Adoption Reunions
by Michelle McColm

I wrote this book under my adoptive name, Michelle McColm, long before I even knew I had ADHD. What I did know was that I longed to meet my birth mother. I have since met both my birth mother and my birth father, and it's been an amazing journey. In Adoption Reunions, I explore reunions between adult adoptees and their birth families, and the emotional aftermath. I speak with social workers, psychologists, and other professionals, and also to other adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families.

Imagine my surprise when I learned, 20 years after my own reunion, that the incidence of ADHD is much higher amongst adoptees. I guess it's time for a sequel!

Second Story Press, 1993

RELATED BLOG POST(S):
ADHD, Adoption, and Me!

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Allen Carr's Easy Way to STOP Smoking
by Allen Carr

Apparently, as happens so often in my life, I'm the last to know about Carr's book. It's amazing, and a whole new approach to kicking the habit.

It's written by an ex-chain-smoker who smoked for over 30 years. It's a best-selling self-help book that's sold over 13 million copies and arises from Carr's work for the past 20 years in his global clinics that have helped an estimated 6 million people.

Ellen deGeneres, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Anjelica Huston have all used Carr's Easyway to break their addiction to nicotine.

Endorsed by fellow ADHDer Sir Richard Branson, this book is a must-read.

Penguin Books, 1987

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Getting Paid to Pay Attention: Why Your Business Suffers From A.D.D. and How to Fix It
by Marilyn Strong

Strong's book is a welcome addition to books on ADD / ADHD. A quick read, this book none the less packs a powerful punch for anyone who wants to be more efficient, overcome procrastination, and remove the roadblocks to entrepreneurial success..

I particularly appreciated Strong's description of the different kinds of procrastinators; I'd never seen this presented before, and it really struck a chord.

Strong injects wit, humour, warmth, and wisdom throughout this slim but valuable volume. I highly recommend it, even if you don't run your own business. If you DO - it's a must read, really.

The Strong Communication Group, 2012

Go to: Zoë's interview with Marilyn Strong

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NEW! The Artist's Way
by Julia Cameron

ADHD? Creative? Stuck? A perennial classic, this book is for you. Read it! You'll be inspired and break out of that creative block and into artistic excellence.

G.P. Putnams' Sons, 1992

RELATED BLOG POST(S):
The ADHD Artist's Way
Inspiration for Art and ADHD

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The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
by Don Miguel Ruiz

Reading The Four Agreements was an incredibly validating experience for me. In elegant and simple language, Ruiz lays out the four mostly highly-prized values I've tried to live by and encourages us to courageously explore these for ourselves. The payoff? A happier, more authentic life where we, not our subconscious and unquestioned beliefs, direct our lives.

On The New York Times Bestseller List for over eight years, don Miguel reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering.

Amber Allen Publishing, 1997 (Reprint)

RELATED BLOG POST(S):
The Four Agreements for ADHDers

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The Highly Sensitive Person
by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.

Many of us with ADHD / ADD find we are highly sensitive to touch, sound, and visual stimuli. We're more prone to ear infections, asthma, and other physical ailments. We're also highly sensitive emotionally, and can be natural-born drama queens. If you're a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), this book is for you. Find out why you're so sensitive, why it's OK, and how to survive (and thrive!) in a less-than-sensitive world.

Carol Publishing Group, 1996

RELATED BLOG POST(S):
ADHD and the Highly Sensitive Person
10 Signs That You're An HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)

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The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD: An 8-Step Program for Strengthening Attention, Managing Emotions, and Achieving Your Goals
by Lydia Zylowska, M.D.

Dr. Zylowska, who has collaborated with The Now Effect author Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D., explains how mindfulness can be tailored specifically for ADHD challenges.

Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2012

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The Now Effect
by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

More and more, we're hearing about meditation and mindfulness practices as an effective treatment modality for ADHD / ADD. Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author, is a respected leader in the field, and has been referred to by his publisher as, "the young Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil in the field of mindfulness." He's also a fellow blogger at Psych Central, writing the blog, Mindfulness & Psychotherapy.

Elisha's book is tailored towards people with ADHD in that it's a smart book with microsoft tags that can be scanned to bring up videos of mindful practices to accompany the chapters. Instructions to access the videos are also included for those without the technology to scan the tags directly.

Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2012

Go to: Zoë's interview with Elisha Goldstein

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There Is Nothing Wrong With You
~ Going Beyond Self-Hate ~ A compassionate process for learning to accept yourself exactly as you are
by Cheri Huber

Written by Zen student and teacher Cheri Huber, this book has been at my bedside for over a decade. Huber's writing is direct, simple, and powerful. Her message is uplifting, radical, and profound: there is nothing wrong with you, just the way you are. Huber deftly calls out our culture of abuse with all its inherent judgment, self-hate, and focus on criticism. No wonder we can never measure up!

A primer for self-love and self-acceptance you can't afford to ignore.

Keep It Simple Books, 2001

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