First published 2016
Matthew B. Crawford tackles the modern struggle to control our own minds in a world full of distractions. Following his previous work on manual skills, Crawford now examines how attention shapes who we become as people. He studies the laser focus of ice hockey players during games and short-order chefs working busy kitchens. He looks at gambling addicts and their compulsive behaviors. He explores everyday annoyances and the careful, patient work of pipe organ builders. Crawford argues that our attention problems go deeper than smartphones and social media. The real issue stems from basic assumptions in Western culture that conflict with human nature. He connects diverse experiences from airport security frustrations to hipster culture trends. The book addresses how we should raise children, design public spaces, and think about democracy itself.
Genres: psychology, social-science, sociology, non-fiction, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, cultural-critique
320 pages · Paperback · Farrar, Straus and Giroux