly diagnosed with ADHD, I got about halfway through before I gave up. Not because of inattention, but because I couldn’t read anymore about this guy talking about himself and his accomplishments, and less about the disease. Plus he’s very black and white in his writing. “We lack organization”, “we are late”. I have multiple calendars, love things just so, and even my clothes are organized by color and shape. It’s my thoughts that are disorganized! Also, I am either early or exactly on time. It felt like he was listing stereotypes. This was not the book for me.

[SA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. So focused on neuroatypical people contorting themselves to fit into a neurotypical mold, and a mold focused on the hyper-productive commodification inherent to the patriarchal late-stage capitalist American workforce, with an emphasis on the white, cisgender male paradigm of "success" particular to the Boomer-to-Gen-X generations (and without any sense or critical thought about the privileges thereof). Greenwood is also rather overtly anti-medication (couched in "it might be right for you, but...") which is ironic given the whole thrust of the book is documenting ways for a person with ADHD to convincingly be a neurotypical person.

I flagged...so, so many pages in this book that I had intended to quote and respond to in this review but I just can't be fucked. Greenwood is describing an idea of "thriving" that is so far away from my experience as a neuroatypical person so as to be a delusion -- certainly, he creates an aspiration that is unappealing at the least and self-destructive at an extreme. We neuroatypical people may have to live in the societies neurotypical people constructed, but by stars we don't gain much by fooling ourselves into pretending it can work for us without contorting ourselves into falsehoods.

[Fee Pauwels · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF — this book pissed me off lol. I tried my very best to finish it but I find it so dangerous for someone like this to write a book like this that gives out medical advice and makes a profit off of it without any sort of formal medical or scientific training. As someone with ADHD, I too believe the experiences of people with ADHD is invaluable, but I’m not sure that equips us to assume our experiences are all the same and give advice from there. Also, this is allegedly a book full of interviews with different people but I got about 2/3 through and was still waiting for those meaningful interviews. And lastly… this book is based so harshly on ADHD stereotypes we see in boys and men so I did not feel like it was relatable at all. Onto the next

[Jessica L · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written almost entirely in various narratives - stories about various people with ADHD. While this might have been intended to give compelling throughlines for readers to follow, it just made it hard to identify important information within each section. In order to pick up anything useful, you would have to read everything relatively closely.

So, this was frustrating to read. The target audience is people with ADHD, a population Greenwood himself references as rarely finishing books in the first place.

Greenwood's answer? He implores his readers to just not put the book down, essentially to power through. It's a book about ADHD coping strategies and instead of giving strategies for finishing a book, the author just essentially says 'try harder and don't give up this time.' This sort of tone-deaf introduction should have immediately warned me off, but I did as Greenwood suggested and tried to power through.

It was not an easy task. A conscientious or self-aware book might have had differential lettering, i.e. bolded the text of important points, and even if Greenwood wanted to preserve his narrative format he could have given a bullet list of tips at the end of each section in case you missed them. He does neither, nor does he give any other structural aid for his readers. (I would be remiss to not point out that there are more headings than average in this book, but I don't think titles like 'Eating Bugs' or 'The Sexy Boss' are very helpful in organizing yourself.)
Instead, Greenwood's solution is to be redundant - which has its uses to a person skimming the book, but actively works against the initial goal that ADHD persons should try very hard to read thoroughly.

Then there is the other part of the adult ADHDer demographic. The adult part. Adults who, by nature of being adults, have existed with ADHD for quite a few years already. Adults who, by virtue of them having picked up this book, know they have ADHD and are actively seeking out resources for it.

It is unnamably frustrating that Greenwood's advice to us is 'perhaps try doing things you like doing' and 'just schedule your day' as if these are novel concepts for people in their 20s and up.

Then, too, there are the examples we're meant to follow. A man who was able to manage his ADHD to develop apps and make videos about it since he was 13, an accountant who attributes her success to her childhood coping skill of being extensively organized - and Greenwood offers no commentary on how we, struggling adults, are meant to develop these skills our peers developed in childhood.

Greenwood's included quotes on how ADHDers are resilient do nothing to hide the apparent fact that he thinks his readers just haven't put in the work to try and be better.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, it wasn't awful. It's very anecdotal - mostly the author but also those he interviewed. Page 33 starts some things ADHDers are good at, page 41 for things ADHDers are bad at. But it's page 53 where some real advice seems to start: don't use ADHD as an excuse, plan in whatever way works for you, use the mind dump method, accept that you are who you are, do whatever it takes to become productive and successful (whatever that means for you)...

Probably the most important thing in this book for me was a passage on page 55:
"Although I believe that our society is overmedicated and some doctors are too willing to pull out a prescription pad and start writing, it would be wrong not to acknowledge the beneficial effect medication can have on some people. Every brain is different, and all the circumstances that make up our lives are different."

Executive function issues is a big issue for a lot of ADHDers. I like the section on it, starting on page 74. Procrastination is another one, and it starts on page 78.

I understand that every person with ADHD is different. I understand that advice will work for some people and not for others. That's even expressly stated in the book. I just get annoyed when one piece of advice is used over and over and over again in the anecdotes. Like having a planner or calendar or whatever. That doesn't help my partner in any way, shape, or form. For me, it's vital. Why not give equal time to both sides?

Chapter 10, a solid support system, is key. There are many aspects to a support system - parents, teachers, bosses, mentors, coaches (sports and life), spouses, etc. It includes a website of information and tips for romantic relationships - www.adhd marriage.com. The aspects about romantic relationships is really good - finding a partner to complement your ADHD aspects. But also not using your ADHD as an excuse or a crutch.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars = "Liked it" and "Like" is kind of stronger than I feel. I can say I don't object to the info in this look at ADHD.

A very readable, brief, PR bubble of a book with a lot of cheerleading and not so much specifically usable how-to info about improving the functioning of adults with ADHD diagnoses or traits. Perhaps best for a target audience of people who aren't familiar with ADHD other than as a pejorative label for hyperactive kids--newly diagnosed adults or those who have resented the diagnosis in childhood and are only now starting to wonder if ADHD traits are what's holding them back.

In summary: 1) ADHD isn't all bad, consider the strengths embedded in ADHD traits. 2) Don't use it as an excuse and don't let it ruin your life--use it as a base from which to develop strategies and work-arounds to enable you to perform better. 3) Medication will not actually do your work for you and can be a bear to get quit. and 4) Don't feel guilty or ashamed about needing or using delegating, assistants, props, tools and an ever-changing array of gamifications, reward structures, timers etc. if they enable you to get the job done. 5) EXERCISE! Exercise again! One more time!

Overall kinda feels like a book written so the author could go on talk shows and say "You can use a planner, an assistant, and a gamifying app to overcome ADHD!" Which is true, so I'll give him that!

[Talmor Kliman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to this book, I read ADHD & US , which was easy to read and each chapter had a summary that helped my brain keep reading. In contrast, this book Overcoming Distractions I drifted off and it took a little bit longer to read because It required more of my mental organizational skills. Now for the positives about this book. I would keep this book on my shelf because it has structure. The flow of the book is a topic is introduced and then skills/methods that the interviewees discussed are bunched together. This book is like having an AA style meeting with a group of thriving ADHD people who take turns telling their approach to each aspect of life such as exercise, career choices, time management, etc. This book does has the themes: "Focus on the Advantages of ADHD", "Don't Let ADHD Define You", "Stay Positive and Align with Who you are to thrive" "Get professional help when its needed." I am still on an ADHD reading spree.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

200 pages of “try harder lol”.

This book would be great for an 8 year old getting teased in school for having ADHD maybe, but to market it as “a guide for adults” and then jam a million personal anecdotes, stories of ADHD adults who *shocker* aren’t failures in life😱, and quite literally the most basic advice I’ve ever seen in my life is INSANEEEE.

Mr Greenwood’s entire ideology stems from a place of privilege and honestly stupidity. Not everyone can just go unmedicated and “fail out of college AND vocational school😂” like life is one big Wreck It Ralph game. The belief he kept (not so) subtly pushing that medication really isn’t necessary and you can just ✨get a job where you never have to multi-task✨ is sooooooo…. words can’t describe.

Shit like this is why no one takes ADHD seriously, get a grip and PUT DOWN THE PEN!!!

Did not finish and I hope other readers (if any) do the same

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise of this book: five stars.
Execution of this book: two stars.

This was not well written. If almost reads like a report for a class at times, and I stopped counting typos and grammatical errors a couple chapters in.

I almost completely gave up on this after the first two chapters because the author crossed the fine line between describing his successes and sounding cocky. It was off putting, but I stuck with the book because I do want to learn more about ADHD and how others have made it work for them.

There were some good insights for me, and some of the general themes that emerged were helpful for me to think about. I just wish this were a more comprehensive look at successful adults with ADHD, as the people he profiled in this book were essentially of the same demographics and not a realistic representation.

[Kathy (McDowell) Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best book I've read on the subject, but probably the first one I've been able to finish (only 175 pages). I've been trying to read "Women with Attention Deficit Disorder" by Sari Solden for the past year! I'm not even halfway through it. Novels and other books are so much more interesting.
This book was not written by a doctor or an authority on ADHD, just a guy with ADHD who decided to write a book for others with ADHD. It had some good ideas, nothing mind-blowing. I was disappointed that he didn't talk about dealing with interruptions. Personally, I have my most difficult times when other people interrupt me with phone calls or questions that completely derail my thought train. I think I'll try to read "Driven to Distraction" by Dr. Edward Hallowell, next.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought people together on their experiences with ADHD and what certain doctors/psychologists/behavior therapists say on having ADHD. I thought it was really helpful when it explained people with ADHD need to have a ritual/routine and a goal in mind to get things done. I also like how they acknowledged how "extreme" people with ADHD can be. If two days are missed with let's say, exercising it's more difficult to get back in the rhythm of the routine. I believe they called this the 48 hour rule. The only reason why I only rated this book 4 stars, as opposed to 5 stars if I would have like more "hands on" examples on how someone can zoom in their focus and stop procrastinating or more mind tricks.

[Lisa Vaxmonsky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes, I am writing this on April 1, no it’s not a joke.

I was excited to find a book with a title that I absolutely could do some advice on. I am a 32-year-old mother, recently diagnosed with ADHD, and looking for Easy to follow advice.

This book is NOT that. It’s a compilation of stories mostly from a man’s perspective of ADHD. Most of this book I could not relate to at all because I am a woman and did not struggle in school.

If you would like to read a bunch of stories about how people struggled as children and became successful with zero steps in between, then this book is for you.

Clearly I was disappointed.

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 stars if I were allowed. I picked this up hoping for some insight into my adult ADHD and I found it. I have gone so far as to implement some of his advice to make things better for me. Adult ADHD or even childhood ADHD can be especially difficult for the one with it. This book offers the reassurance that we don't have to suffer at all. We can do better than ever once we know the best way to tackle it. This is one of those reads for those that haven't been diagnosed but have wondered what to do with some of the issues. An example, set a schedule and keep it. It works.

[Eva Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was originally interested in it to help myself, but as I read it I began to understand my husband SO much better. I also love how Greenwood focused on "successful" people - it was inspiring to know that adults like us are capable of doing amazing things even with ADD/ADHD. This book definitely made my husband not feel alone, and offered up great advice for both he and I. I now know how to help him be the best person he can be! I will be reading this book again!!!

[- Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

A recommendation of this book was made by a creator content that I really appreciate, but this book falls short on providing any meangfull solutions into this symptoms, rather than making what pop psychological books love to do; bring up million different stories to diffrent people and how they navigate their life.

The only bonus point of this book that it was divided into chapters, so people with short attention span can tolerate it, and by tolerate with it means scam it, or try to reach out to a conclusion.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF around 50%

I picked this up on a whim and didn't check reviews first so that was my mistake. While it had one or two salient points in the first half, overall the book felt mostly self-aggrandizing and all over the place. It didn't feel like a self-help book at all. It felt like here's a bunch of random stuff about me and if it helps, it helps, if not, oh well. 🫤 Unfortunately, it took me until around halfway realize that or I would have stopped sooner. I thought the book might eventually get around to being actually helpful. It did not.

[Nat Lora · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t very helpful. I was hoping for more specific exercises, more like a workbook. A lot of the advice is generic / can be learned via a thorough google search. It’s also very repetitive. It’s maybe worth a skim at most. I gave two stars rather than one because I did find some of the sections to be interesting, & while the advice is generic it’s not *bad* advice, but it’s things I knew already …