Book Review: ADHD & Me, What I Learned From Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table

There are so many books out there on attention deficit disorder, but what sets “ADHD & Me: What I Learned From Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table” apart is that the first person account was penned by a UC Berkeley freshman, Blake Taylor. It's an articulate, fascinating look at ADHD from the inside out.

There are plenty of books on the market about attention deficit disorders, but what's unusual and particularly valuable about “ADHD & Me: What I Learned From Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table,” is that the first person account was penned by a UC Berkeley freshman. It's a look at ADHD from the inside out, told by a teen who knows exactly what it feels like.

Blake Taylor was in the middle of applying to college when he decided to chronicle his life, from his earliest misadventures - accidentally setting fire to the kitchen table, for example - to his teen years. What set Taylor, now 20, apart was his high intellect, extreme impulsivity and a family whose efforts to channel their son's hyperactivity into productive activities resulted in an enviable college resume. By the time the book was published in 2008, Taylor was a college freshman, fully immersed in fraternity and academic life and thriving. It's a memoir that will give any parent hope - that ADHD really can be "the gift" some experts say and that it's all do-able.

ADHD affects 4 million young people in the U.S. alone. As parents, we see the effects. But to hear it from someone - and a particularly articulate someone at that - who has the symptoms makes for fascinating insights. Taylor compares the effect on his brain to “a television with the channel changing uncontrollably.” During an interview on campus, Taylor describes what it was like taking an exam when he'd forgotten his medication - where the slightest random thought was enough to derail his concentration. And those spectacular misfires were the product of Taylor's curiosity and the impulsivity, which is a hallmark of ADHD. Taylor characterizes them as experiments gone seriously awry. But, he says wryly, he learned from his mistakes: "I will, for example, never pour flammable liquid on a fire, shoot a crossbow near a painting, or launch a rocket near a tennis match.”

In addition to the narrative, Taylor also offers tips for fellow college students with attention deficit issues. It can be difficult, he says, so it's important to understand one's differences and take advantage of the disorder's strengths - hyperfocus, for example. Students need to learn to advocate for themselves, and build their own support group - family, friends, and staff at the university learning and student resource center - on campus. And while time management is essential for any college student, it's absolutely essential here. Taylor plans his days down to the hour - and sets aside time for de-stressing activities, such as physical exercise and music.