Editorial Review
Criticism for the public school system in the United States is nothing new; kids of all skill levels are slipping through the cracks at every age and in every city. Rather than attempting to change the system or point out it's failures, Jonathon Mooney and David Cole have created a practical guide to help kids jump through the necessary hoops to achieve whatever larger, postschool goals they may have. While much of the material is written for kids who've received the label LD or ADHD, many of the suggestions can be just as helpful for those who've been labeled "gifted," or any other student who feels frustrated with the daily routine of standard education.
The introduction (personal histories of the authors) is great reading for parents of LD or ADHD kids, and much of it has a humorous tone that makes it equally appropriate (and approachable) for discouraged adolescents. From the terror of weekly spelling tests to the few inspiring teachers and tutors the two encountered, the tales are equal parts entertaining, poignant, and encouraging to others who may well be experiencing quite similar events. There's little discussion of what methods are right or wrong--ultimately, both authors take a fundamentally pragmatic view, and it's "right" if it worked. A steady focus on study skills fills the majority of the book, and Mooney and Cole take what are generally pretty familiar stands on note-taking and test preparation and break them down into easily digestible concepts. With different methods for different types of learners (visual thinkers are encouraged to use maps and brightly colored markers), students will find plenty of help in creating notebooks, focusing their attention, and even appropriate ways of conducting the infamous all-nighter. Including information on how to recover lost class notebooks, how to make the most of a syllabus, and "The Seven Habits of Highly Disorganized People," Learning Outside the Lines provides students with plenty of tools to further each reader's personal idea of success. --Jill Lightner
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Customer Reviews
Awesome book for people with or without ADHD 
2008-04-17
Anybody can use the great tips and techniques in this book from students who procrastinate on studying to people with ADD or ADHD that have a hard time focusing on studying and preparing for projects and tests. I highly recommend this to anyone who has difficulty with school regardless if you have ADD or ADHD or not.
Extremely Disappointing 
2008-03-14
I purchased this book because I have ADHD, I am in college and I am struggling some with test performance and grades (GPA is 3.65 but I want to increase it). I found *nothing* about what I was searching for in this book, and here's why.
For one, the first part "deviant minds", the one telling the school story of the two authors, is no use whatsoever, because it constantly blames the system (which doesn't work for ADHDers, true, but DOES work for 85% of people --- and they omit reporting this essential data). On top of it, the two stories are about how the entire world should be preoccupied with accommodating LD/ADHD kids as if nothing else mattered. Furthermore, the whole take on non-LD/ADHD people's feelings and behaviours (especially teachers) is *very* confrontational and displays an overall (and well-known) lack of empathy that many ADHDers have toward whoever doesn't have either LD or ADHD. As I also am a significant other of people with ADHD (my mom, a coworker, some other friends), I found it *appalling* to see how the strains that ADHD puts on relationships are completely overlooked when not entirely blamed on others, abuse included.
A second reason I don't suggest this book is, it's full of useless advices, such as "when the teacher says the word example it means he is about to give you an example" (I have ADHD, I'm not *dumb*!!!), "make summaries" (I know I'm supposed to summarize but the ADHD-related difficulties with summarizing are *precisely* linked to the fact that we see ALL the endless ways to do it... how about providing strategies to sort out which way works best in a specific contest???), "structure your answer" (yeah, how clever! That's what I've been told since grammar school... care to provide a template or at least explain *how* to do it??). When conflicting advices are given (like in the case of multiple ways of taking notes), there is no explanation on how to figure out which way might work best for the individual and/or the specific situation. They only say "do what's best for you", again, yeah right I've been trying to figure that one out for my whole life -- care to help some for 15 dollars?
A third reason I found this book useless is that it gives you no strategy for memorization... so if you are in medical school (like me), law school, are becoming a pharmacist or a vet or simply are facing an exam that isn't some dumb English Literature or Writing class, you can safely skip this book and buy *any* other available one.
Finally, having ADHD is about overcoming one's shortcomings, whereas the authors try to teach you how to cheat the system. In the specific, they teach you several tricks to pretend that you've studied something well enough that you manage to get higher grades. However, what I was trying to do was, getting higher grades as a consequence of having *really* learnt something!!!
In other words, unless all you are a victim and all you're interested into is cheating the system and never *really* face the challenges that comes with ADHD, run away, it's not for you.
EVERYONE should read this book. 2007-11-20
I have always thought that there is a piece of ADHD in everyone. Some people has a bigger piece, some people has a tiny piece. How can anyone be so "perfect"? My children are not "scientifically" diagnosed to be ADHD. But there are times when they can be showing bits of "symtoms" of ADHD.
I was in tears when I read about what happened to young Jonathan and young David. It must have been hard for them and their parents.
Everyone should read this book.
Parts of this book are going to help you with raising your own child since, like I said, everyone has bits of ADHD, and you just never know when anything in this book would come in handy.
Plus, we should also try to UNDERSTAND why some other children are doing what they have done. They are not ill and they are not stupid. It is just that they cannot walk within the lines like everyone else. Yet they CAN still learn and bloom, only that, just like the title of the book, they need to do it "outside the lines".
Why all the swearing? 
2007-09-11
I haven't read this book, I was thinking about buying it and read the excerpt online. It might be great, but I wouldn't want my kid reading any book with the "F" word on every page. I think it's unfortunate. Just my opinion.
This book saved my 1st semester @ Grad School!! 2007-08-05
I had leafed through this book one day in the library and it looked interesting. So, I bought one and I keep it with me always! I use it like a reference book. I found the chapters on reading and writing for people with learning disabilities the best. Once I started using the techniques, I saved my semester and my Grad School career! I was on academic probation and had to pass all classes (I'd gotten an "F") before. When I came back to try Grad school again, I had two "D's" at mid terms my first semester back! I read the book from cover to cover and kept it with me after that. I went from two "D's", a "B", and an "A" to two "A's", a "A-", and a "B" over the next six weeks. By the time finals came I was in the clear. The next semester I got straight "A's" for the first time in my life! All using techniques from this book! You have to get it. If you have ADHD or another learning disability like I do, it will help for sure!
A must have book for those intelligent people with ADHD 2007-07-13
Criticism for the public school system in the United States is nothing new; kids of all skill levels are slipping through the cracks at every age and in every city. Rather than attempting to change the system or point out it's failures, Jonathon Mooney and David Cole have created a practical guide to help kids jump through the necessary hoops to achieve whatever larger, postschool goals they may have. While much of the material is written for kids who've received the label LD or ADHD, many of the suggestions can be just as helpful for those who've been labeled "gifted," or any other student who feels frustrated with the daily routine of standard education.
The introduction (personal histories of the authors) is great reading for parents of LD or ADHD kids, and much of it has a humorous tone that makes it equally appropriate (and approachable) for discouraged adolescents. From the terror of weekly spelling tests to the few inspiring teachers and tutors the two encountered, the tales are equal parts entertaining, poignant, and encouraging to others who may well be experiencing quite similar events. There's little discussion of what methods are right or wrong--ultimately, both authors take a fundamentally pragmatic view, and it's "right" if it worked. A steady focus on study skills fills the majority of the book, and Mooney and Cole take what are generally pretty familiar stands on note-taking and test preparation and break them down into easily digestible concepts. With different methods for different types of learners (visual thinkers are encouraged to use maps and brightly colored markers), students will find plenty of help in creating notebooks, focusing their attention, and even appropriate ways of conducting the infamous all-nighter. Including information on how to recover lost class notebooks, how to make the most of a syllabus, and "The Seven Habits of Highly Disorganized People," Learning Outside the Lines provides students with plenty of tools to further each reader's personal idea of success. --Jill Lightner
LD is not a prescription for failure! 
2006-12-14
Learning to learn can be quite a difficult task, just ask Jonathan Mooney and David Cole, two individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities and ADHD at a young age. But, it is not impossible. Through sheer determination and a disciplined regime, these two young men blossomed into honored Ivy League graduates. They forged their own paths and refused to let their learning difficulties define who they were or how successful they could be.
Learning Outside the Lines, provides intimate stories of pain and hardship to give us a sense of what it is really like to grow up with a learning disability. But more importantly, it provides those diagnosed with learning disabilities advice and guidelines on how to succeed academically.
This book is most beneficial for students in their teens who have been diagnosed with a learning difficulty and struggling to make sense of it all and looking for a way to effectively tackle a variety of academic tasks. It is also an amazing informational resource for anyone who has a child or student struggling in school.
For those of you who have been diagnosed with a learning difficulty, I would like you to take Jonathan Mooney and David Cole as examples of how you can succeed in life when everyone and everything seems to be against you. Know that having a learning disability does not mean that you can only go so far in life; you have the potential to do great things.
Ali Hashemian, Ph.D., COHC
Director, Attention & Achievement Center
Walnut Creek, CA
Outisde the lines at the speed of light 2006-09-24
This is a great book for anyone who has trouble reading from top to bottom or beginning to end. Those who start in the middle and skip around or read toward the front will recognize themselves. Its been 30 years since I finished college and a few less since finishing law school. I still use many of these techniques every day. I laughed my way through the book because I kept thinking "Hey, I used to do that." Don't miss this one. Thanks to the authors. I'm sure we could be friends.blewin
This book changed my life in college. 2006-08-25
I read Learning Outside the Lines my Freshmen year in College and it changed my life. I have a math learning disability and also ADD. The book helped me in developing better study habits and note taking skills. It is also helped me realize having a learning disability does not make me any less intelligent. If you are a college student and have a learning disability or ADD, get this book!
Required Reading 2006-08-07
This book should be required reading for everyone who is pursuing a teaching career. To say it was (and is) a tragedy how these two young men where treated is an understatement. It is also a tragedy if anyone thinks their stories are exceptions and not the rule. Students who learn differently are almost always treated in a horrible way. Read this book and learn from it. It would be great if this also had an audio book version so that the Dyslexic student could hear the book since reading the printed word is often so difficult.
