We all have good days and bad days... Let's master the art of 'playing badly well.'

Try 14 Days Free

Adam Alter

Adam Alter

Author, marketing and psychology professor at NYU's Stern School of Business.

Adam Alter is an Associate Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, with an affiliated appointment in the New York University Psychology Department.

Adam is the New York Times bestselling author of two books: Irresistible, which considers why so many people today are addicted to so many behaviors, from incessant smart phone and internet use to video game playing and online shopping, and Drunk Tank Pink, which investigates how hidden forces in the world around us shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

PhilosophersNotes on Adam Alter's Books All PhilosophersNotes

Irresistible

The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

by Adam Alter

Irresistible. That’s the perfect word to describe the growing array of addictive technologies that are capturing so much of our attention these days. And, it’s the perfect name for the book. Adam Alter is an associate professor of marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business. This is a great book on, as the sub-title suggests, “The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked.” Big Ideas we explore include the fact Steve Jobs didn’t let his own kids use an iPad (why?), why addiction is about more than just personality (and what matters), how to add 11 years back to your life, what happens when your brain gets pickled and the simple question you can ask to Optimize.

Packs:

Conquering Digital Addiction & Digital Minimalism & Neuroscience & Productivity

Addiction Best of Optimize Deep Work productivity smartphones technology

+1s Inspired by Adam Alter All +1s

Cucumbers & Pickles
#262

Your Brain on Addiction

Adam Alter wrote a great book called Irresistible in which he walks us through how we become addicted to technology and tells us about the businesses built on hacking our brains to capture our attention and create those addictions. It’s a powerful read and goes nicely with the must-see 60 Minutes speci...

+1 inspired by Note: Irresistible

Packs:

Neuroscience & Willpower

Best of Optimize Compassion Discipline Mental Toughness neuroscience self-awareness willpower Work

How to Add 11 Years to Your Life
#291

Count How Many Times You Check Your Phone Today

Quick quiz today: Do you know how often the average American checks his or her smartphone? * Enter Jeopardy music here * Well… What’s your guess? How about every six and a half minutes. That’s 150 (!!!) times per day. Second part of the quiz: How often do YOU check your smartphone per day? Here’s...

+1 inspired by Note: Irresistible

Packs:

Neuroscience & Productivity

focus neuroscience productivity technology time management Work

Demons vs. Daimons
#919

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

What to Feed Them

In our last +1, we talked about the fact that demon comes from the same root as daimon. In ancient Greek it basically meant the “lesser or evil spirit.” Where do both of those guys hang out? Within each of us, of course. We also talked about the demon from Fablehaven named Olloch the Glutton. Once th...

+1 inspired by Note: Irresistible

Packs:

Algorithms & Modern Hērō

algorithms big-picture Eudaimonia modern-hero self-awareness soul Spirit

Interviews with Adam Alter All Interviews