Aiming for the Moon
Aiming for the Moon
Aiming for the Moon
Why We Can't Focus: Johann Hari (NYT Bestselling author of "Chasing the Scream," "Lost Connections," and "Stolen Focus")
1 hour Posted Mar 1, 2022 at 4:00 am.
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Show notes

Johann Hari and I explore why and how our attention spans are getting systematically destroyed by the modern world as we investigate his new book, "Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again." The reasons span from reading time to social media. 

Topics discussed: 

  • How did our attention spans get this bad
  • How the system is rigged against our focus
  • Why multitasking fails
  • How the business models of Big Tech destroy our focus
  • How promoting regulation could stop the demolition of our attention
  • Flow - what is it and how can we harness it to empower our focus
  • Easy steps to flow
  • Why systemic changes are needed, not Self-Help
  • Practical tools for focus
  • How students can improve focus
  • How the modern education system is ruining students' attention spans
  • What books have had an impact on Johann Hari
  • What advice Johann Hari has for teenagers


Johann Hari is a writer and journalist. He has written for the New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, and other newspapers. His TED talks and NowThis viral video have been viewed almost 100 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah Winfrey to Noam Chomsky to Joe Rogan. He was the Executive Producer of the Oscar-nominated film “The United States vs Billie Holiday” and of a forthcoming eight-part TV series starring Samuel L Jackson

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