Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain from Tech Paperback – May 3, 2022

Before you get more than a sentence into this fantastic book, you'll know you are reading the work of someone who knows kids and their needs really well. And somewhere before the end of the first page, you'll want to give a copy to every teen, parent, and teacher you know.We are in desperate need of some fresh voices addressing the issue of developing and maintaining good technology habits. For parents and educators, but most importantly students, there are just too few thoughtful, articulate, passionate allies to help us navigate our tech use and online lives. What we don't need is more of the same: scare tactics and hyperbole, Chicken Little alarmists or hand-wringing defeatists.That's where Erica and her brilliant book step in, filling an ever-widening gap in the literature. From the opening lines of her honest confession about her own struggles at the intersection of tech and mindfulness, Erica inhabits an authentic voice that speaks with -- not down to -- her readers.Moreover, everything from the structure of the book to the pace of the narrative telegraphs Erica's deep familiarity with having kids as an audience. You believe her, and our kids will believe her and take her seriously because she knows how to reach them with honesty, respect, and just enough irreverence to keep them smiling.Not only that, but she offers practical, invaluable ideas to implement right now, as in before you finish reading any particular page. In short, Erica's book is a gift, a must-have for teachers and parents to share, and for every school and public library to put on the New Teen Nonfiction shelf with a big arrow: "Read This NOW!"

This is a great read, accessible to youth and adults alike. Full of thought-provoking information and exercises, the author presents information about the impacts of technology in our lives in a non-judgmental, compassionate, and often humorous way. She encourages you to explore for yourself how your use of tech is affecting your life in both positive and negative ways and offers suggestions for more ease in a fast-paced world with information constantly at our fingertips. As a teacher, this book offered me a new framework for discussing these thorny issues of tech with young people. As a human, the book helped me reflect on my own tech use and be more awake to the choices I'm making on a daily basis. Highly recommend!

Attention Hijacked is a must read for teens and those who teach, counsel or parent them. In a world where technology constantly demands our attention, it is increasingly difficult to be aware of one's own technology usage. However, teens often balk when adults tell them to put down their phone or turn off the iPad. A seasoned educator and mindfulness coach, Erica B. Marcus takes the ideal approach. Never judgemental, she spends a chapter talking about the benefits of technology. When she covers research about the downsides of technology, she is reasonable and not alarmist. Instead, she offers practical, accessible strategies that are rooted in mindfulness. Teens and adults will learn to step back from their technology use and, without shame, take note of its benefits and also its pitfalls. I have been teaching Middle School English for over fifteen years, and I can imagine my students letting down their guards and having many "aha" moments as they read this book; it would be a perfect addition to a health and wellness program or a course on media literacy. Even though this book is geared towards teens, it also made me reflect on my own technology usage and to schedule more technology-free time for myself and my family. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more self-aware about the role of technology in their lives.