Rolf Dobelli has a radical suggestion - stop reading the news and you will be happier, less anxious, and also find yourself with more time on your hands. He suggests that in being discerning about where we find our information - seeking out experts and raw data, rather than the information equivalent of junk food produced by modern news media - we can ensure we absorb information that is relevant and helpful to our lives; rather than opinion and analysis that can incite fear, worry or division. It's been a couple of years since I read this book and I have not read the news since...and I can confirm I feel happier and better informed on the topics that matter to me.
STOP READING THE NEWS is a vital toolkit for managing the upsetting coronavirus news cycle and finding equilibrium and calm at a time of chaos and uncertainty
In 2013 Rolf Dobelli stood in front of a roomful of journalists and proclaimed that he did not read the news. It caused a riot. Now the author of the bestselling The Art of Thinking Clearly finally sets down his philosophy in detail. And he practises what he preaches: he hasn't read the news for a decade.
Stop Reading the News is Dobelli's manifesto about the dangers of the most toxic form of information - news. He shows the damage it does to our concentration and well-being, and how a misplaced sense of duty can misdirect our behaviour. Most importantly, he offers the reader the guidance on how to live without news, and the many potential gains to be had: less disruption, more time, less anxiety, more insights.
In a world of increasing disruption and division, Stop Reading the News is a welcome voice of calm and wisdom.
