A Different Life: Growing Up Learning Disabled and Other Adventures

I agree with many of the reviewers here that reading this book expecting the fluid prose of, say, Steinbeck entirely misses the point. That said, there is surprising insight and reflection here, and good allusions from someone who "lacks abstract thinking skills" (I kind of doubt that). But more important than any of that, this is an honest book. It's a rare glimpse through the eyes of someone with a pretty unique disorder. As Quinn says in the book (I'm paraphrasing), when people ask what kind of learning disability he has, he tells them he's dyslexic, but that doesn't really describe the learning profile of people with 22q/VCFS/DiGeorge Syndrome. As the parent of an infant with 22q, I'm struggling to wrap my mind around just what my son will and won't be capable of, how he'll see the world, and how I can encourage him to become the best person he can be. This book is absolutely the best clue I've found about how his brain might work differently. This book is an authentic lens to view the world through the eyes of someone with learning differences. For anyone who knows, cares for, or works with someone with 22q, it's required reading.

I have long admired Ben Bradlee. So when Judy Woodruff interviewed Quinn Bradlee and his parents--Ben being the father--on the Jim Lehrer NewsHour, I found myself very engaged in this family. Quinn is the only child in this marriage. Ben has children, much older than Quinn, from another marriage. And because I have my college students write short memoirs, I thought I would purchase this one, thinking it would be one more sample of memoir. And it is.Quite clearly Quinn's parents, both of whom are journalists, have not played a significant role in editing this book. The sentences are, on the whole, simple and direct, representative of the voice one would expect from a young man with as many disabilities as Quinn has. That is very refreshing. However, I thought, as I read this book, how lucky Quinn is to have parents with such high profiles because other handicapped persons who might submit manuscripts with a similar style would, undoubtedly, be soundly rejected for publication. In other words, my criticism is directed at those who make publication decisions, not at Quinn's writing, and most certainly not at his parents.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a Mom of a daughter that has DiGeorge Syndrome, one of the other names for what Quinn Bradlee also has. She suffers from ADD and now at 19 is going through some anxiety and depression. A year away at college did not turn out well. Quinn's book gave me some perspective. Mallory was 8 before she was diagnosed with DiGeorge and 13 before the diagnosis of ADD. So it is a journey.

What is normal? Are any of us really normal? Very interesting to read from the perspective of a young man who grew up labeled learning disabled. I don't know if disabled is the proper word. Learning was difficult for him, but he is quite successful. Quinn shared his hopes, his fears, his disappointments and his achievements. It was no doubt difficult to put that all out there for the world to see.

I saw Sally Quinn and her son on C-span discusing teh book and Quinn'slearning problems. He speaks so well I would never know he had LD. After reading the book you realalize the different levels of learning disability and how reading personal cues from people must be so hard.He talks about trying to fit in socially and making small talk without sounding like a bragger or blowheart, as my Dad would say.A great read.

Bought this for a teen recently diagnosed with learning disabilities. His story is uplifting but I wish the book was in audio format.

A different perspective on life when seen through the eyes of someone with learning disabilities. Very good!

This was a fascinating book that gave me insight into the thinking process of the learning disabled.

I found this to be an interesting read and it helped me to understand Di George a little better, I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this condition.

A good and informative read for everybody.

An excellent book it is so rare to hear that perspective.

I found the book to be quite engaging. The author gave an honest overview of life with a disability. Quite informative!

まだ途中までしか読んでいませんが、勇気づけられる内容が平易な言葉で書かれているので、分かりやすくてとてもいいです。