Book Review

Stolen Focus: Why you can’t pay attention
Johan Hari [158 HAR]

A very readable book. I found it compelling. Particularly because I agree with Hari’s premise that there is a global reduction in attention span. He proposes an Attention Rebellion movement.

Part memoir and part social critique, this is NOT a book that says “Here is the problem, here is the simple solution. I did it. Here’s how you can do it, too.”
Hari, a white, middle class able-bodied cis-gendered gay man and journo, takes us on his journey of understanding how digital technology and social media have been both a boon in his professional life, and the bane of his life. He writes in a storytelling style, both his personal attempts at ‘digital detoxing’, and, as importantly, the unintended negative consequences of doing so. But also, as with all other great social change, personal and individual behavioural changes are simply not enough.

Without adopting a paranoid position, he demonstrates how technologies are designed to be addictive – particularly for those reliant on them in their paid employment. Hari interviews Silicon Valley technicians, sales people, digital programmers and designers, as well as company CEOs. He explains how many in this industry speak very publicly about the dangers of this technology. Such people are leaving these companies in droves or staying to fight worsening addictive digital programs. “Your distraction is our profit”, is the underlying mantra in many of these companies.
No high knowledge of technology is required to read this.