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The World Beyond Your Head

How to Flourish in an Age of Distraction
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( 2,524 ratings, 367 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The World Beyond Your Head explores how modern society's focus on individualism and constant digital distractions impacts our attention and ability to engage with the world. Matthew Crawford argues for reclaiming our ability to focus by reconnecting with tangible experiences and traditional craftsmanship. The book delves into philosophical and psychological insights to illustrate the importance of active engagement with the world around us.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in exploring how modern technology impacts attention and human experience. It delves into philosophical ideas about how we interact with the world and argues for the importance of reclaiming our focus and engaging directly with our environment.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Exploring the intense focus of ice-hockey players, the flow of a cook in their element, and the inherited craft of building pipe organs, the author argues that in order to flourish, we need to return to lives where we establish meaningful connections with objects and the people around us.

Drawing on moral philosophy, cognitive science, the work lessons of craftsmen and his own life lessons as an academic and mechanic, he shows how each of us can learn to live in the world around us.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From 'one of the most influential thinkers of our time' (Sunday Times) - how to respond to today's demands on our attention.

In this brilliant follow-up to The Case for Working with Your Hands, Matthew Crawford investigates the challenge of mastering one's own mind. With ever-increasing demands on our attention, and with capitalism increasingly invading every space, how do we focus on what's really important in our lives?

Exploring the intense focus of ice-hockey players, the flow of a cook in their element, and the inherited craft of building pipe organs, Crawford argues that in order to flourish, we need to return to lives where we establish meaningful connections with objects and the people around us.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Matthew Crawford's The World Beyond Your Head has been described as both elegant and profound, with a hard-hitting and important message. Critics highlight its engaging and insightful narrative, noting Crawford's compelling examination of how modern devices and media exploit our attention for profit. The book is praised for placing the issue of attention loss within a historical context, making its case both politically and socially relevant.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241959442

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 February 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 227g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Matthew Crawford is a philosopher and mechanic. He has a PhD in political philosophy from the University of Chicago and served as a postdoctoral fellow on its Committee on Social Thought. Currently a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, he also runs Shockoe Moto, a motorcycle repair shop.

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