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Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain
A refreshingly practical and honest guide that rewrites the script on ADHD
Peter Shankman is a busy guy -- a media entrepreneur who runs several businesses, gives keynote speeches around the world, hosts a popular podcast, runs marathons and Iron Mans, is a licensed skydiver, dabbles in angel investing, and is loving father to his young daughter.
Simply put, he always seems to have more than 24 hours in a day. How does he do it? Peter attributes his unusually high energy level and extreme productivity to his ADHD.
In Faster Than Norma l, Shankman shares his hard-won insights and daily hacks for making ADHD a secret weapon for living a full and deeply satisfying life. Both inspiring and practical, the book presents life rules, best practices, and simple but powerful ways
Harness your creative energy to generate and execute your ideas
Direct your hyperfocus to get things done
Identify your pitfalls--and avoid them
Streamline your daily routine to eliminate distractions
Use apps and other tech innovations to free up your time and energy
Filled with ingenious hacks and supportive self-care advice, this is the positive, practical book the ADHD community has long needed - and is also an invaluable handbook for anyone who's sick of feeling overwhelmed and wants to drive their faster-than-normal brain at maximum speed...without crashing.
Peter Shankman is a busy guy -- a media entrepreneur who runs several businesses, gives keynote speeches around the world, hosts a popular podcast, runs marathons and Iron Mans, is a licensed skydiver, dabbles in angel investing, and is loving father to his young daughter.
Simply put, he always seems to have more than 24 hours in a day. How does he do it? Peter attributes his unusually high energy level and extreme productivity to his ADHD.
In Faster Than Norma l, Shankman shares his hard-won insights and daily hacks for making ADHD a secret weapon for living a full and deeply satisfying life. Both inspiring and practical, the book presents life rules, best practices, and simple but powerful ways
Harness your creative energy to generate and execute your ideas
Direct your hyperfocus to get things done
Identify your pitfalls--and avoid them
Streamline your daily routine to eliminate distractions
Use apps and other tech innovations to free up your time and energy
Filled with ingenious hacks and supportive self-care advice, this is the positive, practical book the ADHD community has long needed - and is also an invaluable handbook for anyone who's sick of feeling overwhelmed and wants to drive their faster-than-normal brain at maximum speed...without crashing.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
350 people are currently reading
2826 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
January 31, 2020
If you’re an adult with ADHD struggling with your career...
Look elsewhere.
The sum total of the advice in this book is:
- have you tried DIET and EXERCISE???
- be a charismatic white man with a public speaking career that allows you to fly to Tokyo and back on a whim
- get a wife, rent one if you need to
- have no hobbies or interests whatsoever that aren’t your career and use every idle moment to work
- have you considered that instead of being LATE to things, you could just be EARLY???
- you should just sleep more but also run marathons at 3am
- here are a list of products you should buy, including:
• $300 headphones
• a $200 jacket that is ugly and does what a purse does only worse— excuse me, weather?? Have you heard of it???
• a huge list of apps for your $1100 iPhone
• a home automation solution that helps you... not have to touch your light switches like some sort of PROLE
Garbage, absolute garbage. Shankman’s total lack of awareness that most people struggling with ADHD, like most people in the US, couldn’t find $400 for an emergency bill, let alone $4k on same-day international flights is, quite frankly, absurd and disgusting.
Look elsewhere.
The sum total of the advice in this book is:
- have you tried DIET and EXERCISE???
- be a charismatic white man with a public speaking career that allows you to fly to Tokyo and back on a whim
- get a wife, rent one if you need to
- have no hobbies or interests whatsoever that aren’t your career and use every idle moment to work
- have you considered that instead of being LATE to things, you could just be EARLY???
- you should just sleep more but also run marathons at 3am
- here are a list of products you should buy, including:
• $300 headphones
• a $200 jacket that is ugly and does what a purse does only worse— excuse me, weather?? Have you heard of it???
• a huge list of apps for your $1100 iPhone
• a home automation solution that helps you... not have to touch your light switches like some sort of PROLE
Garbage, absolute garbage. Shankman’s total lack of awareness that most people struggling with ADHD, like most people in the US, couldn’t find $400 for an emergency bill, let alone $4k on same-day international flights is, quite frankly, absurd and disgusting.
September 30, 2023
I appreciate neurodivergent folks who share their experiences. That said, I unfortunately didn't find this book particularly helpful. There are a couple of nuggets of gold and the author is clearly self-aware about his ADHD traits, which is nice for once, but he seems to deal with the negative aspects of those traits by hiring other people and having them do the work for him.
Telling readers that we should do that too was off-putting for me. I would love to have a personal assistant and a personal trainer and the money for meal prep etc., but, like many people, I do not have the money or other resources to make that happen. The total lack of consciousness about the author's privilege really got to me after a while.
(If you're looking for books about ADHD that are more helpful, may I recommend my Bookshop lists?)
Telling readers that we should do that too was off-putting for me. I would love to have a personal assistant and a personal trainer and the money for meal prep etc., but, like many people, I do not have the money or other resources to make that happen. The total lack of consciousness about the author's privilege really got to me after a while.
(If you're looking for books about ADHD that are more helpful, may I recommend my Bookshop lists?)
December 23, 2018
The book certainly contains some advise useful for anybody interested in increasing their focus and productivity. However, seemingly 50% of the book are dedicated to the author bragging about his $30k speaking fees, and flying business class around the world where he writes bestselling books in less than 36h. He also frequently contradicts himself, e.g. saying you should imagine success (that's why coaches give "pep talks" not "defeat talks") only to talk about visualizing failure ("playing the tape forward") a few sentences later. Oh, and another 10% of the book seems to be affiliate marketing for game changing products such as clothing to put all your travel gear in, because that's clearly what's been holding back your "faster than normal" brain from utilizing the ADHD it's been "gifted" with.
August 10, 2021
Okay, this is going to be mean and rather personal. Sorry. But, when you write an entire book talking about yourself, all criticisms of the book are going to end up being personal. Also, some swear words/strong language ahead.
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I think this is enough?
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The author, Peter Shankman, comes off as an insufferable prick of a person. The tips and tricks are at times so out of touch as to evoke "let them eat cake." Taking a round trip flight to Tokyo and back, just to get some good writing time? That's insane. Even ignoring the cost, how many people can just ghost their lives for 36 hours? Oh, but to be more relevant to The Plebs, he suggests going for a hike instead! Just bring a laptop into the wilderness and ignore your life for a while. The casual derision of "trigger warnings" as something for "snowflakes" while also admitting he can't spend a single night in Las Vegas without spiraling out of control is just...wow. Not to mention the constant body shaming, fatphobic comments. Gross.
At times it feels like a terribly sponsored blog post, with so many paid apps and specific companies he recommends, without a lot of elaboration as to why those apps actually help him. He constantly mentions his website, his blog, his website, his other website, his podcast, and did I mention his website? Add on the constant mentions of how rich he is (indirectly, of course, but most people would break down if they accidentally spent $3,000 on a flight to the wrong country, not laugh about it), how expensive his speaking fees are, his assistants, it feels like a trust fund kid trying to be approachable by saying he only has one vacation home in the Swiss Alps.
I'm also deeply concerned for the author as a person. He has so many rules, has so rigid a life, it can't be healthy. He spends way too much of the book justifying his shitty behavior, mistreating partners, being borderline abusive at times. But it's okay! It's just ADHD! Teehee! People who love me just need to learn how to work around me and my triggers so I don't yell at them while I'm 45 minutes late to dinner! Spending your entire life walking a tightrope for fear of losing control, gaining 40 lbs, and becoming a drug addict is not healthy. Just take some Adderall, my dude. It doesn't "ruin your superpowers" or whatever. It lets you breathe, and enjoy life without fear of spiraling.
I'm giving it two stars, because there are a few useful nuggets buried in there. Very, very buried. But also, I feel the need to note that taking ADHD medications is not something to be ashamed of, and it doesn't ruin your mind. ADHD isn't a superpower, and it doesn't ruin your life either. It's just different wiring.
Working with your ADHD brain instead of trying to make it "normal" is a good thing! Recognizing that people with ADHD are prone to disordered eating, impulsivity, addiction, etc. is really important, and his points about how having rules and a routine are important for someone with ADHD to thrive are great, as well as his emphasis on doing what works for you and your brain, even if it's weird to other people. But the "squirrel" thing irritates me greatly, it feels like it's designed for non-ADHD people and just feeds into stereotypes of what ADHD people are like. Also, he says "it's science" a lot, without ever actually citing the studies to back his science. (As a note, I "read" the audiobook version of this, so it's possible there are footnotes or citations in the text version, but those can and should have been incorporated into the audiobook if so.)
But the valuable information is so buried under bragging, body-shaming, and out of touch irrelevance, that it's hard to find this book helpful.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
line breaks to block the bad words
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I think this is enough?
.
.
The author, Peter Shankman, comes off as an insufferable prick of a person. The tips and tricks are at times so out of touch as to evoke "let them eat cake." Taking a round trip flight to Tokyo and back, just to get some good writing time? That's insane. Even ignoring the cost, how many people can just ghost their lives for 36 hours? Oh, but to be more relevant to The Plebs, he suggests going for a hike instead! Just bring a laptop into the wilderness and ignore your life for a while. The casual derision of "trigger warnings" as something for "snowflakes" while also admitting he can't spend a single night in Las Vegas without spiraling out of control is just...wow. Not to mention the constant body shaming, fatphobic comments. Gross.
At times it feels like a terribly sponsored blog post, with so many paid apps and specific companies he recommends, without a lot of elaboration as to why those apps actually help him. He constantly mentions his website, his blog, his website, his other website, his podcast, and did I mention his website? Add on the constant mentions of how rich he is (indirectly, of course, but most people would break down if they accidentally spent $3,000 on a flight to the wrong country, not laugh about it), how expensive his speaking fees are, his assistants, it feels like a trust fund kid trying to be approachable by saying he only has one vacation home in the Swiss Alps.
I'm also deeply concerned for the author as a person. He has so many rules, has so rigid a life, it can't be healthy. He spends way too much of the book justifying his shitty behavior, mistreating partners, being borderline abusive at times. But it's okay! It's just ADHD! Teehee! People who love me just need to learn how to work around me and my triggers so I don't yell at them while I'm 45 minutes late to dinner! Spending your entire life walking a tightrope for fear of losing control, gaining 40 lbs, and becoming a drug addict is not healthy. Just take some Adderall, my dude. It doesn't "ruin your superpowers" or whatever. It lets you breathe, and enjoy life without fear of spiraling.
I'm giving it two stars, because there are a few useful nuggets buried in there. Very, very buried. But also, I feel the need to note that taking ADHD medications is not something to be ashamed of, and it doesn't ruin your mind. ADHD isn't a superpower, and it doesn't ruin your life either. It's just different wiring.
Working with your ADHD brain instead of trying to make it "normal" is a good thing! Recognizing that people with ADHD are prone to disordered eating, impulsivity, addiction, etc. is really important, and his points about how having rules and a routine are important for someone with ADHD to thrive are great, as well as his emphasis on doing what works for you and your brain, even if it's weird to other people. But the "squirrel" thing irritates me greatly, it feels like it's designed for non-ADHD people and just feeds into stereotypes of what ADHD people are like. Also, he says "it's science" a lot, without ever actually citing the studies to back his science. (As a note, I "read" the audiobook version of this, so it's possible there are footnotes or citations in the text version, but those can and should have been incorporated into the audiobook if so.)
But the valuable information is so buried under bragging, body-shaming, and out of touch irrelevance, that it's hard to find this book helpful.
May 10, 2020
Some of this I didn't want to hear, but I needed to hear.
I can't drink casually. It's a huge trigger for me. I tell myself I'm going to have a glass of wine and read but I end up having three glasses of wine and binging on YouTube videos I don't even want to watch. Then I feel like crap in the morning and lose productivity.
Shankman narrates his own book, and he is very engaging. Recommended (even though he spruiks his course)
I can't drink casually. It's a huge trigger for me. I tell myself I'm going to have a glass of wine and read but I end up having three glasses of wine and binging on YouTube videos I don't even want to watch. Then I feel like crap in the morning and lose productivity.
Shankman narrates his own book, and he is very engaging. Recommended (even though he spruiks his course)
August 12, 2020
So.... partway through this audiobook, I thought it was amazing. I wanted my own copy! I was excited to reference it regularly, and wanted to highlight the heck out of it. Bought a used copy all for myself! So. Excited. (Impulsive choice! ADHD, hooray!)
Then my audiobook checkout from the library was due, so I didn’t get back to it til it came back around to me... and was disappointed on returning to it.
There are good tips in here. It’s nice knowing that people can be very successful with ADHD! There’s a lot of interesting history and a bit of science.
But. I couldn’t get past this idea that ADHD is a “superpower.” He even at one point says that kids with ADHD should be reassured their brains are “better” than other kids. I gotta say, that felt bad. Sure, my ADHD can help me think of a billion ideas! But if I can’t execute on them, I lose interest. Sure, ADHD brain makes me sensitive to others’ emotions. But it also makes me sensitive to ALL emotions. These aren’t superpowers if you can’t balance them, they’re tremendous challenges along with the good.
Perhaps the problem is the book’s narrow viewpoint. This is a man who literally writes his books by hopping a round trip flight to Japan, briefly hopping off the plane on arrival then right back on. That’s not exactly a solution for most of us. (He also, in the chapter on loving someone with ADHD, essentially says we shouldn’t be taken to task for acting badly, because “we feel bad enough that we disappointed you.” That’s just not how to have a good relationship.)
I’ll still be going through my used copy for things to highlight and refer to, but I’m not sure I can recommend it to anyone looking for a down to earth approach to ADHD.
As usual, your mileage may vary!
Then my audiobook checkout from the library was due, so I didn’t get back to it til it came back around to me... and was disappointed on returning to it.
There are good tips in here. It’s nice knowing that people can be very successful with ADHD! There’s a lot of interesting history and a bit of science.
But. I couldn’t get past this idea that ADHD is a “superpower.” He even at one point says that kids with ADHD should be reassured their brains are “better” than other kids. I gotta say, that felt bad. Sure, my ADHD can help me think of a billion ideas! But if I can’t execute on them, I lose interest. Sure, ADHD brain makes me sensitive to others’ emotions. But it also makes me sensitive to ALL emotions. These aren’t superpowers if you can’t balance them, they’re tremendous challenges along with the good.
Perhaps the problem is the book’s narrow viewpoint. This is a man who literally writes his books by hopping a round trip flight to Japan, briefly hopping off the plane on arrival then right back on. That’s not exactly a solution for most of us. (He also, in the chapter on loving someone with ADHD, essentially says we shouldn’t be taken to task for acting badly, because “we feel bad enough that we disappointed you.” That’s just not how to have a good relationship.)
I’ll still be going through my used copy for things to highlight and refer to, but I’m not sure I can recommend it to anyone looking for a down to earth approach to ADHD.
As usual, your mileage may vary!
April 4, 2023
The book keeps repeating this idea that you can be amazing and successful and all that, and then the author goes on to say things like if i didn't have a personal assistant he would never survive, and if he didn't buy tickets to China he would never find another space to get work done. Like are you kidding, I don't have any of that, who does? What about a book with a message about finding ways to succeed and developing your own useful strategies in a world that is not tailor made for you, in a world where you will not have unlimited help and resources and control over your environment. what about instead of saying if i didn't have 'x thing that 99% of my readers can't afford’ I would be a failure and sad and overweight (that part made me very mad! Also, overly rigid workout routines and the fear that missing it would derail your day, your health... that is not healthy, not at all, don't promote it as the cornerstone to your success).
Someone who has to buy a plane ticket to China to get any work done, is not someone who should be giving advice on how to get things done… like I want a book that is going to say hey you can do what you need to even if the environment around you isn’t perfect, you can be happy and successful even if you don’t have the money to control everything around you or hire someone to take care of everything you aren’t good at. I really want the three hours I spent listening to this audiobook back.
Sorry for being harsh, but honestly this is all I can say. If you are looking for an encouraging book on ADHD, read something else, honestly Michael Scott is a better role model for succeeding with ADHD, and seems less out of touch.
Someone who has to buy a plane ticket to China to get any work done, is not someone who should be giving advice on how to get things done… like I want a book that is going to say hey you can do what you need to even if the environment around you isn’t perfect, you can be happy and successful even if you don’t have the money to control everything around you or hire someone to take care of everything you aren’t good at. I really want the three hours I spent listening to this audiobook back.
Sorry for being harsh, but honestly this is all I can say. If you are looking for an encouraging book on ADHD, read something else, honestly Michael Scott is a better role model for succeeding with ADHD, and seems less out of touch.
June 23, 2021
This book is the opinions, observations, and advice of one person who has ADHD, but is not professionally qualified to talk about it from a scientific perspective; he is actually up front about this fact throughout the book. He gets some scientific stuff wrong; given the fact that neuroscience isn't his field, I find that to be understandable, and his honesty makes these errors acceptable- they don't come across as intentionally misleading. For the reader, however, it is important to keep in mind that his understanding of the science is imperfect, therefore what he says about it shouldn't be just accepted as fact.
The biggest problem that I have with this book is the fact that all of the opinions, observations, and advice contained within it come from a person in a position of financial privilege. This is a common problem with a great many self-help style books. Some of the advice, while it is absolutely great advice, is completely useless except for those who can afford to follow it. If a person is working two jobs just to make ends meet, they cannot devote time to going to the gym, preparing healthy meals, or getting adequate sleep. Some people are not financially secure enough to even buy healthy foods, or they live in areas which wouldn't be safe to walk around outside.
On the up side, it contains a lot of practical advice that has no barriers to following.
My advice for those who believe that it would be good for them is to read it, highlight anything which you are practically able to make use of, and then just treat it as a reference book for that specific information. I believe that the author's heart was in the right place when he wrote this, but it isn't easy to understand how completely one's socioeconomic status can impact the choices that they have in how to take care of themself until a person has experienced poverty, firsthand.
The biggest problem that I have with this book is the fact that all of the opinions, observations, and advice contained within it come from a person in a position of financial privilege. This is a common problem with a great many self-help style books. Some of the advice, while it is absolutely great advice, is completely useless except for those who can afford to follow it. If a person is working two jobs just to make ends meet, they cannot devote time to going to the gym, preparing healthy meals, or getting adequate sleep. Some people are not financially secure enough to even buy healthy foods, or they live in areas which wouldn't be safe to walk around outside.
On the up side, it contains a lot of practical advice that has no barriers to following.
My advice for those who believe that it would be good for them is to read it, highlight anything which you are practically able to make use of, and then just treat it as a reference book for that specific information. I believe that the author's heart was in the right place when he wrote this, but it isn't easy to understand how completely one's socioeconomic status can impact the choices that they have in how to take care of themself until a person has experienced poverty, firsthand.
August 4, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up. I thought there were two good things about this book: (1) the framing of ADHD in a positive light, which is a welcome constraint to all the books about how ADHD kids need to be forced into faking neurotypical behaviours (yuck), and (2) the reminder that ADHD is basically caused by a lack of dopamine so anything that increases dopamine (exercise, racing a deadline, public speaking) is helpful.
But the rest is bad in all sorts of directions. The author is like a parody of all the reasons that other people find American entrepreneurs annoying, gives advice that is totally impractical for anyone who isn’t self-employed with a wife who does all the parenting, and says a bunch of things that are blatantly untrue. Throughout the book I also often thought of the big overlap between ADHD and Autism, and how most of the ADHD Autistic people I know would hate many of the things that he claims most people with ADHD love (frequent international flights, skydiving, constant networking). He doesn’t seem to understand the reality of anyone’s lives that are different from his own.
On balance I guess I’m glad I read it? But also glad that I didn’t spend any money on it.
But the rest is bad in all sorts of directions. The author is like a parody of all the reasons that other people find American entrepreneurs annoying, gives advice that is totally impractical for anyone who isn’t self-employed with a wife who does all the parenting, and says a bunch of things that are blatantly untrue. Throughout the book I also often thought of the big overlap between ADHD and Autism, and how most of the ADHD Autistic people I know would hate many of the things that he claims most people with ADHD love (frequent international flights, skydiving, constant networking). He doesn’t seem to understand the reality of anyone’s lives that are different from his own.
On balance I guess I’m glad I read it? But also glad that I didn’t spend any money on it.
October 20, 2017
Folks who've devoted time and effort to self-improvement wouldn't be surprised by Peter Shankman's tips and tricks. But having that set of tools handed to you by someone who shares your brain wiring is pretty awesome. For me, the feeling of "someone gets it!" while reading the book beats all the life hacks. Plus, he's funny.
In the last section of the book, he also incorporated some insights from others, one from his ex and one from the ADHD PhD., adding some female perspectives which I really appreciated.
Try out the podcast, too. Although he speaks like he's on 1.5x and I have yet to find an app that slows a podcast down...
In the last section of the book, he also incorporated some insights from others, one from his ex and one from the ADHD PhD., adding some female perspectives which I really appreciated.
Try out the podcast, too. Although he speaks like he's on 1.5x and I have yet to find an app that slows a podcast down...
December 20, 2017
Peter Shankman does something rare in his speaking about the diagnosis of ADHD, and that is that ADHD is not diagnosis at all. A diagnosis of something is to say that is it is a disease of some sort. ADHD is not a disease, but a gift. It's learning to tap into that gift, that can often be difficult. In FASTER THAN NORMAL: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain, Peter takes you step-by-step through the process of finding your hidden potential. Personal stories are given along with tips on how to organize and streamline your daily life. If a loved one has ADHD, this read can give you insight into the wonderful mind that they, themselves, are unable to put words to. Whether you read this book for yourself, or a loved one, you will walk away with a better understanding of ADHD, and ways to better organize your life.
~ Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews
~ Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews
July 6, 2021
This book is pretty bad. It is not very well researched. Doesn’t have many references to latest science on Adult ADHD. It is mostly based on interviews and author’s observations. And it’s a mix of self-promotion, self-help, an affiliate marketing that has been written by a super privileged white dude with an enormous ego.
But even bad books might have some interesting pieces of advice. Here are these few that caught my attention. If you have Adult ADHD you might find this helpful:
Take many 5 min dopamine breaks (it’s the time when you do something completely different from your current task) throughout the day.
Put rituals over resolutions:
Ritual has to come from a positive place (genuine need to change)
Continue to work backward from the reward while setting up a ritual
Build fail-safes into a ritual
Visualize the ritual’s end goal
Exercise and move regularly (actually everyday).
Eat healthy and low sugar diet.
Simplify your environment and thus limit any possible distractions.
To truly thrive with ADHD, you simply have to have rules. There are things in our lives we need to control, or else they’ll control us.
Moderation: people with ADHD don’t have it.
Eliminate choice whenever possible.
What makes someone with ADHD truly happy? Sharing.
But even bad books might have some interesting pieces of advice. Here are these few that caught my attention. If you have Adult ADHD you might find this helpful:
Take many 5 min dopamine breaks (it’s the time when you do something completely different from your current task) throughout the day.
Put rituals over resolutions:
Ritual has to come from a positive place (genuine need to change)
Continue to work backward from the reward while setting up a ritual
Build fail-safes into a ritual
Visualize the ritual’s end goal
Exercise and move regularly (actually everyday).
Eat healthy and low sugar diet.
Simplify your environment and thus limit any possible distractions.
To truly thrive with ADHD, you simply have to have rules. There are things in our lives we need to control, or else they’ll control us.
Moderation: people with ADHD don’t have it.
Eliminate choice whenever possible.
What makes someone with ADHD truly happy? Sharing.
September 30, 2017
It's an easy read. In the The Forward and Introductory chapters I learnt about Peter Shankman's life as a young adult and his business success. Without this, I may not have ventured further. Peter may have ADHD but he definitely seems to also be of above-average intelligence similar to many of the CEO's and Notables who are friends/colleagues who he claims also suffer from this condition. It seemed unlikely that without that level of intelligence he would have been able to achieve such early success as a marketer (and he's somewhat vague on details). However, I wanted this book to learn tips for helping a young adult with ADHD, so I pressed on. Peter has a Personal Assistant who manages his calendar and travel, edits his written work, and keeps him on task - out of reach for the average JOE. He does however share relatable true stories and useful tips that apply to anyone who struggles with focus, quick boredom and staying on task. I'm using a few of them myself! I passed along the book with the advice to tune into the weekly Podcast. ADHD'ers are notorious reluctant-readers! No feedback as yet.
January 18, 2020
I was interested in learning about time management strategies for people with ADD/ADHD, as I've heard that people with these disorders often have issues with effectively and efficiently managing their time. I've never been tested for ADD/ADHD but probably have a bit of it, at least when it comes to time management!
I liked the conversational tone of this book, and it was easy to get through and contained some helpful advice. Some of Shankman's strategies are not super useful for the average person (hop on a plane to Asia whenever you need time to focus without interruption, hire a personal assistant to manage your calendar, etc.) but there are some applicable approaches and tips that the average Joe can make use of and the approachable tone makes it a breeze to read.
I liked the conversational tone of this book, and it was easy to get through and contained some helpful advice. Some of Shankman's strategies are not super useful for the average person (hop on a plane to Asia whenever you need time to focus without interruption, hire a personal assistant to manage your calendar, etc.) but there are some applicable approaches and tips that the average Joe can make use of and the approachable tone makes it a breeze to read.
October 27, 2021
I won’t deny there were some useful nuggets but jeez, I just find self-help books *so* insufferable.
In this case, dude employs a nanny, a personal assistant, and a housekeeper to manage his life, but doesn’t seem to have heard the term “survivorship bias”, and also seems to think that not starting your book until 12 days before the publication date and then writing the whole thing on a 31-hour plane flight is a healthy way to get work done.
In this case, dude employs a nanny, a personal assistant, and a housekeeper to manage his life, but doesn’t seem to have heard the term “survivorship bias”, and also seems to think that not starting your book until 12 days before the publication date and then writing the whole thing on a 31-hour plane flight is a healthy way to get work done.
January 26, 2019
This is first time I've read that deficiency in dopamine as a possible contributor to ADHD. It makes sense why many people with ADHD exercise in the morning before starting their work day. The physical activity releases chemicals like serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine, which then allows them to focus. The author, like many people, intuitively have found ways to handle the downsides of ADHD but kept the upsides (like ability to hyperfocus on a topic/task for hours and faster, creative thinking).
The book is filled with recommended actions, including these for limiting distractions:
* Limit choices - For example, have a "uniform" for work so you don't have to pick out outfits every morning; have an eating window like 11 am to 7 pm (so you're not thinking about eating donuts that a colleague brought into the office in the morning).
* Eat good, nutritional food - Good health is important in managing ADHD.
* Sleep well
* Exercise
The book is filled with recommended actions, including these for limiting distractions:
* Limit choices - For example, have a "uniform" for work so you don't have to pick out outfits every morning; have an eating window like 11 am to 7 pm (so you're not thinking about eating donuts that a colleague brought into the office in the morning).
* Eat good, nutritional food - Good health is important in managing ADHD.
* Sleep well
* Exercise
December 14, 2018
I spent twenty years figuring out what this book lays out in one package. I have some thoughts I'd add to the later section of the book, but in general I wish I could have learned all this a long time ago. It's good insights for anyone and especially good for those whose brains have the unique advantages & disadvantages of the ADHD.
December 1, 2017
A lot of stating the obvious but love the message
January 22, 2022
Good tips, overall good message, his goal is to have you think differently about ADHD. To that end I believe he’s successful.
Docked it one star as it’s a little braggy and felt like reading a blog post with affiliate links for some of the products he suggested. “use the code PETERSHANKMAN at checkout for a discount on everything they sell. You’re welcome.” - p 165.
You’ll get something new out of this book while rolling your eyes through portions of it.
Docked it one star as it’s a little braggy and felt like reading a blog post with affiliate links for some of the products he suggested. “use the code PETERSHANKMAN at checkout for a discount on everything they sell. You’re welcome.” - p 165.
You’ll get something new out of this book while rolling your eyes through portions of it.
March 2, 2021
If you have ADHD this is a worthwhile book to read. Would be 5 stars, but he never talks about being 0% and how to use that as a strength. Nobody wants to be 1000% all the time. That's on capitalism.
March 29, 2021
Sempat terhenti lama sekali padahal tinggal beberapa halaman terakhir aja. Senang akhirnya bisa menamatkan. Buku ini memberi saya banyak sekali pelajaran, bukan hanya tentang menjadi cepat, tapi juga tentang bagaimana memahami diri saya dengan lebih baik.
April 17, 2020
Difficult read. Seem to say if you have ADHD and you can stay focused on your goals you'll be amazing.
January 1, 2022
A summary of the useful information is this: people with ADHD aren't broken, their brains just work in a way that can make a lot of life difficult, but also have hidden advantages if they can be harnessed.
I read the book hoping to find practical ways to harness the ADHD brain, but he tells so many stories of getting on a plane to Tokyo to write, or waking up at 3am to start his day, that I don't see how most normal people, or anyone with a family, could possibly apply his advice.
The book has a lot of encouragement but doesn't deliver on the promise of its title.
I read the book hoping to find practical ways to harness the ADHD brain, but he tells so many stories of getting on a plane to Tokyo to write, or waking up at 3am to start his day, that I don't see how most normal people, or anyone with a family, could possibly apply his advice.
The book has a lot of encouragement but doesn't deliver on the promise of its title.
March 25, 2025
It was really helpful to read a book about ADHD by someone with ADHD for once. I did feel that there should have been a disclaimer that this would be a male-centric book because in the list of innovators/inventors there are no women. Additionally, the information on children with adhd seems to list toward male children. That’s totally fine the author is male, but when I publish my book I will be writing a disclaimer that it will lean toward the female journey? Why does this matter? Am I just some angry femizn@zi? No. It’s just that for quite some time people didn’t think little girls could be diagnosed with ADHD, and if not them, then certainly not female adults. So, I think it’s important to acknowledge the differences.
Lastly, I would have liked a bit of acknowledgement for how co-morbidities affect each person’s process. One reason I loathe self-help books written by neurotypicals for neurotypicals is that they tend to assume everyone can “just” follow the magical plan laid out in their book. This book does a *better* job of avoiding that pitfall, but still assumes every ADHDer is cut from the same cloth.
Lastly, I would have liked a bit of acknowledgement for how co-morbidities affect each person’s process. One reason I loathe self-help books written by neurotypicals for neurotypicals is that they tend to assume everyone can “just” follow the magical plan laid out in their book. This book does a *better* job of avoiding that pitfall, but still assumes every ADHDer is cut from the same cloth.
July 29, 2025
*Faster Than Normal* felt like it was written for me—or by me, if I’d gotten there first.
It’s packed with practical, no-fluff strategies that actually work for ADHD brains. The pacing, style, and advice all align with how I already operate, which made reading it feel validating and energizing.
If you have ADHD or are close to someone who does, this is a fast, focused, and helpful read. Highly recommended.
It’s packed with practical, no-fluff strategies that actually work for ADHD brains. The pacing, style, and advice all align with how I already operate, which made reading it feel validating and energizing.
If you have ADHD or are close to someone who does, this is a fast, focused, and helpful read. Highly recommended.
February 17, 2023
I love Peter Shankman POV on ADHD. I listened to the audio book and I feel it really helped with understand his thought process and his analogies. I also LOVED the Squirrel 🐿️ shot outs. Made me laugh every time.
He really has a great spin on ADHD, he turns it into a super power and not a disability. He also includes research and POVs from other successful ADHD folks and normal everyday folks.
Since I listened to the book I will be going out and buying it to RE Listen and annotate to truly make his lessons sink it.
This is also the first book on ADHD that has made me feel positive about having ADHD and made me laugh.
Thank you Peter.
He really has a great spin on ADHD, he turns it into a super power and not a disability. He also includes research and POVs from other successful ADHD folks and normal everyday folks.
Since I listened to the book I will be going out and buying it to RE Listen and annotate to truly make his lessons sink it.
This is also the first book on ADHD that has made me feel positive about having ADHD and made me laugh.
Thank you Peter.
February 1, 2020
I wasn't expecting this book to be so good. The author is super charismatic, and at times the text is superfluously wordy, BUT, it's still good! Even when you know you're being marketed to! There is USEFUL information & relatable humor in here. If you're trying to be more productive, ADHD or not, diagnosed or not, it's a good place to start.
January 23, 2021
A good 48-hour zone out marathon. Peter is a great person and writer. Taught me so much more about myself and behavior
January 4, 2018
This is the first book I have read on ADHD and it was amazing! When my daughter was going to counseling for anxiety, her counselor suggested she had ADHD. As we talked about things, I wondered if I had it because my daughter is very similar to me. While reading this there were so many "yes!" moments. Where I thought, this is describing ME. A lot of things that weren't 'normal' for me as a kid or as an adult is because of my ADHD. And this is why I feel so much better and more productive when I run. It grounds me.
This is written primarily for adults with ADHD. I can take what I have learned and start teaching my two kids with it, but it is geared for adults. I love that he writes conversationally. It is a fast read with clear ideas on how to make ADHD work for you and not against you. Obviously our life is not his. Things that work for him won't work for me in my life. But I can take all of his ideas and tools and adapt it to what works for me. A few suggestions he has, I naturally do. I realized I had certain tendencies and was able to figure out a way to keep on top of things.
He is not anti drugs, but he argues that kids are put on drugs without learning tools to use for combating the negative aspects of ADHD, so when they are adults they haven't learned the tools for getting through life. He has concerta for the days that he really needs it, but the tools and how he lives his life is important too.
I love that he describes ADHD as a gift. It is not a negative. "You're gifted with a brain that's faster than normal, and in this book, we're going to learn how to operate it to its maximum potential." I love that he says that he doesn't make excuses for himself because he has ADHD. If he needs to be focused he exercises right before a meeting to increase the dopamine in his brain and help him focus. He knows he has a tendency for addiction so if he is public speaking in Las Vegas he times it so he never has to sleep over. He is in and out. He doesn't drink alcohol at all now because he found out he could never have just one. That is me with my chocolate or sweets addiction. I have to not have any in the house or I will eat it all in one sitting. I have recognized that about myself so when I really need to be eating healthy I don't have any sweets or snacks I like even a little in the house.
He has discovered the tools that work for him to be at his maximum potential and works hard to help him have the best life he can. He fell off the wagon many times and botched many personal and professional relationships. So he is sharing what works for him and I learned a lot from it.
This is written primarily for adults with ADHD. I can take what I have learned and start teaching my two kids with it, but it is geared for adults. I love that he writes conversationally. It is a fast read with clear ideas on how to make ADHD work for you and not against you. Obviously our life is not his. Things that work for him won't work for me in my life. But I can take all of his ideas and tools and adapt it to what works for me. A few suggestions he has, I naturally do. I realized I had certain tendencies and was able to figure out a way to keep on top of things.
He is not anti drugs, but he argues that kids are put on drugs without learning tools to use for combating the negative aspects of ADHD, so when they are adults they haven't learned the tools for getting through life. He has concerta for the days that he really needs it, but the tools and how he lives his life is important too.
I love that he describes ADHD as a gift. It is not a negative. "You're gifted with a brain that's faster than normal, and in this book, we're going to learn how to operate it to its maximum potential." I love that he says that he doesn't make excuses for himself because he has ADHD. If he needs to be focused he exercises right before a meeting to increase the dopamine in his brain and help him focus. He knows he has a tendency for addiction so if he is public speaking in Las Vegas he times it so he never has to sleep over. He is in and out. He doesn't drink alcohol at all now because he found out he could never have just one. That is me with my chocolate or sweets addiction. I have to not have any in the house or I will eat it all in one sitting. I have recognized that about myself so when I really need to be eating healthy I don't have any sweets or snacks I like even a little in the house.
He has discovered the tools that work for him to be at his maximum potential and works hard to help him have the best life he can. He fell off the wagon many times and botched many personal and professional relationships. So he is sharing what works for him and I learned a lot from it.
June 11, 2021
Speaking as someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD since the third grade, I believe that there were a few snippets of good advice in here (mostly: manufacture dopamine spikes through exercise). It was also validating to find a number of suggestions I had independently created.
Putting aside the (in my opinion) annoyingly self-congratulatory title and theme, the book was also somewhat defeatist: as someone who has ADHD you are probably XYZ and can't change that about yourself. Given that in the past I was impulsive, would argue to "debate", would speak at laser speed, etc., and have worked to diminish those patterns by building new habits, I can say with confidence that we can (and I believe should) work to mitigate our conflict/confusion-inducing ADHD-correlated behaviors in order to have even more fulfilling interactions with others.
I'd much more strongly recommend The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg as a book that provides a broader path to self improvement. However, for someone new to an ADHD diagnosis this may be useful.
Putting aside the (in my opinion) annoyingly self-congratulatory title and theme, the book was also somewhat defeatist: as someone who has ADHD you are probably XYZ and can't change that about yourself. Given that in the past I was impulsive, would argue to "debate", would speak at laser speed, etc., and have worked to diminish those patterns by building new habits, I can say with confidence that we can (and I believe should) work to mitigate our conflict/confusion-inducing ADHD-correlated behaviors in order to have even more fulfilling interactions with others.
I'd much more strongly recommend The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg as a book that provides a broader path to self improvement. However, for someone new to an ADHD diagnosis this may be useful.
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