Stolen Focus

Why You Can't Pay Attention

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Johann Hari: Stolen Focus (2022, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc)

English language

Published Nov. 3, 2022 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

ISBN:
978-1-5266-2016-3
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5 stars (2 reviews)

5 editions

Really Fantastic, A Must-Read

5 stars

I was expecting Stolen Focus to predominantly focus on digital focus, and the negative impacts big tech companies have on our attention. That’s definitely a good portion of this book, which was incredibly insightful, but there are many more concepts tied to focus I had never considered which were equally amazing to learn about.

Diet, environment, social factors, economy, politics, and more. Stolen Focus ties relations between the focus crisis to the climate crisis, the obesity crisis, the mental health crisis, and much more. These are all interlinked problems which feed on each other in disastrous ways.

This book is not a “how to reclaim your focus” guide, it’s rather a thorough investigation into how and why focus is so important, and what has happened to it. It gives you the context and understanding required to not just fight back personally, but socially.

Writing-wise, I was thoroughly impressed with the …

Review of 'Stolen Focus' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Audiobook. Covers much that I already knew from “the social dilemma” (documentary) and “down the rabbit hole” (NYT podcast).
Powerful first half.
I felt unsure about the second half and reading some reviews here from folk with ADHD I wonder if he simplified too much there.
Enjoyed his voice and pacing, agree with many of his points.
Leaves us with very much of a “what do we do now”? problem though.

Subjects

  • Psychology