Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think?

Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think?

That's the title of a new book, edited by John Brockman. He posed that very question to 150 writers, pundits, scientists, scholar, visual artists, architects, and musicians.

In a review of the book for The Wall Street Journal Christine Rosen observes:

One theme emerges frequently from enthusiasts and skeptics alike: Precisely because there are such vast stores of information on the Internet, the ability to carve out time for uninterrupted, concentrated thought may prove to be the most important skill that one can hone. "Attention is the fundamental literacy," writes Howard Rheingold, the author of "Smart Mobs."

Rosen quotes philosopher Thomas Metzinger to the effect that "Attention is a finite commodity, and it is absolutely essential to living a good life."

New Testament scholar George Guthrie, reflecting upon the application of these observations to the spiritual life, writes on Spiritual ADD & the Skill of Focus.