Focus - by Daniel Goleman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

New York Times Bestseller

"A powerful guide for taking control of our attention." --Tony Schwartz, author of The Power of Full Engagement and CEO of The Energy Project

From the author of the #1 international bestseller Emotional Intelligence, comes a groundbreaking look at today's scarcest resource and the secret to high performance and fulfillment: attention.

For more than two decades, psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman has been scouting the leading edge of the human sciences for what's new, surprising, and important. In Focus, he delves into the neuroscience of attention in all its varieties, presenting a long-overdue discussion of this little-noticed and underrated mental asset that matters enormously for how we navigate life.

Attention works much like a muscle: use it poorly and it can wither; work it well and it grows. In an era of unstoppable distractions, Goleman persuasively argues that now more than ever we must learn to sharpen focus and improve our self-control if we are to contend with, let alone thrive in, a complex world. Goleman analyzes attention research as a threesome: inner focus for self-awareness, other focus for empathy, and outer focus for navigating the wider world. Goleman shows why high-performers need all three kinds of focus, as demonstrated by rich case studies from fields as diverse as competitive sports, education, the arts, and business. Those who excel rely on what Goleman calls smart practice that helps them improve habits, add new skills, and sustain excellence.

Combining cutting-edge research with practical findings, Focus reveals what distinguishes experts from amateurs and stars from average performers, delivering a master class in high performance.

This essential guide to the science of attention reveals:

• The Anatomy of Attention: Explore the hidden world of your mind, from the value of a wandering mind to the two distinct mental systems--top-down and bottom-up--that compete for your focus.
• The Power of Willpower: Learn why willpower is a stronger predictor of life success than IQ and how to train this vital mental muscle for yourself and your children.
• Leadership and Focus: Understand how leaders direct attention, why a triple focus is essential for navigating strategy, and what distinguishes great leaders from the rest.
• Smart Practice and Mindfulness: Go beyond the 10,000-hour rule with cutting-edge techniques, from smart practice that builds excellence to mindfulness exercises that calm your mind and sharpen your concentration.

From the Back Cover

In Focus, psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman delves into the science of attention in all its varieties, presenting a long-overdue discussion of this little-noticed and underrated mental asset that matters enormously for how we navigate life.

Attention works much like a muscle: use it poorly and it can wither; work it well and it grows. In an era of unstoppable distractions, Goleman persuasively argues that now more than ever we must learn to sharpen focus if we are to contend with, let alone thrive in, a complex world. Goleman analyzes attention research as a threesome: inner, other, and outer focus. He shows why high-performers need all three kinds of focus, as demonstrated by rich case studies from fields as diverse as competitive sports, education, the arts, and business. Those who excel rely on what Goleman calls smart practice that helps them improve habits, add new skills, and sustain excellence.

Combining cutting-edge research with practical findings, Focus reveals what distinguishes experts from amateurs and stars from average performers.

Review Quotes

"Daniel Goleman has surpassed himself in the breadth, depth, and readability of this fascinating meditation on what is most important for human, organizational, and planetary flourishing. Focusshows us how to go about paying attention in all the ways that really matter." - John Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction and author of Mindfulness for Beginners

"I've been studying attention for more than a decade, but I learned something new on every page of Focus. It is a powerful guide for taking control of our attention and will lead you to nothing less than taking control of your life." - Tony Schwartz, author of The Power of Full Engagement and CEO of The Energy Project

"With compelling insights, wide-ranging examples, and cutting-edge science, Daniel Goleman makes the convincing case that the ability to focus is a key to excellence, in both our personal and professional lives-and also explains how to boost that focus." - Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project

"Attention is so important that ordinary people take it for granted, while scientists subject it to microanalysis. Steering deftly between these extremes, Dan Goleman synthesizes what is known and what we need to know." - Howard Gardner, John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

"Daniel Goleman has written the perfect prescription for today's deficit of attention in business and life....Highly recommended!" - Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and author of Peak and Emotional Equations

"Goleman has provided a highly readable manifesto for turning our smartphones off once in a while." - Financial Times