We read more words today than ever before, but we understand less. Cognitive researcher Jeremy Brock argues in "Deep Focus Reading" that the digital age has rewired our brains for "skimming"—a superficial scanning pattern designed to locate keywords rather than construct complex arguments. This, he posits, is leading to a crisis in critical thinking and empathy. Brock combines literary history with neuroscience to explain "deep reading"—a state of total absorption that activates the same brain regions as real-life experiences. He shows how the "F-shaped" reading pattern of the web is eroding our capacity for linear, long-form thought. The book is a training manual for the mind. Brock offers protocols to rebuild reading stamina, starting with short complex texts and graduating to dense philosophy or literature. He discusses the physical differences between reading on paper vs. screens and advocates for "slow reading" movements. This is a book for students, professionals, and anyone who feels their attention span fracturing, offering a path back to deep comprehension and intellectual nuance.
