Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching

Description

'Truly addictive' Malcolm Gladwell * 'Brilliant' Susan Cain * 'Essential' Charles Duhigg How many times have you checked your phone today? Why are messaging apps, email and social media so hard to resist? How come we always end up watching another episode? In recent years, media and technology have perfected the lucrative art of gaining and holding our attention. This extraordinary feat has changed the behaviour of billions of people, and especially the young- by current medical standards, we are experiencing an unprecedented, global pandemic of addiction. But what exactly is an addiction? And what, if anything, might we do about it? From cliff-hangers to earworms, from religion to pornography, and from the awesome allure of the 'Kim Kardashian- Hollywood' app to the unexpected benefits of the 'butt-brush effect', Irresistible blends fascinating stories with ingenious science to explain how and why we all got hooked. Revealing the surprising causes and sometimes bizarre nature of addiction, this book will equip you with the tools and understanding you need to navigate our irresistible new world.

Adam Alter is an Associate Professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, and holds an affiliated appointment within the Psychology Department. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Drunk Tank Pink- And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel and Behave and has written for The New York Times, New Yorker, Atlantic, Wired, Popular Science and numerous other publications.

"A truly addictive book ... a fascinating and much needed exploration of one of the most troubling phenomena of modern times" -- MALCOLM GLADWELL "Brilliant. Irresistible offers a crucial understanding of how we are psychologically tethered to our devices, along with much-needed solutions" -- SUSAN CAIN author of QUIET "Essential reading if you've ever wondered why some experiences are so addictive, and how to regain control of your time, finances, and relationships" -- CHARLES DUHIGG, author of THE POWER OF HABIT "An important, groundbreaking book about why we're addicted to technology, how we got here, and what we should do next" -- ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, author of THRIVE "There could be no better guide than Adam Alter to a technological landscape that's increasingly designed to turn us into addicts. Your sanity will thank you for reading it" -- OLIVER BURKEMAN, author of THE ANTIDOTE "Irresistible digs down into exactly how technology has us hooked by tapping into our deepest needs and desires ... brims with insightful studies" The Times "Contains smart and -fascinating analysis of how social media apps, gambling sites and computer games have been engineered to hook users ... offers insights that apply far beyond the scope of internet addiction" New Statesman "A book which lives up to its title ... chock-full of stories, characters galore, and statistics to make you gasp. It's very entertaining" New Scientist "Fascinating ... compelling ... Irresistible makes some vital points" Daily Telegraph "Illuminating ... fascinating" -- Gavin Francis Observer "Alarming ... a growing body of research [is] deftly outlined in this book" Sunday Times "No one who has ever seen an advertisement, checked their email on a smartphone, or used the Internet will come away quite the same" -- DAVID EPSTEIN, author of THE SPORTS GENE "In this smart, sharply-argued book, Adam Alter lays out the evidence for a hidden danger in our lives: behavioural addiction. A fascinating read that will leave you enlightened - and alarmed" -- DANIEL PINK, author of DRIVE "Mixing the latest in behavioral science with briskly engaging storytelling, Adam Alter wakes us to an age-old problem that has found troubling new expression" -- TOM VANDERBILT, author of TRAFFIC "A timely book about the rise of addictive technology by a professor of business and psychology... If you can't stop clicking, this is the book for you" Tatler "This alarming book offers a creepy portrait of those in the most advanced reaches of the WWZ, or World Wide Zombiedom" -- Craig Brown Mail on Sunday "A riveting book if you can get off Facebook for long enough to read it" UK Press Syndication "This important book explores how technology keeps us hooked, why that's destructive - and how to take back control" People Magazine "A fantastic antidote to digital over-use. Seriously... Alter's book has a five-page guide on how to avoid binge-watching. It is invaluable" -- Viv Groskop Pool "New York professor Alter's work is the perfect invitation to turn off your devices and get away from it all" Week UK