Mental Health Books

There is a new Bible in town and this remarkable treatise is it. As a combat veteran of both Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, there is a scarcity of compelling and accurate manuscripts that genuinely capture the fact of the matter and the bona fide psychological impact of war and its devastating aftermath on the human psyche. Dr. Scurfield has done just that in a manner that is both forcefully convincing and stunning in its truth telling. It was during my last overseas deployment, deep in the Sunni Triangle of Death, that I immersed myself in his first volume of his Vietnam Trilogy, A Vietnam Trilogy: Veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress; 1968,1989, and 2000. It was awe-inspiring to have our very experiences in the wartime theater of Iraq depicted so exactly as we were living it---and his book was written about military psychiatry during the Vietnam War and about Vietnam veterans! This book, indeed, is a testimony to the profound universalities of the experience of war and its impact across eras and generations.

Colonel Kathy Platoni, Psy.D.

At last a book that explains how it felt to be in Vietnam and how it feels to work towards, and achieve, emotional recovery and forgiveness of self & others. Written in a captivating style that neither disheartens the reader nor pretends that there are easy solutions for healing the hurt that plagues war veterans 24/7, this book leaves the reader with hope for true recovery for both veterans of the Vietnam War and veterans of the Iraq War. If you care to have the skills and understanding necessary to promote recovery from the emotional wounds of our most treasured resource, our veterans past and present, you must read this book.

Dr. Scurfield has given us the key to understanding what was happening inside us during our time "in country" and ever since. One cannot help but remember the beauty of the land and, most of all, the others who shared this experience with us. His thoughts are straightforward, honest and caring. He leads us to realize that we are not alone and to appreciate family, friends, and buddies who were with us before and during the event or who have come into our lives since. The book is both enjoyable and entertaining.

Dr. Scurfield's remarkable triology appears at first glance to be aimed at trauma therapists, veterans and their families. If one gives any thought to the events taking place in the world of today, then a wider audience is called - we all, as citizens of the world, need to contemplate the true cost of war. The old saying, 'war is Hell' has been historically attributed to veterans only. This is a mistake. In his trilogy Dr. Scurfield leads with his personal experience as a soldier in Vietnam, a leading PTSD practitioner and a man of heart. I am not an objective source yet I am a credible one. I have known and worked with Dr. Scurfield for nearly three decades and certainly shared a portion of the journey of which he details in the trilogy. It is my telegram that he utilizes on page 24 of book 2 to illustrate the unimaginable impact cold, clinical prose elicits when families are informed of their loved one's catastrophic wounding in combat. I have been blessed to be mentored by Dr. Scurfield in the field of trauma therapy. Readers must listen carefully to his views on the treatment of PTSD as he unveils strategies I have seen work with trauma survivors in therapy. This is not a book by a researcher theorizing, yet not truly touching those written about. Quite the opposite. Dr. Scurfield has treated war veterans from the time they were soldiers into old age. He understands the continuum of the healing process. But make no mistake, the cost of war touches us all - even those who actively avoid it - and in these pages Dr. Scurfield both describes and offers us all a way out of Hell.

A Vietnam Trilogy provides professionals and lay persons alike a reader-friendly blueprint for understanding and treating war veterans who show symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Raymond Scurfield shares his personal experience treating Viet Nam era vets while giving the reader a glimpse into his personal journey of recovery through PTSD with the use of his personal journal he kept while he was stationed in Viet Nam from 1967 to 1969. The text is extensively researched and numerous annotated references are provided.

From the first pages, Dr. Scurfield engages the reader on both a professional and personal level. With clinical and first person accounts, this author paints a vivid picture of the many presentations of PTSD and gives us a glimpse into the world of the men and women who selflessly serve their country and carry the scars with them long after their enlistments.

The text is instantly captivating as the author carefully weaves the fabric of the political climate regarding veteran
treatment and the many challenges practitioners have faced to get vets proper mental health care. He shares with the reader his personal frustration with the bureaucratic process and the many effective and innovative treatment modalities available to those diagnosed with PTSD.

Scurfield's information is pertinent and relevant today. The men and women currently fighting in the Middle East face the same type of ruthless opponent as the soldiers in Viet Nam. Though the book focuses on the Nam era it is timeless in its message. PTSD is not exclusively a war caused mental illness. Variations of Dr. Scurfield's interventions can be applied to anyone who suffers the personal ravages of this disorder. There are many instances when the author shares antidotes about pioneering practitioners thinking beyond the purveying treatment
paradigm and applying innovative interventions that help people heal.

In the first pages of his book Dr. Scurfield shares his reasons for writing this book he states: "My purpose in writing this book is threefold: to provide some hint at a realstic picture of what the psychiatric, psychological and social impact of war is on on many of its participants; to help those involved with military and veterans affairs, the families, and veterans themselves, to learn what we can from the post-Vietnam experience and to extend the benefits of successful therapies to more veterans; and to avoid or minimize the creation od substantial numbers of psychiatric casualities amoung veterans of more recent conflicts." The book covers these points and
more.

If you are a mental health practioner, A Vietnam Trilogy is a must read. If you have someone in your life who suffers from PTSD it is a must read. If your are merely interested in the etiology and treatment of PTSD it is a must read. If you are curious about how politics effect treatment in our country it is a must read. If you want to be transported back in time to the Viet Nam era it is a must read. If you are a Viet Nam veteran, A Viet Nam Trilogy is a must read. If you are a student looking for an exceptional PTSD resource with an extensive bibliography from which to build a research paper, it is a must read. If you wish to be educated and entertained by an excellent work of non-fiction, it is a must read. Bottom line: Buy, read and share this book. Give yourself the freedom to question the current paradigm.

This book has stories that I personally have never even fathomed. What an eye opener - I read this with an open heart, weeping the whole time.
I am very glad that I had read Nam Vet first because without some background this book can be a bit much. I recommend this book AFTER reading something more general like Nam Vet and An Operator's Manuel for Combat PTSD. All these books show the reader a world that the average person is just not aware of, teaches compassion and shows us solutions.

This has been the most helpful tool guiding me in forming a close relationship with an friend of many years. The information here is essential. The author tells you what you must know it in order to understand your loved one and cope with stress-related behaviors. There are many helpful suggestions and resources listed. Author is an expert in Viet vets and PTSD. As a nurse with 20 yrs experience and a strong background in psychology, who has had a number of vet friends & coworkers, I knew a little about Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Yet this book has really made a difference - I couldn't have managed without it. If you are in a relationship with a vet or even contemplating one, get this!

I am officially an "expert" in combat PTSD with all sorts of fancy letters after my name, and I can say that Aphrodite Matsakis's VIETNAM WIVES and Patience Mason's RECOVERING FROM THE WAR [also available from Amazon.com] do more good than a planeload of folks like me. Nobody should have to go through it alone--not the veteran, not his or her spouse, not their children, parents, friends, employers, therapists. Healing (and protection against secondary traumatic stress) happens only in community--at least that's what I conclude from 11 years working with veterans. Both of these books are useful to not only their main audience, the veteran's spouse, but to veterans themselves and anyone else who wants to make their hearts wiser and their understanding deeper. I recommend these books frequently, and for years they were hard to find.

Identifying information on reviewer:

Jonathan Shay, M.D., Ph.D. is a psychiatrist whose only patients are Vietnam combat veterans in the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic. He is author of _Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character_ (available from Amazon.com)

This book is not just for Vietnam wives, but the veteran, his family and anyone who wants to be informed about PTSD. It examines how the disorder is developed and how it affects the victim and everyone around him/her. The goal is to gain insight about how PTSD can be recognized, treated and ultimately lived with in a manageable state. It is clearly written and can be understood by non-professional people.

PLEASE READ revision BELOW. I MADE THIS REVIEW BEFORE I KNEW THE TRUTH ABOUT LYING MEN WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HONEST WOMEN. I was married to a Vietnam Vet for 18 years. I knew his problems were war related but didn't realize the depth of all of his depression and violent behavior. In the introduction of this book, I read what other wives have written and wept. I was one of those women that lived in a unsure and abusive world. A world that I had to protect my children from. My boys are adults now and the effect their father had on them before I left him has left scars. One son has gone on to study history and specifically Vietnam. He's the one with chronic depression and he is just finally understanding that his dad does love him, he's just numb. My youngest son still distances himself from his father. In time he will understand the truth.

Years have passed since my divorce. I have met another Vietnam Vet. He has some of the same symptoms. I will work on this relationship, because my Vet deserves to have someone love him and be there for him. I can only say that this book has helped me to understand the men of the Vietnam War era and appreciate what they went through for their country, for their families. I grieve for them and their horrid experiences in Vietnam. I have listened for countless hours to tales of unbelievable suffering.

I love my Vietnam Vet. I know that he is and always will be trying to overcome his past. I will be there for him to support him and I will not take anything personally except the love that he shows. He is a very sexy, strong, intelligent individual who experienced hell in a place he didn't want to be at a very young age. I salute him and all the Viet Vets who served and are still there in their minds. God bless them and their wives and families.

This is an awesome book that can only hit your heart if you have been there as a wife and a soldier. I see the mental anguish, and can only understand it because I have also experienced emotional trauma as a wife and as a child. Face those fears with someone you love and trust. A moment at a time.

UPDATED 11/06: Only a few months after reading this book and trying to understand this Vet I was "in love" with, I found out that he was a romantic deceiver. This PTSD man has ruined my life by taking everything I have. He lied to me about who he was and then tried to kill me, because I questioned his claims. Women beware of who you are "falling" for. Have them checked out before it's too late. This deceiver told me that he was a POW in Vietnam and a helicopter pilot that saved everyone. He is a hero only in his eyes. He is a liar, PLEASE BE CAREFUL, BEWARE OF MEN WHO DECEIVE. KEEP YOURSELF SAFE FROM ROMANTIC LIARS.

Lisa Sarasohn's first book has many layers that enliven and motivate. This newer edition is even better. It is easy to read; her clear and simple instructions form lasting, positive images. I recommend it for all ages - to be read again and again.

Don't let the word "belly" scare you away from this excellent book. After reading this book, I now think of my belly as the center of my soul.

Initially, the word belly made me think of a line from the movie "Austin Powers - the Spy who Shagged Me" where a disgustingly obese character, called Fat Bast*rd, yells at the midget to "Get in my Belly!" because he wants to eat him. And there is always the "Night before Christmas" where Santa's belly shook like a bowl full of jelly.

But after reading this book, my idea of the word belly and what it stands for has completely changed. And anyways, those two references are to men's belly's. Now I understand more about the Women's belly, and that it includes so much more than a stomach.

The idea that the region between your pubic bone and your rib cage can be a well spring for courage, confidence and passion may seem absurd. But the author provides historical and cultural references that the female belly is all that and more. Like most women in their late 40's, I grew up with women's lib and the knowledge I could go to college and just like the boys, I could become anything I wanted. I grew up thinking that any real power is what I store in my brain - in my head. So it was difficult in the beginning, to accept that I do have power in my abdomen. After all, that is the place where I have been storing all the shame and self-doubt I earned during a traumatic childhood.

Women need to read this book. We have lost touch with who and what we are as females. Historically, the ancient wisdom of women and their bodies was honored and respected, rather than demeaned. This book, with its breathing techniques and exercises, helped me break down a barrier that has stood for many years - decades even. A barrier of shame and disgust because my stomach is not flat and taut as society and the media has decreed it should be. This barrier kept me from truly loving my body and listening to the wisdom held deep inside me - inside my center, my belly.

This morning when my alarm went off I JUMPED out of bed... eager to do Lisa's belly "workout". It's that good! I absolutely love the way I feel after moving through the gentle rhythms...I feel deeply connected to myself with all the gaps filled in...I feel centered, whole and filled with Self. Lisa's teaching of connecting breath to belly to body is grounded, real and powerful. I highly recommend her work to anyone who is working to heal body image, self esteem or disordered eating issues.

This is one Great Book! Easy to follow, real advice ... a leap towards healing the warped image we have of our bodies, especially in this culture where the emphasis on image often ranks above substance. Personally, this book helped me to connect deeper to my body, I am now including short mini-meditations specifically to connect with the center/belly. The instructions are clear and easy and much of it can be done in a matter of minutes! I have also finally changed my wardrobe to eliminate restrictive clothing, my posture changed in the process as well and I feel SO much better! I have recommended this book to many of my female friends, clients and acquaintances and will continue to do so. A real jewel!

When I told my friends that I was reading a book about loving my belly, they all snorted. It seems that no one likes, much less loves, their bellies. The Woman's Belly Book is more about honoring your creative power center. Using breathing techniques, visualizations and art therapy, the reader is led through the process of discovering your secret treasure. Just using her belly dialogue techiniques, I feel more connected to my inner strength. Highly recommended.

I need a book on this topic that's written for a teen level: simple wording, not complext clincial concetps, leaning toward insights and solutions rather than research and academic data...But especially something that's not boring or written over the heads of young teens (age 14-16). Would this a good book?

In this book, Jane Wegscheider Hyman interviewed fifteen women who self-injure themselves to learn more about their battle with self-injury and explain how and why they continually and intentionally injure themselves. This is a fantastic and informing piece of work. Hyman has obviously done a great deal of work over a period of time. The women talk about their pasts, reasons for their self-injury, and troubles associated with it and their hopes of recovery. Hyman is not only very educated in this field but she also is very compassionate about the women's stories and situations. This is an excellent source of information, and along with, A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong, they are the best books on the subject matter. I greatly suggest this book for those who self-injure, those who know someone who does and professionals that care for them.

I respect what the previous reviewer wrote about triggering. But for me, the possibility of triggering is outweighed by the realization that I am not alone in dealing with this issue in my life. I saw real hope in the words of women who have to a greater or lesser degree found ways to creatively deal with lessening or eliminating self-injury in their lives. I spent decades believing I was alone in this struggle.

If you use self-injury in your life, you will find yourself saying "She's just like me!" countless times. Being able to do this is a great relief.

I learned that self-injury is in fact a creative method of dealing with intolerable situations, and I realized that it in fact served a valuable, LIFE SAVING purpose in my life. I know this sounds absurd to people who cannot imagine self-injury at all, but believe me, please, it is true. I also learned that its value to me properly diminished as I acquired new, safer ways to deal with the overwhelming memories of my past. This book, in combination with therapy, gave me ideas and tools for retiring my old, dangerous, yet valuable ways of dealing with my feelings.

Thanks to Jane Wegscheider Hyman and the fifteen women she interviewed.

As someone who has self injured for over 25 years (since age 5), this was THE book that helped me to start coming out of my denial and being able to seek help. While it can be triggering, it is outweighed by the number of "ahhhh haaa's" one get's from reading it. It was very enlightening and helped me to reduce the shame I'd experienced, enough that I could finally seek help. One thing ESPECIALLY unique about this book is that it does not limit itself to cutting and burning - it deals with all forms of self injury - something that FEW books on the topic of self injury do. If you are looking to buy just one book on the topic, let this be it...

This book has been a very healing guide for me. Not only from reading it, but also from being one of the 15 who participated in its writing. Reading back now on my own words has given me continued encouragement and hope. Jane did such a wonderful job of being a voice for me and the 14 others who interviewed. I didn't feel like I was ever heard when I expressed my emotions, and when I expressed them through self-injury, I usually got negative feedback. I feel Jane has allowed me to be heard, but this time it is through feedback that has contributed to the healthy lifestyle I live with today. God bless you Jane.

Wounded: Vietnam/Iraq Another outstanding book from Dr. Glasser about the real cost of war; "Wounded" identifies the casuality data the current administration doesn't want us to know. More soldiers are losing their limbs then in any war since our civil war. A majority of the wounded returning to America have Traumatic Brain Injuries. The VA medical system is not prepared and is underfunded to care for these returnees. This book is the best arguement for our removing our soldiers from both Iraq and Afganistan as soon as possible. Ronald Glasser is a medical doctor who treated soldiers injured in Viet Nam, and returned to that task with the current wars. His information is first hand, and calls forth a strong response in the reader.

Wounded: Vietnam to Iraq author Ronald J. Glasser, M.D., served as an Army hospital physician during the Vietnam War and offers alarming insights and comparisons in military medical experience between the Vietnam War and the current Iraq war. At once both fascinating in its studious examination in how the changing nature of modern battlefields has transformed the job of the medic, from simply keeping a wounded patient alive until a chopper could quickly evacuate to having to prolong life for up to 72 hours, since air superiority has all but vanished in the modern era of urban warfare and readily available technology to shoot down choppers. "The training period for the Combat Medical Specialty was increased from ten to sixteen weeks... The additional weeks of training were devoted to developing the new core skills necessary to keep the severely wounded alive where they were hit, with little chance for immediate evacuation. No more 'patch 'em up and send them off.' This was to be big-time medicine, the city trauma center brought to the battlefield." A sober, well-reasoned, "must-read" about the evolving state of combat medicine and the long-term repercussions of war wounds.

After rereading the book 365 Days by Dr. Ronald Glasser, one that this vietnam combat vet found to be both stirring and haunting, I had to get his most recent book.
And I was not disappointed.
If you want to have a feel for those who serve and become casualties for our flag and country, these books are vital additions to your library.

This book is clearly well written and well researched. A unique perspective on the soldier's story. We owe it to them to understand what they are going through.

I have long looked for the true figures about the nature of death in Iraq.
Fortunately the Australian media is slightly better than the pap served up by the media in the country that is causing the sickening mayhem in Iraq and we know only a little of the true monstrousness of this war to bring democracy to the unwashed masses of Iraq. Glasser lays it on the line and spells out, particularly in the chapter Final Diagnosis, the enormity of the American soldier's burden in this conflict. On page 73 he writes that there were 600 ammunition dumps scattered around Iraq when the Shock and Awe invasion ended. There's nothing unexpected in this but the problem happened when none of the Shock and Awe victors policed these dumps and they were cleaned out by the "defeated" Iraqi army. What this means in the reality of ground combat is that there is a virtually unlimited supply of hugely powerful explosives available to mine roads and anywhere else American soldiers find themselves in the horror of Iraq. Glasser goes into medical detail about what happens to middle aged reservists who are caught in these explosions. He talks as the expert he is about the wounds suffered by soldiers caught in an explosion of this huge power. He talks about what 155mm shells hooked to butane gas tanks does to a person's head when it explodes. Because of quick evacuation and superb treatment these poor wounded live but the impact on, particularly the head, causes horrific , lifelasting injuries.

I do not think, because of the media, America and the world in general knows what is happening to American soldiers in Iraq; I believe that the low death rates for US soldiers has led America to tolerate this war more than its true horror would indicate. Glasser's wonderful, readable and understandable book lifts the veil on the terrible price being paid for what has become a cesspool for American youth.

My daughter is 3 and we got her this book awhile ago. Nothing like having a book of things she is needing to learn anyway...with kids that look like her. She loves it. The pictures are high quality and there is much variety in it. Love the 123 as well.

As the mom of a child with down syndorme I bought so my son could see other kids with DS in books. I find myself passing this one over due to it's lack of typical kids too! I would like to see more books showing inclusion and acceptance and not exclusivity.

I believe this book is a large step in the right direction for educating the world on Down syndrome, and realizing just how beautiful these children are. My grandson is the first Down's child to ever go through our regular school system and is doing great. You will notice in the book that there are twin combinations, where one twin has Down syndrome and the other doesn't, and there are regular children with the Down's children. All these children are from New York State but various parts of the state, there are a variety of ethnic groups. This book tells a whole other story then just a child learning their ABCs. There is another whole lesson here to be learned. You don't have to have a child with Down's syndrome for your child to get something from this book. Our moto is: They are a child first and Down's second. Another words a CHILD with Down's syndrome, not a DOWN syndrome child. I am very pleased with the positive responses this book is receiving. God bless each and everyone of you who purchased this book. My grandson also thanks you.

Many children's ABC books are so crowded with images that it is easy for kids to miss the main point, i.e., A=Apple. This is a very clear book with great photographs! Most young kids enjoy photos of other children, and this would be a great way to introduce all children to diversity...and disability as a type of diversity to be embraced and not feared.

This is a wonderful ABC book. Each letter has a full page photograph showing a child with Down syndrome in an activity with an object corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. The letter "D" for example, has a young boy with Down syndrome and a dog. The pictures are very colorful and clear. The children are beautiful models. This is a fun book and I highly recommend it. If only they made a hard board edition for little children...

A very insightful look into the UMASS study and the Milwaukee study. A fascinating look into the impact of ADHD across the lifespan. Highly recommended.

Stephanie Moulton Sarkis PhD NCC LMHC
Author, Psychotherapist, and ADHD Expert

The previous reviewer, Jon, said it all. Adult ADHD is real. You will learn all you need to know about it by reading this amazing book, culminating decades of rigorous study and clinical expertise.

Researchers such as authors Russell Barkley, Mariellen Fischer, and Kevin Murphy are the reliable anchors in a storm-tossed sea of ignorance, lassitude, indifference, and outright chicanery and propagandizing regarding adult ADHD.

Their studies are stunning for their elegant design, careful execution, and solid results. The text is well-written and profound, even to non-clinicians. When it comes to interpreting certain human behaviors, it will turn all your paradigms upside down and then inside out.

I cannot imagine any physician or therapist in this country--no matter what the specialty--not reading this book very carefully. Because untreated ADHD cuts across too many issues for any healthcare provider to remain unaware. These issues include higher risk of traffic and on-the-job accidents, substance use, and poor health habits that can lead to the chronic diseases that so afflict this country, including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

ADHD is thought to affect from 10 to 30 million adults in the U.S. alone, depending on how broadly the criteria are applied. Yet only 10 percent of that lower figure is diagnosed--and even fewer in treatment.

Too often, ADHD is misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorder, attachment disorder, and the list of personality disorders goes on--most of which carry poor prognoses. Consequently, too many people suffer in frustration, piled on with moral judgments or plied with the wrong medications or therapeutic interventions that often make ADHD worse.

It's time to join the 21st Century regarding a brain condition that affects so many people, and this book, in my opinion, leads the way.

Gina Pera, author, advocate
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHDRollerCoaster.com

Within the vast, bleak universe of adult ADHD, most glints of hope, have either blinked pathetically, using what remains of rapidly stagnating, kinetic, energy or have imploded in the air-less vacuum of a world that few understand and even fewer care about. This new book by authors Barkley, Murphy, and Fischer has, for the first time, given me the confidence to believe that, for adults with ADHD, a new day has dawned, a new light is shining, and the thick fog of shame may, over time, be blown away.

The door has finally slammed shut for the skeptics, the uninformed, the misinformed, the mal-intended, and the ignorant health care professionals and "experts" who, unless they buy a copy of this book and study its contents, will find that their days treating adults with ADHD are numbered.

I am not an MD, psychiatrist, psychologist, or PhD clinician; I am a 50 year old well-educated, upper-middle class, senior executive-level, male who, in my early 40's, was diagnosed with ADHD. In the struggle to help identify the potential sources of my rapidly deteriorating life, I had finally found one that had a name, but was it too late for it to matter?

To stay afloat in my cesspool of confusion and uncertainty, in addition to therapy and medication, I relied heavily on finding and studying every source of information that I could dig up regarding adult ADHD. At the time, with the exception of a few, well written and relevant books that were on the market, there wasn't much from which to choose. Despite these resources being helpful, something was still missing in the conversation, but I didn't have the capacity to understand the nature of what that might be. Over the next year, it became obvious to me; I was able to understand the extent to which ADHD had negatively affected my life and discovered, first-hand, "the ugly truth" as to why; that adult ADHD is one of our most debilitating and devastating disorders. It was while looking and listening for informed, motivated, and credible advocates who truly understood and promoted this philosophy that I also discovered a silence that continued to be deafening, until now.

I lost my marriage and left behind a turbulent twenty year career and sustainable income, and have spent the last two years in a desperate search for my lost life. Today, as a worn out Guinea Pig in my own ADHD experiment, the results of which I hope to utilize in my attempts to create positive change for me, and perhaps for other adults with ADHD, I take great comfort in reading and studying "ADHD in Adults: What the Science Says." I appreciate this amazing resource, and feel the utmost respect for the three authors who have devoted their lives and considerable talents and skills to not only wade through and organize the dark morass of books, clinical studies, scientific papers, surveys, interviews, and journals that already existed, but to add to this mix their own ground-breaking and desperately needed perspective and conclusions regarding the incredibly important and massively misunderstood subject of adult ADHD. ~ Thank you. Jon Teger

This is the sort of incredibly impressive work that only these three authors would ever attempt. They collect and analyze an unbelievable amount of data to create the most detailed, thorough, and informative study of ADHD in adults ever published. Even if you don't read it straight through, it is an excellent reference and resource. Each chapter ends with a summary and clinical implications, so readers can quickly find the take home message, if they don't have time to read every word. The authors have taken the study of ADHD a giant step forward--and set the bar for all lifespan research.

--Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA
Author of Integrative Treatment for Adult ADHD: A Practical, Easy-to-Use Guide for Clinicians

Dr. Barkley's newest book offers the professional or the well educated lay reader an in depth review of the latest empirical findings on ADHD in adults. It is not a self help book although it may be helpful to a well informed ADHD patient or family member. Two major longitudinal research projects form the core of the book and each examines how this disorder looks as adolescents move into adulthood. Each chapter is followed by an executive summary of the major points. For the reader not steeped in the nuances of research projects this is necessary to avoid getting lost in the detailed findings. The final chapter also nicely summarizes the implications of the research for our best current theoretical model of the disorder and for its treatment. I am a clinical psychologist and Dr. Barkley's body of work in the area of ADHD is an example of what is best in clinical psychology. This work is another in a long series of notable achievements.

This was a very good book that gave several view points. I found it extremely helpful with understanding ADHD.

I recomend this book to parents and teachers alike, this book opens your eyes, it makes you understand why your child acts the way they do.

In my clinical practice I treat and evaluate children and adults with ADHD. I always recommend this book to parents who have children with attention problems in order for them to get a complete objective overview of the disorder and the treatments that are available.
This book explains in simple language the current medical definition of ADHD and why you need a complete evaluation in order to receive an accurate diagnosis. It contains a thorough discussion of the treatment options available for the parents and child. It encourages parents to become the "case manager" of their child's treatment. In order to understand how and what treatment is best for your child you need to understand what the scientific research has shown works and does not work in treating this disorder. It is then possible to make educated choices for your child.
This book is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and they have done an excellent job in bringing a factual and complete guide for parents to understand ADHD. I recommend it as the first book to read when you are researching this problem.

Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics without commercial involvement of any kind, ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is a "must-have" reference and resource for parents addressing the phenomenon of Attention- Defecit Disorder with Hyperactivity in children. Chapters address identification and diagnosis, commonly coexisting conditions, treatment options, the role of medications, behavior therapy, helping one's ADHD child succeed in school, unproven treatments for ADHD, and much more. A disclaimer warns that the vital information in ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is meant as a supplement for a physician's diagnosis and recommendations, not a replacement, yet its vital and meticulous accuracy and tested methodologies are a blessing to anyone involved in the raising or care of ADHD children.

If you think you know everything about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then you should still check out this comprehensive book from the American Academy of Pedia-trics. It's not only a diagnostic and treat-ment reference-covering the myriad of symptoms and heal-ing approaches (i.e. parenting, schooling, behavior therapy, medications, and even experimental techniques)-it also runs the spectrum of services and options available from preschool through college years. Even the most veteran ADHD parent will discover some new avenue to assist their child in growth and societal assimilation.

I am nearly halfway through "Adventures With Time Lines" and find the information presented valuable. As a coach I have used time line processes with my clients and have had very satisfying results. I am a certified NLP Practitioner and suggest that the information may be a little difficult for someone without any NLP training at all. However, taking the time to understand and process the information will not only help your clients but also give you insight on how you yourself code time.

You don't need high-powered jets to crash through time zones. Knowing how to use your brain through "Time-line" does it. Foreword by Tad James and Preface by Wyatt Woodsmall. These two co-authored "Time-line Therapy and the Basis of Personality" in 1988. Bodenhamer and Hall again successfully synthesize and transform traditional NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) materials and bring them to new frontiers of understanding and applications. The ways we code and experience "time" have close connections with our personalities, our thoughts and feelings, states and experiences, beliefs and values, sense of reality and self. Cultures also differ in their sense of time. The book gives an in-depth exploration. We learn how to elicit time-lines and use them to get unstuck from old dated emotions: guilt, grief, fear, anxiety, trauma and abuse... We can also use "Time" as a resource for creating a bright and compelling future, a "life well lived" (borrowed from Benjamin Franklin). Time is not a thing. We don't manage time, but only ourselves... There is also more advanced material. Background in NLP is helpful. [The author's new book, a complete manual for the NLP Practitioner Certification, "The User's Manual for the Brain" includes the introductory section of the present book as the last chapter.] Many chapters are worth repeated study. You'll appreciate the authors' creative uses of NLP, language and "Time-lines". [The book is written in E-prime, without the verb, to be.]

even though I'm just 1/4 though the book, the ideas presented within this work have allowed me to change my perception of time, which is interesting and exciting, and also opens new doors towards self-motivation as one re-maps personal time.

Not only is this book my favorite book on Time-Lines, but I consider Time-Lines the most valuable NLP process. Time Line techniques have helped me to create virtual healing miracles, by going back to the past before the problematic situation began and going through the time-line to the present and future, as if the problem never existed. Health problems which were diagnosed as terminal and without hope for recovery - were gone in only few days of working with Time-Lines.

It will be well-worth your time to learn how to work with time-lines whether you desire to use them for your own benefit or to assist others, if you are a therapist.

This book will thoroughly guide you through Time Line Patterns and Processes, and many different adventures you can have with time-lines - whether you desire to resolve emotional issues from the past, accelerate learning of new skills, re-create your life (or if you prefer the programming which is impressed upon your subconscious mind / neurology), accelerate spiritual growth (I have had some out of this world spiritual experiences thanks to working with Time-Lines).

You'll also learn how to work with logical levels, use advanced Time-Line Patterns, how to use linguistic time-lining and much more - you'll have extra fun when you learn to use time-lines through conversation.

Get this book - you'll be grateful you did!

A great book but only for those amongst the readers that have an advanced understanding of NLP (Neuro linguistic programming) and Timeline Therapy. Additionally, it is useful to have read other books by Michael Hall and Bodenhamer, in order to get a handle on their writing style (which sometimes is a bit confusing).

The ancestor syndrome is well documented, Anne Schutzenberger painstakingly connects the various researchers and how they contributed to the field. As an alternative therapist I have learned that we are not just a product of our environment, but that our ancestors do pass down to us unresolved issues. Myself and all of my patients have some issues that can be traced to ancestors, even ancestors that died well before their birth.

Personally I believe the book should include more case studies, though the cases included are very interesting and well written. In my personal experience it is true that all one has to do is uncover and speak about the original ancestral trauma and the patient's problem most often is resolved.

This is an excellent and thought provoking book, exploring the psychological impact of one's family tree.


It is the exploration of the present impact of past actions by family, caste, race, regions and nations.

Although of value to everyone, it is particularly important to those who have already begun to explore the question of 'where do I come from' in terms of genealogy.

A very workable translation of the seminal French work by a leading psychoanalyst, specialising in group psychotherapy -- sending AIDS and cancer into remission! by a noted French psychologist (also spent much time in the US and of Russian/Swiss ancestry herself). Oftentimes many of the roots of our current complexes can be explained by an easy but methodical tracing of our family trees, uncovering the FACT that important events have been interred into our genetic structures, only to pop up generations later. In other words, ignorace is bliss until you have to live with the circumstances, in which case knowledge is power. This should not be confused with New Age or Easy Self-Help.

I met 81 yr old Anne Ancelin Schutzenberger at a the World Conference of Psychotherapy in Vienna where we both were presenting. I was so excited by her presentation that I immediately bought her book and read the amazing wealth of information that she has gathered over her illustrious career as a psychodramatist. If I had read her book before I wrote mine, WHY WE PICK THE MATES WE DO, mine would have referred to hers constantly. She explains how the anniversary date of or a certain tragedy in the past can be stored in unconscious memory and acted out by following generations. Anniversary reactions appear not only as dramatic coincidences in dates or behaviors, but also in health problems, family secrets and accidents which seem to repeat generation after generation without any plausible explanation. I went to Paris to study with this lady, and now am even more impressed with her work on the hidden links in the family tree and even more certain of the value of using such a thorough transgenerational approach in therapy to explain and work through inherited negative feelngs and imprints. My compliments to her for pioneering the field of transgenerational therapy.

Schutzenberger's research on repititions in one's family and connections to world history is astounding and well worth reading. It will change your logical understanding of why we do the things we do to a genuine wonder that may even get you reading Rupert Sheldrake's books on morphogenetic fields. I am a couples and family counselor and already had 1000 case studies or more of repititious patterns of couple behavior that were imprinted in the unconscious minds of my clients during childhood, but until I read The Ancestor Syndrome, had not met anyone who had researched several generations back in families.

an amazing work that describes the uncanny patterns and systems of occurrences that befall families from generation to generation. Explorations are made into healing and recovering from these often bizarre "psychic strands."

While much of the "theory" in this book would be impossible to duplicate or reproduce scientifically, the reader is spurred to consider the seemingly incredible links between events that occur across passages of time and physical distance.

A note on the design of this book:

The cover is quite attractive and the paper they used is a nice, sturdy grade that makes for good tactility and an overall pleasurable read.

A wise purchase.