Changing the Subject
By Sven Birkerts
Art and Attention in the Internet Age. Graywolf Press, 2015.
Summary of Changing the Subject book by Sven Birkerts
A collection of essays that challenges the way the digital age is affecting us in profound ways by reducing our capacity for attention and imagination, restricting our individuality, and changing our subjective experiences of the world itself.
Chapters in Changing the Subject book summary
What do you get from this book? A philosophical exploration of how information technologies affect your experiences, perceptions, and imagination
Digital information is overrunning our lives—we no longer gain knowledge or create meaning for ourselves
The Internet gives us data without context, so we’re missing points of reference and comprehensive information
The vast collection of digital information is a form of groupthink which is eroding individuality and independent thinking
Your data is being incorporated into the technology you use, so be aware of what you’re giving up
We’re constantly distracted by technology, affecting our attention spans and subjective experiences, and changing our brains
To confront a lack of self-sufficiency and emotional clarity, turn to art and nurture your creativity
Step away from technology and turn inwards—take time to read, reflect, and find your purpose in life
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Changing the Subject — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Changing the Subject book
- Anyone looking to cut back on screen time
- media studies and philosophy students
- defenders of technology
About the author of Changing the Subject
Sven Birkerts
Best-selling author Sven Birkerts is a professor at Harvard University who has reviewed publications for The New York Times Book Review, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Yale Review, among others. He was the director and a founding member of Bennington Writing Seminars and is well-known for his essays published in peer-reviewed journals.
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