Chris Hayes

That's right. And, you know, one of the things I write about in the book is that when we think about the state of boredom or being bored, I think we associate it with being a child. I mean, I remember, you know, days in the summer particularly where... I was a little underscheduled. I just sort of sitting around these periods where you feel like I have nothing to do.

That's right. And, you know, one of the things I write about in the book is that when we think about the state of boredom or being bored, I think we associate it with being a child. I mean, I remember, you know, days in the summer particularly where... I was a little underscheduled. I just sort of sitting around these periods where you feel like I have nothing to do.

That's right. And, you know, one of the things I write about in the book is that when we think about the state of boredom or being bored, I think we associate it with being a child. I mean, I remember, you know, days in the summer particularly where... I was a little underscheduled. I just sort of sitting around these periods where you feel like I have nothing to do.

And the reason I've come to believe that we associate with childhood is as soon as we are old enough to control our lives, we do everything possible to make sure we never feel it. That's why it's associated with childhood, because because children don't have full agency. Once we develop full agency, we're like, I'm not going to be in that state.

And the reason I've come to believe that we associate with childhood is as soon as we are old enough to control our lives, we do everything possible to make sure we never feel it. That's why it's associated with childhood, because because children don't have full agency. Once we develop full agency, we're like, I'm not going to be in that state.

And the reason I've come to believe that we associate with childhood is as soon as we are old enough to control our lives, we do everything possible to make sure we never feel it. That's why it's associated with childhood, because because children don't have full agency. Once we develop full agency, we're like, I'm not going to be in that state.

I'm going to do whatever it takes not to be in that state.

I'm going to do whatever it takes not to be in that state.

I'm going to do whatever it takes not to be in that state.

So compelled attention is part of our deepest biological neurological wiring. It's the involuntary reaction if you are at a cocktail party and a waiter drops a tray of glasses. You can't help it. You cannot control whether you're going to pay attention to that. It's often the case with an explosion or the siren that is on top of an ambulance or a cop car as it goes down the street.

So compelled attention is part of our deepest biological neurological wiring. It's the involuntary reaction if you are at a cocktail party and a waiter drops a tray of glasses. You can't help it. You cannot control whether you're going to pay attention to that. It's often the case with an explosion or the siren that is on top of an ambulance or a cop car as it goes down the street.

So compelled attention is part of our deepest biological neurological wiring. It's the involuntary reaction if you are at a cocktail party and a waiter drops a tray of glasses. You can't help it. You cannot control whether you're going to pay attention to that. It's often the case with an explosion or the siren that is on top of an ambulance or a cop car as it goes down the street.

That involuntary attention is the part of our neurological wiring in which our attention is compelled independent of our volition and will as a kind of almost biological fact due to the fact that we needed to be alert to danger, basically. And then there's voluntary attention, which is when we, using the conscious will, flash the beam of thought where we want it to go.

That involuntary attention is the part of our neurological wiring in which our attention is compelled independent of our volition and will as a kind of almost biological fact due to the fact that we needed to be alert to danger, basically. And then there's voluntary attention, which is when we, using the conscious will, flash the beam of thought where we want it to go.

That involuntary attention is the part of our neurological wiring in which our attention is compelled independent of our volition and will as a kind of almost biological fact due to the fact that we needed to be alert to danger, basically. And then there's voluntary attention, which is when we, using the conscious will, flash the beam of thought where we want it to go.

Correct.

Correct.

Correct.

Well, I mean, I think that, look, involuntary attention, I think, is probably necessary for the survival of species. So in that sense, it's fundamental. And I wouldn't say it's worse. The problem is, so let's say you're reading the book. You've made this volitional decision. And as you're reading the book, the little haptic buzz of a notification in your phone goes off.

Well, I mean, I think that, look, involuntary attention, I think, is probably necessary for the survival of species. So in that sense, it's fundamental. And I wouldn't say it's worse. The problem is, so let's say you're reading the book. You've made this volitional decision. And as you're reading the book, the little haptic buzz of a notification in your phone goes off.