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Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills to Strengthen Executive Functioning
Proven strategies for strengthening executive functioning skills and overcoming adult ADHD symptoms Executive functioning skills—including focus, organization, stress management, and more―are critical to succeeding in all aspects of your life. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with ADHD or you’ve lived with it your entire life, you know that developing these skills can be a challenge. Thriving with Adult ADHD offers a toolbox of information, assessments, and evidence-based exercises to help you build this mental skill set and take control of your ADHD. Make real, sustainable changes with practical guidance and activities for sharpening your memory and attention, learning to plan and organize, strengthening your mental flexibility, enhancing your emotional regulation, improving your impulse control, and living your best life.
This adult ADHD book
Don’t let ADHD symptoms hold you back. Gain the skills you need to achieve your goals with help from Thriving with Adult ADHD .
This adult ADHD book
Don’t let ADHD symptoms hold you back. Gain the skills you need to achieve your goals with help from Thriving with Adult ADHD .
157 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 16, 2018
The simple language makes this probably best for young adults. I prefer The Adult ADHD Tool Kit: Using CBT to Facilitate Coping Inside and Out by a factor of magnitude. I bought this in pb but probably won't keep it.
Read
November 29, 2022atp im just going to dnf this because i started it in january and the author said "dont finish this book in one go" so i put it down for "a minute" and honestly if you know how adhd works, why would you write that in? your own fault, really. no rating because whatever.
March 10, 2021
Good for some people, but not me
It has a very one size fits all approach, which seems counterintuitive to the very nature of adhd. For this reason it comes across condescending and reads like all of the negative and unhelpful feedback adhd people constantly recieve - "just do this".
There are definitely some helpful bits in there, for someone this might be gold. But it felt like reading a blog - not for adhd, but time management or something. It describes adhd scientifically, then suggests methods you find all over the Internet for non adhd. It might work for you, but also it might not. The problem here is that it presents as the solution for everyone. Like if you do this you'll be fine. Which at least for me comes with the connotation that the reader is lazy if it doesn't work for them.
For me, I've tried a lot of these techniques already. Some of them help a small amount and the rest are useless for me. There was nothing about dealing with executive dysfunction - not in any way that helps me. I finished this book feeling very bored and discouraged. It wasn't fun in any way and it wasn't inspiring either.
If you don't easily feel judged and haven't had bad experiences with therapists, then this might be good for you. It's very informative but a bit boring and it expects you to find the executive functioning skills to practice some exercises. I wouldn't call any of the ideas hacks, but they might work if you have the very specific issues in the exact way the author is talking about them.
Not a bad book overall, but the tone and holy grail approach take away three stars.
It has a very one size fits all approach, which seems counterintuitive to the very nature of adhd. For this reason it comes across condescending and reads like all of the negative and unhelpful feedback adhd people constantly recieve - "just do this".
There are definitely some helpful bits in there, for someone this might be gold. But it felt like reading a blog - not for adhd, but time management or something. It describes adhd scientifically, then suggests methods you find all over the Internet for non adhd. It might work for you, but also it might not. The problem here is that it presents as the solution for everyone. Like if you do this you'll be fine. Which at least for me comes with the connotation that the reader is lazy if it doesn't work for them.
For me, I've tried a lot of these techniques already. Some of them help a small amount and the rest are useless for me. There was nothing about dealing with executive dysfunction - not in any way that helps me. I finished this book feeling very bored and discouraged. It wasn't fun in any way and it wasn't inspiring either.
If you don't easily feel judged and haven't had bad experiences with therapists, then this might be good for you. It's very informative but a bit boring and it expects you to find the executive functioning skills to practice some exercises. I wouldn't call any of the ideas hacks, but they might work if you have the very specific issues in the exact way the author is talking about them.
Not a bad book overall, but the tone and holy grail approach take away three stars.
August 4, 2022
A good overall book best for people who are newly diagnosed. Growing up with ADHD most of these tips and tricks were things I already new about. I honestly was hoping for more of a 201 good.
I will say I appreciated the different font sizes great spaces bullet points and page cuts. Clearly formatted for the ADHD brain.
I will say I appreciated the different font sizes great spaces bullet points and page cuts. Clearly formatted for the ADHD brain.
August 8, 2023
Helpful Guide with Practical Advice
I’m less interested in understanding the scientific underpinnings of my ADHD than being able to be productive and happy. This book foregoes long-winded theory and focuses on self-monitoring with an emphasis on small, incremental actions. Just what I was looking for.
I’m less interested in understanding the scientific underpinnings of my ADHD than being able to be productive and happy. This book foregoes long-winded theory and focuses on self-monitoring with an emphasis on small, incremental actions. Just what I was looking for.
December 29, 2018
I was happy to see that this is a VERY re-latable book, and it reads as though you are talking with a friend. The assessments are very simple and quick, and my 11 yr old realized she had more ADHD symptoms than she thought she did! By the end of the assessments, she understood there were quite a few areas she needed to work on, but most importantly, that she wasn't the ONLY one who had the same issues to solve! The improving memory section was very illuminating for her, and offered both of us new ways to think about how she handles instructions. By having her repeat them back to me, we both can verify that she not only heard, understood, but also processed them! I'm always surprised when she can practically verbatim instruct someone else, using what I thought she hadn't processed. But the book explained, how she was able to keep certain things to stick, while others, like simple directions, haven't!
The section on mental flexibility was very interesting for her, as she started to see how she gets so easily distracted and how not being able to focus can be a huge problem for in her future work world. Finding out about DJ Alex Cruz (yeah I know, but if it's not Irish Dance music, we don't have it on speed download, LOL) and how a steady beat could help to FOCUS her attention was a revelation. I had never thought about steady beats in the background to help her keep focus. Now he's on whenever she does schoolwork! Being able to move and hum to the music has really HELPED her. Who knew?
The section on reacting was also a huge help for her, making her realize she tends to react versus pausing before reacting. That's a huge impulse control issue. The book offers sound ideas on how to rethink her impulsiveness, and she was actually quite open to the idea presented of STOP, and has already started to use it positively.
While the book isn't technically for tweens/teens, I think it's really important for them to read the book, as well as adults, who have ADHD too. By setting kids on the right path, they will have the experience of using the techniques BEFORE hitting the work environment, and be much more successful! For adults, it can really make them PAUSE and learn new techniques that can make work, and everyday life, much more manageable!
Thanks to Callisto to providing me a review copy!
The section on mental flexibility was very interesting for her, as she started to see how she gets so easily distracted and how not being able to focus can be a huge problem for in her future work world. Finding out about DJ Alex Cruz (yeah I know, but if it's not Irish Dance music, we don't have it on speed download, LOL) and how a steady beat could help to FOCUS her attention was a revelation. I had never thought about steady beats in the background to help her keep focus. Now he's on whenever she does schoolwork! Being able to move and hum to the music has really HELPED her. Who knew?
The section on reacting was also a huge help for her, making her realize she tends to react versus pausing before reacting. That's a huge impulse control issue. The book offers sound ideas on how to rethink her impulsiveness, and she was actually quite open to the idea presented of STOP, and has already started to use it positively.
While the book isn't technically for tweens/teens, I think it's really important for them to read the book, as well as adults, who have ADHD too. By setting kids on the right path, they will have the experience of using the techniques BEFORE hitting the work environment, and be much more successful! For adults, it can really make them PAUSE and learn new techniques that can make work, and everyday life, much more manageable!
Thanks to Callisto to providing me a review copy!
March 24, 2023
This book is for beginners. It does not focus on theory at all. It's main focus is to test you to see what aspects of your ADHD is the worst, then help you focus on improving those areas with specific actionable tips.
I give this book 5 stars because although I agree with most other viewers that the tone can be offputting, "Just do this and you will be cured!" I really couldn't care less about that. I didn't want theory. I just wanted to fix problems. I wanted actionable advice for how to fix those problems, and I wanted to do it fast and not waste time reading. If this is what you want, then this book is for you.
Overall, I think some of the advice is bad for people with ADHD, like always taking notes on everything is laborious. However, a lot of the tricks worked for me well like, "narrate to yourself what you are doing at the moment." I think some advice requires thinking on how to make it happen in real life, as well as some trial and error with variations on what the book says. However, that's how any self-help book works. No self-help book can talk about your life specifically and give you the exact ad-hoc solutions you need in your life.
That being said, this book gave advice that I could not find on the internet. This book gave advice that worked for my needs. So, I give it 5 stars.
I give this book 5 stars because although I agree with most other viewers that the tone can be offputting, "Just do this and you will be cured!" I really couldn't care less about that. I didn't want theory. I just wanted to fix problems. I wanted actionable advice for how to fix those problems, and I wanted to do it fast and not waste time reading. If this is what you want, then this book is for you.
Overall, I think some of the advice is bad for people with ADHD, like always taking notes on everything is laborious. However, a lot of the tricks worked for me well like, "narrate to yourself what you are doing at the moment." I think some advice requires thinking on how to make it happen in real life, as well as some trial and error with variations on what the book says. However, that's how any self-help book works. No self-help book can talk about your life specifically and give you the exact ad-hoc solutions you need in your life.
That being said, this book gave advice that I could not find on the internet. This book gave advice that worked for my needs. So, I give it 5 stars.
January 26, 2024
I thought this book was great. It walked you through the levels and complexity that is to living with ADHD as an adult. It gives you multiple exercises that are repeatable and can slowly help your mind be reworked to be successful with ADHD. Nothing seems impossible in how the author offers the change to occur. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has S.O. or a family member with ADHD to understand better how their brain works and why they might struggle with certain things in life and relationships.
February 27, 2024
Somehow this did not magically solve all my problems, also not a lot of really helpful tips for me
July 16, 2021
If you have adhd or identify with any of the symptoms, this book is for you. There are so many tools (some of them cheesier than others), but even if none of the tools seem like a good fit for you, this book provides you with a growth mindset. I walk away feeling empowered to cope with and solve my symptoms. It also helps you identify the places you need to work on the least and the most. This is a book I will always keep handy.
October 2, 2023
Gave me some new insights to work with
October 20, 2020
Review will be up soon on my blog www.therapybooknook.com. I do not have adult ADHD, so I can't absolutely confirm that this book is good; but the concepts seem solid and I do think that anyone who took the time to really do the exercises would benefit.
January 11, 2019
The book for review is “Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills To Strengthen Executive Functioning” by Phil Boissiere, MFT. This book falls in the genre of psychology and ADHD
Do you have ADHD? Perhaps you know someone who does.
The book starts off with an overview on what Adult ADHD is. It breaks down into five skills.
-Attention and focus
-Organizing an planning
-Mental flexibility
-Emotion regulation
-Impulse control
In the beginning there is a small quiz to determine how far off you are in each skill or how well you are doing it. This gives you an overview on where you stand per each skill. The book than dives into separate chapters for each skill.
Each chapter lays out strategies to help you work on the areas that you are struggling with. A notebook is recommended to take notes and also work out the various activities inside the book.
This was a very interesting and informative book. Even if one does not have ADHD there are strategies inside that can help someone with the skill sets that are mentioned. I did enjoy reading it and did the assessments that were offered. Normally as a reviewer I pass on books on but this one I will keep to read again. It can help people with work, family and events in their lives to make life less stressful.
I received this book for free from the Callisto Publishing Club but the opinions are my own
Do you have ADHD? Perhaps you know someone who does.
The book starts off with an overview on what Adult ADHD is. It breaks down into five skills.
-Attention and focus
-Organizing an planning
-Mental flexibility
-Emotion regulation
-Impulse control
In the beginning there is a small quiz to determine how far off you are in each skill or how well you are doing it. This gives you an overview on where you stand per each skill. The book than dives into separate chapters for each skill.
Each chapter lays out strategies to help you work on the areas that you are struggling with. A notebook is recommended to take notes and also work out the various activities inside the book.
This was a very interesting and informative book. Even if one does not have ADHD there are strategies inside that can help someone with the skill sets that are mentioned. I did enjoy reading it and did the assessments that were offered. Normally as a reviewer I pass on books on but this one I will keep to read again. It can help people with work, family and events in their lives to make life less stressful.
I received this book for free from the Callisto Publishing Club but the opinions are my own
December 18, 2018
If you're looking for a practical guide that helps you to assess and address some of your core issues related to Adult ADHD, Thriving With Adult ADHD delivers!
This book contains a series of self-assessments that help you identify which of the most common ADHD symptoms are causing the biggest problems in your daily life. Then, each chapter contains a series of exercises designed to help you gain practical skills that will strengthen your executive functioning in each of these core areas.
One of the strengths of this book is that everything is so clear, concise and easy to follow. I found this book really helpful with the information parsed in such a way that it can be read and used without causing overwhelm.
This book is a keeper!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this did not in any way influence my review.
This book contains a series of self-assessments that help you identify which of the most common ADHD symptoms are causing the biggest problems in your daily life. Then, each chapter contains a series of exercises designed to help you gain practical skills that will strengthen your executive functioning in each of these core areas.
One of the strengths of this book is that everything is so clear, concise and easy to follow. I found this book really helpful with the information parsed in such a way that it can be read and used without causing overwhelm.
This book is a keeper!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this did not in any way influence my review.
March 20, 2022
Recommended to me by my therapist after being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. I found it overly simple and somewhat condescending. A very, "Just do this!" approach with little mention of how difficult and time-consuming changing behavior actually is. The book ends with a section that starts off, "Congratulations! You did it! You are awesome! It's an incredible accomplishment to have completed this book." The tone didn't work for me, though it might be great for others. I did learn some new tips and tricks to help manage my ADHD, but overall, the book was just okay.
November 1, 2022
For people who are newly diagnosed ADHD , this book is a good resource to start with. All the exercise and concepts are fairly simple and easy to implement. This helps to control some of the symptoms of ADHD.
While it doesn't deal with deeper issues of ADHD, some of the general coping mechanisms are addressed and are quite helpful if implemented.
It made me understand 'why' aspect of things I do that didn't make sense to me before while giving me tools to cope with highs and lows that ADHD carries with it.
While it doesn't deal with deeper issues of ADHD, some of the general coping mechanisms are addressed and are quite helpful if implemented.
It made me understand 'why' aspect of things I do that didn't make sense to me before while giving me tools to cope with highs and lows that ADHD carries with it.
April 5, 2021
This is OK as an introduction to the topic, I guess. It's well-written and well-structured. The explanations and examples are easy to understand. A big part of the book is exercises which does not work for me because I'm either thinking "eh, this one doesn't apply to me" or "wft, are you crazy, I'm not doing that!" or "that actually sounds interesting but I'm just gonna sorta do it in my head and retain the information", (spoiler alert: I won't.)
May 30, 2021
Lots of Useful Tools to Mitigate ADHD
I don’t have ADHD but someone close to me does. I read this book to learn more about what they are going through and to work out how I might be able to better support them. This book has given me lots of insight into the condition and ideas on how I can help my loved one cope.
Strongly recommended if you want to know more about ADHD, it’s impact, and how to improve executive function.
I don’t have ADHD but someone close to me does. I read this book to learn more about what they are going through and to work out how I might be able to better support them. This book has given me lots of insight into the condition and ideas on how I can help my loved one cope.
Strongly recommended if you want to know more about ADHD, it’s impact, and how to improve executive function.
October 28, 2020
Extremely practical guide. Clear, well-organized, positive and supportive. The author doesn’t go too much into theory or complicated stories but simply offers a list of skillsets that can be evaluated, brief explanations of what deficiencies look like, & exercises you can do to work on them. Probably first on the list if you want to do some self-therapy. Awareness is already the first step.
February 8, 2022
Great Addition
This book surprised me. It was totally different from any other book on ADHD that I have ever read. The book is 100% dedicated to mental strategies for dealing with the effects of ADHD. Its in this focus that lies its power. Not a ‘fun’ read that you read cover. Its a practical implementation workbook
This book surprised me. It was totally different from any other book on ADHD that I have ever read. The book is 100% dedicated to mental strategies for dealing with the effects of ADHD. Its in this focus that lies its power. Not a ‘fun’ read that you read cover. Its a practical implementation workbook
July 26, 2022
Thoroughly researched and includes anecdotes about the author's consulting w/ silicon valley execs. There's some great advice here for adults with ADHD about core mental skills to improve work, relationships, emotional regulation, and focus -- and how to keep growing and become resilient to deal with whatever comes our way, and to find a path.
August 9, 2022
Good if you’ve just been diagnosed.
This was pretty good as a first book on the topic. The final chapter’s “problem solved!” Tone of voice might have been a bit much, but certainly talks through the main issues in an easy to understand manner an pr has some basic skills for helping you through.
This was pretty good as a first book on the topic. The final chapter’s “problem solved!” Tone of voice might have been a bit much, but certainly talks through the main issues in an easy to understand manner an pr has some basic skills for helping you through.
May 3, 2021
Meh!
A bit intoductory, not enough tools, non referenced arguments and statements. There is a lot more to be said, and a lot more knowledge available from science, experience and transdisciplinary investigations
A bit intoductory, not enough tools, non referenced arguments and statements. There is a lot more to be said, and a lot more knowledge available from science, experience and transdisciplinary investigations
September 18, 2021
This was an excellent book on therapy implications for ADHD. The author did an outstanding job synthesizing material from an eclectic perspective into applicable material for the individual with ADHD. Exercises throughout the book are easy to follow and relevant.
September 28, 2022
I thought this was an awesome self help book for adhd. I learned so many incredible tips and tricks. I’m honestly surprised it’s not rated higher. I did almost every exercise in the book and I feel stronger because of it!
March 12, 2023
A decent overview of helpful skills
This focuses less on what ADHD is and more on how to cope with the issues that ADHD presents. A lot of these I have heard of before and actually use. This is good for setting up the basics. I would recommend it.
This focuses less on what ADHD is and more on how to cope with the issues that ADHD presents. A lot of these I have heard of before and actually use. This is good for setting up the basics. I would recommend it.
December 20, 2020
Wow! This is me to a tee. Spectacular resource and ultra comforting. I learned a lot about myself and how to work on my deficits. Now I just have to get started. One thing at a time. Thanks!
November 19, 2022
Stick to it Enough to Read it
The subject of this book states it all in matter-of-fact ways that you may sheath know about, but need a reminder. The problem is that sticking to anything, including this book, is a trial in itself.
My suggestion? Mark the book, but don’t read it—that is, until you comprehend you’ve got enough down time to gulp it all down like a tall glass of ice cold lemonade on a hot and sweaty summer day. The reason I suggest this is because there is information that you’ve no doubt heard before. But there’s also new information you’ll miss if you aren’t paying attention.
This book is short enough for a voracious reader to easily conquer in two days, if they haven’t finished it in one. Myself? (Since you’ve asked.) I made it a third of the way through before another book captured my attention BEFORE I solved the dilemma. But, I’ll come back and finish—promise! 🫣
The subject of this book states it all in matter-of-fact ways that you may sheath know about, but need a reminder. The problem is that sticking to anything, including this book, is a trial in itself.
My suggestion? Mark the book, but don’t read it—that is, until you comprehend you’ve got enough down time to gulp it all down like a tall glass of ice cold lemonade on a hot and sweaty summer day. The reason I suggest this is because there is information that you’ve no doubt heard before. But there’s also new information you’ll miss if you aren’t paying attention.
This book is short enough for a voracious reader to easily conquer in two days, if they haven’t finished it in one. Myself? (Since you’ve asked.) I made it a third of the way through before another book captured my attention BEFORE I solved the dilemma. But, I’ll come back and finish—promise! 🫣
January 3, 2023
I made it halfway through before calling it quits. The author doesn’t make it clear if he, himself, has ADHD or just works with clients with ADHD, but it seems very much like he doesn’t have any idea what it’s actually like to live with ADHD. Many of his “exercises” and tips are very commonplace and things I’m sure most people who have lived with ADHD have tried, probably unsuccessfully. They seem more like great ideas for neurotypical individuals. In a book like this, I normally would have dog-eared pages, written notes in margins, and underlined all over the place. Halfway through, there were maybe 3-4 paragraphs that I had underlined something and no notes written at all. I hate to quit books, but I can’t waste anymore time on a self-improvement boom that’s offering no help.
February 18, 2023
Initially - in reading the descriptions, examples and quizzes, I learned I had more traits in common with adhd than I originally thought. As interesting as it was, many of the skills described for coping and adjusting are things I have picked up over time.
Some early exercises were thought provoking, however, as I got further into the book I chose not to spend time working through the exercises and felt I did not miss anything. I also found the next to last chapter hard to read, emotionally, especially before bedtime; to read expressions of failure or fear of failure given adhd and all the negative baggage that often accompanies adhd. Was disappointed to be left with these emotions for what I hoped would be an uplifting and inspiring book.
Not a long book, this is an easy read.
Some early exercises were thought provoking, however, as I got further into the book I chose not to spend time working through the exercises and felt I did not miss anything. I also found the next to last chapter hard to read, emotionally, especially before bedtime; to read expressions of failure or fear of failure given adhd and all the negative baggage that often accompanies adhd. Was disappointed to be left with these emotions for what I hoped would be an uplifting and inspiring book.
Not a long book, this is an easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews