Stolen Focus

Description

THE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A SPECTATOR AND FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2022 A WATERSTONES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH 'If you read just one book about how the modern world is driving us crazy, read this one' TELEGRAPH 'This book is exactly what the world needs right now' OPRAH WINFREY 'A beautifully researched and argued exploration of the breakdown of humankind's ability to pay attention' STEPHEN FRY 'A really important book . . . Everyone should read it' PHILIPPA PERRY --- Is your ability to focus and pay attention in free fall? You are not alone. The average office worker now focuses on any one task for just three minutes. But it's not your fault. Your attention didn't collapse. It has been stolen. Internationally bestselling author Johann Hari shows twelve deep factors harming our focus. Once we understand them, together, we can take back our minds. CONTENTS Introduction Walking in Memphis 1 1 Cause One: The Increase in Speed, Switching and Filtering 17 2 Cause Two: The Crippling of Our Flow States 43 3 Cause Three: The Rise of Physical and Mental Exhaustion 59 4 Cause Four: The Collapse of Sustained Reading 75 5 Cause Five: The Disruption of Mind-Wandering 87 6 Cause Six: The Rise of Technology That Can Track and Manipulate You (Part One) 101 7 Cause Six: The Rise of Technology That Can Track and Manipulate You (Part Two) 119 8 Cause Seven: The Rise of Cruel Optimism 137 9 The First Glimpses of the Deeper Solution 149 10 Cause Eight: The Surge in Stress and How It Is Triggering Vigilance 165 11 The Places That Figured Out How to Reverse the Surge in Speed and Exhaustion 179 12 Causes Nine and Ten: Our Deteriorating Diets and Rising Pollution 191 13 Cause Eleven: The Rise of ADHD and How We Are Responding to It 209 14 Cause Twelve: The Confinement of Our Children, Both Physically and Psychologically 233 Conclusion Attention Rebellion 259 Groups Already Fighting to Improve Attention 279 Acknowledgements 283 Notes 287 Index 335