Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again
by Johann Hari
View on GoodreadsIf you've ever blamed yourself for not being able to concentrate, Hari's case is that it isn't a personal failing. He identifies twelve interconnected causes, from tech business models to sleep, diet and pollution, and argues that willpower alone won't get your attention back.
Core ideas
- Built to hook you: Platforms are designed to exploit psychological weak points, and anger holds attention, which he ties to YouTube recommending Alex Jones videos 15 billion times.
- Beyond the screen: Sleep loss, diet, pollution, workplaces and children confined to school without outdoor play all erode attention, and he takes up the debate over ADHD diagnosis.
- Collective, not personal: Even after three months offline in Provincetown, he calls purely personal fixes cruel optimism and argues for systemic change.
Published2022
Pages357
ISBN9780593138519
ReadFeb 2023
