Includes bibliographical references and index.

The subtle faculty -- The anatomy of attention. Basics ; Attention top and bottom ; The value of a mind adrift ; Finding balance -- Self-awareness. The inner rudder ; Seeing ourselves as others see us ; A recipe for self-control -- Reading others. The woman who knew too much ; The empathy triad ; Social sensitivity -- The bigger context. Patterns, systems, and messes ; System blindness ; Distant threats -- Smart practice. The myth of 10,000 hours ; Brains on games ; Breathing buddies -- The well-focused leader. How leaders direct attention ; The leader's triple focus ; What makes a leader? -- The big picture. Leading for the long future.

Psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman delves into the science of attention in all its varieties and shows why high-achievers need focus, as demonstrated by rich case studies from fields as diverse as competitive sports, education, the arts, and business.