Book · 2022 · Social Science
Stolen Focus
Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari has been mentioned in 18 episodes across 13 podcasts (9 episodes recommend it and 9 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Chris Williamson (2 episodes), Jonathan Haidt (2 episodes) and Bas Rutten (1 episode) on Modern Wisdom (3 episodes), The Rich Roll Podcast (3 episodes) and The Tim Ferriss Show (2 episodes).
#222 of 16,947 books, ranked by how many different people bring it up on podcasts
- episodes
- 18
- podcasts
- 13
- people
- 13
- episodes recommend it
- 9
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again.
Questions about Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
Who recommends Stolen Focus by Johann Hari on podcasts?
Chris Williamson (2 episodes), Jonathan Haidt (2 episodes), Bas Rutten (1 episode), Ben Bowlin (1 episode) and Chris Sacca (1 episode) have recommended Stolen Focus by Johann Hari on podcasts. In all, 13 people brought it up across 13 podcasts (6 people recommended it).
Which podcasts mention Stolen Focus the most?
Modern Wisdom (3 episodes), The Rich Roll Podcast (3 episodes), The Tim Ferriss Show (2 episodes), ChooseFI (1 episode) and How I Write (1 episode), among 13 podcasts in all.
Is Stolen Focus recommended, or only discussed?
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari was recommended in 9 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 9 episodes, as of 2026-02-18.
What do people say about Stolen Focus?
Ben Bowlin on Stuff They Don't Want You To Know (2025-02-11): "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again."
When was Stolen Focus last mentioned on a podcast?
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari was last discussed on My First Million by Sam Parr on 2026-02-18.
What they say about it
- Why you can't pay attention“why you can't pay attention”3
The best things said about it
Stolen Focus by Jonathan Hari, you know, that one just amazing. I think it's like the best.
Arnold, you're the governor of California. Like you should Anyway, anyway, Stolen Focus, why you can't pay attention. Johann's new book will be linked in the show notes below. It's awesome, man.
Chris Williamson Modern Wisdom · Jan 2022 Johann Hari has this wonderful book Stolen Focus.
Jonathan Haidt The Ezra Klein Show · Apr 2025 Stolen Focus, Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again.
Megyn Kelly The Megyn Kelly Show · Jan 2022 I'm reading this book called Stolen Focus cuz I'm basically like incredibly depressed by the fact that like I get 10,000 notifications a day and it's like impacting my mood and so I saw this book called Stolen Focus.
Where and when it comes up
How it comes up
13 people who brought it up
- Chris Williamson2 episodes · recommended in 2
- Jonathan Haidt2 episodes · recommended in 2
- Bas Rutten1 episode · recommended in 1
- Ben Bowlin1 episode · recommended in 1
- Chris Sacca1 episode · recommended in 1
- Steven Bartlett1 episode · recommended in 1
Rich Roll3 episodes- Alfie Brown1 episode
Angela Duckworth1 episode- David Perell1 episode
- Jordan Harbinger1 episode
- Megyn Kelly1 episode
Why people recommend it
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari is a compelling exploration of how modern technology, social media, and contemporary distractions systematically degrade human attention spans. Jonathan Haidt recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show and The Tim Ferriss Show, emphasizing its insights on clearing distractions and protecting mental focus. Ben Bowlin endorsed the text on Stuff They Don't Want You To Know as an essential guide on combatting digital distractions, and Chris Sacca praised it on The Tim Ferriss Show as a premier read on digital detoxes. Bas Rutten mentioned the book on The Joe Rogan Experience while discussing his personal journey with focus, and Greg recommended it on ChooseFI to explore different types of human attention. Steven Bartlett lauded the work on The Diary Of A CEO as a brilliant thematic sequel to Hari's previous writing, while Chris Williamson promoted the title at the conclusion of a Modern Wisdom episode.
Every mention
Chris Williamson Arnold, you're the governor of California. Like you should Anyway, anyway, Stolen Focus, why you can't pay… 2
“Arnold, you're the governor of California. Like you should Anyway, anyway, Stolen Focus, why you can't pay attention. Johann's new book will be linked in the show notes below. It's awesome, man.”
“so this is in johann hari's stolen focus which is coming out in the new year it'll be really good i've read half of it”
Jonathan Haidt Johan Harry has this wonderful book stolen focus and I believe he's right when he says if we adults clear i… 2
“Johan Harry has this wonderful book stolen focus and I believe he's right when he says if we adults clear it out”
“Read Johann Hari's book Stolen Focus.”
Bas Rutten and now I know why I read the you know the the stolen Focus book for Yan Harry you know that's a really goo… 1
“and now I know why I read the you know the the stolen Focus book for Yan Harry you know that's a really good book by”
Ben Bowlin He wrote a book called Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again. And I've I… 1
“He wrote a book called Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again. And I've I am on board.”
Chris Sacca stolen focus by Jonathan Harari you know that one just amazing I think it's like the best 1
“stolen focus by Jonathan Harari you know that one just amazing I think it's like the best”
Steven Bartlett but stolen focus is a 1
“in lost connections you talk about junk values ”
“but stolen focus is a ”
Rich Roll The podcast that went up this week is with Johann Hari. He's the author of this new book "Stolen Focus." 3
“The podcast that went up this week is with Johann Hari. He's the author of this new book "Stolen Focus."”
“and his latest Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention. Which is the basis for today's exploration”
“So I'm about halfway through this book. And this book is about this exact thing.”
Alfie Brown so yeah he's got a new book out called stolen focus and it's about why we're more distracted why our attent… 1
“so yeah he's got a new book out called stolen focus and it's about why we're more distracted why our attention is is being robbed of us and stuff”
Angela Duckworth and one of the books that I started reading but I haven't gotten too far into it is called stolen Focus 1
“and one of the books that I started reading but I haven't gotten too far into it is called stolen Focus”
“I do feel kind of robbed, and one of the books that I started reading but I haven't gotten too far into it is called Stolen Focus. Have you heard about this book? It's by, I think, he's a journalist named Johann Hari?”
David Perell So, walk me through, let's talk about uh stolen focus. So, walk me through the different questions there an… 1
“So, walk me through, let's talk about uh stolen focus. So, walk me through the different questions there and give me the question and the answer.”
Jordan Harbinger i'm sure you've seen that book right companies make money when we're distracted and sucked in and they lear… 1
“i'm sure you've seen that book right companies make money when we're distracted and sucked in and they learn more about us”
Megyn Kelly This is the one that's actually out now and it's called Stolen Focus, Why You Can't Pay Attention and How t… 1
“This is the one that's actually out now and it's called Stolen Focus, Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again.”
Sam Parr So, I'm reading this book called Stolen Focus cuz I'm I'm basically like incredibly depressed by the fact t… 1
“So, I'm reading this book called Stolen Focus cuz I'm I'm basically like incredibly depressed by the fact that like I get 10,000 notifications a day and it's like impacting my mood and so I saw this book called Stolen Focus.”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“fantastic book by the way but another writer Johann Hari definitely mentioned in a book called stolen Focus why you can't pay attention good is the different types of focus”
Often mentioned with
Other mentions (11: passing, ad reads, own books)
“um with stolen focus my book about attention I wanted to understand why our attention was getting so much worse.”
“the reason the book is called stolen focus is because your attention didn't collapse your attention has been stolen from you by some very big forces”
“so i think it's really worth thinking about one of the 12 factors that i write about in stolen focus that's harming our attention and focus which is playing out at both these levels individually and collectively”
“"The Awaken Brain" by Lisa Miller. "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari. A nuevo classic. Yes.”
“It's why in a way I think Stolen Focus needs to be put together with my previous book Lost Connections, and the one before that Chasing The Scream.”
“So, at the start of this journey for my book Stolen Focus, I thought the problem I basically had two stories about why I couldn't pay attention.”
“obviously i talk about this a lot in the book stolen focus about this there are changes we can all make in our lives”
“that really ”
“the first group let's say you could do it with my book you give one group of people my book on the ipad like your ipad there”
“i think there are obvious and i know you know this much better than i do ”
“So, yeah, the the the although I stressed my goal is not that we not be on the internet it's that we have an internet that is not designed to maximally invade or ruin our attention. Um and essentially I'm sure um some people are going to describe my book as anti-tech and it I am not anti-tech at all.”