Stolen focus with Johann Hari

Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. It’s not just you, our focus has been stolen by powerful external forces.

New York Times best-selling author Johann Hari has been on a mission to uncover why this is happening to us and whether we can get our focus back. In his newest book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention, Hari investigates how technology and other facets of modern life have impacted our ability to concentrate. What he discovered were structural problems rather than the individuals personal failing.

In conversation with UNSW’s Rosalind Dixon, they explore why it is so important that we pay attention to this ‘attention revolution’ and what we can do to get our focus back.

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[caseychris]

I had a smartphone for a short time and hated it. So I went back to my flip phone with no Internet connection. It's much more peaceful. My problem is YouTube on my PC. I'm trying to take long breaks, which is helping. I'm reading Johann's book now. An excellent read!

[CareyTisdal]

Wow! I am crying. This may be the core element that can help us all with these problems that seem so overwhelming. Mr. Hari, thank you!

[toriko]

Even then, here I am watching a YT video telling me not to be afraid of getting bored. How Ironic, since I 'm watching this video not to get bored. Definitely a strange world we live in.

[johantino]

We own our own minds and together we can take them back .. amen to that. A similar message comes from Terence McKenna and many others.. there is alot of hope indeed

[paulpeartsmith]

Fabulous interview. Shame Johan used the BBC as an example of a government-free broadcaster. It's anything but.

[pedrojaguilar]

I watched 1 minute and I went to the kitchen and forgot what I was watching. The struggle is real

[mantykarhu]

Would be nice is this interview stayed focused on FOCUS.

[yadevolkram]

We now know the BBC exaggerated the dangers of CovI9 to manipulate behaviour. Did our man focus sufficiently to realise that?

[Football__Junkie]

“The BBC. The most trusted news outlet in the world.”

😂 Okay, Johann. Definitely not a mouthpiece for the British government. Totally separated from government influence for the people.

[TheSteinbitt]

Do you guys mention aboriginals every single time you have a lecture or talk in this university?😂

[oliverc]

I'm glad we rejected the Voice and didn't agree with the daft idea that Aboriginal people (meaning not defined) should have a special, higher, status than people of all other ethnicities who wouldn't have constitutionally guaranteed representative bodies of their own. The experts on Aboriginal health, Aboriginal crime, Aboriginal education, Aboriginal housing, Aboriginal economic deprivation, etc. are also experts on Chinese Australian health, crime, education, housing, economic deprivation, etc.

The rest was a dull chat with a man who was disgraced and hasn't really lived that down.

[johnstfleur]

I TOLD YOU TO BE INTELLIGENT LIKE ZERO. JOHN. FOCUS ON ME. HEATH LEDGER I AM 23.