The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by Adam Gazzaley, Larry D. Rosen

The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen examines how our contemporary technological environment affects our brains, making it difficult for us to pay attention, focus and remember information. This book provides a comprehensive explanation of how we can focus better, both internally and externally, in a digital world filled with distractions.


Gazzaley and Rosen open the book by promptly discussing the influence of technology on our brains. We are constantly bombarded with notifications and messages, websites, and social media, and this leaves us with a constant sense of distraction and a need to constantly check our phones, computers and other digital devices. The authors explain how the ability to be “always on” has proved to be more of a distraction than a benefit.

The book then moves on to an exploration of the science behind distraction. In this chapter, Gazzaley & Rosen review the neuroscience of attention and executive function, which involve coordinating focus and recalling information. They explain how the brain is constantly competing for our attention, sometimes so effectively that a simple glance away from a task can cause us to miss critical information or even misremember an entire experience.

Next, the authors discuss the strategies we can use to manage the distraction caused by technology and the modern world. They explain how we can create a proper balance between the positive aspects of technology and the negative distractions it brings. Strategies include mindfulness, turning off notifications, scheduling breaks into our digital use and more.

In further chapters, the authors discuss how to increase our working memory, better remember newly learned material, and how to use feedback to increase focus and efficiency. In particular, they explore different technology, such as video games, that can help us develop our executive functions and better focus in a distracting environment.

The book then wraps up with a chapter discussing the future of distraction and what we can do to embrace it while still remaining mindful of its potential effects. The authors call for policies that limit the use of technology with others and encourage the use of technology to solve problems, as opposed to overusing it for its entertainment value.

The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen is a fascinating exploration of how technology has changed our brains and how we can use it responsibly. The authors provide sound advice and helpful strategies to help us focus and use technology for its positive potential rather than be overwhelmed by its constant distraction. Whether or not you agree with their advice and opinions, this book is sure to leave you thinking about how we can better manage our increasingly digital world.