Book details

• Author: The Friends of Attention
• Genre: Health, Mind & Body | Nonfiction (Adult) | Politics & Current Affairs
• Publication date: 20/01/2026
• Format read: eBook
• Source: NetGalley
  

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Short verdict

I went into this book with high expectations because I strongly agree with the cause and the message the author is trying to convey. While that core message is present and worthwhile, the execution makes the book harder to engage with than it needs to be. The central ideas are diluted by repetition and an overextended structure, and the result is a book that feels significantly longer than its content demands.

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At a glance

What worked:

• The central message is relevant and worthwhile
• Clear passion and conviction behind the subject matter
• Moments of clarity where the argument comes through strongly

What didn’t:

• Overuse of emphasis (including capitalisation) becomes distracting
• Repetition weakens impact rather than reinforcing it
• A lack of structural discipline makes the book feel padded

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Final thoughts

The ideas at the heart of this book deserve attention, and a more disciplined structure would have served them far better. A tighter, more hierarchical approach — something closer to Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle — could have transformed this into a concise and compelling read. As it stands, the book contains worthwhile content, but it requires patience to extract it.

Readers already invested in the topic may be more forgiving of the style, while those looking for a clear, economical argument may find the presentation frustrating.

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Rating

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Disclosure

Thank you to Penguin Press and NetGalley for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.