Changing the Subject audiobook cover - Art and Attention in the Internet Age

Changing the Subject

Art and Attention in the Internet Age

Sven Birkerts

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Technology & the FutureScience

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Key Takeaways from Changing the Subject

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Changing the Subject
The Cost of Convenience+
Erosion of Internality+
Cognitive Decline+
The Death of Context+
Power of Printed Novels+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
Why does the author argue that tools like GPS and music streaming services can make life less gratifying?
  • A. They provide an overwhelming number of choices, leading to decision paralysis.
  • B. They eliminate the effort and firsthand experience required to earn knowledge, which naturally provides a sense of reward.
  • C. They are frequently inaccurate, causing unnecessary frustration and wasted time.
  • D. They isolate us by replacing human interactions and recommendations with automated algorithms.
Question 2 of 6
According to the book, what is the primary consequence of constantly using smartphones to escape feelings of boredom or loneliness?
  • A. We lose our ability to foster 'internality' and confront the real feelings or personality issues we need to work out.
  • B. We develop a chemical dependency on social media algorithms for emotional validation.
  • C. We become superficially empathetic to the struggles of others while ignoring our own families.
  • D. We permanently alter our brain's dopamine receptors, leading to higher rates of clinical depression.
Question 3 of 6
What does the 2006 study of cab drivers' brains illustrate about our digital habits?
  • A. Technology improves our spatial awareness by freeing up cognitive load for other tasks.
  • B. The human brain is largely incapable of processing the rapid influx of digital information.
  • C. Relying on digital navigation and avoiding deep thought can cause important parts of our brain to stagnate.
  • D. Cab drivers who use GPS are significantly less stressed than those who rely on memory.
Question 4 of 6
How does the author view Google's universal library project?
  • A. As a triumphant democratization of knowledge that benefits students worldwide.
  • B. As a significant threat to the publishing industry's financial stability.
  • C. As a flawed concept, because chopping books into linked data bits destroys the cohesive context that gives information its meaning.
  • D. As an inefficient system that fails to accurately categorize historical events from multiple viewpoints.
Question 5 of 6
Why is reading a physical novel considered superior to reading on a digital device, according to the text?
  • A. Physical books are easier on the eyes and prevent digital eye strain.
  • B. Digital screens create a barrier of distraction that prevents the deep immersion required to fully engage the imagination.
  • C. Authors deliberately structure physical books to be more emotionally engaging than digital e-books.
  • D. The publishing industry ensures that only the highest quality, peer-reviewed literature is printed on paper.
Question 6 of 6
What is the overarching solution the author proposes to combat the negative effects of the digital world?
  • A. Deleting all social media accounts and switching to a non-internet-enabled phone.
  • B. Taking regular 'digital detox' vacations to reconnect with nature.
  • C. Putting down the smartphone, reading printed books, and making time for self-reflection.
  • D. Using digital tools more mindfully by setting strict daily screen-time limits.

Changing the Subject — Full Chapter Overview

Changing the Subject Summary & Overview

Changing the Subject (2015) takes a critical and concerned look at how the internet is affecting our lives. In these blinks, you’ll find out how our constant connection to the digital world is causing us to lose our individuality, our attention span and our intellect. Are we headed for one giant hive mind, or can we put down our phones for a moment and reconnect with our own emotions?

Who Should Listen to Changing the Subject?

  • Tech junkies addicted to their smartphones
  • Readers who are easily distracted
  • Luddites who oppose the internet revolution

About the Author: Sven Birkerts

Sven Birkets is an essayist, literary critic and champion of the importance of reading. He is the author of many books, including The Gutenberg Elegies, published in 1994, which issued an early warning about how technology could adversely affect our reading habits.

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