Focus

October 15, 2013

Psychologist and journalist Goleman, most acclaimed for his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, offers here previously explored psychological findings filtered through a new lens. He highlights the need for focus in our modern, hectic, distracted world as a means toward a better society. Although he quotes no empirical evidence, much of his argument for this reviewer recalls research on the effects of middle age and psychologist Erik Erikson's notion of generativity. (Perhaps Mr. Goleman is middle-aged?) Instead of concentrating on developing and cultivating more relationships, the book emphasizes deepening current ones. Instead of letting ourselves become overwhelmed by possessions and mental clutter, it is suggested that we lighten our load and choose what's important. Instead of working mindlessly, we need to be mindful of our contribution to the world, providing for both our children and others. And in order to do all that and do it well, the author suggests one needs to focus! VERDICT Self-awareness, empathy, and ability to see the bigger picture are all themes investigated by Goleman; this work is recommended for those interested in being a better person and for libraries offering books on psychology and self-help.--Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2013
Attention is a little-noticed and underrated mental asset, sorely tested among modern distractions but essential to success in work, play, relationships, and self-awareness, asserts Goleman, psychologist, journalist, and author of Emotional Intelligence (1995). In fact, the ability to focus, more than IQ or social background, is the key to performance and success. Neuroscience, case studies, and personal experience contribute to Goleman's exploration of focus, which includes concentration, selective attention, open awareness, self-awareness, empathy, and systems awareness. He breaks them down to inner, other, and outer focus. Among examples of the significance of focus: a doctor's ability to shut down emotions to focus on gory medical procedures; an epidemiologist's attention to patterns and systems to track the human connections that lead to global pandemics; and a gamer's focus on spatial perception, decision making, and ability to track objects. In commerce, education, sports, and personal life, Goleman offers concepts and techniques, including mindfulness and meditation, to train ourselves to be more focused, exercising those areas of the brain involved in focusing attention. An engaging, wide-ranging look at attention and intelligence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

August 15, 2013
Goleman (Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence, 2011, etc.) argues that the ability to focus is "a little-noticed and underrated asset" that can help overcome problems like "zoning out" and "mind wandering," among many others. The author explains that attention span can be compared with a "mental muscle that we can strengthen by a work out," with memorization and concentration being the forms of exercise that work the "muscle." Showing how much time is spent in day-dreaming and mind wandering--up to 40 percent of the day, according to some estimates--Goleman identifies the changes in psychological and mental habits and activities that he believes will contribute to effectively addressing important contemporary issues like climate change and global warming. Quick, default reactions, which focus on the short term and "favor now in decisions of all kinds," prevent concentration on the long-term objectives that such issues demand. Goleman also believes that such a transformation will require new methods of leadership working through new kinds of institutions. The success of future leaders will depend on their ability to maintain focus on long-term goals and improvements for the widest circles their influence can reach. The author supports his arguments with a psychological framework drawn from the contemporary field of neuroscience. He refers to a Nature magazine study on the ambiguous effects of playing computer games--from "Minesweeper" to poker--and stresses that "face-to-face interactions...pick up a multitude of signals which help us connect well, and wire together the neurons involved." Unfortunately, "during thousands of hours spent online," he writes, "the wiring of the social brain gets virtually no exercise." A lively personalized account of the science of attention, which "ripples through most everything we seek to accomplish."

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May 15, 2013

A chapter in Goleman's multi-million-copy best seller Emotional Intelligence prompted editors at the Harvard Business Review to ask Goleman for a separate piece that became the most requested reprint in the review's history and is the inspiration for this work. His focus? Focus, something often lacking in this hyped-up, hopped-up world. With a 200,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.