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  • Stolen Focus

  • Why You Can't Pay Attention
  • By: Johann Hari
  • Narrated by: Johann Hari
  • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,394 ratings)

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Stolen Focus

By: Johann Hari
Narrated by: Johann Hari
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Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, read by Johann Hari.

Why have we lost our ability to focus? What are the causes? And, most importantly, how do we get it back?

For Stolen Focus, internationally best-selling author Johann Hari went on a three-year journey to uncover the reasons why our teenagers now focus on one task for only 65 seconds, and why office workers on average manage only three minutes. He interviewed the leading experts in the world on attention and learned that everything we think about this subject is wrong.

We think our inability to focus is a personal failing—a flaw in each one of us. It is not. This has been done to all of us by powerful external forces. Our focus has been stolen. Johann discovered there are 12 deep cases of this crisis, all of which have robbed some of our attention. He shows us how in a thrilling journey that ranges from Silicon Valley dissidents, to a favela in Rio where attention vanished, to an office in New Zealand that found a remarkable way to restore our attention.

Crucially, he learned how—as individuals and as a society—we can get our focus back, if we are determined to fight for it.

©2022 Johann Hari (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic Reviews

"Johann Hari writes like a dream. He’s both lyricist and storyteller—but also an indefatigable investigator of one of the world’s greatest problems: the systematic destruction of our attention. Read this book to save your mind." (Susan Cain)

"A really important book.... Everyone should read it." (Philippa Perry)

"A beautifully researched and argued exploration of the breakdown of humankind's ability to pay attention." (Stephen Fry)

What listeners say about Stolen Focus

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ironically going to listen to this again!

As a teacher there is a lot of extremely valuable information here. I'm recommending it to all my colleagues.

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This is a book about systematic, not personal, change

As long as you’re not looking for a self help book, this is excellent! I think it pairs well with something like indistractable that will give you some level of control and individual action over your focus, while this book reminds you ITS NOT JUST YOU. Excellently researched and a well argued narrative

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must read

This book is non-negotiable, if you live in modern society, you must read/listen to this book.

Amazing 5/5

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AMAZING and OBSESSED

AMAZING IS ALL THAY IS REQUIRED! Interesting and well r researched. Fascinating and had me hooked from the start. Johans voice is also easy to listen too. One of the best books I’ve read on a while.

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Wonderful read

this book is amazing read. It explains in great detail the underlying causes for our lack of attention. Everyone needs to read this.....

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very important book

This was a shocking but necessary peice of work. I highly recommend everyone should take on board its message

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Lots of great information and life tools offered

This is such a good book. It's really informative, exploring the various contributing factors to our stolen focus in life...like really eye opening.

There's a lot of intentional focus stealing being committed behind the scenes in our lives, that we have little to no idea about.

There is also some really interesting information about ADHD, which has given me a completely different perspective and new game plan to combat my own personal issues.

There's a lot of really good tools offered in this book to help bring our minds back to our bodies. It's definitely a must read for anyone and everyone - whether you think you've got attention problems or not.

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Thought provoking

Thank you Jonathan for an engaging and enlightening book, and an excellent reading performance. Many practical tips for improving individual focus.

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Highly recommend this!

I am a fan of Johann’s books and this is yet another one that really nailed it. Lots to unpack, I can see myself going back to this again in future to try and work out strategies I can use, ways we can develop structural change, and also to join organisations to get our attention back. Check this book out!

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hugely important

everyone should read this book. as someone with attention issues from childhood I was aware of many ideas behind owning focus but the depth and speed of the issues accelerating for those with NT brains should be cause for concern. I appreciate the research but also the avenues explored in this book. highly recommend

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