Hunters in a farmer's world.
Thom Hartmann, ADD A Different Perspective

very difficult book to find

Erik


On Wednesday, July 31, 2002, at 01:39 PM, Craig Smith wrote:

> Wally Day wrote:
>
>> Now that you mention it, I recall reading an article a
>> couple of years ago in which the author suggested that
>> various traits we now associate with ADHD may have
>> been a 'plus' in a hunter-gatherer society. The
>> shortened attention span, the quick 'switch' from
>> thought to thought, the reactionary behavior, and my
>> favorite, the occasional 'hyper-focus' traits would
>> all tend to favor the hunter, but might have also
>> improved the gatherer's 'job'. ADHD would not have
>> been much of a liability until agriculture arrived on
>> the scene and people were expected to participate in
>> mundane, monotonous activities all day. And of course
>> it is much more noticeable in today's world when the
>> ADHD individual is expected to handle not only mundane
>> activities but also be able to organize a ton of
>> unrelated bits of data every day.
>
> That's very helpful.  I have ADD (no H), and while paleo helps
> with its more grievous symptoms, it doesn't cure it.  I've always
> wished for a niche in which my particular brain chemistry would
> be useful---someplace I would feel was a unique fit.  Rather like
> that wonderful scene from "Willow," that otherwise awful 1988 Val
> Kilmer movie, in which all the little people lived in a perfect-
> sized village, with all implements, animals, houses, etc. scaled
> to their size and shape, and where "normal-sized" humans were
> freaks by comparison.  I've always wanted to know what we ADDers
> were "meant" for, and perhaps you've given me a clue.
>
> .:. Craig
>