The fight for attention is only getting bigger

I've spent years thinking about how algorithms shape our lives. This book is where all of those ideas come together.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write you a more personal note today.

First, thank you.

Whether you've been watching my content for years or found it much more recently, you've helped build something I never imagined when I started uploading videos to this new thing called YouTube.

Millions of you now engage with the show daily, but this community has always been about more than numbers. It's about people who care enough to think critically, ask questions, and look beyond whatever happens to be dominating the news cycle that day.

I’m incredibly grateful for that.

Today, I’d like to ask for your help.

My new book, Pay Attention, comes out in a couple months, and if you’ve been thinking about preordering it, now is the time.

A lot of people don’t realize how important preorders are.

Retailers decide how many copies to stock based on preorders. Preorders play a major role in bestseller lists during launch week, and they give the book the best chance of reaching readers who otherwise might never hear about it.

In other words, preorders create momentum that independent content creators like me depend on.

The book itself is about a question I’ve become increasingly obsessed with over the last several years.

Most people assume algorithms show us what we already want to see. I think the opposite is closer to the truth. These systems shape what captures our attention, what we believe is important, what gets amplified, and even whether two people can agree on a basic set of facts. AI is accelerating those trends.

This book is about understanding the systems shaping our lives so we can make better decisions before those systems become even more powerful.

I believe this is the most important thing I’ve written.

If my work has been valuable to you over the years, preordering this book is probably the single most meaningful way you can support me right now.

You can preorder it from your favorite bookstore or retailer. We have links to several options through the button below. Including where you can get a signed copy, while supplies last.

As a thank you, everyone who preorders can also enter to win something pretty special. I’ll personally sign a first edition of Pay Attention and a first edition of my first NYT Bestseller The Echo Machine for one winner.

To enter, just email your preorder receipt to info@davidpakman.com. Even if you’ve already pre-ordered, you are welcome to enter the giveaway.

If you’ve already preordered, thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me. Every preorder helps, every recommendation helps, and every person who tells a friend about the book helps.

I’ve been fortunate to have your support for so many years, and I don’t take it for granted.

Thank you for reading, for watching, and for making all of this possible.

—David