The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius

by Gail Saltz

A powerful and inspiring examination of the connection between the potential for great talent and conditions commonly thought to be “disabilities,” revealing how the source of our struggles can be the origin of our greatest strengths.

In The Power of Different, psychiatrist and bestselling author Gail Saltz examines the latest scientific discoveries, profiles famous geniuses who have been diagnosed with all manner of brain “problems”―including learning disabilities, ADD, anxiety, Depression, Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and Autism―and tells the stories of lay individuals to demonstrate how specific deficits in certain areas of the brain are directly associated with the potential for great talent. Saltz shows how the very conditions that cause people to experience difficulty at school, in social situations, at home, or at work, are inextricably bound to creative, disciplinary, artistic, empathetic, and cognitive abilities.

In this pioneering work, readers will find engaging scientific research and stories from historical geniuses and everyday individuals who have not only made the most of their conditions, but who have flourished because of them. They are leaning into their brain differences to:

*Identify areas of interest and expertise
*Develop work arounds
*Create the environments that best foster their talents
*Forge rewarding interpersonal relationships

Enlightening and inspiring, The Power of Different proves that the unique wiring of every brain can be a source of strength and productivity, and contributes to the richness of our world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Adhd, Science, Mental Health, Self Help, Education

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2017

Reviews

[Amora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychologist Gail Saltz did a wonderful job with this book. Saltz shows the reader how every disability comes with tremendous extra creativity, problem solving skills in specific areas, or commitment. Saltz doesn’t downplay the problems that come with disabilities and instead shows the reader how people with disabilities can flourish when given help. As someone who has lived with autism and ADHD I will say that I’m very glad someone took the time to write a book like this. I really liked the addition of interviews in this book!

[☘Tara Sheehan☘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. As a mother of 2 daughters on the Autism Spectrum I was particularly interested in the last chapter which dealt specifically with this. The quotes from adults on the spectrum who talked about things from their perspective, what they felt, what they were thinking, etc because so many times I would nearly jump from excitement upon finding something that seemed to explain more fully what my children are currently going through. The information in this book is extraordinary and life changing.

The connection between intellectual brightness and social/behavioral difficulty was very enlightening as that is a problem I’m currently having with my 7 yr old who is showing an affinity for science and math. Due to her social skills not being on par with others her age we’ve had quite a bit of difficulty in getting people to take her interests and intelligence seriously. The sentence, “…they failed to see that their labeling of Ethan had also become limiting” could be the mantra for so many children like mine.

This book should be required reading for every caregiver, educator, doctor, etc who has anything to do with someone who has a special gift. It’s long been believed that creativity and high intelligence has a high correlation with elements of mental illness but it’s more than possible what one believes is an illness is just a misunderstood gift, this book rips apart those lines and belief systems.

Gail Saltz is my new hero. She has written a book that will change how we view so many things and thankfully she wrote it in a way that makes the topics interesting and easy to read. I could not put this down, I even had to go back and reread sections to make notes so I could share what I’ve learned with my husband.

Reading this now when we just had a huge Twitter campaign on ridding Mental Illness of its stigma seemed even more apropos. Especially as Saltz strives so hard but with great ease to bring some hope and beauty in an otherwise complex and confusing subject. There’s something uniquely elegant about this book and I greatly hope others will find the same inspiration I did.

[Bitchin' Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.

I know it took a while to finish, but well worth it. Gail Saltz has set out to redefine the stigmas associated with what has been called mental disorders/disabilities, terms she tried to move from by calling them 'brain differences.' Everyone is different, she argues, and as such everybody's brains will be different too--in how they process information, the output that results, how they function within school and work (and society as a whole). She emphasizes the importance of shaping education to fit students' learning needs and refraining from holding them to a standard that works against them and their attempts at success in a standardized, conformist society. She also highlights the importance in finding positives that come from brain differences--such as someone with a dyslexic type disorder better able to visually absorb information, thus making them better at pattern/difference recognition.

The overall message in The Power of Different is to recognize that individuals with brain differences are just as equally able to contribute and succeed in society, despite our society's desire to hold them to standards they will never be able to meet with how their brains operate. The education in place does not currently accommodate those with brain differences, not does society hold welcoming arms to these people, and these are changes that need to happen.

Aside from the important message, I am greatly impressed with how easy The Power of Difference is to read. I found myself reading slowly because it was very interesting and thought-provoking, but I also found myself able to understand the research/studies she cited and explained; the medical/scientific explications throughout were extremely accessible, which I always appreciate.

From a personal perspective, I found myself identifying with some of the descriptions in the Distractibility chapter and with all identifiers in the Anxiety chapter (the former a surprise, the latter a known my entire life). I will say that this book would not be good for a hypochondriac to read, because I could see self-diagnosis in their future. (That wouldn't be good for anyone, and diagnosis is always best left to the professionals.) However, I can see how this would be a great book for a parent of a brain difference child to read--it would be comforting to me if I was struggling to help my child fit in and succeed.

If you are interested in studies of the mind and combating mental disability/illness stigmas, this books would be a good pick for you. However, it is also possible that certain chapters would work best if you already have information regarding your own brain difference.

4/5 stars because it is really well done, really reader friendly. :)

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the positive side, I learned a lot about various brain disorders. I thought that aspect of the topic was covered well with good examples and quotes from people who have the disorders and have learned to cope and even excel. Another big plus is the emphasis on how we all can better relate to others who have brain disorders. One example is "people first" where we say and see "a person with dyslexia" rather than a "dyslexic." The latter actually calls the person by the name of the disorder. That in itself was a great take-away for me.

I felt that the part of the book where both the substance and the writing (the organization of thought) was most lacking was in the attempt to show that link between disorder and genius. To me the book would have been better with just the title "The Power of Different" and less strain to show this link. Probably a lot of what was said surrounding the link would have stayed in, but the reader would have not been focused on looking for that as the important part of the book. In my opinion, the link to genius was the least important aspect of the book, because a link did not seem to be demonstrated all that well.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an empowering and insightful book for sure, and it really hit home! All teachers should read it. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone because we all know someone who's brain works differently.

First things first, I'm in my 20's, I have a well-paying job in a media and tech industry for a company that is a leading social entertainment publisher ranked among the top 20 websites in the world. I am a Quality Assurance Specialist at this company. One of my disabilities (OCD) is a key contributor to what makes me spectacular in my role of testing our products and software, designing test plans and cases, spotting bugs and issues, and logging detailed bug tickets for developers. Despite being "different," I try to conquer obstacles in my daily life and work my hardest every day. When I do succeed at something, I appreciate it so much more because I know how hard it was to get there.

From first-hand experience, I understand the discomfort of requiring extra time to take tests, taking math classes in a different room with only a few other students, and the embarrassment of being told to read out loud when you couldn't verbally comprehend the text without sounding like a robot breaking down. I had a tough time in school, and it has been a discouragement all of my life. I've struggled with reading comprehension, math skills, open-ended test questions, and problems, reading out loud, responding to questions out loud and needing time to work it out in my head, and absorbing basic lessons. I will not get into too many details about how it all made me feel, but there were so many times when I felt like I was a failure or not smart enough. As explained (and this part hit home) my brain works differently, and it made me feel "stupid." This book was inspiring, and I wish the knowledge was around when I was young and that this cause was opened up about more.

All through school, I was told I had a learning disability. I wished I could comprehend and tackle problems easier; I wished that other students didn't degrade or judge you based on it; I wished people didn't look at you or talk about you like you were different and didn't fit in. I was embarrassed by being taken out of my regular class when there was a test, to take the test in another room to get more time. It was humiliating when kids would say "It's not fair that you got extra time on that test" or hearing snarky comments that made me feel inadequate. One of the biggest reasons I feel this book is an important read is just that. Teachers, parents, and students need to understand what disabilities are, how they can help, how they can encourage the student and help them stop doubting themselves. Very importantly, they need to teach their children to be kind and know that everyone learns differently.

Many people will never understand the obstacles, the difficulties, and the hardship to work so hard on oneself: to study that much longer, to need more time to comprehend the work, to be frustrated because everyone figured it out and you still don't get it, and to think you are not good enough or smart enough for something. We live in a world where there are highly intelligent confident people who will always have a response first, who will know what to exactly say, who will know the answer to a question given in a group; it will be so obvious that this is a person companies would fight over having. Then there is the selection of us who freeze on the spot and just don't know the answer, will be discouraged, and have a hard time selling their potential. I will tell you one thing, regardless of practice, interviews are a weakness, but I will work my damn hardest wherever I go because I've known struggle.

From sharing my experience and from the knowledge gained from this book:

‣ I hope that more parents teach their children to be kind to other children who are struggling and not consider it unfair if another child requires something different. For parents who have a child who has a learning disability or difficulty in school, teach them that they are smart enough and help push them towards greatness!

‣ I hope that those whose brains do work differently know that they are not any less intelligent than others and that where they may have their weaknesses, there is something they will strive at and be great at. You are not stupid, work hard, and you will probably come out feeling more proud of yourself in the end than someone who found the task easy. It will be worth it!

‣ I hope that more teachers acknowledge students who struggle and figure out how to work with them and how to talk to them. I hope they can observe the children they teach and not assume that a child is lazy and not worth their effort. It is their job not to give up on that child and to help her or him reach their potential. I hope all children motivate you to figure out ways to teach them and give each the appropriate attention he or she need!

This review may have been more about my experiences, but through the book, I've also learned a lot about myself. I could relate to many parts and chapters, and am more appreciative of myself and my obstacles because of it. I only wish this book were around when I was in school, and the right people dove into it.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book. I received an advanced copy, and I hope that after it's published in March it permeates many fields, for its information is vital to so many of us: parents, teachers, counselors and psychologists, doctors, therapists, employers, anyone struggling with mental and/or emotional conditions, really - all members of our diverse society should be exposed to this information.

The Power of Different is set up in chapters that examine Learning Differences (Dyslexia); Distractibility (ADD, ADHD, and others); Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Phobias); Melancholy (Depression, Dysthymia, and Dysphoria); Cycling Mood (Bipolar Disorder); Divergent Thinking (Schizoid Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder); and Relatedness (Autism Spectrum Disorders).

Dr. Saltz prefers to address such conditions as "brain differences," and she explains the neurological and personal experience of each one so we can understand what they are actually like. This takes away much of the stigma associated with mental illness.

Saltz goes much further, though! She illustrates the ways individuals struggle with each condition, but also presents the particular strengths that are associated with each and how they can be used to successful advantage if the illness is mitigated. She tells which kinds of strategic help (medical versus behavioral therapy) are most likely to control the overbearing aspects of given conditions, and we learn that the majority of conditions have much room for hope, particularly if diagnosed early.

My take-away: Get past the social stigma and obtain and accept a diagnosis for yourself or your child. Don't panic, but search out the creative approaches to help that are available. When the overpowering symptoms are mitigated, there are accompanying strengths that can be pursued to lead to very satisfying, and even remarkable, success. We need to be more aware of how stifling our current educational system is to many of our children and create ways to play to the strengths more. In particular, when working with young people that have brain differences, it is important to keep the ratio of working on weaknesses for only 20% of the time, with 80% of working time being spent on strengths. For several reasons conjectured and unknown, a greatly increased capacity for creativity accompanies these conditions, which points to the need for unstructured time, as well.

Coming from the viewpoint of a lay person with a non-medical/teaching/counseling graduate degree, I give this book four stars (wishing we could go to the 4.5). Its contents are invaluable, and I hope it sees much use as a text in a wide variety of fields. Wouldn't it be great if Saltz could now produce enlarged volumes for each chapter's focus that could offer even more extensive information? I would especially love to see a version produced that is less academic in tone, which would be more accessible to many parents and younger people (although the form this is presented in provides validity).

Don't take that as a warning not to read this book if you aren't a doctor, teacher, or egg-head (like me). Just know that this is a non-fiction book you'll want to read in portions rather than one or two sittings. Also know that if you have a child or loved one or employee or yourself with any of the psychological conditions discussed herein, you really should read this book - or at least the chapter(s) about that person's condition. :)

[Oleksandr Rovniahin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey is finally over. We all know that non-fiction books are different from fiction, but there is also a very notable difference between non-fiction in the area you know something about and the one you have no prior knowledge of.
As you might imagine I was going here without any clue what I got myself into:)
Now, to the review! If you do not have time to read a review - this book is a perfect companion as of now to broaden your understanding on various brain differences, their examples, treatment and influence overall, 5/5 stars. The book also takes numerous materials to highlight the key themes of the book, using a variety of sources: scientific articles, biographies, personal experience/knowledge of the author Mrs. Gail Saltz (whose brother is a Nobel Laureate and as Mrs. Gail said one of the inspirations behind book).
We need to understand other people better and not make hasty judgments when we think that we are in the right. To this day scientists still argue about different brain wirings, both during the brain formation and environment influence on the development, however fact is fact, brains are different and work in unique ways, using different parts of brains and connections inside to form complex ideas, patterns, behavior, etc.
Don’t use the words that are more harmful than useful. Would like being called an idiot, slow, disabled or perhaps as a person having a disorder? Using a metaphor from the book:

“Some people are Dandelions, and some are Orchids. One flourishes in any environment whereas the other has narrower requirements and is much more difficult to grow, yielding extraordinary results.”

We need to accept that some people have certain illnesses and disorders in a mild form, but are well-treated and taken care of, but only feel accepted by their peers and live a fulfilling life but can and will add a lot to any field in society.
There are many good stories and research here focusing on the advantages of having divergent thinking, unique pattern recognition and so on. But, unfortunately as is usually the case, most of the time people fall victim to the surrounding circumstances and get bullied, untreated and straight up punished for being different. Like the age old saying: “all kids are subject to equal treatment at school”. And if we take the moral and judicial part – yes, they must be. But if we then indulge in the various learning practices, exercises and so on, we start to encounter problems. How can we expect the same results in reading by a child with a normal text recognition and a dyslexic child? Will they perform on the same level, or not? The important takeaway from the book is that, as acknowledged by Mrs. Saltz in the book, we must start finding personal approaches to children when they are young to work with their strong sides and mediate the disorder effect as much as possible.
Thus, if an individual has brain "problems" - including learning disabilities, ADD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism – there are levels to which we can see their story and how specific deficits in certain areas of the brain are directly associated with the potential for great talent in others.
In conclusion, I want to recommend this book to anyone who is willing to become more understanding and knowledgeable in the topic of brain differences. We gain so much more as humans, when we open ourselves up to interaction and communication with different “Orchids of life”, whose uniqueness makes them very interesting to be around with and can potentially influence us in a profound way.
P.S. I was listening to a superb audiobook, however I would encourage to have a paperback or kindle version on hand, since there are a lot of things to note and my audible is filled with clips and notes of interest.

[wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Saltz graphically shows the link between mental disorder and genius. She systematically covers topics like OCD, Autism and Bipolar Disorder and how historically many of the world's most creative minds have suffered from these maladies. This book goes beyond that in suggesting how children and adults with these issues ways they can overcome their mental differences (which she uses instead of disability). If you know or are related people who fall into these areas this book would be very helpful to you. A great read for anyone in the education arena.

[Private Account · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy, fun read. I loved it for what it was attempting and for its sheer, delightful ridiculousness. Would have been a fun one page theory. And there is a grain of something interesting there. Which is: Humans have long known that insanity and genius are linked. We don't need any researchers to tell us that, we have known and been pondering this since antiquity. And despite our impressive new words surrounding the subject, we are no closer to answering the question than Plato was.

Saltz thinks that the "brain differences" in "neuro-atypical brains" that affect FIFTY PERCENT of the population (you see the humor?) all come with special strengths, that's why they have evolved to exist in the human species. If these brain "differences" (I laugh every time I type that) didn't serve human survival in some way, they wouldn't exist by now.

Note that these people with different brains just had certain personality traits until school became widespread and compulsory. The ADD brain that can't settle down to learn what the teacher wants it to learn but absolutely can learn anything it feels passionate about, that brain was just fine to have ... until school. It is the box that is school that makes half the population have "successful" brains and the other half have such "abnormal" brains that they need to be medicated to deal with it.

Some of interesting connections Saltz made:

ADD makes you less able to focus on what bores you, but better able to focus (passionately) on what doesn't bore you. It makes you the "absent minded professor." A "genius" at what you love and a little spacey about everything else.

People with anxiety have all these little voices in their brain that drive them nuts, and they spend half their time just wanting them to shut up so they have some peace... But at the same time all those extra voices offer a lot of extra information that other people don't get to have. Anxious people perceive more than "normal" people. If you shut up the voices, you lose your edge.

And the sad, melancholy types? They empathize better than people, which is another form of heightened perception. They have mood swings and days when they have to drag themselves out of bed, but when they are out of bed their creative output is higher than that of "normal" people.

Despite that Saltz sets out to show that the people with "different" brains have super powers that people with normal brains envy, that no genius ever changed the world without learning first how to deal with his special brain, she is endlessly pushing meds (like any good steward of the industry who has been through med-pushing school). "You have the special, genius brain!" She cries, "But seriously think about getting rid of it with some medication."

This book made me think that most likely all therapists and psychiatrists are depressed or anxious (their heightened perception of people's emotions is why they became psychiatrists). They are most likely pushing drugs that they themselves take, desperate to help others become more like them, desperate to remove the stigma that it would serve them to remove.... But I can't think rationally about medication because I have watched so many fascinating and interesting friends turn into zombies on the stuff.

A thought I had while reading this book is that IQ makes all the difference:
-Brain difference + high IQ = crazy genius. The high IQ enables the person to find a way to deal with their brain and tap into its strengths.
-Brain difference + normal IQ = the people who don't benefit enough from their super powers to value them and just want to be "normal."
-Brain difference + low IQ = incapacitated people on permanent disability that drain four billion dollars a year from the country.

So maybe we (as a society) benefit from the high IQ crazy people not being on medication (and they most likely won't be anyway because they value their heightened abilities too much) and the rest of the population that decides to take the meds, well, maybe it's better than being a drain? The key would be not medicating the half the population that is different until they are old enough to know whether they want their differences or not. Or give them IQ tests before. Would be tragic to drug the crazy geniuses in childhood.

Anyway, I can't say that Saltz has more to add to the conversation about the connection between genius and insanity than most of the great philosophers (who were all either anxious, depressed, or ADD, or something even more fun). But as I normally read philosophy, it was good to familiarize myself with how the white coats talk about these things.

Read The Myth of Psychotherapy by Thomas Szasz instead of this book, or first, then read this book and enjoy the juxtaposition of brilliant, clear thinking and shallow ridiculousness.

[Evelyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book is great, and I totallllly agree with the ideas that the author puts forward. However, I found the book repetitive at times. I also wasn’t comfortable with how she used certain correlational or case studies.. they were sometimes discussed in a way that suggested a cause/effect relationship. Also, there were a lotttt of case examples intertwined, which made it harder to follow. Bref, a heavier read than expected.

[Jeffrey Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

People having various neurological or psychiatric disorders frequently enrich society by virtue of having a distinctly different perspective on life due to nature's allotments. In The Power of Different, Dr. Gail Saltz lays out various case studies in which altered abilities in some mental functions give way to enhanced abilities in others. Saltz makes a successful bid to sensitize her readers to the complexity of human thought and capability. She also demonstrates the potential costs incurred by society if it is dismissive of people whose cognitive abilities or tendencies lay away from the 'norm'. The Power of Different could not appear more timely in America for the waning of social sophistication and compassion in our present-day government.

"Mental illness" as a technical label has little more value than "somatic / bodily illness" for the purposes of description and classification. Yet we see it used exclusively time and again. Saltz rectifies this deficiency by presenting a clearer description of several forms - dyslexia, ADD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism (she categorizes them in a more sophisticated manner that also includes more disorders than I refer to here). She allocates a chapter for each disorder, making it concise and readable to anyone. She also points out that disorders can and do overlap as would be expected for a networked bodily organ. Her chapters are grouped by symptomatology. She also makes the key point that psychiatric counseling is about the treatment of symptoms - classifying conditions is done for insurance purposes rather than treament purposes.

Within each chapter, Saltz explores creative potentials that can be enhanced by the condition(s) described. She also stimulates productive thought as she discusses "work arounds". She proposes behavioral changes that people, or their associates, can make to cope with differences in abilities and thus enhance the strengths which people possess as a result of these differences.


The book does walk a fine and contentious line on the topic of semantics. What does one call a medical condition that comes about by an aberrant developmental condition and/or genetics and which directly impacts cognitive function? What social repercussions do labels have? The book occasionally comes across as muddled regarding these questions - muddled for its realism primarily but not exclusively.

For example, she refers to dyslexia as a 'difference' as opposed to a disorder. Referring to a condition simply as a 'difference' puts it at risk for lowered medical research and might jeopardize insurance coverage. Saltz discusses dyslexia as a 'learning difference' and she gives the reader a lucid description of how someone with the condition is predisposed to think when reading. But she also tells of some people describing their experience as seeing letters "moving or vibrating on a page." Vibrating letters are a perceptual pathology not simply a difference. Dyslexia frequently afflicts a person concurrently (i.e. comorbidly) with other difficulties, such as dyspraxia which she explains is a difficulty in articulating sounds due to a kind of neuromuscular impairment.

The reader does need to bear in mind that Saltz demonstrates the **breadth** of the human condition more than reasonable expectations for the average individual with a disorder. Her sampling is openly and also appropriately biased:

"I have interviewed multiple successful and supremely creative individuals with brain differences for this book, and in each case I have asked them if, given the choice, they would eliminate their brain difference. To a person - and no matter how much pain their difference has caused them - they said that they would not. Each of my interviewees couldn't imagine separating their strengths from their weaknesses."

This kind of sampling is far from interviewing a person with a condition at random. She does not refer to people who lack supreme creativity. Therefore, using the term "brain differences", as opposed to "disabilities" or "disorders" runs a danger of overcompensating for historically negative views of some people. She points out her focus on exceptional people repeatedly. However, when a reader fails to attend to her disclaimers, they might lose sight of the possibility that not-so-creative persons might find themselves in misery. The fact that her interviewees would retain their conditions could reflect their status as exceptional people more than their status as people with a recognized medical issue. Nevertheless, Saltz carefully avoids romanticizing any condition. As I said, she gives an *appropriately* biased picture, as one of her intentions is to highlight potential within people having a wide diversity of cognitive abilities. In America, at least, her agenda is imperative.

I have my own biases as I write this critique. I have temporal lobe epilepsy. The history of the disease includes a pendulous swing in status within the psychiatric community, and this volatile status can have high costs for the patient. Decades ago, epilepsy was front and center among mental illnesses. The illness was oddly both comorbid with and caused by seizures. When anticonvulsant drugs became highly effective at reducing or eliminating outward seizures, the disease mysteriously became non-mental. Yet, I can pick out various mental symptoms from multiple disorders that Saltz describes and show them to also be comorbid with temporal lobe epilepsy. Saltz quotes a young woman with dyslexia, "I do better with abstract concepts and ideas as opposed to solid things that require huge amounts of knowledge stored." I have expressed exactly the same thoughts about epilepsy (in an earlier published work) as the woman quoted. I also appreciate points that Saltz makes regarding attentional difficulties and creativity. Saltz emphasizes the power of disinhibited thoughts - the amnesia with which I am too familiar has similar powers (when you cynically assume that you'll be wrong most of the time, you cannot be bothered to intellectually police yourself). Epileptic activity can gyrate a person's focus. Paradoxically, it can make a person hyperfocused as well. Epilepsy, however, is very pathological, frequently melodramatic, and even if it did bring me great success and creativity, I would never pause a moment to be rid of it. But then again, I am not supremely creative either.

Psychiatrists could be routinely treating epilepsy symptoms - as Saltz points out, treating symptoms is what psychiatrists are here to do. Unfortunately, treating the psychiatric symptoms by doctors and receiving reasonable accomodation in the work place has been greatly complicated by the "purging" of the mental illness out of the disease. Today, sufferers are too often perceived as being in a 100% normal mental state when not seizing. That misperception creates social problems. Semantics matter greatly, and the reader needs to critically examine any comment which suggests that a change in terminology is being made for any reason other than a coldly biological one. Such a comment may be very wise, but it needs introspection before quick acceptance. Having a mental disorder can incur stigmatization, but falsely not having one precludes the best care. For that reason, my own attitude is to work to purge the stigma from terms like "disability" or "mental illness" rather than change or discard the terms themselves. Despite our disagreement, Saltz's highlighting of the refinements of other abilities, brought about because of disorders, benefits people with either viewpoint. A person optimally focused on abstract thoughts can make great contributions to an intellectual endeavor, just as Saltz points out.

Saltz tackles supremely complicated issues, facilitating finding bones of contention. However, what Saltz accomplishes with her writing overshadows the points of contention that I raise. Of numerous accomplishments, she a) humanizes mental challenges in a systematic and comprehensive manner; b) provides a text-book knowledgebase that fosters empathy as it informs; and c) poignantly lays in evidence what society stands to lose when we become insensitive to the human potential in anyone.

The Power of Different needs to be in every college library.

[Iman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually find it difficult to get into non-fiction but this book was fantastic. It was written in a more story-telling way that made it easy to comprehend while simultaneously providing scientific backings to each statement. I feel so much better informed about brain differences and how they work. I loved all the testimonies from real people experiencing these mental issues and I really appreciated that the book did not diminish the challenges that these people face whilst highlighting their gifts.

[NemNemPhoto* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kad pasaulyje yra daug skirtingų "spalvų" žmonių protuose - žinojau visada. Kiekvienas savaip unikalus, kiekvienas turi savo sritį, kuriame lenkia viens kitą, tačiau būtent apie psichikos sutrikimus - žinojau ne tiek ir daug.

Knygoje "Skirtingųjų galia" ištrinamos ribos tarp "normalu" ir "nenormalu". Ypač pabrėžiama riba, kad nors ir psichikos sutrikimai atrasti jau prieš daugybę metų, kai kurios- jau šimtmečius skaičiuoja, tačiau sutrikimų gydyme / pažinime mes vis dar "stovime vietoje".

Niekam ne paslaptis, kad daugelis žmonių, tame tarpe ir gydytojų, vietoj išsamaus tyrimo, lengviau griebiasi vaikams (ir ne tik) skirti stiprius vaistus, nei įsigilinti į jų vidų ir gydyti be medikamentų. Tai vienas iš knygos pastebėjimų, kuriems visiškai pritariu.
Nors reikia nepamiršti, kaip mažai mes visi esame girdėję ir esame šviečiami apie įvairias ligas kaip : depresija, disleksija, šizofrenija... tai viena aktualiausių problemų šiame pasaulyje, nes tie kas serga viena iš šių ligų, ne tik turi susitaikyti ir įvaldyti savo ligą, bet ir kovoti su visuomene, kuri, neturėdama pakankamai informacijos, "nurašo" tokius asmenis. Jau ne paslaptis, kad daugelis žinomų žmonių gyvenime yra sirgę viena iš plačiai žinomu ligų: Chuckas Nice'as sirgo bipoliniu sutrikimu, Virginija woolf ir Hemingvėjus - taip pat turėjo bipolini sutrikimą....

Tačiau knygoje aprašoma ne tik šių ligų simptomai, bet ir kaip jie gali pasitarnauti kiekvienam iš mūsų ar sergančiajam: pavyzdžiui disleksija sergantys asmenys turi neregėtą talentą pastebėti smulkmenas, kurios gali būti ypač svarbios kūrybiniame darbe. Tad disleksija sergantis asmuo būtų tobulas darbuotojas kūrybinėse industrijose...

"Skirtingųjų galia" - labai įdomus ir išsamus kūrinys, kuris griauna stereotipus apie įvairiomis smegenų ligomis sergančius žmones. Knyga ne tik atveria akis apie įvairias ligas, bet ir teikia optimizmo tiems, kas su jomis esą susidūrę gyvenime.

Nuoširdžiai rekomenduoju 💚

[GlobeRunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

After hearing several podcast interviews with the author, I wasn't able to resist buying the book. I love the idea of bringing attention to the positive aspects of mental disorders, both to give hope to those afflicted and to enable them and society to harness strengths that might otherwise go unnoticed. Unfortunately, the book felt more like a collection of anecdotes and examples of brilliant people who became successful despite having a mental disorder rather than a presentation of the upside of those brain differences. Personally, I would have preferred more science on potential benefits of the specific disorders and less focus on afflicted yet successful individuals.

Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable and interesting read. In my view, there is too much research on the detrimental effects of these kinds of disorders and too little on how to help those suffering from them make the most of their strengths.

[rhian · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are a plethora of reasons that I did not enjoy this book, but the main one being that it didn’t seem as though she talked to many people with these disorders as research. During the book, she insisted that people prefer “person first” language when talking about them, but most autistic people when asked if they prefer “person first” or “identity first” language are going to say they prefer being referred to as an autistic person. She lost credibility when I heard this and I spent a lot of time wondering how much time she had actually spent talking to people with these disorders about how they feel. I also found that the author used a lot of inspiration p*rn to get her point across. Overall, not an enjoyable read and I would not recommend this. If I could have given it 0 stars I would have.

[Chelsea Arata · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read on why I love working with the mentally ill- because they have different brain structures that produce such excellent insights. Thank you, Dr. Saltz, for believing in the power of your patients just as much as I believe in mine!

[Owlseyes]

The Link between Disorder and Genius: An Interview with Dr. Gail Saltz
in: https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...

[Erin]

This book boils down to: brain differences could be seen as simply disabilities, but if we allow neurodiversity to be an okay thing in the world, the fact that neurodivergent brains work differently can actually be an asset to us and doesn't have to be shameful or a problem for the people who have neurodivergent brains. If we let neurodivergent people use their gifts, outcomes are better for everyone. Not a particularly surprising concept if you've done any kind of research about how to care for and be accommodating and supportive of ND people, but written in such a way that is clear and direct.

I really liked it, but I feel like I should note (and this is especially notable to me in the section discussing autism) that the giftedness Saltz discusses is superlative. She routinely acknowledges that there are people in almost all of the diagnostic segments she discusses who struggle with the more debilitating ends of the spectra of diagnoses, so it's not like she's creating an inappropriate argument that papers over serious struggles, but for example, autistic people who are on the spectrum where they have the capacity to be twice exceptional are often touted as "look at this productivity!" (re: musical savants or genius coders). Which can reinforce some common stereotypes that pigeonhole autistic people in a totally different way. Taking the book as a whole, I am sure that Saltz was aiming for a more comprehensive, "stop trying to fit ND brains into a NT-centered world so we can really see what these amazing brains are capable of when they get the support and nurturing they need to thrive." Which is a good and necessary argument.

[Rebecca Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with a learning disability or mental illness, as well as for parents who suspect that a child might meet diagnostic criteria for these conditions. Organized in chapters that deal with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenic disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, you can quickly hone in on the information that pertains most to you (or your child) if you don't have time to read the entire book in one go. Although largely anectdotal, this format works well for illustrating the way that a brain difference is merely one aspect of an individual's life and need not be a defining -- or limiting -- characteristic. It was fascinating and empowering to read about how scientists are beginning to see dependent links in brain structure between brain differences that are seen as deficits with brain differences that we refer to as giftedness or even genius. What really makes this book important is that, by destigmatizing these brain differences and helping readers to understand how their strengths and weaknesses may be two sides of the same coin, the author is able to encourage readers to seek treatment and intervention early, which can make all the difference in whether they or their child are able to overcome those weaknesses and capitalize on their unique gifts.

[Paige Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most powerful thing about this book is that it reframes learning or neurological disabilities as differences.

School highlights the ways that these differences make a person stand out. However, outside the school environment, these differences can often be advantages.

The author explores Dyslexia, Autism, bipolar, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, and Divergent Thinking. She explains how people who are wired this way excel in other areas and shows compelling examples of successful people with these differences.

As an educator, this book is extremely helpful in understanding how to draw out the strengths and navigate weaknesses with my students. Additionally, just as a human being, this book gives insight and dignity to anyone who thinks differently than us. Finally, being able to relate to one of the chapters gave me powerful tools to channel my difference in a positive way.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS

(Review Not on Blog)

"A powerful and inspiring examination of the connection between potential for great talent and conditions commonly thought to be 'disabilities'" (From Publisher)

I picked up this book with no expectations. I read the full synopsis and it sounded like an interesting read. I have always been interested in knowing the different ways in which people think and function. It is nice to read a book that looks at a disorder and sees where the positive is and how to use it for every day life. Saltz takes away some of the stigma. I would recommend this book to everyone as it helps us understand those around us.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book was a Goodreads giveaway prize.


Fascinating insight. We can all hope that through knowledge and understanding, the stigmatized barriers surrounding brain differences can be torn down. I was especially appreciative that this book was written in a way that made it very easy to understand.

[Madeline Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did a great job of bringing in personal accounts of individuals with various disorders who were also considered savants in specific fields. It explains the importance of reducing the stigma of mental illness and focuses on strengths when working with individuals with various disabilities. Cool book! Had to be in the mood to read nonfiction to dive in.

[Anabelle Paulino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and I feel like I learned so much! Although I knew a pretty good bit about this going in, I feel like there was a nice balance between facts and stories from individuals diagnosed with the disorders discussed in the book. One thing I really liked about it too was that it talked about the silver linings but didn’t glorify anything—it was quite realistic in that way.

Also I think this book is probably slightly geared more towards parents/maybe teachers but as someone in mental health research I did still find it a great read!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a better insight on different mental disorders and how I can better support children and adults through their struggles. I recommend it for anyone who has an interest in genius, creativity, or mental disorders.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. The chapter on anxiety was difficult to read as I found myself in those pages. The chapter on ASD was not as helpful. It was mainly focused on dealing with children on the spectrum. I have found that not a lot is written about dealing with/having this as an adult. How does one go about having others understand that you are good for a job but horrible at interviewing because of these issues? Good overview of many different thinking patterns.

[Madison Hogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read on neurodivergence. Also a good primer on major brain differences/mental illnesses.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild combo of ABSOLUTELY YES and DEFINITELY NO. Very much worth reading even though there were parts that had me yelling at the author in my head...

[Hilary R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so inspiring and reassuring as a mother of a child with ADHD and ASD. It put into words so many things I've felt but been unable to articulate. I am grateful for the examples and inspiration the stories she shared offered. And just grateful to hear from others who have walked a similar path and who have found purpose, meaning and fulfillment.

[VW]

I reviewed this title on my blog.