The Attention Recovery Plan: How to Win the Battle for Focus in a World Built to Break It (David Gillespie, Macmillan)
David Gillespie (Sweet Poison, Toxic at Work) has built a reputation for distilling complex research into clear, useful guidance. His latest book, The Attention Recovery Plan: How to Win the Battle for Focus in a World Built to Break It, feels like a natural extension of his earlier work, Teen Brain and Brain Reset, with a focus on the increasing issue of screen addiction across all ages. The book is structured in four parts: “The Battle for Your Mind” (how we got here), “The Weapons of Mass Distraction” (why things are the way they are), “The Counteroffensive” (what we can do about it), and “The Family Frontline” (how to support others once you’ve made changes yourself). Throughout, Gillespie leans into practical application with toolkits that offer step-by-step strategies for assessing and addressing attention challenges and addictive behaviours in everyday life. These are supported by engaging historical and pop-culture anecdotes and case studies. Notably, Gillespie gives attention to less frequently discussed activities that can become addictive, including viewing pornography, using dating apps and gambling, positioning them alongside more commonly examined screen-based distractions, such as social media. For readers familiar with titles such as Johan Hari’s Stolen Focus or Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, Gillespie’s approach sits at a more introductory level – highly readable, structured and action-oriented. While the book may not break significant new ground, it remains a useful and approachable contribution to the growing body of work on screen addiction and its impact on our brains and lives.
Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is the reviews editor at Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.
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Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews
