logo
episode-header-image
Jul 29
35m 25s

ReThinking: The truth about the attentio...

TED
About this episode

In the age of social media and short-form content, many people insist that our attention spans are getting shorter. But historian Daniel Immerwahr reminds us that people have cried wolf for centuries about technology hijacking our attention. In this episode, Adam and Daniel dive into evidence that what’s changing is not our attention spans, but the objects of our focus. They also discuss moral panics of the past, compare the cognitive benefits of video games and the opera, and debate whether or not Marvel movies are a waste of time.


Follow

Host: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)

Guest: Daniel Immerwahr (Website: history.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core-faculty/daniel-immerwahr.html


Links

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States


Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts


Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna

TEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 7
ReThinking: What we’re getting wrong about mental health with RaQuel Hopkins
RaQuel Hopkins is a therapist and HR professional whose hot takes on growth and well-being have challenged how many people talk and think about mental health. In this episode, Adam and RaQuel explore how some people use mental health labels as a crutch, discuss ways to expand our ... Show More
33m 53s
Sep 30
ReThinking: Brené Brown on courageous leadership
Brené Brown is a researcher, storyteller, and author who hosts the podcast Dare to Lead and has given some of the most popular TED Talks of all time. Brené joins Adam live at Authors@Wharton to talk about her new book, Strong Ground. They discuss how to identify your core values, ... Show More
41m 22s
Sep 23
ReThinking: Matthew McConaughey on avoiding cynicism and finding gratitude
Matthew McConaughey is the Academy Award-winning star of Dallas Buyers Club, Dazed and Confused, or Interstellar. But he’s not just an actor—he’s also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, teacher, and prolific writer. His second book, Poems and Prayers, was built on decades of his jo ... Show More
34m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 29
The truth about the attention crisis with historian Daniel Immerwahr
In the age of social media and short-form content, many people insist that our attention spans are getting shorter. But historian Daniel Immerwahr reminds us that people have cried wolf for centuries about technology hijacking our attention. In this episode, Adam and Daniel dive ... Show More
35m 25s
Aug 5
Ed Helms on growing through failure
You may know Ed Helms from his roles on The Office or in The Hangover, but building his career as a successful comedian required many moments of failure and embarrassment. In this episode, Ed joins Adam live at the Authors@Wharton series to discuss his new book, SNAFU: The Defini ... Show More
27m 12s
Jul 2022
Ep. 1092: Ben Hunt Interview with Michael Covel on Trend Following Radio
My guest today is Ben Hunt. Ben spent a decade in academia as a Political Science professor at New York University before starting a couple of his own software companies, which he later sold. Ben then decided to conquer financial markets, serving as the Chief Risk Officer and Chi ... Show More
47m 9s
Jul 13
TIVP028: Estée Lauder (EL): Michael Burry’s Big Bet w/ Daniel Mahncke & Shawn O’Malley
Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley take a closer look at Estée Lauder’s turbulent turnaround, tracing the beauty giant’s fall from pandemic favorite to contrarian play. After years of strong growth, the company was hit by an inventory pileup, the collapse of China’s daigou shoppin ... Show More
1h 9m
Apr 2025
Sleep Scientist: This Is What Poor Sleep Really Does to Your Body and Brain w/ Matt Walker | EP #167
In this episode, recorded at the 2025 Abundance Summit, Matt and Peter discuss the importance of sleep, tips for falling back asleep, and a deep dive into Peter’s sleep patterns. Recorded on March 12th, 2025 Views are my own thoughts; not Financial, Medical, or Legal Advice. Matt ... Show More
31m 32s
Aug 2024
Cold War II + An Update on Global Conflicts — with Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson, a historian, author, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, and columnist at The Free Press, joins Scott to discuss why we’re currently in Cold War II, his thoughts on the US presidential candidates, and gives us an update on conflicts happening around the world ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 1
Johan Norberg: Analyzing Golden Ages, Embracing Openness and Spotting Warning Signs
What can the rise and fall of great civilizations teach us about our current moment? Nicolai Tangen explores this timely question with Johan Norberg, renowned author of "Peak Human: What We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages." Together, they examine the patterns behi ... Show More
51m 26s
Feb 2025
Power, purpose, and the American presidency with Jared Cohen (from ReThinking with Adam Grant)
What do the most powerful people in the world do after they've achieved success? Jared Cohen is a history buff and a presidential historian. His latest book, “Life After Power,” is a fascinating exploration about what seven American presidents did after leaving the most influenti ... Show More
35m 29s
Aug 28
Gurwinder Bhogal's Guide to Modern Survival (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)
Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief two-week break from new episodes to spotlight a couple of golden oldies from the Infinite Loops archive. Years later, these remain some of my favorite conversations. We’ll be back soon with fresh episodes, but in the meantime, enjoy ... Show More
1h 41m
Oct 7
What we’re getting wrong about mental health with RaQuel Hopkins
RaQuel Hopkins is a therapist and HR professional whose hot takes on growth and well-being have challenged how many people talk and think about mental health. In this episode, Adam and RaQuel explore how some people use mental health labels as a crutch, discuss ways to expand our ... Show More
33m 53s