Stolen Focus

Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again

By: Johann Hari

Narrated by: Johann Hari

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. From the author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections comes a groundbreaking examination of why this is happening—and how to get our attention back.

“The book the world needs in order to win the war on distraction.”—Adam Grant, author of Think Again

“Read this book to save your mind.”—Susan Cain, author of Quiet

WINNER OF THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Post, Mashable, Mindful

In the United States, teenagers can focus on one task for only sixty-five seconds at a time, and office workers average only three minutes. Like so many of us, Johann Hari was finding that constantly switching from device to device and tab to tab was a diminishing and depressing way to live. He tried all sorts of self-help solutions—even abandoning his phone for three months—but nothing seemed to work. So Hari went on an epic journey across the world to interview the leading experts on human attention—and he discovered that everything we think we know about this crisis is wrong.

We think our inability to focus is a personal failure to exert enough willpower over our devices. The truth is even more disturbing: our focus has been stolen by powerful external forces that have left us uniquely vulnerable to corporations determined to raid our attention for profit. Hari found that there are twelve deep causes of this crisis, from the decline of mind-wandering to rising pollution, all of which have robbed some of our attention. In Stolen Focus, he introduces readers to Silicon Valley dissidents who learned to hack human attention, and veterinarians who diagnose dogs with ADHD. He explores a favela in Rio de Janeiro where everyone lost their attention in a particularly surreal way, and an office in New Zealand that discovered a remarkable technique to restore workers’ productivity.

Crucially, Hari learned how we can reclaim our focus—as individuals, and as a society—if we are determined to fight for it. Stolen Focus will transform the debate about attention and finally show us how to get it back.

©2022 Johann Hari (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Where other books about our relationship to technology tend to focus on personal responsibility, stressing the importance of self-control, Stolen Focus takes a step back and examines the ecosystem that created the problem. . . . Hari’s writing is incredibly readable.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Big-name websites and apps strive to distract because that’s the key to profitability. When we’re looking at our screens, these companies make money; when we’re not, they don’t. . . . It’s a call to arms, to be sure, and I’m tempted to tell my Twitter followers about it—but I’ve deleted the app from my phone.”—The Washington Post

“If your New Year’s resolution was to be more focused this year, then this is the book for you. [Adam] Grant describes the author as ‘a thoughtful critic of our modern malaise.’”—Inc.

Enjoyable and helpful

Although I can’t say I agree with everything the author said, I kept an open mind and generally enjoyed the book, concepts, stories and research. All points that were brought up were valuable to consider. Definitely made me more mindful of my habits and surroundings.

Fantastic narration

Best narration Ive listened to here. The substance of the book could use some tightening up. Ironically, he loses focus on his thesis about halfway through the reading, when the book then becomes a podium for him to gripe about the way society operates nowadays.

Eye opener!

As a young woman I was always considered gifted by educators and parents, but as I’ve entered my 40s I’ve struggled to hold onto any deep thought long enough to find any real progress. What could have gone so wrong inside my own mind?

I now have a fairly good idea and I’m going to start implementing steps to get back to a better focus health after this insightful work.

Everyone must must must listen :)

Life. Changing. It is read by the author with a wonderful British accent. it sounds like a friend talking to you!

If you know nothing about the brain , focus or attention this is a beyond brilliant introduction

I've been listening to one chapter a week. spending time on how it applies to my life and I've seen wild results over the past 2 months

there is no : you must do this. or do these 5 things. he simply explains one topic so well i can see in my own life what needs to be done

I will listen to this book again and again and again and again due to calming (his voice) and proud effect this book has on my life

EVERY HUMAN NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!

This is my first review as I feel soooooo very strongly about this book.
Life changing, mind blowing, but nothing that will surprise you. We can see it all around us everyday. It’s a conversation NO ONE is having but everyone should be having. I have been recommending to everyone I know and you should too.
This is some serious business that anyone who has a working brain should absolutely absorb.

most important book read for a long time

discusses the many factors affecting focus in the world today and also somewhat in the past. also suggests some solutions.

great read

really opened my eyes and made me think back to my own childhood and how my life is. Thank you

Well written and powerful

I deleted my Instagram only a month ago and already my life is benefiting.
I am finishing my teaching credential and am happy to have this book help me navigate my lessons.

Important!! Attention!!

The ideas in this book are important for our future, our childrens future and our everyday life. Hari does a great job of synthesizing a lot of information and telling us why these things are important. I’m giving this book to my grown children and telling all my friends. Thank you, Johann!

Finding the Joy in Life!

This is a phenomenal book. Not only does it help to make small changes that have a big impact, but also how to reclaim the society that many feel has been destroyed. Including myself. It gives me hope for a better future for my grandchildren, and something that I can be passionate about and do some thing about. I have found tremendous joy by reconnecting, by actually speaking to, my family and friends. I’m going to send a copy to everybody I know! If only a few of them find it as intelligent and useful as I have, it’s still progress. I am also going to make sure that each of my grandchildren read this when they’re old enough for it to make sense of it all. Thank you Johanne!!