First published 2013
Daniel Goleman examines attention as the most crucial yet overlooked mental capacity of our time. The psychologist and journalist argues that focus operates like a muscle that strengthens with proper training or weakens from neglect. He organizes attention research into three categories: inner focus, other focus, and outer focus. Success requires agility across all three types. Goleman draws from competitive sports, education, arts, and business to show how high achievers master what he terms Smart Practices. These include mindfulness meditation, focused preparation and recovery periods, cultivating positive emotions and relationships, and using mental tools to build better habits and acquire new abilities. The book distinguishes experts from novices and exceptional performers from average ones through scientific research combined with real-world applications. Goleman concludes by urging readers to direct their sharpened attention beyond personal goals toward broader societal challenges, including helping the disadvantaged and addressing future concerns rather than being trapped by immediate distractions.
Genres: psychology, business, self-help, education, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: informative, insightful, thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-advice, research-based
320 pages · Hardcover · Harper