SimplyWellbeing logo
SimplyWellbeing logo

States of Denial – Stanley Cohen

BOOK REVIEWS

States of Denial – Stanley Cohen

Book review

Not sure denial is easy in an ADHD mind?

Human brains deny facts, truths, memories and pains in order to cope with life, yet individual and collective denial has resulted in a long history of suffering and harm to millions.

I am fascinated by the shared sense with my ADHD clients that we don’t do denial, our brains are less “compartmentalised”, we stare uncomfortable truths in the face and see the emperor has no clothes, yet this this awareness does not necessarily equate to our taking action.

In States of Denial, Cohen asks why in this world of increased information and knowledge about suffering, do we continue to accept, deny and ignore it? He is compassionate as he handles an uncomfortable subject, a behavior of which we are all guilty, though some are more guilty than others.

Cohen considers pollution, the oil wars, over-consumption of global resources, the inequalities for women – denial at personal, individual, social, political and universal level. He reviews the explanations for denial and identifies different types, styles, motives and cultural and personal collusions. In the end Professor Cohen argues that everyone has a responsibility to recognise, acknowledge and voice the truth.
Buy on Amazon
ADHD Coach, Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis is an ADHD Coach, writer and founder of SimplyWellbeing. He has over ten thousand hours and fifteen years of experience in coaching ADHD executives, business professionals and creatives. His expertise with ADHD is personal, with decades of his own experience, bringing up an ADHD child, running a large support group and in coaching clients often for years He has published his writing via this website and has ADHD online courses in development. His business expertise comes from a twenty years career in software, from programming, through marketing, sales and running a few start-ups.

Further reading

ADHD at work
Keep an optimistic outlook, calm mind and a realistic perspective, grounded advice from the Dalai Lama
ADHD at work
Great alternative to the 12-step programme for ADDicts
ADHD at work
A classic, a profound and helpful life guide. The New Psychology of love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth”., by M. Scott Peck, a former clinical psychiatrist who shares his insightful client experiences.
ADHD at work
Brilliant advice from father of three ADHD kids. I found it very helpful personally as a parent of an ADHD child
ADHD at work
A helpful guide for a parent helping their teen ADHD daughter
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram