The Attention Merchants

The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads

Tim Wu

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Book Synopsis

"The Attention Merchants" by Tim Wu is a thought-provoking examination of how our attention has become a valuable commodity in today's hyper-connected world.

Wu takes us on a journey through history, exploring how advertisers, marketers, and media platforms have gone to great lengths to capture our attention and monetize it. From the early days of newspapers and radio to the modern era of social media and streaming services, he reveals how our attention has become the currency of the digital age.

Drawing parallels between the advertising industry and other forms of attention-grabbing practices, Wu warns us about the potential dangers of living in a world where our every move is tracked and our attention is constantly being hijacked.

He explores the ethical and societal implications of this attention economy, questioning the impact it has on our ability to think critically, make informed decisions, and maintain our privacy.

With meticulous research and insightful analysis, Wu challenges us to rethink our relationship with the attention merchants and offers valuable insights into how we can regain control over our attention and protect ourselves in an increasingly attention-driven society.

"The Attention Merchants" is a compelling and enlightening read that asks the essential question: who owns our attention, and what are the consequences of allowing it to be bought and sold? By delving into the inner workings of the attention economy, Wu provides a compelling case for vigilance in an era where our attention is constantly under siege.

Explore More Books

See All
The Seat of the Soul
If I Could Tell You Just One Thing
I Want To Be A Mathematician
Call Me by Your Name
A Timeless Way of Building
Self-Made Success
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
Hackers
The Soul of the World
Drawing Life
Natural
The Jewish Century
Too Big to Fail
The Brand Flip
Business Adventures
The Fall
Bad News
The Blazing World
Nobody Wants To Read Your Sh*t
Lessons
In the Heart of the Sea
The New Leadership Literacies
Humans Need Not Apply
No Bull
Without a Doubt
The Pattern Seekers
Walk in Their Shoes
This Time Is Different
The Forgotten Man
Heaven on Earth
Return to the Little Kingdom
Slugfest
Meditations
Law, Legislation, and Liberty
The Black Swan
The Player of Games
The Science of Liberty
Oh, The Place You’ll Go
The Innovator’s Solution
Ready Player One
Finite and Infinite Games
The Trial of Socrates
For A New Liberty
Permutation City
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual
The Elements of Style
Sapiens
The Hydrogen Sonata
In Cold Blood
The Invisible Gorilla
The Parasitic Mind
Bitcoin
BLITZ
Win Bigly
Revolution in The Valley
Job Stacking
Goethe’s Poems and Aphorisms
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Fry Chronicles
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Zucked
Friday Forward
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
The Silk Roads
Talking to Strangers
When The Wolves Bite
Turn the Ship Around!
Concorde
Poor Economics
Algorithms to Live By
Empire
Leading Without Authority
The Muqaddimah
Play It Away
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World
Blackout
Where are the Customers Yachts
Capital In The 21st Century
The Cancer Code
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The New Market Wizards
Happy Accidents
Homo Deus
Breath From Salt
Neuromancer
The Paleo Solution
Fahrenheit 451
American Nations
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
On The Move
The Method Method
The Blind Watchmaker
Andy Goldsworthy
Merchants of Truth
Grass Farmers
Billy Martin
White Fragility
Energy
Unsavory Truth
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln