`Author:` [[Johann Hari]] `Availability:` > [!info] > ## Summary Johann Hari’s ***Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again*** (2022) is a deep dive into the modern attention crisis. Unlike books that blame individual willpower, Hari argues that our inability to focus is the result of systemic forces—[[Technology]], [[Culture]], and economic structures—that hijack our attention for profit. ### **Key Themes in *Stolen Focus*:** 1. **The Collapse of Attention** - Studies show human attention spans have shrunk drastically (now averaging **47 seconds per screen**). - Multitasking is a myth—it fractures focus and reduces cognitive performance. 2. **12 Causes of Our Attention Crisis** (Hari identifies interconnected factors, including): - **Tech Surveillance Capitalism**: [[Social Media]] and apps are designed to addict us (endless scroll, notifications). - **Speed of Information**: The internet rewards quick reactions, not deep thought. - **Sleep Deprivation**: Poor [[Sleep]] destroys focus (linked to screen use). - **Overload of Choice**: Decision fatigue from constant options (e.g., Netflix scrolling). - **Decline of "[[Flow]] States"**: Constant interruptions kill deep work. 3. **The Role of Big Tech** - Hari interviews ex-tech employees who reveal how platforms exploit psychological vulnerabilities (e.g., variable rewards like likes/shares). - **"The Attention Economy"** forces companies to compete for our focus—often at the cost of [[Mental Health]]. 4. **Solutions & Hope** - **Collective Action**: Pushing for regulation (e.g., banning addictive algorithms). - **Personal Changes**: - **"Focus Resisting"**: Blocking distractions (e.g., app blockers, phone-free zones). - **Reclaiming Boredom**: Letting the mind wander without stimulation. - **Slow Activities**: Reading books, long walks, analog hobbies. ### **Criticism & Controversy** - Some argue Hari overstates tech’s role (ignoring ADHD, socioeconomic stress). - His solutions lean political (e.g., advocating for a 4-day workweek). ### **Why It Stands Out** Hari blends investigative journalism (traveling to neuroscientists, tech whistleblowers) with personal experiments (3-month digital detox). Unlike [[Cal Newport]]’s productivity focus, Hari frames attention as a **social justice issue**—our focus is "stolen," not just mismanaged. ### **If You Liked:** - *Digital Minimalism* (Newport) - *The Shallows* (Nicholas Carr) - *Irresistible* (Adam Alter) **Would you like key takeaways for applying his ideas to your screen [[Habits]]?** Hari’s work pairs well with Newport’s *Digital Minimalism* for actionable steps. ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]