CrazyBusy

February 27, 2006
Hallowell (Driven to Distraction; Delivered from Distraction) turns what he has learned treating Attention Deficit Disorder into advice on how to cope with rampant busyness, "the problem and the opportunity" of modern life. He explains how to turn "the rush, the gush, the worry, and the blather (which also includes clutter)" into allies, so that one can have the things one wants with the speed, volume and emotional energy of the crazy-busy lifestyle. The roadmap Hallowell offers is helpful; that is, if one can manage to pick this book out of the never-ending stream of stimuli and find the time to read it.

March 15, 2006
Psychiatrist Hallowell ("Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder"), himself an ADD sufferer, muses on the fact that today's world looks like an ADD world, with people havin g shorter attention spans, lacking focus, and getting easily distracted by all the surrounding technologies. To regain control of one's life, Hallo well suggests eliminating activities or relationships that demand too much time and effort for what they are worth, doing what matters most in one's life, eliminating clutter, reconnecting with others, and finding one's own rhythm. All this so that menial activities can be executed without thinking, leaving the brain free for creativity. While he makes many great observations (e.g., -Labor-saving devices thus create more labor -), more than 100 pages pass before Hallowell finally arrives at the crux of his book: his actual solutions and principles. Nonetheless, this essay is a good starting point for thinking about technology and information overload in today's world. For a more complex analysis, refer to Malcolm Gladwell's "Blin k: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking". An optional purchase for publ ic libraries." - Maryse Breton, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, MI"

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