Book Review: ADHD & Me — What I Learned From Lighting Fires At The Dinner Table by Blake E.S. Taylor

A couple of years ago, I went to a counselor to get myself straightened out. Not that anything was wrong with me, of course. I have always thought the rest of the world has a problem, not me. It’s been that way for the nearly forty years I’ve been in this world. One thing led to another, before I knew it, Karen, my counselor, was asking me if anyone had ever mentioned ADHD to me. No one had, I told her, so she suggested I check into it and we would talk about it at our next appointment.

I googled ADHD the next day and printed a checklist that came from one of the sites. Reading through it, I became convinced that I was seeing myself being described in a way that no one ever could describe me. I wanted to read more, to learn more about what ADHD is and how it was affecting me.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve spent many hours trying to find material to read that holds my attention and speaks to me in a way that is useful to me. Although Blake’s book is aimed at a reader younger than me, it spoke to me in ways that other books have not in that I feel like Blake is talking to me personally. He doesn’t whitewash the problems with having ADHD but he also doesn’t make me feel like it’s a death sentence. He is saying it is hard work but it can be done.

Blake E. S. Taylor was diagnosed at a very early age. He has taken situations in his life and made them lessons for people with ADHD. Included at the end of each situation, he talks about things he could have done differently in each situation and also strategies to help alleviate or avoid the situations.

Reading Blake’s book, I was struck at how difficult it must have been for him at times. It also brought back memories for me when I was his age and taking a test in a room that had too much color in it. Thinking about it, I always did better in classes that took place in bland rooms. Art rooms just distracted me way too much. Sitting too close to a window on a nice day was a guarantee that I would be daydreaming in a moment. I used to hate myself for not being able to focus in those situations. Now I understand.

Article Author: Russ Evenhuis

I am a writer in a mid-life crisis. My passions are Seahawks football, triathlons, rugby, sports in general, Guinness, reading, writing, television, music, computers, family, and movies.

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