KÅKÅ presents an evening with British journalist and non-fiction author Johann Hari, one of the most important journalists and writers of our time. Hari consistently delves into the big and uncomfortable questions. If there is one recurring perspective running through his books, it is this: our most personal and intimate problems often have much broader social, economic and technological causes than we realise.
In the New York Times bestseller Chasing the Scream: The Search for the Truth About Addiction, he explores the phenomenon of addiction, which he has experienced personally. His TED Talk, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong”, has been viewed 24 million times. Is it really the physical properties of substances that cause addiction, or are there more fundamental underlying causes?
His book Lost Connections: Why You're Depressed and How to Find Hope (Frakoblet) has been sold in 21 countries and has appeared on both the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller lists. In it, he argues that depression and anxiety are often not primarily caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain, but are closely connected to different forms of disconnection in modern life. What kinds of disconnection are we talking about? And what can we do to reconnect with life?
The bestseller Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention (Stjålet fokus) explores how our attention is systematically being eroded, and argues that this is not (only) the result of weak willpower or bad habits. Hari has identified 12 fundamental causes and has many ideas about what we can do to reclaim our concentration and focus.
Featuring:
Johann Hari, author and journalist. Hari has published several international bestsellers and written for a range of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
Guests:
Anne Mangen, Professor at the National Centre for Reading Education and Research, University of Stavanger (UiS).
Liv Sand, psychologist and Head of the Department of Psychology, UiS.
Hans Markus Riisdal, vocalist, songwriter and producer in the band TØFL.
Host:
Jostein Gjertsen, journalist, teacher, podcast host and former presenter on NRK P2.
