In "Stolen Focus," bestselling author Johann Hari embarks on a riveting journey to unravel the modern crisis of concentration, uncovering the alarming reality that our ability to pay attention is disintegrating. Hari, known for his compelling narratives in "Chasing the Scream" and "Lost Connections," dives into the heart of our distracted world, revealing that the average teenager in the United States now switches tasks every sixty-five seconds, while office workers can barely manage three minutes of sustained focus. Through a blend of personal struggle and investigative prowess, Hari confronts the unsettling truth: our dwindling attention spans are not merely a failure of individual willpower but the result of a concerted effort by external forces to hijack our mental engagement for profit. With a storyteller's flair and a detective's diligence, Hari takes readers from the tech-saturated offices of Silicon Valley to the vibrant streets of a Rio de Janeiro favela, each step of the way uncovering the complex web of factors that have led to our collective attention deficit. Interviews with Silicon Valley defectors, ADHD-diagnosed dogs, and pioneers of productivity reveal a constellation of twelve deep-rooted causes eroding our focus, from environmental pollution to the demise of daydreaming. Yet, "Stolen Focus" is far from a lamentation; it is a clarion call to action. Hari eloquently lays out a blueprint for reclaiming our cognitive sovereignty, advocating for individual and societal shifts that promise to restore our ability to concentrate. This book is not just an exploration of a pressing issue but a manifesto for a more attentive, present, and enriched life in the digital age.