Lifescale Book Summary - Lifescale Book explained in key points
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Lifescale summary

Brian Solis

How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life

4.5 (108 ratings)
24 mins

Brief summary

Lifescale by Brian Solis is a self-help book that encourages readers to take control of their relationship with technology before it takes control of them. With practical advice and insights, Solis offers a roadmap for living a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Table of Contents

    Lifescale
    Summary of 8 key ideas

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    Key idea 1 of 8

    Technology distracts us by design.

    You've probably heard it said that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, it’s not hard to see that many of us have a problem with distraction. And the obvious culprits are technology and social media.

    Enter lifescaling, the author’s method for regaining not just your focus but your creativity and purpose, too. Before you can work on your focus, however, you have to understand that this state of distraction is no accident. 

    The key message here is: Technology distracts us by design.

    Consider the many devices we have at our disposal – and all the apps and social media platforms available through them. The companies behind these have to compete for our attention, and they do this through persuasive design. This is a method of designing products so that they play on our weaknesses and influence our behavior. 

    Social media notifications, for example, are persuasive design at work. As humans, we’re wired for social reciprocity, meaning we expect others to respond in kind to our positive actions. Think of how people receive compliments and feel the need to return them. Notifications about “likes” on our social media posts or messages play on that need for reciprocity. When we see them, we’re driven to keep interacting and checking how many likes or messages we’ve received. 

    With tactics like this, it’s no wonder we can only go a few minutes at a time before reaching for our phones. But there’s another side to the story. We also welcome the distractions that technology presents us with. When we’re facing difficult tasks, work we don’t enjoy, or issues like anxiety and loneliness, falling into a digital rabbit hole offers a temporary escape.

    But whether we’re tricked into distraction or turn to it willingly, there are many negative consequences. 

    The main one? We’re constantly switching between our work and the digital world of apps and social media. But our brains have a limited capacity for concentration and productivity. So when we switch tasks or try to do multiple things at once, we’re less likely to do anything well. This leads to wasted time and poor-quality work. It also negatively affects our attention spans and memory, increases stress levels, and makes it harder for us to think creatively.

    Thankfully, it’s possible to combat distraction and its impact on our minds. In the following blinks, we’ll learn how.

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    What is Lifescale about?

    Lifescale (2019) addresses the modern struggle to stay focused in a world designed to distract you. It offers practical solutions for increasing your productivity while contending with a shortened attention span. It also outlines ways of identifying meaning, values, and goals that will propel you forward.

    Lifescale Review

    Lifescale (2019) is a thought-provoking book that explores our relationship with technology and offers actionable steps to regain control of our lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It provides insightful analysis of the negative impact technology has on our well-being and offers practical strategies to overcome digital distractions.
    • Brian Solis combines personal experiences, interviews with experts, and scientific research to present a comprehensive and convincing argument about the need to "lifescale".
    • The book's accessible language and engaging storytelling keep readers hooked, ensuring that the exploration of a serious topic like technology addiction never becomes dull.

    Who should read Lifescale?

    • Technophiles looking to better control their use of social media and technology
    • Employees striving for improved focus and productivity
    • Ambitious professionals interested in redefining their goals and purpose

    About the Author

    Brian Solis is a world-renowned digital analyst and speaker. He’s spent close to 30 years studying technology’s impact on both society and business and has helped top start-ups and brands develop digital transformation and innovation strategies. Solis is the author of eight best sellers, including What’s the Future of Business and The End of Business as Usual.

     

    ©Brian Solis: Lifescale copyright 2019, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

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    Lifescale FAQs 

    What is the main message of Lifescale?

    Taking control of our digital lives and reclaiming our focus and happiness.

    How long does it take to read Lifescale?

    Reading time for Lifescale varies. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.

    Is Lifescale a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Lifescale is a valuable book. It offers practical insights for finding balance in the digital age.

    Who is the author of Lifescale?

    Brian Solis is the author of Lifescale.

    What to read after Lifescale?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Lifescale, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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    • How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell
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