August 1, 2017
Misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder after a suicide attempt, Emmerson devotes his book and his life to asking good questions about how to prevent and best treat the condition. With veteran coauthor Yehling, he explains why he thinks the ADHD label should be retired and how he thinks people with it should be treated. He believes prescriptions should be used only as a last resort (his own experiences with them were not good). He identifies a major problem: doctors base their subjective diagnosis on observed behaviors, which is one reason 13-percent of kids are now diagnosed with it. We need to nail down and laser in on what ADHD is and what it isn't, he says. It's hard to argue with recommendations like drinking plenty of water and avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, though Emmerson isn't an M.D. Overall his enthusiasm for his topic and his general good advice, including promoting self-esteem and trying to create a gentler world, will resonate with everyone concerned about ADHD, including his hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)