How To Do Nothing : Resisting the Attention Economy

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by artist and writer Jenny Odell is a work of cultural criticism that examines how digital platforms and the broader attention economy compete for and exploit our focus.

Rather than proposing a simple retreat from technology, Odell argues for a more deliberate reclaiming of attention, using nature observation, public parks, and quiet noticing as models for resisting the relentless pull of productivity and engagement metrics.

Drawing on history, philosophy, and art, she makes the case that stepping back from constant connectivity is not laziness but a form of political and ethical resistance, one that opens space for deeper thought, genuine community, and a redefined sense of what it means to be productive and engaged with the world.