The focus : Mapping the attention economy and diagnosing how algorithmic hooks fragment deep focus.
What we will do : We will run a diagnostic audit on our current digital habits and attention spans. Through short-form narrative exercises, we will observe where our focus fractures and analyze how the mechanics of modern platforms are engineered to outsource our deliberate thinking.
THE FICTION CURE
RECLAIMING THE JOY OF READING IN A DISTRACTED WORLD
Led by Diviani Chaudhuri
Assistant Professor, Shiv Nadar University
PhD, State University of New York, Binghamton
The attention economy steals our time and colonises our inner monologue, replacing independent thought with external content. Meanwhile, the relentless pressure to optimise every waking hour for maximum productivity leaves no silence unscheduled, no pause unfilled. Caught between algorithmic manipulation and hyper-efficiency, we are compelled to outsource slow, deliberate thinking, eroding our capacity for deep focus, long-horizon reflection, and independent thought.
To counter this cognitive fragmentation requires neither a new productivity framework nor digital detox apps, but rather a return to humanity’s oldest technology for processing experience: narrative fiction. As Aristotle observed, humans derive more pleasure from learning than from almost anything else, and that…
The attention economy steals our time and colonises our inner monologue, replacing independent thought with external content. Meanwhile, the relentless pressure to optimise every waking hour for maximum productivity leaves no silence unscheduled, no pause unfilled. Caught between algorithmic manipulation and hyper-efficiency, we are compelled to outsource slow, deliberate thinking, eroding our capacity for deep focus, long-horizon reflection, and independent thought.
To counter this cognitive fragmentation requires neither a new productivity framework nor digital detox apps, but rather a return to humanity’s oldest technology for processing experience: narrative fiction. As Aristotle observed, humans derive more pleasure from learning than from almost anything else, and that the most pleasurable form of learning is recognising something true in a representation of life. Fiction operates as that recognition engine. It offers a radically non-productive space designed to reconstruct an authentic interior life
Over eight weeks, this course diagnoses the mechanics of digital distraction, maps the psychological costs of fragmented attention, and makes the case that the deliberate practice of reading fiction is the most pleasurable, most cost-effective path to reclaiming cognitive sovereignty in a world structurally designed to prevent it.
Starts on July 25, 2026
Sessions: Saturdays, 11.30 AM IST
Duration: Eight Weeks (Online)
Cohort: Limited to 20 participants
Sessions
Each weekly session is held live (a Google Meet or Zoom link is shared with course participants). Sessions usually run for about 90 minutes and are typically divided into two parts: a lecture by the faculty, followed by an open discussion among participants and faculty in an exploratory and collaborative setting.
Writing & Discussion
By Wednesdays, participants write a short reflection (about 150 words) on assigned readings in the shared course space. This reflection could take any form. It could be a question, a connection, an observation or a refutation. Each week, participants read and respond to reflections shared by others in the cohort. This allows conversations to move beyond live sessions and continue through the week.
Week by Week
Enrolment Tracks
The Seminar Track
Inaugural Fee ₹ 7600(Inclusive of tax – limited seats)
Standard Fee ₹ 11500 (Inclusive of tax)
Two months of live lectures and dialogic discussion | Small cohort of 20 (Approx) participants | Curated reading material | The Final Symposium | Alumni Network Membership | Certificate of Completion*
Mentorship Track
Inaugural Fee ₹ 11500(Inclusive of tax – limited seats)
Standard Fee ₹ 14500 (Inclusive of tax)
Everything in the Seminar Track | Two 1-on-1 individual mentorship sessions with the faculty | Personalised reading recommendations.
III. Bursary
We offer a limited number of bursaries for those who cannot afford the course fee but are keenly interested in joining us. If you would like to apply for a bursary, please write to us at contact@liberalartscentre.org with the following: (a) a brief personal statement (300-500 words) on why you want to do this course and what draws you to the subject (b) a short note on your financial circumstances and why the fee is a barrier for you at this time.
You are welcome to also share (c) a piece of writing or work you are proud of - an essay, an article, a blog post, anything at all - so we can get a sense of who you are. We review bursary applications on a rolling basis and will get back to you as soon as we can.