Washoe County Library System

"Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections comes a groundbreaking examination of why this is happening-and how to get our attention back. Like so many of us, Johann Hari was finding it much harder to focus than he used to. He found that a life of constantly switching from device to device, from tab to tab, is diminishing and depressing. He tried all sorts of self-help...

"One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship....

"Discover how to overcome eight common distractions to build a meaningful, no-regrets life in this practical guide from the bestselling author of The More of Less and The Minimalist Home. Do you want to live a meaningful life—with very few regrets—and make a positive difference in the world? But is culture distracting you from doing so? Perhaps moments, days, and years go by without you stopping to ask yourself, Am I living out my true purpose?...

"In July 2010, special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford decided enough was enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness...

"From the popular host of The Astral Hustle, an accessible guide to hacking your mind--and life--to feel more fully present and alive, even if you're not the "the meditating type." Through his popular podcast The Astral Hustle and online meditation course Release into Now, Cory Allen has helped thousands of people better cope with the stress of daily life through meditation, mindfulness, and mental clarity. With concise advice and profound simplicity,...

"A fascinating exploration of how we pay attention that will transform the ways we connect with each other-at work, at home, and beyond We've forgotten how to pay attention, Christian Madsbjerg says in his provocative new book. Listening carefully and observing intentionally are crucial human skills, yet we're not born knowing how to do them. And thanks to the ubiquity of social media, increasing social isolation, and the use of empty imagery and...

"Hallowell, known for his work with children and adults, now identifies the underlying reasons why people really lose their ability to focus at work--where many of today's adults feel distracted and unproductive. He explains why commonly offered solutions like 'learn to manage your time better' or 'make a to-do list' just don't work because they don't address the deeper, underlying issues of mental distraction" --

Modern life is full of to-do lists, all-consuming technology and the constant pressure to be doing and striving for more. What if you could train your brain to focus on one thing at a time? What if the secret to better productivity involved doing less, not more? Drawing on research in psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness, The Twelve Monotasks provides a clear and accessible plan for life in the twenty-first century. Practice resisting distractions...

"The author of In the Mind Fields now gives us a comprehensive journalistic exploration of our culture's flagging ability to pay attention, infused with the personal struggles and insights of a woman coming to terms with the demands and distractions of the information age. The average American checks their phone 150 times a day, but we touch our phones about 2,617 times in those same hours. Casey Schwartz wants to understand this change in our lives...

The Underdogs and their classmates are taking a break from competing in the K-9 exams to go on a camping trip! The fourth years at Barksdale Academy are heading to Camp Ruffing It for a few days of hiking, swimming, and roasting marshmallows by an open fire. Or, that was the plan. But Harley keeps getting distracted by all the sounds and smells in the forest. Every time she runs after a chipmunk or a shiny fish, she accidentally messes things up for...