ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL in Get Reviews!

Jul 14, 2019 Nico Genes rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Shelves: motivational, personal-growth, my-own-books, memoirs, biography, true-story

I wrote it and it's hard to think less of my own book:)

This isn't a review though, as I'm the author, but I'm going to use this space to thank my two friends with ADHD.

You both enriched my life at so many levels, and I don’t think I will ever be able to thank you enough. The words that would capture the depth of my feelings haven’t been invented yet.

***Currently my true story is available for 3.99$***
FREE with Kindle Unlimited ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Winifred Morris rated it really liked it

I was captivated by this book. It grabbed me and didn’t let go until I had reached the end. It is a powerfully emotional story of the author’s experience with a woman friend and her son who are sometimes warm and sweet, and sometimes very irritating. The author does a terrific job of pulling the reader into incidents that overwhelmed her, especially when the boy didn’t appreciate something she had done for him. Then she would become angry and behave badly herself. This, of course, is what can ha I was captivated by this book. It grabbed me and didn’t let go until I had reached the end. It is a powerfully emotional story of the author’s experience with a woman friend and her son who are sometimes warm and sweet, and sometimes very irritating. The author does a terrific job of pulling the reader into incidents that overwhelmed her, especially when the boy didn’t appreciate something she had done for him. Then she would become angry and behave badly herself. This, of course, is what can happen when confronted with someone with a mental disorder. I personally have more experience with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and bipolar disorders, but in general we expect people to behave more or less the way we do. We accept some variation, but if their behavior is outside what we’ve come to expect, we’re uncomfortable. We don’t know how to respond, and sometimes this makes us anxious. If their behavior is rude or annoying, it is easier to assume they’re doing this willfully that to accept that they’re victims of the strange and wonderful mechanisms of our brains. I believe we all find it difficult to grasp the fact that our brains, which we experience as consciousness and the seat of our personality, is a mass of tissue pulsing with electrical and chemical signals, and those electrical and chemical signals can have dramatic effects on our consciousness and personalities. The author’s story, much of which is well-described in vivid scenes, shows what a challenge it can be when a child’s behavior doesn’t fit the standard expectations, for anyone who comes in contact with the child, and for the child himself.

I’m not sure, however, that the book is exactly what it says it is. No one should come to it expecting to learn more about ADHD and in particular how to treat it. The message of the book is to accept people the way they are, which is a fine message, but it’s a pretty general one. I also felt it was repeated a bit too often. As for children with ADHD, all the book says is that although they may have some issues with it all their lives, just wait and they’ll get better as they get older. And there are some very atypical aspects to the story. It is often a child’s teacher who first raises the question of ADHD, but this boy’s teachers not only never suggested it, at first they refused to believe this might be an explanation for the kid’s problems in school. Where I live, in the US, there is concern that ADHD is being over-diagnosed, and over-medicated. Kids are lined up at the nurse’s office at noon to get their meds. This book takes place in an unnamed European country that may not be overdoing the issue, but several people in the book expressed surprise at the school’s reaction, and although the doctor who diagnosed the child mentioned the possibility of therapy, there is no mention of any kind of follow-up on this.

So although I was pulled into the emotions of the story, this is basically a memoir of the author’s personal growth as she came to care deeply for these people who were so different from her rather than a book about ADHD. ...more

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Feb 27, 2022 Ann Birdgenaw rated it really liked it

ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL by Nico Genes is a sweet, non-fiction story based on her own life; and a lesson to us all to look beneath the surface to find something wonderful. Nico’s friend Eliza and her son Peter are struggling with ADHD, but what does this label really mean? To most people it imparts a negative impression of someone who can’t control themselves, is badly behaved or not intelligent; sometimes all three. This is the stigma Peter deals with as an energetic, spirited child who is full ...more

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May 05, 2019 Bruce Perrin rated it really liked it

Share in this author’s true story of discovery – of ADHD and of herself

In the book ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, author Nico Genes shares her story of meeting and befriending a single mother and her young son. It chronicles her early experiences with them, marked by frayed nerves, exhaustion, and hurt feelings when the child can’t seem to focus or hold still for more than a few moments. It also describes some unacceptable behavior by a teacher and a principal. Hopefully, that section represents an is Share in this author’s true story of discovery – of ADHD and of herself

In the book ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, author Nico Genes shares her story of meeting and befriending a single mother and her young son. It chronicles her early experiences with them, marked by frayed nerves, exhaustion, and hurt feelings when the child can’t seem to focus or hold still for more than a few moments. It also describes some unacceptable behavior by a teacher and a principal. Hopefully, that section represents an isolated pocket of indifference and lack of knowledge, as health organizations estimate between five and ten percent of all children suffer from the condition; otherwise, there are a lot of children being marginalizing by the educational system. Eventually, the young man is diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the doctor adding that the mother probably has the same condition. The book is also a story of the author’s growth, as she comes to recognize new qualities in herself as a result of the friendship. “This new part of me enjoyed the smell of a lavender field rather than the scent of the most expensive perfume. I was now living for the moment, and one benefit of this was it helped me get through the other less pleasant times.”

Some of the book is descriptive prose, generally to establish the setting – often near the sea with the sun, sand, and warm, salty breezes. But most of the book is either a glimpse into the author’s philosophy on life or an account of her experiences with her friends. The former is quite positive and sunny, as you might guess from the title. The latter describes the challenges, growth, and development of the characters in direct, simple prose. It almost feels like something from a diary, except for the dialog.

While there is no cure for ADHD (as of the time of this review), there are treatments to help manage the symptoms ranging from medication to behavioral therapies. And while I’m not suggesting the author should have changed the nature of her book – it was not intended as a self-help guide – some of its current content seems too fatalistic, e.g., “He may repeatedly get in trouble for having a cluttered room, even after being told to tidy it up. I know now that this is beyond him.” While patience and acceptance are clearly part of the solution, behavioral change is often possible. Well-structured environments with clear responsibilities, both at home and at school, have helped many children with ADHD. So, while the book is correct in saying, “Some things are written in our genes, and can’t be changed” that doesn’t mean parents have no recourse. ...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Andrew Gracey rated it liked it

ADHD: Life is Beautiful is a memoir by the author which tells of her friendship with Eliza and Peter, a mother and son who both struggle to diagnose and understand ADHD but never lose their unbreakable bond. Along the way it deals with the social difficulties of managing such a disorder and the constant strains it puts on the people that surround them.

Eliza and Peter (and Nico, of course) are all extremely likeable people, and the author quickly establishes just how strong their relationships ar ADHD: Life is Beautiful is a memoir by the author which tells of her friendship with Eliza and Peter, a mother and son who both struggle to diagnose and understand ADHD but never lose their unbreakable bond. Along the way it deals with the social difficulties of managing such a disorder and the constant strains it puts on the people that surround them.

Eliza and Peter (and Nico, of course) are all extremely likeable people, and the author quickly establishes just how strong their relationships are. Peter in particular is shown to be cheeky and kind, sweet and boisterous, however his disorder causes him to behave in a way that other people do not understand or tolerate very well. I was able to instantly sympathise with Peter’s position, as well as Eliza’s, and thought that the author did a very good job in portraying the perspective of those involved. I especially felt a burning injustice in one scene where a man is particularly hostile towards Peter and thought that Genes’s initial response was perfect (‘his face was begging for my fists’). I was very much relieved to see this book take a more upbeat turn towards the end in regards to Peter’s life once his problems had been identified.

The story, however, is a personal one, and whilst it may mean a lot to those involved, as an outsider looking in I found it a little slow and lacking in parts. Having read some of Nico’s fiction I really wanted to enjoy this one more than I did, but it just did not have the appeal I was looking for. Also, whilst we know Peter has ADHD early on, it is not diagnosed until very late, leaving very little within the book about managing the problem or providing answers. This may be a mistake people make when picking up this book (especially with its cover and title) as they may feel it would provide them answers and may not be expecting to read a memoir.

In the right hands and in the right context, this book will help those who may be struggling to come to terms with ADHD themselves; it is a great case study on hidden disorders and what comes with them. I agree with the message, but I was, however, left a little longing by the end. ...more

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Aug 03, 2020 Samantha Henthorn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Heartwarming non-fiction about young Peter who has too much energy to stand still, or walk in a straight line next to his mother. During the time of his ADHD assessment, he ends up teaching the adults in his life about patience, acceptance and friendship. An insight into the difficulties that parents can come up against.

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Aug 09, 2020 Nico Genes rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: personal-growth, my-own-books, memoirs, true-story

Lo escribí y es difícil pensar menos en mi propio libro :)

Sin embargo, esta no es una revisión, ya que soy el autor, pero usaré este espacio para agradecer a mis dos amigos con TDAH.

Ambos enriquecieron mi vida en tantos niveles y no creo que pueda agradecerles lo suficiente. Las palabras que captarían la profundidad de mis sentimientos aún no se han inventado.

*** Actualmente, mi historia real está disponible por 3.99 $ ***
http://hyperurl.co/lavidaesbella.
...more

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