Adderall Blues

by Brian J. Robinson

Adderall Blues is a catalyst for change in the educational system. This first person account of ADHD is among the only books to offer a non-clinical perspective of ADHD where we can all understand on a deeper level the blessing and the curse that is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Seen through the eyes of one of literatures’ most outlandish characters, a greater connection with those afflicted with the pathologically wondering mind society loves to label is felt and processed from an altogether different perceptive. 

Observe as our main character trips over himself endlessly while succeeding uniquely in his own fashion. Does Brian conquer his supposed “disorder”, and transcend the label, or fall into the self-esteem trap that so many others have succumbed to? Prepare to be entertained and most importantly, enlightened.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adhd, Mental Health, Memoir

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2017

About the author

Brian J .Robinson grew up in suburban NJ and was diagnosed with ADHD at six years old. He graduated from Tulane University with a Philosophy degree, where, as a contributor to the university periodical, he developed an early talent toward writing. His first published work, a short story entitled "Tabula Rasa" was featured on the cover of The Write Room, a literary magazine, in 2012.

In 2016, he was interviewed by Fox 5 NY about an early edition of his ADHD memoir and his personal experience with Adderall addiction. Adderall Blues was featured in the Huffington Post and Brian was recently the featured guest of Faster Than Normal, Peter Shankman's ADHD podcast.

Today, Brian has emerged as a successful entrepreneur and continues to be very outspoken about society's comprehension about ADHD. He loves to travel, lift weights, talk philosophy at bars, and spend time with family and friends. He lives in NYC with his wife, Lindsey.

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Health/Fitness/Mental Disorders/Self-Help(?)

Recommended Age: 15+ (lots of discussions about abusing prescription medication and alcohol and some other mature scenes).

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not sway my opinion in any way.

This first person account of ADHD is among the only books to offer a non-clinical perspective of ADHD where we can all understand on a deeper level the blessing and the curse that is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Seen through the eyes of one of literatures’ most outlandish characters, a greater connection with those afflicted with the pathologically wondering mind society loves to label is felt and processed from an altogether different perceptive.
Observe as our main character trips over himself endlessly while succeeding uniquely in his own fashion. Does Brian conquer his supposed “disorder”, and transcend the label, or fall into the self-esteem trap that so many others have succumbed to? Prepare to be entertained and most importantly, enlightened. – Amazon.com

As a female, especially since I’ve become married, I feel like I receive a huge amount of unsolicited advice about anything and everything, especially when it comes to having children, which I may or may not do. I’ve been told to do an abundance of things to “avoid” having a child that will end up having some sort of learning disorder. While I brush these off as myths and old (new?) wives tales, I do get hurt by them. Not for me, but that people with these different learning/thinking abilities and their parents get a bad rep because sometimes people think that something “went wrong” with them during conception and/or birth. Anyways, when I was approached to read this book I jumped at the chance because I wanted to learn about ADHD from someone who had ADHD and someone who’s had to live with it. I felt that the book did really good as not only an autobiographical book but also as an inside non-clinical look at how ADHD works from someone who has had to live with it. I also felt that the book had a good set-up and the story flowed well throughout the whole book. I felt connected with Brian and his journey and I felt heavily invested in his success.

However, I did feel that the book, which is supposed to be a “catalyst for change in the educational system” fails a little bit. While I did love that the book showed Brian’s journey and I felt I knew a lot more about ADHD then I did going into the book, I don’t feel like it drove home how the educational system could be updated to help those that have different ways of learning (which I don’t disagree with. I’ve always thought that the system needed a major overhaul). I feel that the book probably could have went into further detail about Brian’s school experiences to better help drive home the need for change in the educational system.
Verdict: While I thought the book was very well written and presented a good argument, I believe that it could have been more focused on educational change, but for what I got I thought it was very inspirational to those who have learning disabilities in that you can be successful, you just have to find something that works for you in terms of careers, studying, etc. If you want to learn more about ADHD or read up on some arguments against the current educational system, then definitely read this book!

[DB (DB's Guide to the Galaxy)]

Think I might've deleted the arc from my Kindle so I had to look at the Kindle sample of the ebook. Showed 4 chapters and I'd already decided by the third I was going to dnf. I didn't really like the writing style and flow of narration. This is a non-fiction book and I am very much not a non-fiction reader; but I thought this would be different because I'm ADHD.

Hope this book is good for other readers, but it's just not for me

[Anna Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for school - interesting perspective ! Agree that there is a massive over diagnosis of ADHD and prescription issue (fueled by big pharma perhaps) ! I wish he had addressed his privilege a little more. Felt that calling himself homeless when he had to move back to his parent’s NJ suburban home was interesting.

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views (11/17)

“Adderall Blues” by Brian J. Robinson is a memoir of the author’s life dealing with ADHD and all the issues that come with the disability. Mr. Robinson holds nothing back in this tell all personal story of his ups and downs, including addiction, travel, education, relationships and work.

The author opens up his life struggles in this book, starting at an early age in school. His challenges to stay focused and sit still are common symptoms of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Being a smart kid, Mr. Robinson just stopped doing well in school because he wasn’t a “typical” learner. He needed visual and hands on learning versus just verbal instruction. He continued to struggle into college. When Adderall came into the picture, it helped a bit, but the author shares how he started abusing the drug meant to help him focus. His health was in danger a few times, but he continued to abuse Adderall along with alcohol and other drugs in an attempt to cope with the world and his mind.

As a former teacher of children with special needs, I saw a lot of ADHD in the classroom. The author has strong opinions on medication for children and adults with ADHD, and I tend to agree with him. Medication can help some behaviors that are not “acceptable” in the classroom, but it also greatly limits the creativity and personality of the individual. Medication can also become addictive, which can be very dangerous as was the case with the author.

I highly recommend “Adderall Blues” by Brian J. Robinson for anyone with ADHD, or with a child with ADHD. It was an eye opener for me. I didn’t realize how much this disorder affects a person’s entire life, and it’s not just in childhood. Teachers and administrators who work with students with special needs like ADHD could also benefit from reading an open and honest story of the real struggles with this disorder.

[Chelsea Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Absolutely nothing the twenty-three years inside this head of mine had been the least bit ordinary."
A 23-year-old man describes his life living through an ADHA diagnosis from the age of six years old-the blunt way.
Through school, institutions and family issues, living with a mental illness is more than the eye can see. Brian learns to strive through his 'weaknesses' and develop a love for himself that only determination can bring.
Mental disorders have changed drastically over the decades as they are not seen as disabilities or flaws. Nobody has to conform to societal standards to achieve in the real world- and that's just what Brian does.
Read Adderall Blues by Brian J. Robinson to hear a real perspective on ADHD- a captivating story.



"The most brilliant and unique minds also tend to be the most fragile."
I love the straightforward approach to talking about a mental illness. Robinson gave a heartfelt read describing his experiences with the disorder and I believe this book is something everyone should read.
As mental illnesses can be very life altering and endlessly exhausting, this book used humor, knowledge and understanding to bring the reader on the journey of a young person's mind during the disorder.
The loved the power in the writer's voice as well as how genuine the read was. I found the perspective of the character to be as I was hearing a story from a friend and helping him along his journey.
Adderall Blues by Brian J. Robinson is defiantly an educational and inspiring read as it focuses on the strengths rather than the flaws that come with every person. Mental illness or not, power is within all of us.
Thank you to Brian J. Robinson for sending me a copy to review. It was a pleasure reading his story and finally reading a blunt perspective of ADHD.

[Elizabeth McInerney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to better understand my son who deals with ADHD. Many of the author's stories and experiences do resonate with my son's experiences, so I will be recommending the book to him. However, I do have some criticisms of the book, hence the 3 stars.

Adderall Blues is basically a cathartic brain dump of the author's experiences with ADHD. While the writing is proficient, it is not finely tuned work. The first third in particular contained too much unnecessary detail for me. The unfortunate irony is that I may have to give my son a Ritalin for him to get through this part!

I would also have preferred if the author focused more on what is wrong with him, than on what is wrong with everyone else, or with society or schools in general. The fact that people with ADHD struggle with emotional regulation is very clearly on display in these choices, and in this book, but unfortunately, the solution is not. Nor does the author present an image of how schools should change to meet the needs of ADHD kids, other than to suggest they need to.

While the writing is thoughtful, and while I feel the author has done a service by sharing his experiences, I also found the writing to be somewhat immature. I felt like I was reading something written by a talented high school writer. If ADHD encourages one to focus mostly on ones own thoughts, that would explain the delayed maturity.

I hope the author considers an update later in life. Having children is going to be very challenging, esp for his wife, who will need to co-parent with someone with ADHD. She may tire of parenting her husband while also parenting her children. I wish the author well, and I am grateful to have this insight into the ADHD brain, but I see a rocky road ahead...

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is much more than an engaging read. Adderall Blues, by Brian J Robinson, truly imprints the mind with the reality of the how ADHD can effect the quality of life of a person, through the interior workings of the disordered mind. Adderall Blues dives into the experience of an adult man, living with the diagnosis of ADHD since he was a child.

I love how the author was able take such a serious issue and translate it into a lighthearted yet informative read, that captivated my attention from start to finish. I especially appreciated the contrast the book delivered, from the stated hardships the diagnosis accompanies, to the part of ADHD that can be a gift to society, a rare glimpse that humanity does not typically recognize.

The book does dive into pharmaceutical considerations concerning Adderall, but since it is from a non-clinical perspective, it never lost traction in keeping my attention focused on the truth regarding ADHD.

I am certainly glad that I read this book and recommend it to everyone who wants to gain a better insight into the journey of ADHD as a disorder, from a 360 perspective for complete understanding, while enjoying an excellent read.

[Tina Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book with the intent of learning more about the author’s childhood battles with ADHD, but this book is focused more on the later years struggles and his addictions to adderall and alcohol. Nonetheless, it is still entertaining and does offer a keen insight into the mind of someone who battles this learning disability daily. His words, “We can improve the self-esteem of kids with ADHD or alternative learners by letting them know that the school system was not built for their exact likeness, and that neither is life. What these kids need to know is that they are exceptional anyway, and that they need to find their own talents outside of the structure, and once they do, they need to pursue it with everything they have.” I think this book should be mandatory reading for all teachers. There are so many that truly do not understand the setbacks that are caused by not understanding how this disability effects those who have it. Bravo to Brian Robinson for keeping the discussion going.

[Hayley Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian J. Robinson shares an inside perspective of life with with ADHD. In his life, up until now, he has faced ups, downs and pretty much everything in between. While figuring out his life in his twenties, he experiments with many different things to help cope with his ADHD. He abuses Adderall, alcohol and tries various drugs which lead him to his opinion on drugging children who live with ADHD. Towards the end he gives why he feels so strongly about his objections towards certain psychologists who advocate drugging children.

The book is fascinating for someone who doesn't have ADHD but I wish he talked more in specifics when he was a child. He tells about his issues with Hebrew school but could have shared more about what it was like in regular school with ADHD. However, after reading his journey you are definitely rooting for him to succeed.

[Rosalba Mancuso · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I finished reading this book, I said to myself: this will be one of my favorite autobiographies. Yes, I never read so detailed and well written account about ADHD. The author has been very courageous to tell about his most intimate life. However, I must also admit to finding this book really enjoyable in the central and the final chapters, namely the ones where the writer focused his attention on the side effects of the medication to treat this kind of disorder. The first chapters are too private, in my view, but, overall, this book can be very helpful to gain awareness about how to handle this illness.

[Leah Coffin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was seriously awful. As an adult with ADHD I relate to the occasionally disjointed thought processing, but this was all over the place with absolutely no flow. The overall tone is of an entitled white guy whining about everything and blaming everything on the oppressiveness of something. (Parents who want you to succeed? Religion? Education? Writers who want a fair wage? Bosses who operate within normal respected boundaries? All of the above!) Seems hopelessly immature and bitter and lacking in self awareness.

[Everson Azevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book is about

Good book. The first half is basically the author sharing his extremely irresponsible adventures around the world. The second part is more technical analysis by a first hand ADHD individual.
I really this you should read the first part to understand the second better. The author has great sense of humor and a high writing skills, which keeps you engaged even on the not so interesting parts of the book.
Overall was a good read.

[Michele Burkholder · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is terrible. All the author does is whine and make excuses for the poor decisions he made throughout his life. I read this book to try to gain insight into what my son might be experiencing with his ADHD, but I learned nothing. This book just reinforced the need for me to encourage my son to take responsibility for his actions and not act like a victim.

[esmé · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book really fast, I just kept wondering like why this person. I found the bit about medicating kids but not medicating adults to be really interesting— wouldn’t addiction problems still happen and what does exposing kids to amphetamines does??? And there was only like one sentence on that and I just find that very confusing.

[Robin McBrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Loved the personal thoughts and feelings shared as I could relate to all of them. A bit slow at some parts, not bad.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a quick read and at the end can be inspiring for those who suffer from ADHD.

[Joel Seiderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revelation

This book offers a very personal account of ADHD, and the risks inherent in medications used to treat the condition. It illustrates the fact that each individual must be treated as a person with untapped potential and unpredictable response to therapy

[Leslie Driskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written with such candor about the challenges of ADHD that so many of us don't talk about and therefore feel like we're the only ones who experience them. This was the first book I've read on ADHD that really resonated with me.