The title of this book peaked my interest for a couple of reasons:
- I have ADHD and the attention span of a butterfly on speed
- I feel like the internet steals hours of my day
I can’t remember who recommended Stolen Focus Why You Can’t Pay Attention by Johann Hari to me but I knew as someone who has quit social media several times, most recently for good, I needed to read it.
Did social media trash my focus? Once I read this book will I be able to think deeply again?
For context, I started reading this on 30th January 2025 and because of distractions here we are in May 2025 and I’m only just 14% into the book.
I’ve published this work in progress review as a reminder to myself to finish reading the book. I don’t like half-written reviews up on here so let’s see if that encourages me to read at least a chapter each night.
The beginning of the book takes us Graceland and I didn’t expect that at all…..
It’s That Damn Phone, or is it?
Our author takes us on a journey as he goes cold turkey without technology, the only connection to the world a dumb phone and you know, actually speaking to people in real life.
He also meets with and shares information from professionals. Studies that are new to me and not rehashed info that you find in nearly every other productivity book.
Does Sleep Depravation Affect Focus?
Er, yes!
Like for example did you know that our brains go in to auto ‘car wash’ mode when we’re in a quality sleep? No me neither! They literally wash away the toxins of the day. That is, if we are sleeping enough and naturally.
Sleep deprivation, even an hour lost per night here and there is no joke and it’s something I’m going to work on.
Paper vs Digital Books – there is a difference!
Not only does it feel nice to hold a book in hand and read but our brains actually focus more. There have been studies done into the different methods of consuming media and unsurprisingly, reading on an iPad triggers a different focus in our brains.
Me personally I try to be minimal with my books so I switched 50/50 to physical and digital BUT I do notice the difference. There’s no light right in my eyes before bed when I read a paper book, however it can be more economical and there’s more available to me when choosing digital books.
There’s a whole paragraph about social media that Johann Hari penned and I couldn’t have said it better myself, so when I remember I will add that here:
