Scan barcode
A review by andrewhatesham
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This is the book I'd recommend to anyone who read "How to Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell and thought it was an esoteric dumpster fire.
I'll admit, I was skeptical going into this. I thought it would be another throw-away self help book that would take over 300 pages to convey a blog post's worth of recycled information. Well, I was wrong. This isn't even a self help book, which I appreciate, because the concept of regaining your ability to focus isn't as simple as putting timers on your social media apps and learning how to meditate. Hari acknowledges and explores the fact that our waning abilities to focus, isn't an individualistic problem, it's systemic.
Be warned, you have to take some of this with a grain of salt (don't believe everything you read in a book!) because Hari is clearly biased and doesn't seem to present everything 100% objectively, and maybe also referenced unreliable studies. Another thing I will say, is that there were some eye-roll worthy moments where, for example, Hari made statements about being unaware of certain things that are obvious to most. He probably tweaked the truth for dramatic effect.
All that aside, I found this to be very engaging, thought-provoking, and written in an accessible way. It's also nice to be reassured that having issues with focusing isn't some kind of personal moral failing. While this isn't a self help book telling you what you should or shouldn't do, it leaves you with useful ideas to keep in mind and potentially research for yourself. I think the greatest piece of information I got out of this was the importance of mind wandering, and allowing yourself time to UNFOCUS. Maybe it isn't groundbreaking information, but it's something that has stuck with me, so far.
I'd recommend this as long as you're aware that you probably shouldn't take it all at face value. It's better as a jumping off point to do your own thinking and researching because it lays out many good questions to pursue.
Also, the conclusion falls flat. You could skip it and probably not miss anything important.
I'll admit, I was skeptical going into this. I thought it would be another throw-away self help book that would take over 300 pages to convey a blog post's worth of recycled information. Well, I was wrong. This isn't even a self help book, which I appreciate, because the concept of regaining your ability to focus isn't as simple as putting timers on your social media apps and learning how to meditate. Hari acknowledges and explores the fact that our waning abilities to focus, isn't an individualistic problem, it's systemic.
Be warned, you have to take some of this with a grain of salt (don't believe everything you read in a book!) because Hari is clearly biased and doesn't seem to present everything 100% objectively, and maybe also referenced unreliable studies. Another thing I will say, is that there were some eye-roll worthy moments where, for example, Hari made statements about being unaware of certain things that are obvious to most. He probably tweaked the truth for dramatic effect.
All that aside, I found this to be very engaging, thought-provoking, and written in an accessible way. It's also nice to be reassured that having issues with focusing isn't some kind of personal moral failing. While this isn't a self help book telling you what you should or shouldn't do, it leaves you with useful ideas to keep in mind and potentially research for yourself. I think the greatest piece of information I got out of this was the importance of mind wandering, and allowing yourself time to UNFOCUS. Maybe it isn't groundbreaking information, but it's something that has stuck with me, so far.
I'd recommend this as long as you're aware that you probably shouldn't take it all at face value. It's better as a jumping off point to do your own thinking and researching because it lays out many good questions to pursue.
Also, the conclusion falls flat. You could skip it and probably not miss anything important.