60 pages • 2-hour read
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--And How to Think Deeply Again
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Discussion Questions
General Impressions
Invite readers to reflect on their broad takeaways and initial reactions to the book.
1. Hari’s argument shifts the focus from personal failure to systemic causes of distraction. What did you think of this perspective? How does it compare to other books you’ve read on productivity or focus, like Atomic Habits or Deep Work?
2. Of the 12 causes of stolen focus that Hari outlines, which felt the most eye-opening or under-discussed to you? Were any particularly surprising or validating based on your own experience?
3. How accessible did you find Hari’s blend of memoir, expert interviews, and research?
Personal Reflection and Connection (4-6)
Help readers relate the book’s lessons to their own life experiences.
1. What’s your relationship with flow states—those moments of total immersion in a task? After reading this book, have you gained new insight into how you lose or cultivate that state?
2. Reflect on how multitasking and digital interruptions show up in your day-to-day routines. Are there specific moments when you notice this being especially costly to your focus or productivity?
3. Hari connects sleep deprivation to impaired attention. How would you describe your current sleep habits, and have you noticed changes in your concentration tied to rest or fatigue?
4. Think back to your own childhood experiences with unstructured time. How have those experiences—or the lack of them—shaped your current ability to focus, reflect, or entertain yourself?
5. Hari asserts that individual tools won’t be enough without bigger systemic reforms. Do you find yourself more drawn to optimizing your own habits, or advocating for broader changes in your work or community environment?
Real-World Relevance
Encourage readers to think about the book’s role in current social, cultural, or professional conversations.
1. How do you see the attention economy—in which companies compete for your focus—shaping modern relationships?
2. Hari critiques how modern childhood is heavily structured and monitored. How does this trend reflect deeper anxieties in society about safety, productivity, or achievement?
3. Hari calls for a shift toward a “steady-state economy” that prioritizes well-being over endless growth. Do you see any signs of this shift happening in your industry or community?
Practical Applications
Invite readers to consider how they might put the book’s advice into action.
1. Hari’s digital detox experiment was drastic. If you were to attempt your own “focus reset,” what boundaries or changes would you put in place, and what challenges would you expect?
2. Hari emphasizes the importance of environmental design in regaining focus (for example, app blockers, quiet spaces, clearer schedules). What one change to your physical or digital environment could improve your attention, starting this week?
3. Hari talks about the need for collective advocacy, not just individual hacks. If you were to push for one change in policy—at work, school, or in tech design—what would it be, and what support would you need to do it?
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