We all know what it is to be distracted - a feeling that our attention is not quite where it should be. While it is not a new complaint, modern life is plagued by distractions. At work and at home, in relationships and in the bedroom, our attention is often torn between one thing and another. What does it mean to be distracted, and why?In this insightful romp through the history of philosophy, Damon Young shows how rewarding patient, sensitive and thoughtful attention to the world can be. He suggests that the opposite of a life of distraction is one of genuine freedom.