cover image The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction

The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction

P.M. Forni. St. Martin's, $21.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-312-62571-9

Forni (Choosing Civility) is hardly alone in thinking that we live in a short-term, fun-oriented culture in which people desperately need to (re)learn the art of reflection and deliberation. The Johns Hopkins professor of romance literature and languages is influenced by such Stoic philosophers as Epictetus, who viewed thinking as "the golden way to the good life" and to happiness. Forni looks at critical thinking, "which is rational, informed, purposeful, and reflective..." Individual chapters discuss introspection, reflection, and attention. But Forni writes too little about what we should think about other than that we should be curious about everything%E2%80%94not an easy task in a world flooding us with information. The book's second half provides some excellent practical advice and exercises on such matters as how to prepare for and act at a business meeting, how to think before making a decision, and the importance of thinking before speaking or tweeting. But his own writing is sometimes undermined by a trite phrase or a mini-sermon (e.g., regarding Olympic champion Michael Phelps photographed smoking a joint, Forni writes, "He was the victim of the foolishness of youth and the spirit of an age that won't promote prudence and self-restraint..."). Still, Forni argues well for reflecting more on our lives and behavior. (Sept.)