A special education teacher friend shared some information from "Scattered Minds"and I decided to buy the book because we have been having difficulty getting our 14 year old with ADD to go to school and to put any effort into it while there. I could not believe how this book was describing my family - all our actions and reactions are text book for how we were trying to deal with our situation without success. It gave me such a better understanding of what my child is feeling and how I can change my position so that I am not being so confrontational and blaming. I want to share the book with the school support workers and others who interact with my child.

This is the first book on ADD that I have come across that a person with severe ADD could get through. Scattered minds is accurate and touches on what ADD really is not what all of the other textbooks are dryly and only half informedly reiterating. Because Garber Mate had ADD and treats those with ADD he writes properly and purposefully for the right audience.

This book has been one the most influencing books I've ever read in my life. It gave me a good understanding of the "problems" many parents and/or teachers have when it comes to deal with kids, youth, or adults with ADD. As I believe there is not a "china's wall" between all sorts of psychological and mental disorders, understanding the illustrations given in this book has given me a whole new vision and a powerful tool to look into the complexity of people's minds including my children, and myself. I wish I could afford to buy and donate at least one copy of this book to every single school in Vancouver and even in all over the world. This does not mean that Dr. Gabor Mate has completed all the things to be said to to be known about ADD, but definitely he has done a great job in providing a well factual supported points and ideas in a well illustrated and understandable book usable for average readers who don't know a lot about psychology. I would like to visit Dr. Gabor Mate in person and express my regards as well as discuss my understanding of his book with him.

I consider this MANDATORY reading for those who have ADD, for those who diagnose and treat ADD, for those who legislate laws and associated regulations pertaining to children and for those who are planning to have children or are participating in the raising of children. Not only does the book define an ADD that I can strongly relate to from expereince, it is also written by a Doctor who is diagnosed ADD and who, very obviously, has done the proper homework to do a sensitive and accurate portral of this human condition.