The Attention Merchants
The Attention Merchants
Tim Wu
Tristan Harris
Must read. - Tristan Harris
Trung Phan
About the Digital Ads industry. - Trung Phan
Brianne Kimmel
Highly recommend [this] book. - Brianne Kimmel
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3
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The Attention Merchants

The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads

Tim Wu
By
Tim Wu
4.1
611
ratings on Goodreads

In "The Attention Merchants," acclaimed author Tim Wu embarks on a captivating exploration of how our attentions are ensnared and monetized in the digital age. Wu delves deep into the evolution of advertising and its insidious growth into nearly every facet of our daily lives, tracing its origins from the early days of newspaper ads to the sophisticated digital platforms of Google and Facebook. With a narrative as engaging as the very tactics it critiques, Wu reveals the relentless pursuit of our attention by industries that flourish on distraction, transforming the sacred spaces of our minds into bustling markets for the highest bidder. Wu's examination is more than a history; it's a critical analysis of a phenomenon that has shaped our society, politics, and personal lives in unimaginable ways. Through vivid examples and insightful commentary, "The Attention Merchants" offers a mirror to our distracted selves, challenging us to confront the commodification of our attention. This book is not just a journey through the timeline of advertising but a call to awareness, urging readers to reclaim the sanctity of their attention in a world that never ceases to vie for it. In a narrative that is as enlightening as it is alarming, Tim Wu crafts a compelling testament to the power held by those who capture our gaze.

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Released
2016
4 Oct
Length
403
Pages

3

recommendations

recommendation

About the Digital Ads industry. - Trung Phan
Must read. - Tristan Harris
Highly recommend [this] book. - Brianne Kimmel
As William James observed, we must reflect that, when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default. We are at risk, without quite fully realizing it, of living lives that are less our own than we imagine.
— Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants

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