You're thinking of having 50 attempted hobbies that you pretend you'll get back to one day. (I know; I have ADHD too.)

But McCarthy meant that he had 50+ concurrent consistently-actively-pursued hobbies/passions.

Which is something that's possible... if you have a lot of time on your hands, and you never allow anything into your life that drains you mentally so much that doing it kills your motivation to do anything else for the rest of the day. (Which IMHO is really only an option for people who are either retired, "independently wealthy", or being homeschooled.)

> is an American writer who has written twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays and two short stories

Still think he has ADHD?

Cormac McCarthy does not have ADHD.

Everything a pathology, innit mate? ADHD isn't ADHD if it impairs your functioning. If you're interested in a lot and can complete things then it's clearly not a disorder. And the man has written many books so clearly does not have an attention disorder.

I swear, I did not read this before writing my response about pathologizing to the same post. I guess it's a type of thinking that presents a pretty narrow target. Easy to recognize as a crutch once you're aware of it.

There's nothing wrong with being a dilettante. Definitely no need to pathologize it as part of ADHD. Dilettantism has led to some amazing art and music over time.

If you are clinically unable to persue and enjoy them maybe it is ADHD.

I myself paint watercolor and oil, am learning violin, joined a sailboat race team, am writing a book, started my own successful business that earns my living, lift weights, read 35 books, hiked 1000 miles of the AT, and became a volunteer firefighter, all this year. I'm currently designing a cabin I want to build. I'm having a blast. I definitely don't do as much with any of these hobbies as someone who only has one hobby, but I don't care, give me variety!