Look: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World

In this illuminating study, Madsbjerg (Sensemaking), a professor of applied humanities at the New School, explores human perception and how readers can harness the “rigorous observational process” of “hyper-reflection” to better understand the world. Drawing on phenomenology (the study of how humans experience the world), Madsbjerg writes that perception relies on context rather than raw sensory data—humans recognize the whole before its individual components. Impressions are also heavily colored by social and emotional context, according to Madsbjerg. For example, a romantic suitor and a gardener might view a rose in different ways, and abstract concepts such as “freedom” are likewise reliant on cultural context. To truly perceive, it’s essential to observe without judgment, noticing the unfamiliar in the familiar and vice versa, as well as attending to what’s absent. The author weaves in discussion of writers, artists, and philosophers who put the skill of perception into action, such as Financial Times reporter Gillian Tett, one of the few who foretold the 2008 financial crisis long before the collapse of Lehman Brothers; political theorist Ernesto Laclau; and biographer Robert Caro, whose up-close research allowed him to “see through the eyes” of his subjects. While Madsbjerg leans more into cultural influences on perception—drawing heavily on qualitative research and anecdotal evidence—than practical strategies, readers will be inspired by his clear enthusiasm for viewing the world with an open mind. This casts a fresh light on the everyday. (July)