Doomscroll Detox: Reclaiming Your Brain in the Age of Clickbait by Alvin Mercer - Non Fiction - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9789370030879
Publisher: Rupa Publications

Overview
Doomscroll Detox: Reclaiming Your Brain in the Age of Clickbait by Alvin Mercer is a sharp, urgent look at why we can't stop scrolling and how to take our attention back. Written for anyone who has felt the pull of endless feeds and outrage headlines, this brand new paperback blends accessible psychology with practical, no-nonsense strategies. It's a timely read for the phone-addicted, the newsfeed-weary, and anyone ready to trade mindless scrolling for a clearer, calmer mind.

About the Book
Every notification, every headline, every "you won't believe what happens next" is engineered to hook your attention. Alvin Mercer argues this isn't an accident — it's the business model. Doomscroll Detox pulls back the curtain on the algorithms and psychological levers platforms use to keep users glued to their screens, explaining why willpower alone rarely beats a system built by behavioural scientists. Rather than preaching total digital abstinence, the book argues that stepping back from the feed is not withdrawal but reclamation: taking back control of your attention, mood, and time. Chapters move through the mechanics of clickbait and outrage-driven media, the neuroscience of the scroll-refresh loop, and the real toll doomscrolling takes on sleep, anxiety, and focus. From there, Mercer offers concrete, achievable habits for breaking the cycle — reframing notifications, rebuilding boundaries with news and social apps, and rediscovering offline moments the feed so easily swallows. The tone throughout is empathetic rather than judgmental, acknowledging how hard it is to resist a feed designed to be irresistible, while still offering a clear, hopeful path forward. It's a book for readers who suspect their phone habits aren't serving them, but who need more than "just put it down" advice to actually change course.

• Explains the design tricks and algorithms behind compulsive scrolling
• Offers practical, realistic strategies rather than all-or-nothing digital detox rules
• Covers the impact of doomscrolling on sleep, anxiety, and focus
• Written in an accessible, jargon-free style suitable for general readers
• A thoughtful gift for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their phone or newsfeed
• Brand new paperback copy, ready to read or gift straight away

About the Author
Alvin Mercer writes on modern digital habits, media literacy, and the psychology of attention. Doomscroll Detox: Reclaiming Your Brain in the Age of Clickbait draws on research into behavioural design and online media to explain, in clear and relatable terms, why so many of us feel trapped by our feeds — and what can genuinely be done about it. Mercer's approach favours practical, sustainable change over rigid digital detox rules, aiming to help readers build a healthier, calmer relationship with their screens without demanding they give up technology altogether.

Why You'll Love This Book
If you've ever looked up from your phone wondering where the last hour went, this book speaks directly to you. Doomscroll Detox is honest, encouraging, and genuinely useful — a compact reset for anyone ready to trade the endless scroll for a clearer, calmer head.

Please Note: This book will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover shown.