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Winifred Gallagher
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Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life Paperback – March 30, 2010

by Winifred Gallagher (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 396 ratings
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A revolutionary look at how what we pay attention to determines how we experience life

Acclaimed behavioral science writer Winifred Gallagher's Rapt makes the radical argument that much of the quality of your life depends not on fame or fortune, beauty or brains, fate or coincidence, but on what you choose to pay attention to. Rapt introduces a diverse cast of characters, from researchers to artists to ranchers, to illustrate the art of living the interested life. As their stories show, by focusing on the most positive and productive elements of any situation, you can shape your inner experience and expand your world. By learning to focus, you can improve your concentration, broaden your inner horizons, and most important, feel what it means to be fully alive.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    March 30, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    0.6 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0143116908
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143116905
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

aAs the 19th-century philosopher William James wisely understood, what you selectively notice and attend to is what makes up your experience. It is your life! Winifred Gallagher gets it. She has written a provocative, illuminating, and captivating book on the power and importance of attention in multiple domains of life a relationships, work, leisure, health. What makes some people happier, healthier, more fulfilled, more creative, or more engaged than others? Because of what they pay attention to.a
aSonja Lyubomirsky, author of "The How of Happiness"
"Many will benefit from this thoughtful book. Among other 21st century challenges, the increasing velocity of communication threatens to drive us into a permanent sea- storm of distraction. Thank you, Winifred Gallagher, for bringing our attention back to the essential matter of attention."
aDavid Shenk, author, "Data Smog" and "The Forgetting"
aThis wonderful and inspiring book asks readers to remember something so simple and yet so little appreciatedawhat you focus upon profoundly affects your quality of life. I canat think anyone who wouldnat benefit from the message contained herein. Itas a powerful and much needed prescription for these tumultuous times.a
aSarah Susanka, author of "The Not So Big Life" and "The Not So Big House series"

About the Author

Winifred Gallagher’s books include House Thinking, Just the Way You Are (a New York Times Notable Book), Working on God, and The Power of Place. She has written for numerous publications, such as Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times. She lives in Manhattan, and Dubois, Wyoming.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (March 30, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143116908
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143116905
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.6 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 396 ratings

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Winifred Gallagher

Winifred Gallagher

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
396 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very informative, helpful, and well-researched. They say it's a great read for those interested in psychology, spirituality, and hard science. Readers also mention the book is good for teens and young adults.

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Information qualityReading valueHappiness levelPacing
33 customers mention "Information quality"27 positive6 negative

Customers find the book very informative, helpful, and well-written. They say it's a great book for those interested in psychology and how we think. Readers also mention the book provides an interesting view of life and an inspiring argument.

"...quote after quote from Rapt, as this book is densely packed with great info and advice." Read more

"...or a novel , a do it yourself project or a prayer, increases your capacity for concentration, expands your inner boundaries and lifts your spirits,..." Read more

"...This book does a great job of examining and explaining how attention and focus work...." Read more

"...RAPT is definitely worth reading and gives many of us new tools for making decisions and clearing out the clutter in our lives that keep us from..." Read more

7 customers mention "Reading value"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great read and good for teens and young adults. They also say it's thoughtful and competent.

"...This would be particularly good reading for teens and young adults, if only you could get them to pay attention long enough to read it...." Read more

"...RAPT is definitely worth reading and gives many of us new tools for making decisions and clearing out the clutter in our lives that keep us from..." Read more

"Overall, this is not a bad book. It's a bit repetitive, but not overly so...." Read more

"...Plenty of insights and things you can try to improve your life. Great stuff. I just wish I could contact Winifred Gallagher." Read more

3 customers mention "Happiness level"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for their happiness.

"...capacity for concentration, expands your inner boundaries and lifts your spirits, but more important simply makes you feel that life is worth living...." Read more

"Well written. Goes well with The Happiness Hypothesis, Flourish and Deep Work. Slow down, be present, savor...." Read more

"Helpful to happiness..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book understandable and engaging.

"...Gallagher's writing style is engaging and captivating. Not only have I read the book, but I then listened to it the audio version...." Read more

"...It summarizes the research in a way that is both understandable and engaging. I highly recommend it." Read more

"Rapt - Engaging but Repetitive..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Eric P.
5.0 out of 5 stars densely packed with great info and advice
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
Some of the best moments are here and gone and in the past sooner than I'd like. Rapt helps me believe that even if I can't keep the best parts forever I can get the most out of them as they happen by striving for the focused life. This is one of those book that I hope to come back to and read again as it seems to have already enhanced my time with my two young children.

I actually bought this hoping that it would help my teaching practice, by helping me understand my students with attention issues, but I got so much more out of this read. I feel like this book will improve my experience of my recreation and family time more than my professional life. I found myself highlighting quote after quote from Rapt, as this book is densely packed with great info and advice.
11 people found this helpful
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Eric J Allain
4.0 out of 5 stars A well written investigation into the idea that ‘rapt’ attention is the key to happiness.
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
“If you could stay focused on the right things, your life would stop feeling like a reaction to stuff that happens to you and become something you create: not a series of accidents but a work of art ... Paying rapt attention whether to a trout stream or a novel , a do it yourself project or a prayer, increases your capacity for concentration, expands your inner boundaries and lifts your spirits, but more important simply makes you feel that life is worth living.”

The above quotes encompass the thesis of this book. It was what hooked me when I read the sample downloaded on my Kindle. I felt excited by how much this idea resonated with me and was eager to find out exactly how I could do this. How do I stay focused on the right things? What can I do to generate more opportunities for ‘rapt’ attention in my life? But this book is not a ‘how to’ guide. Instead it is a well researched and well written investigation into and defense of the thesis comprised in the quotes above. While there are numerous hints at things one might do to enhance capacity for attention and focus (start a regular meditation practice is a recurring one), the reader is left to figure this out on their own. I guess I was a bit disappointed by this. I thoroughly agreed with the thesis from the moment I read it. I was looking for advice rather than a convincing argument.
15 people found this helpful
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Paul G. Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reading
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book confirmed things I already knew or suspected but hadn't taken the time to really think about. That in itself is one of the primary points of the book, focusing, or paying rapt attention to situations. I have already noticed changes in how I go about my daily activities. This would be particularly good reading for teens and young adults, if only you could get them to pay attention long enough to read it. I was impressed enough that I am now starting on Winifred Gallagher's book "The Power Of Place" The Power of Place: How Our Surroundings Shape Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions (P.S.) .
5 people found this helpful
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enlightened capitalist
3.0 out of 5 stars thoughtful, moderately competent
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
Many good points and references. However, contradictory conclusions are stated in different chapters and assigned equal veracity which is not functionally possible.
2 people found this helpful
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Scott Sylvan Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars Focus on your focus
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2009
Verified Purchase
With a world of busyness it is easy to lose attention on what is important. When that attention is lost income is also lost. This book does a great job of examining and explaining how attention and focus work. The best idea that I received from the book is that with everything that there is to focus on you must give attention and focus to your focus. Yes you may know that is what focus is but how many times have you forgot and moved onto the next thing without mastering the first one?

If attention equals income then this is a book you must read.
4 people found this helpful
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James P. Hawkins
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent when balanced by some other point of view
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2010
Verified Purchase
I heard about RAPT in a commencement speech at my niece's graduation from a high school for high achievers. The speaker, a super achiever himself, referred to some of the ideas in his speech and recommended the book. I was impressed and decided to purchase and read the book, hoping to help myself by applying some of these ideas.

RAPT is definitely worth reading and gives many of us new tools for making decisions and clearing out the clutter in our lives that keep us from focusing on what is truly important to us. RAPT has already helped me to do things that are more meaningful to me. But overall, especially toward the end of the book, I began to realize that there is a "bootstrapping" mentality that might seem lacking in compassion and doesn't consider that making these changes is very difficult, if not impossible, for some people. There are people in this world, who are in situations where life has become a downward spiral that is impossible to reverse, without a great deal of help, understanding, and compassion from others. Life for some is in free fall without a parachute, having only one possible ending no matter how they try to WILL it.

I think this book sees things from a perspective that needs to be balanced with another point of view. I highly recommend reading books, such as BRIGHT SIDED or NICKEL AND DIMED, by Barbara Ehrenreich, (another breast cancer survivor), which present ideas that create some balance and perspective when read together with this book.
30 people found this helpful
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dt
5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable learning experience
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
After listening to an interview with the author of this book, I realized that I have been distracted and not totally focused on what is important in my life. I'm not good at multitasking, and this book is helping me to accomplish more by prioritizing and focusing. It's better for me to finish what I start than to have multiple projects and errands at the same time. I used to have time to spend with my friends but now I never see them anymore because I'm always busy, yet nothing seems to get done. I've just started reading the book but I no longer feel guilty because I didn't get through a 2 page to-do list on my day off. I would recommend this book to people who want to feel more rested and enjoy more quality time with their loved ones.

The seller has a good variety of books to browse through and gave me very good service. The books were a good price and arrived in excellent condition. I'm sure I'll buy from this seller again
8 people found this helpful
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Eleanor Lauck
5.0 out of 5 stars I love, love, love this book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
I am 75 yo and have spent my life as an undiagnosed ADHD human, according to my wife who is a therapist. She often says it is my poor attention that causes so many problems for me. This delightful book is exactly what I needed! I will listen and read it which will make an extra impression for me.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente de Amazon
3.0 out of 5 stars Usado
Reviewed in Mexico on April 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
Lo compré nuevo y llegó usado, subrayado, eso si está bien cuidado
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A Jadhav
5.0 out of 5 stars this book is important
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
Elegantly written with an ordinary message that has an extraordinary impact. I will be re-reading it again and again lest I forget its hard-earned lesson.
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TercioRNA
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito foco aqui
Reviewed in Brazil on March 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Esse livro era o que estava procurando pra acreditar no poder da atenção concentrada; vai ao encontro do que já tinha lido ou ouvido falar sobre o tema. É um livro para aqueles aqueles que não conhecem o assunto e tem interesse na área.
One person found this helpful
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Paul C.
2.0 out of 5 stars Lots of simplified information; tedious read
Reviewed in Germany on September 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
Instead of outlining a clear concept derived from her personal experience, Gallagher chooses to quote one scientific study after another. Surely she accumulates a lot simplified information but it makes for an incredibly tedious read.
One person found this helpful
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Deb B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious Discussion on how Focus determines our lives
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
I heard about this book on a CBC interview.

The book is more about the psychological aspect of how our lives unfold. It speaks in depth on how our lives become what we focus on...and backs it up with very interesting scientific data.

More proof that if we wish to lead a life of happiness and fulfillment, then those are the exact qualities we need to focus on.

I wouldn't call this a self help book...more knowledge is power.

A very interesting read, and beautifully and engagingly written!
One person found this helpful
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