Brené Brown Advocates for ‘Deep Reading’ and ‘Privilege of Focus’ in a Distracted World

In a recent LinkedIn post, Brené Brown discusses the profound joy of reading and the challenges of cultivating deep focus in our increasingly distracted digital age. Brown, a renowned researcher and author, shared her reflections prompted by celebrating Dolly Parton, which led her to consider the value of immersing oneself in books.

Brown highlights a growing societal yearning for more profound engagement with information and with each other, asserting that such depth requires dedicated time. She writes:

“We are all craving deep reading, deep thinking, and deep connection —which all require deep time.”

The ‘Privilege of Focus’ in the Digital Age

The researcher points to Maya Angelou Smart’s concept of the “privilege of focus” as a key to reclaiming this deep time. Brown found herself drawn back to an interview with Smart, emphasizing the power of intentionally directing one’s attention in a world that constantly vies for it.

According to Brown, the relentless nature of modern digital environments actively works against sustained concentration. She identifies “shallow distraction, addictive scrolling, and unrelenting attention grabbing” as primary culprits that fragment our ability to engage deeply with any one thing.

Reclaiming ‘Deep Time’ Through a Spiritual Book Club

To counteract these forces, Brené Brown proposes a novel approach: a “spiritual book club.” This club, as envisioned by Brown, would operate without the pressures of rigid schedules or mandatory meetings. The emphasis, she explains, is on a shared reframe of what constitutes valuable time.

Brown suggests that in a world that often equates busyness with productivity, dedicating time to deep reading and reflection can be seen as a counter-cultural, even subversive, act. She proposes:

“Let’s start a spiritual book club where we read what we want, when we want – no meetings or deadlines – just a shared reframe of deep time as subversive in a world of shallow distraction, addictive scrolling, and unrelenting attention grabbing.”

By reframing “deep time” not as an absence of activity but as a deliberate choice for focused engagement, Brown encourages her followers to reclaim moments for introspection and connection. This initiative, she implies, is a way to cultivate the “deep reading, deep thinking, and deep connection” that many are craving.

Brené Brown’s call to action is a powerful reminder of the importance of intentionality in our media consumption and personal development. By embracing the “privilege of focus” and carving out “deep time,” individuals can foster a richer inner life and more meaningful connections, even amidst the constant demands of the digital world.