Captivology: The Science of Capturing People's Attention

by Ben Parr

Overview

"Captivology is a brilliant investigation of how one can make a mark in this world by commanding the attention of others (not easy in this incredibly fluid culture) and how we can build on that initial impression to make something tangible and lasting."--Donal Logue, actor, producer, and director

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062414885
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/18/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	781,822
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Ben Parr is an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, investor, and expert on attention. He is the cofounder and managing partner of DominateFund, a venture capital firm; was coeditor and editor-at-large of Mashable; and served as columnist for CNET. Parr was named one of the top ten tech journalists in the world by Say Media and named to the Forbes "30 Under 30." He lives in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Bonfire of Attention 1

1 The Three Stages of Attention 11

2 Automaticity Trigger 27

3 Framing Trigger 57

4 Disruption Trigger 83

5 Reward Trigger 105

6 Reputation Trigger 133

7 Mystery Trigger 163

8 Acknowledgment Trigger 191

Conclusion: The Influence of Attention 219

Acknowledgments 223

Notes 227

About the Author 241

Index 243

Editorial Reviews

Filled with useful tips, practical advice and case studies, Captivology is a book everyone in the attention business should buy. (By the way, that’s YOU. Every. One. Of. Us.)

Sree Sreenivasan

Captivology is a brilliant investigation of how one can make a mark in this world by commanding the attention of others (not easy in this incredibly fluid culture) and how we can build on that initial impression to make something tangible and lasting.

Donal Logue

Parr gets it: To succeed in a world where attention is scarce, captivating audiences at every level is a skill that everyone needs. Captivology will show you how to capture other people’s attention, whether you are teacher, entrepreneur, musician, or simply a dreamer with a big idea.

Adam Braun

The Internet has made it easier to communicate but also more challenging to be heard. Ben Parr’s Captivology applies recent discoveries in psychology and neuroscience to the attention economy so that anyone can rise over the crowd and stand out.

Craig Newmark

Parr gets it: To succeed in a world where attention is scarce, captivating audiences at every level is a skill that everyone needs. Captivology will show you how to capture other people’s attention, whether you are teacher, entrepreneur, musician, or simply a dreamer with a big idea.” — Adam Braun, New York Times bestselling author of The Promise of a Pencil

“The Internet has made it easier to communicate but also more challenging to be heard. Ben Parr’s Captivology applies recent discoveries in psychology and neuroscience to the attention economy so that anyone can rise over the crowd and stand out.” — Craig Newmark, founder, Craigslist

“Filled with useful tips, practical advice and case studies, Captivology is a book everyone in the attention business should buy. (By the way, that’s YOU. Every. One. Of. Us.)” — Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and professor of digital media, Columbia Journalism School

“Captivology is a brilliant investigation of how one can make a mark in this world by commanding the attention of others (not easy in this incredibly fluid culture) and how we can build on that initial impression to make something tangible and lasting.” — Donal Logue, actor, producer, and director

From the Publisher

A variety of inputs—visual, auditory, tactile, verbal—can help grab and hold our attention, says the author of this captivating discussion. Narrator Lloyd James does his part in promoting listeners’ attention with his energetic interpretations and understated enthusiasm. He’s especially deft at using pauses to heighten the importance of certain words and phrases. These skills complement the author’s fluid writing, which describes the science behind entering people’s consciousness and remaining prominent in an age of continual interruptions. The author, a former editor at a social media company, balances the studies he cites with memorable cross-cultural stories and interviews with prominent leaders. His insights about the power of subtle word choices to change attitudes—for example, “gun safety” vs. “gun control”—will fascinate anyone with a product or cause to promote—or a politician he or she wants you to vote for. T.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2016 - AudioFile