Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life - Winifred Gallagher
I've been meaning to read one of Gallagher's books for some time, now. Her topics of choice have always been fascinating, to me. The subject of her latest book, Rapt, seems especially timely for someone like me, who grew up in an era before Blackberrys, 24/7, and ADHD. Although I have adapted to this multitasking round-the-clock lifestyle, I question how it's affecting me. So, I thought, if I was going to start reading Gallagher, this would be an appropriate first book. I think contemporary society may be losing its ability to distinguish one's standard of living from one's quality of life.
Your life is composed of experiences and, according to Gallagher, your quality of life depends on what you choose to pay attention to. Although the premise is simple, the implications can be profound. Through stories and interviews, each chapter illustrates how attention impacts different aspects of our lives, including relationships, productivity, creativity, and health. Along the way, she shares her own observations and insights on how we can choose to apply our attention in beneficial ways.
Good stuff.
