Johann Hari On Why You Can’t Pay Attention (& How To Reclaim Your Focus)

32 snips

Feb 14, 2022

Johann Hari, a journalist and New York Times bestselling author, dives into the alarming decline of attention in our tech-driven society. He discusses how disconnection from nature, disrupted sleep, and smartphone addiction undermine our focus. Hari shares personal insights on overcoming distractions and the need for systemic change to reclaim our minds. He emphasizes the importance of collective action, healthy habits, and a shift away from harmful business models to foster meaningful engagement and deeper connections in a distracted world.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Provincetown Detox

Johann Hari's declining focus led him to a 3-month digital detox in Provincetown.
He noticed similar attention issues in others, especially young people.

INSIGHT

Attention Crisis Factors

Attention problems have increased significantly, impacting productivity and focus.
Twelve factors affect attention, many worsened by modern life, like sleep deprivation.

ANECDOTE

Sleep Deprivation's Impact

We sleep less than before, impacting our ability to focus.
Dr. Charles Seisler's research shows sleep deprivation impairs attention like being drunk.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

We are living in a time of upgraded technology and downgraded humans.

Our collective ability to resist distraction and sustain attention is in decline.

Although will power plays a role, this problem is not entirely our fault—it’s the by-product of powerful forces incident to modern life.

Disconnection from nature. Disrupted sleep. Toxic environments. Predatory tech.

What exactly does a focus-less future augur? And what can be done to reclaim our ability to truly concentrate?

Back for his second appearance on the show, our steward for these existential questions is journalist & multiple New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari, who, when confronted with his own deteriorating attention span, dove deep into the individual and systemic solutions to this dispiriting collective trend.

Johann has written for the LA Times, Le Monde, and many other outlets, has two of the most-watched TED Talks, and has been profiled in essentially every prominent media outlet. His books include Chasing The Scream and Lost Connections,, which explores the roots of addiction, and was the subject of our first exchange back on episode #416. But today, he’s here to share big lessons from his latest book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention, which is a provoking journey into the forces robbing us of our attention and a look at how we might begin to reclaim our minds, and our lives.

Today’s conversation focuses on the problematic impact of big tech, smartphone addiction and surveillance capitalism on our well-being and that of our children.

We discuss the specific factors contributing to attention decline–from reduced sleep, environmental pollution, and something called the switch/cost effect, to chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and disconnection from others and the natural world.

Beyond the many problems, we, of course, also address solutions—both systemic and individualistic—such that we may recapture our focus and be the best version of ourselves.

Johann is quite the entertaining storyteller, with humor that makes hard truths go down a little easier.

To read more, click here. You can also watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a hopeful conversation about how to build a life of greater joy, enhanced personal fulfillment, and focus. My wish is that it serves and enlightens.

Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich