Seeking Attention

A book depicting the intimate complicity between attention and identity. . . “You are what you pay attention to.”

Seeking Attention presents thirty insightful “portraits” of contemporary life—from “The Hypochondriac” to “The Self-Driving Car”—charting a roadmap through today’s media and technology landscape. Through these vivid sketches, Pettman examines how our awareness is shaped and contained by both the lifestyles we choose and those imposed on us, inviting readers to better understand their own behaviors and patterns of attention.

Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and art criticism, Pettman navigates the highs and lows of the “attention economy” and the “industrial distraction complex,” delving into how our consciousness is commodified and exploring ways to adapt and reclaim control over where—and how—we focus. With fresh insights into the vital role attention plays in both personal growth and collective well-being, Seeking Attention is an essential read for anyone interested in cultural studies, psychology, or the art of mindfulness."A delightful, original and unusual book that explores the many facets of attention and what it means to us today. Pettman makes complex ideas accessible and shows their relevance to our lives in this thought-provoking and highly enjoyable read."
– Darian Leader

"Pettman’s work shows how to bring attention into a world profoundly allergic to it... an essential book for our time."
– Todd McGowanDominic Pettman is University Professor of Media and New Humanities at The New School in New York City. He is the author of numerous books on technology, humans, and other animals; including Creaturely Love (Minnesota), Sonic Intimacy (Stanford), Peak Libido (Polity), Telling the Bees (Fordham), and Sad Planets (with Eugene Thacker).