The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction

The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction

Rating

7.0

The Pequod Review:

Matthew Crawford's The World Beyond Your Head aims to explore one of the most important social trends of the early 21st century — specifically, the diversion of our attention to the digital world, which Crawford argues has impaired our problem-solving abilities relative to more traditional physical world activities (like repairing motorcycles, playing ice hockey, or making pipe organs). Crawford makes some interesting arguments along the way, but he uses exaggerated examples to prove his case — I'm certain his perception of airports and casinos is much different than most readers' — and he is too dogmatic in the way he sees little if any agency in our digital pursuits.