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Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention
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Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention
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Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention
Audiobook8 hours

Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention

Published by Hachette Audio

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

"An absorbing, sharply observed memoir."
-Kirkus Reviews

A hilarious and heartrending account of one mother's journey to understand and reconnect with her high-spirited preteen son-a true story sure to beguile parents grappling with a child's bewildering behavior.

Popular literature is filled with the stories of self-sacrificing mothers bravely tending to their challenging children. Katherine Ellison offers a different kind of tale. Shortly after Ellison, an award-winning investigative reporter, and her twelve-year-old son, Buzz, were both diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, she found herself making such a hash of parenting that the two of them faced three alternatives: he'd go to boarding school; she'd go AWOL; or they'd make it their full-time job to work out their problems together. They decided to search for a solution while Ellison investigated what genuine relief, if any, might be found in the confusing array of goods sold by the modern mental health industry.

The number of diagnoses for childhood attention and behavior issues is exploding, leaving parents and educators on a confusing chase to find the best kind of help for each child. Buzz, a page-turner of a memoir, brings much relief. It is immensely engaging, laugh-out-loud funny, and honest-and packed with helpful insights.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 1, 2014
ISBN9781478930501
Unavailable
Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention

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Reviews for Buzz

Rating: 3.5269218461538463 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

130 ratings55 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    In working with individuals with mental illness, it seems that ADHD is over-diagnosed in children. I was hoping this book would give a different look at the disorder. However, for the writer to be a journalist, her writings were unimaginative, not insightful, and quite boring. Since it is a memoir, it is expected that the writer focus on herself but I was wanting more.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Ack! I received this book from Early Reviewers many a few years ago and didn't realized I'd forgotten to write a review! I am not entirely sure how helpful this book would be for a parent in a similar situation. The author went to great and EXPENSIVE lengths to treat her son, and I remember being quite angry at her sense of entitlement. I am not sure how many families struggling with the presence of ADD/ADHD in their home would be realistically able to replicate half of what Ellison did. If I were that parent, this book would leave me feeling more hopeless than anything else, and I'm not sure that the story is interesting or engaging enough to attract casual memoir readers.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Having several children with very degrees of ADD/ADHD and other psychological problems, I was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately, it did not deliver the solace that I may have been looking for. I just could not connect Not necessarily the author's fault - but I just couldn't get into it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read most of Buzz A Year of Paying Attention by Katherine Ellison yesterday. Interesting perspective on ADD/ADHD and a quick read. Addressed different perspectives such as it's mom's fault, it's society's fault, your brain's fault, and others, with chapters addressing each. Includes mom's perspective as well as son's. I especially liked that it gave no solutions, but pointed out that different things work for different people. Also pointed out that meds are given way too often, but also not enough to those who need them - excellent point. This is a well researched book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed this book very much. The author's exhaustive efforts to help her son, leaving no stone unturned is both inspiring and instructional. I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with a child diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and other disorders with similar symptoms.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book itself is not bad. The journey of ADD/ADHD was well portrayed as well as the ODD. As having a kiddo with these issues I like knowing that out of pure frustration, desperation and anger even...someone else has said "shut-up" to a screaming child. It takes a brave person to admit that they did that. If a person says they don't...it makes you wonder. I did not like the book for the fact that the author spends thousands and thousands of dollars searching to understand herself and her son.Most of us folks fighting this battle do not have thousands of dollars hanging around. And she is looking into these complex tests, but yet quick to dismiss more simple treatments...schedules, vitamins, diets, etc. To each their own I suppose...but the book was a good read to see what journey someone else has taken.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I didn’t love this book. It was an okay read, but jumped around a lot and was difficult to follow. Overall, whenever I picked this book up off my shelf, I was ready to move on to something else after just a few pages.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I received this book as an Early Review Book. In it, Ms. Ellison details the struggles she and her oldest son Buzz have, as both are diagnosed with ADHD and Buzz also has ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). While I have no personal experience with ADHD, I have two children with special needs and thought I would be able to relate to her story. This is a book that should have captivated me; yet, I find that I set it down for days at a time and only remember I'm reading it when I stumble across it. It's an interesting read while I am reading it, but it has no lasting power for me. If you have a family member with ADD or ADHD, then this book might very well be just the one for you. Her discussions of the various treatments Buzz and she tried are thoughtful and well-researched. Of course, many things they tried are well out of the average person's price range so it might become frustrating to read about yet another treatment that might help your loved one if only you could afford it. If you don't have a personal connection to ADD/ADHD and asked me if you should buy it, I would probably say no.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as far back as I can remember, even though I was never officially diagnosed until I was 21. I always assumed -- as did others -- that I was simply forgetful and continually bored. A year after my diagnosis, Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention, opened my eyes to the world of attention deficit with anecdotes I could relate to; like never remembering where you put the car keys and not being able to "tune in" to something someone is saying even though you really, really are interested.Katherine Ellison is not one who says "give our kid Ritalin and everything will be hunky-dory" either. In this memoir, she takes the time and spends the butt load of cash seeking and exploring the depths of almost every treatment for attention deficit. She takes you on a journey through neurofeedback and meditation, as well as the "miracle" Ritalin pill.Very well spoken, in depth, and inspiring take on a disorder that has been shrugged off as a "...ooo shiny!" joke for years. Highly recommended for those suffering with ADD or AD/HD, or those who know someone -- specifically parenting someone -- who is.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This was a hard book for me to get into. Normally I enjoy reading memoirs; I can't fault Ellison for seeming a bit self-absorbed (writing a memoir requires a certain amount of self-focus) but there was just something lacking about this that didn't capture me. It may be better suited to parents.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Katherine Ellison's book describes a year-long struggle to find, understand and experiment with various treatments for ADHD, both for her pre-teen son and herself. As someone who works with individuals with this diagnosis daily, I found the book helpful in detailing the pros and cons of various treatments. However, be aware that many of the treatments described are above the price range the average family would find affordable. The book also provides a very real and detailed portrayal of the dilemmas that surround the use of medications for ADHD. I enjoyed the story of Buzz's personal trumphs, particularly his battle to choose his own style of attire for his bar mitzvah. I found the tone of the book to be funny, heartwarming and honest.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I read this book as a therapist who deals with ADHD and families on a daily basis, and as a reader who enjoys memoirs. I like Ellison's writing and honesty- she made the struggles of a family dealing with this disorder very un-glamorous and showed it for what it is. That said, this is also a family that could afford, albeit sometimes with sacrifices, the best treatment there is out there. This part of the book makes the story a bit less out of reach for the average family dealing with a child with ADD. The part that stood out most for me and that I could get behind as a mental health professional was her dealing with schools and finding the best educational environment for her son. While her hopes that one president can reform the nation's years of poor practices is perhaps far fetched, I agree that change needs to come to that arena.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I began to read BUZZ the moment it came in the mail. Well, after I had taken it out of mailman's hand. I had no idea whether the book would make me want to read, read, read or whether the book would make me want to sleep, sleep, sleep. Thankfully, BUZZ BY Katherine Ellison is well written. Although, the subject Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder shortened to ADD is a complicated illness. The book is just the opposite. There are moments throughout the memoir when I laughed, cried, questioned and became angry.There are many books written about ADD. I believe it is rare to find one with the mother and son suffering with the same condition. This is the case in Buzz. This is my personal reason to celebrate the book. Katherine Ellison should truly win the best Mother's Day gift in the world. I do believe because of her insight she was able to give the correct love to Buzz. She gave him the love that he needed when the rest of the world stood outside of his world and looked in giving none of themselves or too much of the wrong part of themselves.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    While I do not have a child with ADHD, I can see how this book would be helpful for parents who have a child with the disorder. The author is unapologetically brash, yet humorous in her biographical sketch of her son's experience with ADHD. However, I did feel as if many of her son's "experiences" always linked back to her. Her "Wow, look at what I have to deal with" approach is a bit unsettling and irritating at the same time. This book may be helpful to some readers, but be forewarned that the author seems to care more about how everything pertains to her.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I read this book thinking the focus would be on how the author focused on understanding her son with ADHD. What I found, however, was that the author really focused on herself, her own ADD diagnosis, and how she felt about HER ADD diagnosis. I found that how she felt about her son's diagnosis to be secondary to her concerns about herself.I felt that the author was somewhat of a helicopter Mom--even going so far as to sign up her teenage son up for a summer camp that the Moms also attended. I found it a bit off-putting that she framed everything about her son's behavior and diagnosis in the context of how it related to HER. Take the following excerpt from page 215 for example:"I recognize the heightened risk that Buzz could die ignobly, as the result of some impulsive move--like so many I've made myself--in which case, for the rest of my life, I'll be a bad parent. Or he could die at the end of a brilliant life, in which case I'll be a genius."It's not really about Buzz. It's all about Katherine Ellison.I did like the parts where the author bared her heart and discussed how she truly felt dealing with her son's behavbior and diagnosis, as well as it's effects on the rest of the family. I thought her passages where she debates the different therapies and their costs to be particularly heart-wrenching and enlightening. Unfortunately, however, too many times I felt that the author reverted to her own diagnosis and used her own ADD diagnosis to try to explain why parenting a child with ADD was so difficult. I think parents of children with ADD might find some benefit in reading this book. The book held my interest, however I was disappointed in the "all about Mom" vibe.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Katherine Ellison, a journalist by trade, and her teenage son have both been diagnosed with ADD. She decides that she will spend a year paying closer attention to her son and starts doing research on attention deficit. She goes through plenty of different treatments and tries to evaluate them as both mother and journalist. I found this book to be funny and very honest--she opens up about the workings of her family and her failings as a mother. She is very blunt about her thoughts on her findings from conferences and doctor visits. Quick and fun read even if it isn't the most informative if you have a child with ADD. It is more of a story about life in this family and how the diagnosis and Ms. Ellison's decision to focus on paying attention changes things.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Katherine Ellison is leading my life--minus the really cool job and travel opportunities. In Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention, we follow a mom and her son, both with ADD, as they learn about their condition and try some of the recommended treatments including medicines, neurofeedback and meditation. And, while ADD/ADHD is definitely misdiagnosed and drugs over-prescribed, for families living with this very real condition, finding that one thing or group of things that will help your child fulfill their full potential can be an exhausting journey. I loved the honesty of this book and I appreciated all the information, (which in the Notes section in the back, it is obvious a great deal of research went into writing this) and I wish more of these techniques were available in more communities at more affordable prices. The last resort for most parents is putting their child on drugs; but, when you see your very bright child failing in school; when you see the sadness on their face because they have no friends; when your home-life is tense and unloving, then it's time to stop feeling guilty about giving your child a pill that can make them focus so all things are possible and the "world is their oyster."Attentive, loving parents look for every possibility and try numerous things before that last step of medicine. So, don't judge them until you've walked their mile. ADD/ADHD is a condition just like diabetes, or high blood pressure, or any number of maladies. No one would NOT think to treat these other conditions, and no one should argue treating ADD/ADHD.Great book. I don't feel so alone.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I wanted to love this book. I sympathized with Ellison's struggle to accept and live with her and her son's ADHD diagnoses. However, it was described as a memoir, and there were some stories on the difficulties and triumphs that she and Buzz faced, but there was a lot more information in this book than I wanted to know. I would recommend it to a parent who is struggling with their child's ADHD, but as a parent who doesn't face that struggle, I wouldn't recommend it to most people as casual reading. All in all, very well written and informative.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A mother's attempt to come to terms with her son's and her own ADHD issues during one year of their lives.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    loved this books... as i have adhd and so do my 2 sons very good book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book! I am a little skeptical of the ADD/ADHD diagnosis, because so many people/children are labeled this way without much evidence to back it up. However, I related to quite a bit of what Ellison had to say. For example, since I made the move from full-time professional mom to stay-at-home-mom, I totally get her analogy of running daily sprints to running a long old marathon. Also, while it seems a little trite and obvious, kids certainly become what they live around. Whenever I am frustrated with something my kids are doing/not doing, I have to look at myself. When I find my daughter is not paying attention when I speak to her, I become more mindful of paying attention to HER. Within a couple of days, I notice a distinct difference in how many times I have to repeat myself. Not every behavior issue is this straightforward, but many are. I found myself highlighting this book, reading passages to my husband, and recommending the book to friends. An easy read, with a lot of honest insight from another mother.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found this book engaging (if a little hard work) and appreciated Ellison's candour as she exposed her parenting and journey to understand and address ADD in herself and her son. My perspective is that of a nurse--with past experience in child psychiatry and school nursing, also, that of a parent of two school-aged children. As such, Ellison held my attention well. Even though you can sense her overload at times, she managed to organize the book into chapters relating to different therapies, which could be taken alone if you wanted to. I did learn quite a lot about emerging therapies available, such as neurofeedback. She did her best to cover each topic comprehensively, although to some degree it was difficult to establish what really worked for them, as their follow-through was a little scattershot. This made the book somewhat anecdotal as an advice resource, but it stands firm in terms of relatability and support. It is also exceptionally well-referenced, therefore it can provide an introduction to each particular treatment avenue.There are many parenting skills that she learns along the way, which any parent can learn from; we all have our "bad Mommy" moments and can learn to better appreciate our children and not frustrate them further. At times, Buzz had me cracking up, I just appreciated his dry sense of humor.As a memoir, it is too weighty, too bogged down in reportage, but there are some truly poignant moments, such as the note of response she receives from the Meditation retreat staff member whom she asked to call her husband. Also, the account of the bar Mitzvah was really touching and had me in tears. At this point I really was in Buzz' corner, where I think Ellison was too, she had shifted her position from the beginning of the year, (where she seemed to be in opposition to him) which for me, made it all worthwhile.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I also have 2 children with ADD, my son more affected than my daughter. The process Katherine goes through to discover ways to help her son is so touching. I can relate to the pressure that I was put under from teachers to medicate my own son, who then developed facial tics so we tried yet another medication which did not work as well. As Katherine rode that emotional roller coaster of guilt, I could relate because I experienced the same emotions and guilt. After finishing her story, I became more aware of myself and my children as individual beings whose disability did not define who they are. Thanks Katherine for sharing your story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I commend Ellison for accepting her need for help in dealing with her ADD at the same time she is trying to help her son deal with his. Although the writing seems disjointed to some, those of us with ADHD or ADD understand fully this style of relating. I learned much from this book and was impressed with Ellison's honesty about the mistakes she made as a parent. Although I am not a parent, I can only imagine how helpless one would feel if you couldn't get through to your child enough to help them. By embracing her own diagnosis, Katherine was able to help Buzz deal better with his own. A worthwhile read for those struggling with loved ones with the diagnosis.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I especially enjoyed this book because the author was open minded & willing to try anything even if she wasn't a fan(i.e. medication). Unfortunately, not everything she felt was helpful was within the economic reach of most people. I found some of her behavior towards her son a little disturbing, but overall I felt it was an interesting way to present different approaches to ADHD
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Ellison provides an interesting perspective on what it means to be a mom with ADD while raising a child with the same condition. She details her own struggles with attention and organization as well as her attempts to help her son learn to do the same. She's honest about her less-than-perfect parenting moments, which is reassuring for me as a mom. The book covers a great deal of ground over the course of that year, much of it self-discovery.At times Ellison uses studies and other empirical evidence to illuminate her chapters' topics, and other times, she presents narrative that is intensely personal. If you are looking for answers to what to do if you have a child with ADD, I'm not sure this is your best bet. However, if you are interested in the process of discovering common ground (and faults) with your child(ren), then you will probably find this book enlightening.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Buzz is the memoir of a mother deciding to spend a year devoting herself to exploring and improving her adolescent son Buzz's (and her own suspected) ADHD. It's set against the backdrop of Buzz preparing for his bar mitzvah. Ellison does a good job of merging her own family's individual story with the larger picture of how ADHD generally tends to affect children. She presents different approaches she tries for both herself and Buzz, such as meditation, medication, and neurofeedback, and assesses their effectiveness for them personally versus the research currently. availableI think it would be very useful for people struggling with ADHD.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really loved this book. Since I work at a school that specializes in the education of ADD kids, I wasn't really expecting to hear much that I hadn't heard already. Katherine Ellison does a wonderful job of getting inside the head of her ADD son, Buzz, and also her own head because she has ADD also. I was fascinated with her descriptions of family life when one or more member is so distracted and disorganized. She is such a believable parent. And she tells on herself. Many of us as teachers and parents know what the right thing to do or say is - but we don't always do it. Ms. Ellison gets right down in the trenches and admits her failings and her small successes. I really appreciate the service she has done to folks dealing with this neurological disorder.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I took my time reading this book and found, in the end, I really appreciated Ellison's approach. I am not facing similar problems at the moment, but worry about my young son and I thought Ellison was thoughtful, open, and forthright about what worked and didn't work for her and her family. Her suggestions could certainly apply to other challenges as well, and her optimism was encouraging. I felt that I got to know her and Buzz and wanted to cheer them on in their efforts to create more harmony and understanding in their home.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I've tried for several weeks to get into this book but have had little luck. The writing is scattered and unorganized. As a school psychologist I am very interested in the subject matter, but have failed to be drawn into what seems to be the self-absorption of the mother. Like kaypendragon I too am uninterested in spending any more time trying to get involved in her life.