New Books in Popular Culture The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Jan 20, 2026
D. Graham Burnett, a historian at Princeton, Peter Schmidt, director of the Strother School of Radical Attention, and filmmaker Alyssa Loh discuss the urgent call to reclaim our attention from corporate exploitation. They describe the concept of 'human fracking,' highlighting how our attention is commodified. The guests propose that attention, viewed relationally, is vital for community and humanity. They explore the need for sanctuaries, coalition-building, and grassroots movements to restore our shared attentional identity, simultaneously emphasizing historical context to inspire political action.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Attention Is Historically Contingent
- The modern view of attention as a narrow, mechanical capacity is historically contingent, shaped by mid-20th-century lab studies.
- Military-funded research on vigilance and screens narrowed attention to what could be measured and monetized.
Attention As A Human Capacity
- Attention is a humane capacity tied to our ability to care, not just a measurable span or productivity tool.
- Reclaiming attention means recognizing its diverse forms like caregiving, cooking, and reading as central to flourishing.
Prefer Community Over Self-Blame
- Stop treating attention loss as personal failure and stop leaning solely on discipline or willpower.
- Build community and solidarity to resist structural, extractive forces targeting attention.
