Person
Every book Alfie Brown recommended on podcasts
Alfie Brown appears on Modern Wisdom, engaging in wide-ranging conversations about fatherhood, mental health, modern distractions, and contemporary non-fiction. Alfie discusses several works by Johann Hari, noting that he received an early proof copy of Hari's book 'Stolen Focus,' which explores how modern society robs individuals of their attention. He connects this to Hari's previous works, 'Lost Connections' and 'Chasing the Scream,' while discussing modern mental health, environmental versus biological factors, and the root causes of widespread distraction. In addition to discussing Hari's sociological insights, Alfie offers a critique of Richard Dawkins's 'The God Delusion,' questioning the necessity of its extensive length and suggesting that certain popular non-fiction books are made intentionally large as a vanity project to boost sales. Alfie's literary commentary balances an openness to psychological and sociological explorations of modern life with a cynical eye toward publishing industry trends and the bloated nature of contemporary popular science writing. His reflections emphasize critical thinking regarding both the content and the packaging of modern books.
Books recommended by Alfie Brown
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Chasing the Scream
Johann Hari's book Chasing the Scream explores the history and root causes of addiction, as well as the global war on drugs.
Discussed“i'm reading a book a proof of johann hari's new book johann hari rose lost connections and chasing the scream”
Where to get it
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Lost Connections
Lost Connections by Johann Hari is a popular non-fiction book that investigates the social and environmental roots of depression and anxiety, arguing that modern alienation plays a primary role in mental distress.
Discussed“i'm reading a book a proof of johann hari's new book johann hari rose lost connections and chasing the scream”
Where to get it
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Stolen Focus
Johann Hari's Stolen Focus investigates the modern societal crisis of declining attention spans, arguing that this widespread inability to concentrate is not merely a failure of individual willpower, but the result of systemic external forces and pervasive digital distractions.
Discussed“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”
Where to get it
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The God Delusion
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins is a prominent popular science and polemical book that argues against the existence of a supernatural creator while critiquing the societal harms of religion.
Critiqued“i have suspicions with some non-fiction books like i don't think the god delusion needed to be that long that you just wanted to sell a big book just didn't need as a vanity thing”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Sucking At Fatherhood, DIY & Halloween - Alfie Brown - #395 | Modern Wisdom | 2021-11-08 | 4 |