Driven to Distraction or Lunch Lessons

Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood

Author: Edward M Hallowell

THE NATIONAL AUDIO BESTSELLER

Procrastination. Disorganization. Distractibility. Millions of adults have long considered these the hallmarks of a lack of self-discipline. But for many, these and other problems in school, at work and in social relationships are actually symptoms of an inborn neurological problem: ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder.

Through vivid stories of the experiences of their patients -- both adults and children -- Dr. Edward R. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey show the varied forms ADD takes -- from the hyperactive search for high stimulation to the floating inattention of daydreaming -- and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment.

Driven to Distraction is a must listen for everyone intrigued by the workings of the human mind.

Library Journal

Hallowell and Ratey offer a fine addition to literature on ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). The authors employ a broad, general definition of ADD (``high-energy, action-oriented, bottom-line, gotta-run-type people'') and continually emphasize the special, positive qualities of people with ADD. They describe how ADD affects adults--many Americans mistakenly think of it as a childhood curse--and explain how the American temperament helps create ADD-like symptoms. Best of all are the stories and case studies of myriad folks who have dealt successfully with their diagnosis. A state-by-state list of support groups are included in this excellent approach to an intriguing subject.-- Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, Pa.

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Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children

Author: Ann Cooper

Remember how simple school lunches used to be? You'd have something from every major food group, run around the playground for a while, and you looked and felt fine. But today it's not so simple. Schools are actually feeding the American crisis of childhood obesity and malnutrition. Most cafeterias serve a veritable buffet of processed, fried, and sugary foods, and although many schools have attempted to improve, they are still not measuring up: 78 percent of the school lunch programs in America do not meet the USDA's nutritional guidelines.

Chef Ann Cooper has emerged as one of the nation's most influential and most respected advocates for changing how our kids eat. In fact, she is something of a renegade lunch lady, minus the hairnet and scooper of mashed potatoes. Ann has worked to transform cafeterias into culinary classrooms. In Lunch Lessons, she and Lisa Holmes spell out how parents and school employees can help instill healthy habits in children.

They explain the basics of good childhood nutrition and suggest dozens of tasty, home-tested recipes for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The pages are also packed with recommendations on how to eliminate potential hazards from the home, bring gardening and composting into daily life, and how to support businesses that provide local, organic food.

Yet learning about nutrition and changing the way you run your home will not cure the plague of obesity and poor health for this generation of children. Only parental activism can spark widespread change. With inspirational examples and analysis, Lunch Lessons is more than just a recipe book—it gives readers the tools to transform the waychildren everywhere interact with food.

Library Journal

Trained chefs Cooper (Bitter Harvest) and Holmes (In Mother's Kitchen) explain the vital role of good nutrition in children's well-being in this informative and alarming examination of the unhealthy offerings of most school lunch programs. As school cafeterias have increasingly been inundated with corporate-sponsored fast food, childhood obesity rates have soared, and there have been greater behavioral problems in the classroom. Cooper and Holmes provide a clear guide for understanding children's nutritional needs and convincingly argue for the benefits of meals containing locally grown organic whole foods in reasonable, kid-sized portions. They supply numerous encouraging examples of forward-thinking schools that have successfully transformed their lunchroom menus and developed hands-on programs to educate children about balanced nutrition, healthy eating habits, and sustainable farming. Like Eric Schlosser's more broadly focused Fast Food Nation, this book, which includes two chapters of nutritious recipes and a resource guide, delivers a much-needed wake-up call regarding America's poor eating habits. Especially useful for parents, teachers, or school administrators working to improve childhood nutrition; highly recommended for most public libraries.-Ingrid Levin, Florida Atlantic Univ. Libs., Jupiter Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.