Joshua Cohen, ‘Attention: A (Short) History’ [section 1 ‘Inattention’, and section M, ‘Behaviorism and Gestalt, Neuroacademia, Consumption v Prosumption, Buddhisms’] in Attention: Dispatches from a Land of Distraction (New York: Random House, 2018)

‘Attention: A (Short) History’ is a very long essay in an even longer book. We will only be reading two sections from the essay. If you are used to reading more science-based texts, you may find this text maddening. If you are used to reading literary texts, you might too. The New York Times went so far as to say that Cohen’s book ‘has A.D.H.D’. Yet Cohen’s essay offers an exhilarating journey through ideas and ways of experiencing attention and distraction. It also serves as an excellent manifestation of why attention is worth our attention in the first place.

A copy of the reading and a link to join will be made available to all registered participants.

Participants from outside the King's community are most welcome to join the Reading Group, but, as well as making a booking, they need to click on ‘Contact the event organiser’ on the booking page, choose option ‘I have a question related to an event’ and email us with a brief introduction about themselves.

Dates for future sessions will be confirmed in early January 2024.