Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

For more than two decades, psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman has been scouting the leading edge of the human sciences for what's new, surprising, and important. In Focus , he delves into the science of attention in all its varieties, presenting a long overdue discussion of this little-noticed and under-rated mental asset that matters enormously for how we navigate life. Goleman boils down attention research into a three parts: inner, other, and outer focus. Goleman shows why high-achievers need all three kinds of focus, as demonstrated by rich case studies from fields as diverse as competitive sports, education, the arts, and business. Those who excel rely on what Goleman calls Smart Practices such as mindfulness meditation, focused preparation and recovery, positive emotions and connections, and mental 'prosthetics' that help them improve habits, add new skills, and sustain excellence. Combining cutting-edge research with practical findings, Focus reveals what distinguishes experts from amateurs and stars from average performers.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Psychologist and journalist Goleman, most acclaimed for his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, offers here previously explored psychological findings filtered through a new lens. He highlights the need for focus in our modern, hectic, distracted world as a means toward a better society. Although he quotes no empirical evidence, much of his argument for this reviewer recalls research on the effects of middle age and psychologist Erik Erikson's notion of generativity. (Perhaps Mr. Goleman is middle-aged?) Instead of concentrating on developing and cultivating more relationships, the book emphasizes deepening current ones. Instead of letting ourselves become overwhelmed by possessions and mental clutter, it is suggested that we lighten our load and choose what's important. Instead of working mindlessly, we need to be mindful of our contribution to the world, providing for both our children and others. And in order to do all that and do it well, the author suggests one needs to focus! VERDICT Self-awareness, empathy, and ability to see the bigger picture are all themes investigated by Goleman; this work is recommended for those interested in being a better person and for libraries offering books on psychology and self-help.-Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

The ubiquitous reality of technological tools and gadgets in contemporary society can seem to impede the development of a conscious awareness of the world. Goleman, author of several works, including the acclaimed Emotional Intelligence (1995) and Social Intelligence (CH, Oct'07, 45-0941), explores here the issues this loss of awareness can create on an individual and global scale. He looks at the physiology of the brain and the way in which information, experiences, and emotions are tracked and processed. A storyteller at heart, Goleman makes complex scientific material accessible and captivating. He moves from personal to organizational to global in evaluating the need to strengthen "systems awareness" through three kinds of focus--inner, other, and outer--all of which are required for "a well-lived life." Drawing on work with children and adults in multinational corporations and small inner-city schools, Goleman explores the dynamics of attention training. He draws the reader into a dialogue with critical long- and short-term dilemmas that will require a new type of systems focus if they are to be resolved. Realism is tempered by a positive optimism in this engaging work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All collections and readership levels. T. M. Mckenzie Gonzaga University

Booklist Review

Attention is a little-noticed and underrated mental asset, sorely tested among modern distractions but essential to success in work, play, relationships, and self-awareness, asserts Goleman, psychologist, journalist, and author of Emotional Intelligence (1995). In fact, the ability to focus, more than IQ or social background, is the key to performance and success. Neuroscience, case studies, and personal experience contribute to Goleman's exploration of focus, which includes concentration, selective attention, open awareness, self-awareness, empathy, and systems awareness. He breaks them down to inner, other, and outer focus. Among examples of the significance of focus: a doctor's ability to shut down emotions to focus on gory medical procedures; an epidemiologist's attention to patterns and systems to track the human connections that lead to global pandemics; and a gamer's focus on spatial perception, decision making, and ability to track objects. In commerce, education, sports, and personal life, Goleman offers concepts and techniques, including mindfulness and meditation, to train ourselves to be more focused, exercising those areas of the brain involved in focusing attention. An engaging, wide-ranging look at attention and intelligence.--Bush, Vanessa Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

Goleman (Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence, 2011, etc.) argues that the ability to focus is "a little-noticed and underrated asset" that can help overcome problems like "zoning out" and "mind wandering," among many others. The author explains that attention span can be compared with a "mental muscle that we can strengthen by a work out," with memorization and concentration being the forms of exercise that work the "muscle." Showing how much time is spent in day-dreaming and mind wandering--up to 40 percent of the day, according to some estimates--Goleman identifies the changes in psychological and mental habits and activities that he believes will contribute to effectively addressing important contemporary issues like climate change and global warming. Quick, default reactions, which focus on the short term and "favor now in decisions of all kinds," prevent concentration on the long-term objectives that such issues demand. Goleman also believes that such a transformation will require new methods of leadership working through new kinds of institutions. The success of future leaders will depend on their ability to maintain focus on long-term goals and improvements for the widest circles their influence can reach. The author supports his arguments with a psychological framework drawn from the contemporary field of neuroscience. He refers to a Nature magazine study on the ambiguous effects of playing computer games--from "Minesweeper" to poker--and stresses that "face-to-face interactionspick up a multitude of signals which help us connect well, and wire together the neurons involved." Unfortunately, "during thousands of hours spent online," he writes, "the wiring of the social brain gets virtually no exercise." A lively personalized account of the science of attention, which "ripples through most everything we seek to accomplish."]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Psychologist Daniel Goleman was born on March 7, 1946 in Stockton, California. He earned a Ph.D. from Harvard. Goleman wrote his first book, "The Meditative Mind" after studying ancient psychology systems and meditation practices in India and Sri Lanka.

Goleman wrote about psychology and related fields for the New York Times for 12 years beginning in 1984. In 1993 he co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. He is also a co-chairman of The Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations and a member of the Mind and Life Institute's board of directors.

Goleman has written several popular books, including "Emotional Intelligence," "Social Intelligence," "Ecological Intelligence" and "Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence." He received a Career Achievement award for journalism from the American Psychological Association and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science to recognize his efforts to communicate the behavioral sciences to the public.

(Bowker Author Biography)