Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Comsumption book cover

Information Diet

A Case for Conscious Comsumption

Clay A. Johnson
3.5(2044 Reviews)

Overview of Information Diet

In "The Information Diet," Obama campaign manager Clay Johnson reveals how we consume 3.6 zettabytes of information daily - creating "information obesity" that threatens democracy. Are your media habits making you mentally unhealthy? Discover why digital literacy is the new essential nutrient.

Key Themes in Information Diet

  • information consumption habits
  • cognitive bias exploitation
  • digital attention management
  • algorithmic content curation
  • media literacy skills

Quotes from Information Diet

  • The protesters weren't stupid-they were information obese.

  • Our brains evolved to seek information that confirms our existing beliefs.

  • Our new form of ignorance comes not from lacking information but from consuming too much of the wrong kind.

Characters in Information Diet

  • Clay A. JohnsonAuthor and technologist who explores info-obesity
  • William BantingBritish undertaker who wrote the first diet book
  • James OldsPsychologist who researched brain reward systems
  • Donald HebbNeuroscientist known for theories on neural wiring
  • Ryota KanaiResearcher studying brain structure and politics

About the Author

About the Author of Information Diet

Clay A. Johnson, author of The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption, is a renowned technologist and advocate for media literacy and digital accountability. Co-founder of Blue State Digital, the firm that engineered Barack Obama’s landmark 2008 online presidential campaign, Johnson bridges political strategy with open-source innovation.

His tenure as director of Sunlight Labs at the Sunlight Foundation saw him mobilize a global network of developers to democratize government data access, earning accolades like the Google/O’Reilly Open Source Organizer of the Year award. A Presidential Innovation Fellow, Johnson later designed RFP-EZ, a platform streamlining federal procurement for small businesses.

The Information Diet merges Johnson’s expertise in technology and civic engagement, offering actionable frameworks to combat misinformation and information overload. Known for his TEDx talks and media features on NPR and in Federal Computing Week, Johnson’s work emphasizes ethical digital consumption. The book has become essential reading in media studies and tech policy circles, praised for its blend of analysis and pragmatic solutions to modern information challenges.

Download Summary of Information Diet

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
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star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
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star
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star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
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