The Attention Fix by Anders Hansen – Mastering Focus in a Distracting World

The Attention Fix How to Focus in a World that Wants to Distract You by Anders Hansen Details & Statistics

Statistics of The Attention Fix How to Focus in a World that Wants to Distract You by Anders Hansen

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• Overall Rank in Books: #965,163
• Category Ranks:
  • #1,570 in Substance Abuse Recovery
  • #2,115 in Personal Time Management
  • #93,378 in Politics & Social Sciences (Books)

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• Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (40 reviews)

Genres

• Nonfiction
• Self Help
• Psychology 

The Attention Fix How to Focus in a World that Wants to Distract You by Anders Hansen Quotes

1. “From your first breath to your very last, your brain is trying to answer one single question: What should I do now?

2. “Feelings are not reactions to the world around us but something our brains create as a reaction to what’s happening inside our bodies, combined with what’s happening around us.

3. “All human activity—from scratching your chin to detonating an atomic bomb—is the result of one single thing: a desire to change your inner mental state.”

4. “Negative feelings take priority over positive ones, because historically they have often been linked to threats

5. “Stress is a reaction to something that is a threat; anxiety, however, is a reaction to something that we perceive to be a threat.”

6. “It’s not my fault that I’m depressed. My brain is just doing what it has evolved to do in a world that looked different from the one I live in. Being depressed is entirely natural.”

7. “The brain not only craves new information, it also wants novelty in the form of new environments and experiences.”

8. “Nothing kicks our reward center into gear like something that might happen.”

9. “Dopamine isn’t a “reward molecule” that provides pleasure; rather it tells us what to focus our attention on.”

10. “Social media developers have studied our reward system closely and are well aware of the brain’s love of uncertain outcomes, as well as how frequent they should be.

11. “Our brains remain largely unchanged, so the desire for new things lives on inside us”

12. “More than anything, our digital lifestyle means that we often try to do several things at once

13. “The brain loves shortcuts”

14. “Human knowledge isn’t the same as being able to reel off a long list of facts. The wisest person you know isn’t necessarily the best at Trivial Pursuit. Truly learning something in depth requires both contemplation and focus. In a world of fast clicks, that’s what we risk losing out on!”

15. “For almost all of human evolution, our audience was limited to one or a few people. But thanks to social media, we now have unimagined opportunities to tell our story to hundreds or even thousands of people.”

16. “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

17. “Gossip not only provides information about others but also discourages antisocial behavior and attempts to take advantage of others.”

18. “The most valuable thing today is not money, Bitcoin or even gold—it’s your attention.”

19. “studies suggest that it takes several minutes for the brain to focus 100 per cent on a task after a change of focus.”

20. “Nowadays, it’s not enough just to put my phone on silent; I have to leave it in another room to concentrate. Even so, I often find it difficult to sink into a book the way I did ten years ago. If I get to a page that requires more focus, I feel a strong urge to reach for my phone, as though I don’t have it in me to make the same effort any more.”

The Attention Fix How to Focus in a World that Wants to Distract You by Anders Hansen Table Of Contents

• Dedication
  
• Epigraph
  
• Preface
  
• 1. The world that shaped us
  
• 2. Stress, anxiety and depression—evolutionary winners?
  
• 3. Cell phones—our new drug
  
• 4. Focus—the scarcity of our time
  
• 5. How do screens affect our sleep and mental health?
  
• 6. Social media—our biggest “influencer”
  
• 7. What are screens doing to children and young people?
  
• 8. Exercise—a smart antidote
  
• 9. The future brain—will it adapt?
  
• Closing words
  
• Advice for living in a digital age
  
• Bibliography
  
• Acknowledgments
  
• Index
  
• About the Author

The Attention Fix by Anders Hansen – Mastering Focus in a Distracting World Book Summary

Chapter 1: The World That Shaped Us

This chapter introduces the contrast between the world our brains evolved in and the fast-paced, technology-driven environment we now navigate. It underscores how technological advancements, especially over the past few decades, have outpaced our brain’s evolutionary development.

The author emphasizes that, despite living in a digital world, our brains are still wired for survival in a time of scarcity, when threats were immediate and resources limited. This sets the foundation for understanding the struggles we face as we adapt to the ever-changing demands of modern life.

Chapter 2: Stress, Anxiety, and Depression—Evolutionary Winners?

Here, the author explores the evolutionary origins of stress, anxiety, and depression, arguing that these conditions may have played a vital role in our ancestors’ survival. He explains how the HPA axis, responsible for the body’s stress response, is well-suited to handle short-term threats but not chronic stressors. While these mental health issues are disruptive today, they likely helped our ancestors stay alert to danger and conserve energy in times of prolonged hardship.

Chapter 3: Cell Phones—Our New Drug

In this chapter, the addictive nature of smartphones is explored, with a focus on how they trigger our brain’s reward system. The author explains that cell phones release dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure, whenever we receive notifications, check social media, or encounter new information.

This dopamine-driven cycle keeps us tethered to our phones, despite the negative consequences it often brings. The chapter illustrates how this addiction cycle is hard to break, highlighting the damaging effects of constant digital engagement on our attention and overall well-being.

Chapter 4: Focus—The Scarcity of Our Time

This chapter examines the detrimental impact of digital habits on our ability to focus. Multitasking, common in today’s world, is shown to divide attention and hinder the formation of strong memories. The author discusses the importance of sustained focus for deep learning and critical thinking—skills that are increasingly threatened by the distractions of constant digital stimulation. The chapter highlights the importance of focus in a world where attention is in short supply, encouraging readers to protect their mental resources from the pull of multitasking and digital interruptions.

Chapter 5: How Do Screens Affect Our Sleep and Mental Health?

In this chapter, the author explores the relationship between screen time, sleep, and mental well-being. He explains how the blue light emitted from digital screens interferes with melatonin production, a hormone essential for regulating the sleep-wake cycle.

The chapter goes on to highlight how the stimulation from phone use can hinder both the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. It underscores the critical importance of good sleep for both physical and mental health and offers practical strategies for minimizing the negative impact of screens on sleep patterns.

Chapter 6: Social Media—Our Biggest “Influencer”

This chapter delves into the significant role social media plays in shaping our mental health. The author discusses how platforms like Facebook and Instagram exploit our inherent social instincts, encouraging us to compare ourselves to others and seek validation through likes and comments.

This often leads to feelings of inadequacy, envy, and depression, particularly among individuals who are already vulnerable. The chapter also raises concerns about the erosion of empathy due to increased online interaction and decreased face-to-face communication.

Chapter 7: What Are Screens Doing to Children and Young People?

Focusing specifically on the impact of screens on children and adolescents, this chapter highlights the potential dangers of excessive screen time for developing brains.

The author discusses how children’s cognitive development, learning abilities, sleep patterns, and mental health can be negatively affected by too much screen exposure. The chapter emphasizes the importance of parents and educators being mindful of screen use in young people, and advocating for balanced activities that promote healthy growth and development away from digital devices.

Chapter 8: Exercise—A Smart Antidote

This chapter presents physical exercise as a powerful antidote to the negative effects of excessive screen time and a sedentary lifestyle. The author explains how exercise can enhance focus, reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and boost overall mental well-being.

It inspires readers to make regular physical activity an integral part of their routine, offering a counterbalance to the harmful effects of prolonged screen use and helping to foster better health in both mind and body.

Chapter 9: The Future Brain—Will It Adapt?

In the final chapter, the author raises critical questions about the long-term effects of our digital lifestyle on brain development. While the brain’s plasticity allows it to adapt to new environments, there are concerns about whether such adaptations will always be beneficial.

The chapter investigates both the positive and negative potential consequences as technology continues to advance, urging readers to be mindful of how technology is designed and used. The author calls for conscious, thoughtful decisions to ensure that the future of our brains remains healthy and adaptable in the face of ongoing digital challenges.

About the Author: Anders Hansen

Dr. Anders Hansen is a Swedish psychiatrist, speaker, and international bestselling author with his TV series exploring the human brain. Dr. Hansen’s books have sold millions of copies globally and topped bestseller lists around the world. He is the winner of the book of the year Big Health Award, 2017 and, 2019, and Sweden’s Mensa Prize, 2018.

Dr. Hansen is also the author of The ADHD Advantage, The Happiness Cure, and The Mind-Body Method.

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