The World Beyond Your Head

How to Flourish in an Age of Distraction

Matthew Crawford

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Paperback

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English

Viking
27 May 2015

Popular philosophy; Psychology; Popular psychology

Why do we feel overwhelmed by the ever-increasing demands on our attention? And how do we focus on what's really important in our lives? In this brilliant follow-up to his international bestseller The Case for Working with Your Hands, the widely acclaimed thinker Matthew Crawford investigates the challenge of mastering one's own mind. For we often complain today about our mental lives being fractured and our focus being disrupted - but he shows that this current crisis of attention is only superficially the result of digital technology. It should really be understood as the result of long-held assumptions of individualism in Western culture that are profoundly at odds with human nature. Exploring the intense focus of ice-hockey players, the zoned-out behaviour of gambling addicts, the inherited craft of building pipe organs and the familiar hassles of daily life, Crawford shows that, far from being isolated minds, we are inherently physical and social beings, born into a world shaped by previous generations. In order to flourish, we need to establish meaningful connections with the world, the people around us and the historical moment we live in. Drawing on the latest findings of cognitive and behavioural science, the insights of moral philosophy, reportage and cultural references from Mickey Mouse to the Kinsey Report, The World Beyond Your Head makes sense of a vast array of common experiences, from waiting at the airport to the rise of the hipster. It has profound implications for our attitudes to work, family and government. This is an astonishing work of urgent relevance to our times.

By: Matthew Crawford
Imprint: Viking
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 339g
ISBN: 9780241018484
ISBN 10: 024101848X
Publication Date: 27 May 2015
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for The World Beyond Your Head: How to Flourish in an Age of Distraction

Masterly * Economist (on 'The Case for Working with Your Hands') * The best book I have read for ages . . . a profound exploration of modern education, work and capitalism * Telegraph (on 'The Case for Working with Your Hands') * Full of interesting stories and thought-provoking apercus enlivened with humour . . . Important, memorable and enjoyable * The Times (on 'The Case for Working with Your Hands') * A beautiful little book about human excellence * New York Times (on 'The Case for Working with Your Hands') * The best self-help book that I've ever read * Slate (on 'The Case for Working with Your Hands') *