Snowbird

More of a memoir than a how-to booj

Revisado: 01-05-23

This was a decent exploration of an individual's experience of autism, and valuable as such because when you receive a late-life diagnosis as I have, you need to read up on all manner of manifestations of it. But a word of caution - the author's first name, Una, struck me as female, and since I have learned that men and women manifest autism quite differently, I am most interested in the female perspective. Also, the author's parents were very intuitive about helping their son navigate his autistic ways despite never knowing about autism at the time, so the author had a head-start that most late-life autistics are not blessed with, so his perspective is less typical, I imagine.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

More of a bio than a self-help book

Revisado: 01-03-23

This book is inextricably tied to the author's life and experiences, and as such, is an interesting read; but the more one's place on the ASD Spectrum differs from that of the author's, the more the tips and recommendations fall apart ... not likely the author's fault so much as that of his editors, publishers and/or marketers. As a 68-yr old female just having received my ASD - Level I (formerly known as Asperger's Syndrome) diagnosis 7 weeks ago, very little of the detail of this book was relatable, but I definitely felt encompassed in the the overreaching arc of the book's thematic subject matter - Being Different ... I AM different, I sense it in every bone of my body (and always have had) and this sense is firmly anchored by the few people in my life who have had the courage (or audacity even) to speak to it. So I felt a certain kindred spirit while taking in the Audible version of this book despite there being virtually no resemblance between the author's life and circumstances and mine. The book's value for me lay more in its ability to help me tap into the benefits of late-diagnosis ASD than in any practical approach going forward because of the huge gap between our respective lives, strengths and experiences. Read in the proper light therefore, it can definitely be said that this book served an important role in helping me set foot on the humongous journey ahead of me of fleshing out my strengths, gaining the confidence to build my future on the building blocks of those strengths and cobbling together the therapeutic team I will need to surround myself with in order to help all this come to pass (as my personal self-awareness is far weaker than that of the author, who I nevertheless thank with much gratitude for the colossal effort he no doubt put into bringing this work together for the benefit of his target audience). I conclude in praying that God might continue to bless this man as generously as He has already!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Self-image redo as a late-diagnosis Autistic woman

Revisado: 12-29-22

Gobbled this up after receiving my "ASD - Level I" diagnosis 6 weeks ago at age 68. Helped me to reframe my perspective on what has been heretofore a life of seemingly never-ending emotional trauma, forever bumping up against or falling short of, as I have, the world of neurotypical expectations and norms. This book has started me on the journey toward seeing the unique gifts that might be lurking behind what I never knew was actually a mask - that some of those parts of me that don't fit neatly into the neurotypical scheme of things and thought might actually be strengths that I should proudly take ownership of and put to work for me rather than hide under the proverbial bushel basket and live in shame of!!!

Thank you for this colossal and life-changing assemblage of perspectives on autism as experienced throughout the female lifecycle!!!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So much empathy!

Revisado: 02-14-22

I return to Dr. Hallowell's books repeatedly ... I feel validated, understood and hopeful when looking at my ADHD and the several co-morbidities I was diagnosed with in my mid-sixties through his eyes - finally, someone who not only gets me, but has a very optimistic yet still therapeutic and professional perspective to share with me, the reader ... thanks tons!!!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Just the best

Revisado: 12-30-21

I have never come across a professional since my ADHD diagnosis 2-1/2 years ago who gets me near as well as Dr. Hallowell and yet we have never met If course. I feel energized to continue the struggle.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fresh insights - worth the read

Revisado: 12-23-21

Just too many things to enumerate here, but I have a treasure trove of topics I need to go back on now and delve into more fully.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Dated, and yet remains a gem

Revisado: 12-14-21

I have devoured many a book on ADHD since being diagnosed at the age of 64 just 2-1/2 years ago. Many themes and much content in Drs. Halowell and Ritey's book was therefore familiar to me and nevertheless bore repeating as the ADHD brain needs frequent memory refreshing. But there were also plenty of tidbits and insights that were new to me, and though I have no doubt that scientifically, there are more recent books I will have to consult to learn of the latest advances in the understanding of the ADHD brain, I have gained so much from this book, from a mountain of tips for managing life with ADHD, to a deeper dive than I had as yet been exposed to into the neurobiological theories of how the functioning of the ADHD brain differs from the neurotypical brain, and of course exposure to a whole fresh batch of case studies to demonstrate given points ... my brain thrives on that kind of stuff. And I loved the reader - I slowed the audio down just a tad so my brain could keep pace with the very warm and seasoned voice with its engaging musicality that somehow focused my attention more readily than many auditory books I have consumed.Thank you to the authors and to Audible for this latest stepping stone on my path to a more fruitful and joy-filled life!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Brilliant stylistic approach

Revisado: 12-10-21

As an ADHD'er myself, educational books can be so dry as to zone me right out, but tucking her question methodology into a fable proved to be a very captivating technique ... just the bright shiny bauble my ADHD brain needed to not only remain engaged with the book, but to actually retain some of it on the first audit - a true accomplishment on the author's part!

And the Audible reader was excellent as well.

The only "judger" comment I would make, though I hope it is viewed as constructive, is in the tone the author herself adopts when she is introducing herself, when she is telling of the development and progression of her theories and when she is sharing her accomplishments - there is a boastfulness that creeps in there, and I know it is not the Audible reader's effect on the author's words because the author herself comes across as a tad boastful in her video message on her website. She is undoubtedly a hugely accomplished person deserving of many accolades, but a touch more humility in how her words are strung together both on paper and in person would go that bit further to reeling the reader in - I for one would not have got past the intro because I was being rubbed the wrong way had it not been that this book is mandatory reading for the ADHD coaching I will be receiving this winter.

Notwithstanding, the author has my eternal gratitude for opening my eyes to the potential of asking questions and the importance of asking the RIGHT questions ... just how to do that in an environment where questions in and of themselves are not welcome though is going to prove to be the greater issue for me personally ... may be fodder for the author's next book, ha ha!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

What an ending!

Revisado: 04-04-19

An excruciatingly tender ending ... knocked me for a loop ... WOW is all I have to say!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A true treat

Revisado: 09-20-18

Not one to review normally, I must just take a moment to admit how much I was touched, not only by the story's period-appropriate gentility, but by the production itself; the narration and musical score both were not only of the utmost quality, but so spot-on as to evoke a warm tickle in my heart ... I was sorry to reach the end!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña