Look: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World

(Paperback, International edition)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A powerful exploration of how we pay attention that will transform the ways we connect with one another - at home, at work, and beyond. Paying attention is a crucial human skill, yet many of us have forgotten how to listen carefully and observe intentionally. Deluged by social media and hobbled by the increasing social isolation it fosters, we need to rediscover the deeply human ways we connect with others. Christian Madsbjerg, a philosopher and entrepreneur,understands this dilemma. To counteract it, he began a course at The New School in New York City called Human Observation, which lays out the ways that we can learn to pay attention more effectively. The course has been hugely popular since its inception, with hundreds of students filling waiting lists. In Look, Madsbjerg sets out the key observational skills needed to show how we can recapture our ability to pay attention. Drawing from philosophy, science, the visual arts, and his own life, he offers both practical insights and a range of tools for experiencing the world with greater richness and texture. The result is a dynamic approach to rethinking observation that helps all of us to see with more empathy, accuracy, and connection to others.

Reviews

Praise for Look:

This is a truly eye-opening and original book. I've never read anything like it. Christian Madsbjerg sees the world in a completely fresh wayand so can you. Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist and The Data Detective

In a world poisoned by distraction, Christian Madsbjerg has provided the antidote. Look will help you revitalize your powers of observation, cultivate an independent mind, and generate insights you never knew you had. Prepare to have your thinking sharpened and your perspective widened with every turn of the page. Daniel H. Pink,author of The Power of Regret and Drive

Not only is Christian Madsbjerg's Look an excellent read, it is also the most original manifesto for the power of human intelligence to come across my desk in many years. If you have any curiosityabout what makes humans unique and necessary in the coming era of artificial intelligence, you must read this book. Mark Hyman, M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller Young Forever

Ifyou have any hope of creating something, changing something, or understanding anything about how humans behave in the world, you must read this book. You will never think about observing the world in the same way again. Tony Fadell, New York Times-bestselling author of Build, iPod inventor, and Nest founder

Author Bio

Christian Madsbjerg is cofounder of the consulting firm ReD Associates. He writes, speaks, and teaches widely on the practical application of the human sciences. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Financial Times, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek. He lives in New York City with his family.