As we enjoy the Internet's bounties, are we sacrificing our ability to read and think deeply? Carr describes how human thought has been shaped through the centuries by "tools of the mind"--from the alphabet to maps, to the printing press, the clock, and the computer--and interweaves recent discoveries in neuroscience by such pioneers as Michael Merzenich and Eric Kandel. Our brains, scientific evidence reveals, change in response to our experiences. The technologies we use to find, store and share information can literally reroute our neural pathways. Building on insights of thinkers from Plato to McLuhan, Carr makes a convincing case that every information technology carries a set of assumptions about the nature of knowledge and intelligence. The printed book served to focus our attention, promoting deep and creative thought. In contrast, the Internet encourages rapid, distracted sampling of small bits of information. As we become ever more adept at scanning and skimming, are we losing our capacity for concentration, contemplation, and reflection? --From publisher description.