Scattered Minds
Ratings13
Average rating4
Scattered Minds explodes the myth of attention deficit disorder as genetically based - and offers real hope and advice for children and adults who live with the condition. Gabor Maté is a revered physician who specializes in neurology, psychiatry and psychology - and himself has ADD. With wisdom gained through years of medical practice and research, Scattered Minds is a must-read for parents - and for anyone interested how experiences in infancy shape the biology and psychology of the human brain. Scattered Minds: - Demonstrates that ADD is not an inherited illness, but a reversible impairment and developmental delay - Explains that in ADD, circuits in the brain whose job is emotional self-regulation and attention control fail to develop in infancy - and why - Shows how 'distractibility' is the psychological product of life experience - Allows parents to understand what makes their ADD children tick, and adults with ADD to gain insights into their emotions and behaviours - Expresses optimism about neurological development even in adulthood - Presents a programme of how to promote this development in both children and adults
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I'm familiar Maté's more recent work on addiction and the myth of normality, but was so happy to realize this older but still so useful book existed. Attachment and its related interpersonal sequelae are my main ways of viewing/conceptualizing the clinical work I do, so his attachment/attunement-based perspective on ADHD was just a breath of fresh air. It's maddening, however, to realize how non-mainstream his perspective still is. Anyway, this is a great book for clinicians, people with ADHD, and people who love people with ADHD (I fit in both the first and third categories). Maté is wise, COMPASSIONATE, and always aware of how the way we view “problems” can also circumscribe our solutions. Will definitely read more of his book-length work based on this one.
My son was diagnosed with ADD and this book helped me to understand him a lot better.
It's written in 90s but still relevant. He has a very unique and generalized opinion about the reasons behind ADD.
The chapters about healing are very insightful and helpful.
I find his theories lean a little too far on the environment side of the "nature vs nurture" debate. His background in trauma and addiction really shows through but altogether its not a terrible book and we are constantly learning more about ADHD. I would read with a critical lens and with the understanding that this book is not based on the authors experimental research but rather his experience as a medical doctor.
