Attention: A Love Story by Casey Schwartz is a book equally as much about the concept of attention as it is about prescription medication/illicit substances and the impact of social media on our attention span and ability to focus. At a glance, these subjects may not be thought to have much to do with each other. Throughout the book however, Schwartz makes such a connection effortless when discussing the literature on attention, her own struggles with ADHD and addiction (to psychotropic medication), and the influence of social media.

Schwartz begins by taking the reader on her journey of using Adderall as a young adult. Taking the medication initially allowed her to stay up all night, study for exams and write essays. As much as Adderall helped the author focus temporarily, she described side-effects such as fits of anger that she did not know she was capable of. The author also recalls being rushed to the hospital after what appeared to be an anxiety attack with the diagnosis of amphetamine induced anxiety. Over the years, there has been an increase in diagnoses of ADHD and subsequent medication prescriptions, yet the author notes that Adderall does not seem to improve people’s ability to focus as it has shown little to no effect on performance. 

Schwartz links the era of Adderall with social media, screen time, and the inability to “shut off”. The author described the feeling of being overwhelmed by prescription drugs and technology, as they create the same emotions, “…splintered concentration and constant interruption (p. 33)”. As such, the author also notes that writers and authors themselves battle with the fast paced world of social media and its influence. It often takes several years to research, write and edit a book, authors putting their constant thought and attention into such a work hoping that their reader will enjoy it. At the same time, information, news and stories can be compacted into 140 word sentences through Twitter for readers to quickly absorb before moving on with scrolling through ones devices. The author describes this notion as “…glued to our screens as we are, our attention in pieces, forever divided among the countless demands our devices asks of it… (p. 64).

At first, it may seem as if the author describes only her own battle with attention and addiction, but the reader will learn that addiction seems to be everywhere, tied into the notion of attention. Many of the early authors writing about attention also struggled with their own substance use, such as Aldous Huxley, and Gabor Maté. Yet, many writers embrace the use of various substances, typically psychedelics and “microdosing”, (taking small quantities of psychedelics) to be able to focus better. Some state that psychedelics can help solve the issue of procrastination. However, when it comes to ways in which to improve attention, there is not one particular way proven to be more efficient. Maté notes that ADHD is not a disease, but a “tuning out” of the mind in order to protect oneself from pain, stress and trauma. Technology helps fill the void and becomes an escape from the psychic pain people experience. Facebook whistle blower Tristan Harris discusses “breaking free” from social media while Hungarian author and intellectual Csikszentmihalyi writes about the concept of “flow” when it comes to paying attention to what is important.

Attention is a thought provoking book that also forces the reader to contemplate their own life and where one focuses their own attention. The author writes beautifully with a note of melancholy making the reader feel as if we have been on her shared journey. It seems fitting to end with quotes from the author noting the juxtaposition of the influence of attention on our lives, “To pay attention is to believe that there is something worth paying attention to (p. 216)” yet “If we paid attention to everything, all the time, we’d be in hell (p. 218).” 

Hennie Weiss has a Master’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento.

Categories: Memoir, Psychology

Keywords: attention, memoir