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gijs's review against another edition
2.0
This is a stitched together popular text on time management and workflow hacking research by a self proclaimed expert; do yourself a massive favor and read Cal Newport’s ‘Deep work’ instead.
lady_readalot's review against another edition
Not suitable for people with ADHD, you know, the ones that actually have to deal with hyperfocus.
nikkideeley's review against another edition
3.0
There were some good point in this book, however the majority of ideas were common sense (less distraction = more focus) and others weren’t employable (not working in an open office and not attending meetings). I also didn’t enjoy the concept of everything you consume must be useful, I think reading fiction is just as beneficial as reading a self help book! Overall the book was okay, some good takeaways but mostly the same ideas regurgitated.
radcampos's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who has an attention span of a chihuahua, I found this book super helpful in implementing easy-to-follow strategies in removing distractions, managing your focus, and re-evaluating what are the things I do daily that are wasting my time. Hyper-focus will probably rival Atomic Habits as my top non-fiction book this year!
Practical tactics I find useful:
1. Determine the types of tasks you do:
a. Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (team meetings, tasks with deadlines)
b. Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (re-arranging papers or sorting files on your computer)
c. Distracting work - attractive and unproductive (social media)
d. Purposeful work - attractive and productive (tasks we’re most engaged on as we do them; tasks with which we make the largest impact)
2. Choose a meaningful object of attention
3. Make a distraction list (external and internal) every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your task. Then eliminate them
4. Focus on that chosen object of attention
5. Continue to bring your attention back to the task at hand
Practical tactics I find useful:
1. Determine the types of tasks you do:
a. Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (team meetings, tasks with deadlines)
b. Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (re-arranging papers or sorting files on your computer)
c. Distracting work - attractive and unproductive (social media)
d. Purposeful work - attractive and productive (tasks we’re most engaged on as we do them; tasks with which we make the largest impact)
2. Choose a meaningful object of attention
3. Make a distraction list (external and internal) every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your task. Then eliminate them
4. Focus on that chosen object of attention
5. Continue to bring your attention back to the task at hand
joebathelt's review against another edition
4.0
The constant pinging of notifications and the zombie-eyed look that we see in other people as they are staring at their screen has many people longing for a solution. This is also reflected on the shelves of the popular science and self-help sections that are filling with ever more guides to tame distraction, increase mindfulness, and rebuild our relationship with technology. In my view, these books either provide a manifesto against attention-hogging technology (Cal Newport’s Deep Work), explain the science of attention (Gazzaley & Rosen’s The Distracted Mind), or offer practical advice. Chris Bailey’s Hyperfocus is an excellent contribution to the last category. The book provides sufficient background of the concepts involved, e.g. attentional space, but focuses mostly on tips to create the right conditions for concentration. Importantly, the practical tips can be easily implemented without having to commit to a digital minimalism lifestyle. It’s also quite refreshing that half of the book is dedicated to scattered thought, which can be used for creativity, problem-solving, and refreshing the mind. Altogether, I enjoyed the book and took away many tips that I integrated into my daily routine. I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to improve their concentration or who is interested in productivity.