100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Auckland Bookstore open 8:30am-5pm on Sat & Sun

Stolen Focus

Why You Can't Pay Attention
4.22 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 80,556 ratings, 9,525 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
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari explores the alarming decline in our ability to concentrate and the external forces responsible for this crisis. Over three years, Hari investigates twelve deep causes that have eroded our attention spans—from the distractions of modern technology to societal changes—debunking the myth that lack of focus is a personal failing. The book travels from Silicon Valley to a favela in Rio and an office in New Zealand, revealing insights and solutions on how individuals and society can reclaim their focus.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

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 is ideal for readers interested in self-help, personal development, and understanding the impact of technology and society on mental wellbeing. It suits those seeking practical insights into improving concentration and reclaiming attention in a distracted world.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

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

The Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller
A Spectator and Financial Times Best Book of 2022

‘If you read just one book about how the modern world is driving us crazy, read this one’Telegraph
‘This book is exactly what the world needs right now’ – Oprah Winfrey
‘A beautifully researched and argued exploration of the breakdown of humankind's ability to pay attention’ – Stephen Fry
‘A really important book . . . Everyone should read it’ – Philippa Perry

Why have we lost our ability to focus? What are the causes? And, most importantly, how do we get it back?

For Stolen Focus, internationally bestselling author Johann Hari went on a three-year journey to uncover the reasons behind our shortening attention spans. He interviewed the leading experts in the world on attention and learned that everything we think about this subject is wrong.

We think our inability to focus is a personal failing – a flaw in each one of us. It is not. This has been done to all of us by powerful external forces. Our focus has been stolen. Johann discovered there are twelve deep causes of this crisis, all of which have robbed some of our attention. He shows us how in a thrilling journey that ranges from Silicon Valley dissidents, to a favela in Rio where attention vanished, to an office in New Zealand that found a remarkable way to restore our attention.

Crucially, he learned how – as individuals, and as a society – we can get our focus back, if we are determined to fight for it.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781526620163

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 January 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 530g

Pages: 352

About the Author

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 have been viewed over 70 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky to Joe Rogan. He lives in London.

@johannhari101

Also by Johann Hari

View all
  • Lost Connections
    Lost Connections by Johann Hari challenges the conventional understanding of depression and anxiety, offering a deeply researched and thought-provoking exploration into these critical issues. While it's often believed that mental health conditions are rooted solely in our brain's chemical imbalances, Hari uncovers a far more complex picture. The book is a compelling narrative that blends the personal, the scientific, and...
    Paperback
    $2599
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Stolen Focus
    THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A SPECTATOR AND FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2022 A WATERSTONES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH ‘If you read just one book about how the modern world is driving us crazy, read this one’ TELEGRAPH ‘This book is exactly what the world needs right now’ OPRAH WINFREY ‘A beautifully researched and argued...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Chasing the Scream
    10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH AN UPDATED AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND INSPIRATION FOR THE FEATURE FILM THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY 'Screamingly addictive' — STEPHEN FRY 'Superb ... Thrilling story-telling' — NAOMI KLEIN 'A powerful contribution to an urgent debate' — GUARDIAN What if everything we’ve been told about addiction is wrong? One...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Magic Pill
    A wonderfully accessible exploration of one of the most complex problems of our age TELEGRAPH Magic Pill will help you think more clearly about eating, dieting, health and mental health, even if you never touch Ozempic JONATHAN HAIDT The bestselling author of Lost Connections and Stolen Focus takes a revelatory look at the new drugs transforming weight loss as we...
    Paperback
    $3899
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Magic Pill
    I learned so much — DAVINA McCALL Will help you think more clearly about eating, dieting, health and mental health — JONATHAN HAIDT Over the last decade, an extraordinary scientific breakthrough has taken place. A new kind of drug has arrived on the market, working in an unprecedented way to revolutionise weight loss and dieting. In 2023, Johann Hari began...
    Paperback
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Magic Pill
    A wonderfully accessible exploration of one of the most complex problems of our age TELEGRAPH Magic Pill will help you think more clearly about eating, dieting, health and mental health, even if you never touch Ozempic JONATHAN HAIDT The bestselling author of Lost Connections and Stolen Focus takes a revelatory look at the new drugs transforming weight loss as we...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Chasing the Scream
    The New York Times Bestseller The Inspiration for the Feature Film The United States vs. Billie Holiday "Screamingly addictive" STEPHEN FRY "Superb ... Thrilling storytelling" NAOMI KLEIN "A powerful contribution to an urgent debate" Guardian Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari is an unflinching exploration of the history and science behind addiction. Hari embarks on a three-year, thirty-thousand-mile journey across...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Self-Help & Personal Development

View all
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    "What Were You Thinking!?"
    Everything parents need to know about their baby, child or teen's developing brain to raise resilient, emotional intelligent kids, by globally renowned neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis. 'What were you thinking!?'If you've ever asked this in despair while watching a toddler melt down, a tween push boundaries or a teenager make a truly terrible decision, this book is for you.In "What Were...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Let Them Theory
    New York Times Bestselling Author. Millions of books sold worldwide! A Life-Changing Tool Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words? If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other...
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3200
    (8)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    New Release
    Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. ‘Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Choose Your Hard
    Every path in life is hard. Being unfit and unhealthy is hard. Choosing to exercise, eat well, face discomfort, and do the difficult things is also hard. The question is: which hard do you choose? In Choose Your Hard, Professor Grant Schofield, one of New Zealand’s most cited health scientists with over 18,000 citations in the scientific literature, argues that...
    Paperback
    $3300
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    New Release
    The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    Powerful ideas for each day of the year from the author of the #1 worldwide bestseller, Atomic Habits. Based on the principles that made Atomic Habits a global phenomenon, this daily calendar turns habit formation into a simple daily practice. Get actionable guidance, motivational insights, and system-building tools that make it easier to get a little bit better—every day of...
    Calendar
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Now What?
    There are countless self-help books telling you how to get the life you want—how to find your purpose, make your plan, follow your goals. Yet, too many of us are frozen in life, unfulfilled and stuck with what we have. Too often, we only see our future through a lens of the past—our past beliefs, experiences, and circumstances. We desire...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • We Can Do Hard Things
    We Can Do Hard Things is a powerful and inspiring guide co-authored by renowned voices Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, and Amanda Doyle. This compelling book offers insights and encouragement to help readers tackle life's toughest challenges. By combining personal stories with practical advice, the authors empower you to embrace resilience and courage. Their collective wisdom sheds light on the strength...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Atua Wahine
    Ancient wisdom of the Māori goddesses to help you navigate the modern world Atua Wahine are the Māori goddesses who make up the world around us: earth, fire, water, the moon, and more. From the earth mother, Papatuanuku, who sustains and nurtures us, to the goddess of peace, Hineputehue, who transformed pain into beauty, and the misunderstood goddess of the...
    Hardback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Myth of Normal
    A book that changes everything - from the legendary Dr Gabor Maté THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world? Mental illness and chronic disease are on an unstoppable rise. How did we get here? And what lies ahead for us?...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhood—and all human relationships—from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spaces—communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.