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library_of_alexandra 's review for:
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
by Jenny Odell
I think some people would be disappointed by how dense and academic this book is, considering how it is marketed. A cover with pretty pink flowers and a simple "how to" title don't really prepare readers for what [b:How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy|42771901|How to Do Nothing Resisting the Attention Economy|Jenny Odell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550724373l/42771901._SY75_.jpg|66525499] really tackles. It's not a narrative on "how to do nothing" or to "log off," but instead an exploration of what our attention really is and how commodified and fragmented it is in our modern world. Odell has an art background, and that's where she sources a lot of her insights. She talks about the value in really "seeing" something, such as a piece of art or a rose in a garden, and how attention defines how we exist in our communities. I particularly liked her points about the importance of public space (libraries, parks, really anywhere that you're not forced to pay to be allowed in), and how those spaces can be resting grounds in a world trying to commercialize the average person's time and attention.
Don't expect a how-to book, but it's an admirable bit of non-fiction nonetheless :)
Don't expect a how-to book, but it's an admirable bit of non-fiction nonetheless :)