Sceptre Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life by Rolf Dobelli

Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life is written by Rolf Dobelli. This book sets out Dobelli’s manifesto on news and why he chooses not to read it.

Key details

• Author: Rolf Dobelli
• Publisher: Sceptre
• Also by the author: The Art of Thinking Clearly
• Described as a manifesto on the dangers of news

Synopsis

In 2013, Dobelli told a room of journalists that he did not read the news, a statement that caused a strong reaction. He later sets out this position in detail, noting that he has not read the news for a decade.

He describes news as a particularly toxic form of information and outlines the harm it can cause to concentration and well-being, including the way a misplaced sense of duty may influence behaviour. The book also offers guidance on living without news and points to potential gains such as less disruption, more time, less anxiety and more insights, presenting itself as a calm voice in a disrupted and divided world.