Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m borrowing this book from my boss. I love seeing what speaks to others while reading.

This book is a wonderful read. I have many loved ones with different challenges and personally have anxiety issues. I feel like I learned so much about not letting the negative features define you and ways to better understand how these disorders impact ones life. I feel it‘d be extra beneficial to parents and teachers, but I definitely benefited from reading it. I also loved the personal interviews scattered throughout. #huey #lennox #catsoflitsy

Both of the humans in our house are sick, and the cats are taking advantage of all the sleeping and reclining happening around here. This book is fascinating. It was one of the summer reading options provided by my employer. Having several loved ones with brain differences, I really appreciate the connection between what can be considered negative traits to their equally if not more important positive counterparts. #caturday #lennox #catsoflitsy

This book is a must-read for teachers in my opinion. It explores mental illness and learning disabilities (which Saltz refers to as brain differences) and looks at the strengths inherent in each one, as well as mitigating weaknesses. Saltz agreed with research that there is a correlation between brain difference and creativity. She urges people to focus on strengths rather than “fixing” weakness with an 80/20 ratio.

“Had Vincent van Gogh been treated, he would still have been a profoundly brilliant painter, but he likely would have lived a longer life with far less suffering. Without the unique wiring of his brain, though, it is unlikely we would ever have seen such a starry, starry night.”

“...the creative brain needs to balance at ‘the edge of chaos.‘”

One morning I was having a conversation with my friend whose brain differences closely resemble my own, and we think fairly similarly. We joke that we are “brain twinsies.” I asked if he knew about any research exploring a link between brain difference and creativity/intelligence/genius. Later that day I was in my favorite bookstore to purchase a different book, and saw this!

Reading this book over the past week was particularly poignant in light of the celebrity losses last week. A clear and unflinching look at mental illness that somehow manages to me hopeful.

#audiogardening on this gorgeous Saturday!