Revision as of 19:53, 4 March 2022 editKbabej (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers28,300 editsm + link for writer Jeremy Duns← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:20, 23 January 2025 edit undoTlupick (talk | contribs)55 edits Added reviews of Hari's book Lost Connections.Tags: possible BLP issue or vandalism nowiki added Visual editNext edit → | ||
(322 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description| |
{{short description|Scottish writer}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}} | {{Use British English|date=January 2016}} | ||
{{ |
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Johann Hari | | name = Johann Hari | ||
Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|01|21|df=yes}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|01|21|df=yes}} | ||
| birth_place = ], Scotland | | birth_place = ], Scotland | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer |
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer}} | ||
| alma_mater = ] | | alma_mater = ] | ||
| citizenship = {{Plainlist| | | citizenship = {{Plainlist| | ||
Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Johann Eduard Hari''' (born 21 January 1979) is a British |
'''Johann Eduard Hari''' (born 21 January 1979) is a British writer and journalist. Up until 2011, Hari wrote for '']'', among other outlets, before resigning after admitting to plagiarism and fabrications dating back to 2001.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Aitkenhead |first=Decca |date=2 January 2015 |title=Johann Hari: 'I failed badly. When you harm people, you should shut up, go away and reflect on what happened' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/02/johann-hari-interview-drugs-book-independent |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | ||
After the scandal, he began writing books on technology, addiction and medical policy, which have attracted criticism for inaccuracy and poor citational practices. His books include 2022's ''Stolen Focus'', about technology and modern lifestyles' impact on attention spans and mental health, and 2015's '']'', about addiction and the war on drugs. Both were '']'' bestsellers, and Hari’s 2015 ] based on ''Chasing the Scream'' was one of the most-watched of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stolen Focus by Johann Hari: 9780593138533 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634289/stolen-focus-by-johann-hari/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The most popular talks of 2015 {{!}} TED Talks |url=https://www.ted.com/playlists/320/the_most_popular_talks_of_2015_1 |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=www.ted.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Early life== | |||
Hari was born in ], Scotland, to a Scottish mother and Swiss father,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/02/johann-hari-interview-drugs-book-independent|title=Johann Hari: 'I failed badly. When you harm people, you should shut up, go away and reflect on what happened'|date=2 January 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref> before his family relocated to London when he was an infant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chasingthescream.com/biography/|title=About the Author|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Chasing The Scream}}</ref> Hari was physically abused in his childhood while his father was away and his mother was ill.<ref name=anthony18>{{cite news | title= Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety' | work=The Observer | first=Andrew | last= Anthony | date=7 January 2018 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/johann-hari-depression-brain-lost-connections-book-interview}}</ref> | |||
Hari’s other books include ''Magic Pill'', about ] used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, and ''Lost Connections'', about depression, anxiety, and related mental health conditions. He is also listed as a producer and writer on the 2021 film '']'', which was nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and other awards.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8521718/awards/ |title=The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021) - Awards - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2024-11-11 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> | |||
According to Hari, he attended ], an ] affiliated with ], and then ], a state ] in ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=A simple lesson on schools: Money works |url=http://www.johannhari.com/2004/03/17/a-simple-lesson-on-schools-money-works |access-date=11 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126214020/http://www.johannhari.com/2004/03/17/a-simple-lesson-on-schools-money-works |archive-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref> Hari graduated from ] in 2001 with a ] in social and political sciences.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Adkins |first1=T. S. |last2=Bulmer |first2=N. S. D. |last3=Jones |first3=P. M. |last4=Langley |first4=H. C. |title=A Register of Admissions to King's College Cambridge, 1934–2010 |date=2018 |publisher=King's College Cambridge |pages=988}}</ref> | |||
==Early |
== Early life == | ||
Hari was born in ], Scotland, to a Scottish mother and Swiss father,<ref name=":0" /> before his family relocated to London when he was an infant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chasingthescream.com/biography/|title=About the Author|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Chasing The Scream}}</ref> Hari states he was physically abused in his childhood while his father was away and his mother was ill.<ref name=anthony18>{{cite news | title= Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety' | work=The Observer | first=Andrew | last= Anthony | date=7 January 2018 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/johann-hari-depression-brain-lost-connections-book-interview}}</ref> | |||
In 2000, Hari was joint winner of '']'' Student News Journalist of the Year award for his work on the Cambridge student newspaper, '']''. He was allegedly forced to leave ''Varsity'' as a result of unethical behaviour.<ref name="Dirty Hari">{{Cite web|date=2011-12-01|title=Dirty Hari|url=https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-foreman/dirty-hari/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Commentary Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
He attended the ], an ] affiliated with ], and then ], a state ] in ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=A simple lesson on schools: Money works |url=http://www.johannhari.com/2004/03/17/a-simple-lesson-on-schools-money-works |access-date=11 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126214020/http://www.johannhari.com/2004/03/17/a-simple-lesson-on-schools-money-works |archive-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref> Hari graduated from ], in 2001 with a ] in social and political sciences.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Adkins |first1=T. S. |last2=Bulmer |first2=N. S. D. |last3=Jones |first3=P. M. |last4=Langley |first4=H. C. |title=A Register of Admissions to King's College Cambridge, 1934–2010 |date=2018 |publisher=King's College Cambridge |pages=988}}</ref> | |||
== Early career == | |||
In 2000, Hari was joint winner of '']'' Student News Journalist of the Year award for his work on the Cambridge student newspaper, '']''. | |||
After university, he joined the '']'', where he worked between 2001 and 2003, and then wrote two columns a week for ''The Independent''. At the 2003 '']'' Awards, he won ].<ref name="Spanner">{{cite news |last=Spanner |first=Huw |title=Let The Fiery Columns Glow |work=] |pages=16–19 |date=November 2004}}</ref> A play by Hari, ''Going Down in History'', was performed at the Garage Theatre in ], and his book ''God Save the Queen?'' was published by Icon Books in 2002.<ref name="Spanner" /> | After university, he joined the '']'', where he worked between 2001 and 2003, and then wrote two columns a week for ''The Independent''. At the 2003 '']'' Awards, he won ].<ref name="Spanner">{{cite news |last=Spanner |first=Huw |title=Let The Fiery Columns Glow |work=] |pages=16–19 |date=November 2004}}</ref> A play by Hari, ''Going Down in History'', was performed at the Garage Theatre in ], and his book ''God Save the Queen?'' was published by Icon Books in 2002.<ref name="Spanner" /> | ||
Line 35: | Line 39: | ||
In addition to being a ] for '']'', Hari's work also appeared in '']'', '']'', the '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', and he reported from locations around the world, such as Congo and Venezuela.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hari|first1=Johann|title=Chasing The Scream|url=https://archive.org/details/chasingscreamfir00joha|url-access=registration|date=2015|publisher=Bloomsbury USA, New York|page=}}</ref> He appeared regularly as an arts critic on the ] programme '']'' and was a book critic for '']''. In 2009, he was named by '']'' as one of the most influential people on ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/6231925/Top-100-most-influential-Left-wingers-100-51.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930055127/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/6231925/Top-100-most-influential-Left-wingers-100-51.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Top 100 most influential Left-wingers: 100-51 |first1=Iain |last1=Dale |first2=Brian |last2=Brivati |date=27 September 2009 |access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> | In addition to being a ] for '']'', Hari's work also appeared in '']'', '']'', the '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', and he reported from locations around the world, such as Congo and Venezuela.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hari|first1=Johann|title=Chasing The Scream|url=https://archive.org/details/chasingscreamfir00joha|url-access=registration|date=2015|publisher=Bloomsbury USA, New York|page=}}</ref> He appeared regularly as an arts critic on the ] programme '']'' and was a book critic for '']''. In 2009, he was named by '']'' as one of the most influential people on ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/6231925/Top-100-most-influential-Left-wingers-100-51.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930055127/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/6231925/Top-100-most-influential-Left-wingers-100-51.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Top 100 most influential Left-wingers: 100-51 |first1=Iain |last1=Dale |first2=Brian |last2=Brivati |date=27 September 2009 |access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> | ||
== 2011 plagiarism, fabrication and misconduct scandal == | |||
===Plagiarism=== | |||
=== Plagiarism === | |||
In June 2011, bloggers at ''Deterritorial Support Group'' and '']'' editor Brian Whelan asserted that Hari had plagiarised material published in other interviews and writings by his interview subjects.<ref name=GuardianHari>{{cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |title=Johann Hari denies these accusations of plagiarism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/28/johann-hari-twitter-plagiarism |access-date=28 June 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Brendan |title=Johann Hari and the tyranny of the 'good lie' |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100094506/johann-hari-and-the-tyranny-of-the-good-lie/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702190829/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100094506/johann-hari-and-the-tyranny-of-the-good-lie/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph blog |date=29 June 2011}}</ref><ref name=HariWP>{{cite news |last=Flock |first=Elizabeth |title=Johann Hari denies he plagiarized, sparking mockery campaign |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/johann-hari-denies-he-plagiarized-during-interviewsbyhari/2011/06/28/AGGk0ApH_blog.html |access-date=28 June 2011 |newspaper=] |date=28 June 2011}}</ref> For example, a 2009 interview with ] activist ] included quotations from her book ''Raising My Voice'' in a manner that made them appear as if spoken directly to Hari.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dowell |first=Ben |title=Johann Hari: more plagiarism allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/01/johann-hari-plagiarism-allegations |access-date=27 September 2011 |work=] |date=1 July 2011}}</ref> Hari initially denied wrongdoing, stating that the unattributed quotes were for clarification and did not present someone else's thoughts as his own.<ref name=Hariblog>{{cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=Interview etiquette |url=http://johannhari.com/2011/06/27/interview-etiquette |work=johannhari.com |access-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630124701/http://johannhari.com/2011/06/27/interview-etiquette |archive-date=30 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name=Harigate>{{cite news |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=Johann Hari: My journalism is at the centre of a storm. This is what I have learned |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-my-journalism-is-at-the-centre-of-a-storm-this-is-what-i-have-learned-2304199.html |access-date=29 June 2011 |work=] |date=29 June 2011}}</ref> However, he later said that his behaviour was "completely wrong" and that "when I interviewed people, I often presented things that had been said to other journalists or had been written in books as if they had been said to me, which was not truthful".<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/johann-hari-depression-brain-lost-connections-book-interview|title=Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety'|first=Andrew|last=Anthony|date=7 January 2018|website=the Guardian|access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref> Hari was suspended for two months from ''The Independent''<ref>{{cite web |last=McAthy |first=Rachel |title=Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari|Johann Hari suspended for two months pending investigation |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/johann-hari-suspended-for-two-months-pending-investigation/s2/a545128/ |work=journalism.co.uk |publisher=Mousetrap Media |date=12 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Guardian plagiarism" /> and in January 2012, it was announced he was leaving the newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/20/johann-hari-quits-the-independent|title=Johann Hari leaves the Independent after plagiarism storm|website=]|date=20 January 2012}}</ref> | |||
In June 2011, bloggers at ''Deterritorial Support Group'', as well as ''] Ireland'' editor Brian Whelan, discovered that Hari had plagiarised material published in other interviews and writings by his interview subjects.<ref name="GuardianHari">{{cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=28 June 2011 |title=Johann Hari denies these accusations of plagiarism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/28/johann-hari-twitter-plagiarism |access-date=28 June 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Brendan |date=29 June 2011 |title=Johann Hari and the tyranny of the 'good lie' |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100094506/johann-hari-and-the-tyranny-of-the-good-lie/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702190829/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100094506/johann-hari-and-the-tyranny-of-the-good-lie/ |archive-date=2 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph blog}}</ref><ref name="HariWP">{{cite news |last=Flock |first=Elizabeth |date=28 June 2011 |title=Johann Hari denies he plagiarized, sparking mockery campaign |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/johann-hari-denies-he-plagiarized-during-interviewsbyhari/2011/06/28/AGGk0ApH_blog.html |access-date=28 June 2011 |newspaper=]}}</ref> For example, a 2009 interview with ] activist ] included quotations from her book ''Raising My Voice'' in a manner that made them appear as if spoken directly to Hari.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dowell |first=Ben |date=1 July 2011 |title=Johann Hari: more plagiarism allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/01/johann-hari-plagiarism-allegations |access-date=27 September 2011 |work=]}}</ref> A piece entitled "How Multiculturalism Is Betraying Women" which Hari submitted when entering the Orwell Prize was plagiarised from ''Der Spiegel''.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2011 |title=Dirty Hari |url=https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-foreman/dirty-hari/}}</ref> | |||
Hari initially denied any wrongdoing, stating that the unattributed quotes were for clarification and did not present someone else's thoughts as his own.<ref name="Hariblog">{{cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=Interview etiquette |url=http://johannhari.com/2011/06/27/interview-etiquette |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630124701/http://johannhari.com/2011/06/27/interview-etiquette |archive-date=30 June 2011 |access-date=28 June 2011 |work=johannhari.com}}</ref><ref name="Harigate">{{cite news |last=Hari |first=Johann |date=29 June 2011 |title=Johann Hari: My journalism is at the centre of a storm. This is what I have learned |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-my-journalism-is-at-the-centre-of-a-storm-this-is-what-i-have-learned-2304199.html |access-date=29 June 2011 |work=]}}</ref> However, he later said that his behaviour was "completely wrong" and that "when I interviewed people, I often presented things that had been said to other journalists or had been written in books as if they had been said to me, which was not truthful".<ref name="auto">{{cite web |last=Anthony |first=Andrew |date=7 January 2018 |title=Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/johann-hari-depression-brain-lost-connections-book-interview |access-date=25 July 2018 |website=the Guardian}}</ref> Hari was suspended for two months from ''The Independent''<ref>{{cite web |last=McAthy |first=Rachel |date=12 July 2011 |title=Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari|Johann Hari suspended for two months pending investigation |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/johann-hari-suspended-for-two-months-pending-investigation/s2/a545128/ |work=journalism.co.uk |publisher=Mousetrap Media}}</ref><ref name="Guardian plagiarism">{{cite news |last=Deans |first=Jason |date=13 July 2011 |title=Journalist suspended over plagiarism row |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/12/johann-hari-suspended-independent |access-date=13 July 2011 |work=] |page=10}}</ref> and in January 2012 it was announced that he was leaving the newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2012 |title=Johann Hari leaves the Independent after plagiarism storm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/20/johann-hari-quits-the-independent |website=]}}</ref> | |||
The ] instructed the Council of the ], who had given their 2008 prize to Hari, to examine the allegations.<ref name=HariOrwell>{{cite news |last=Gunter |first=Joel |title=Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/orwell-prize-council-begins-investigation-into-johann-hari/s2/a544924/ |work=journalism.co.uk |publisher=Mousetrap Media |date=30 June 2011}}</ref><ref name=HariMST>{{cite press release |title=Media Standards Trust response to Johann Hari allegations |url=http://mediastandardstrust.org/mst-news/media-standards-trust-response-to-johann-hari-allegations/ |publisher=Media Standards Trust |date=28 June 2011}}</ref> The Council concluded that "the article contained inaccuracies and conflated different parts of someone else's story" and did not meet the standards of Orwell Prize-winning journalism.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-27|title=Johann Hari did not deserve Orwell Prize, say organisers|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/09/27/johann-hari-did-not-deserve-orwell-prize-say-organisers/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Politics.co.uk|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-27|title=Orwell Prize accuses Johann Hari of plagiarism|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/sep/27/johann-hari-fresh-plagiarism-allegations|access-date=2022-01-12|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Hari returned the prize,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orwellfoundation.com/news/the-orwell-prize-and-johann-hari/|title=The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari|date=28 September 2011}}</ref> though he did not initially return the prize money of £2,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pugh|first=Andrew|title=Johann Hari yet to return Orwell prize £2,000|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=47949&c=1|access-date=25 July 2017|newspaper=Press Gazette|date=27 September 2011|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302025226/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=47949&c=1|archive-date=2 March 2012}}</ref> He later offered to repay the sum, but ''Political Quarterly'', which had paid the prize money, instead invited him to make a donation to ], of which ] had been a member. Hari arranged with English PEN to make a donation equal to the value of the prize, to be paid in installments when he returned to work at ''The Independent'', but he did not return to work there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englishpen.org/press/the-orwell-prize-and-johann-hari/|title=The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari – English PEN|date=4 October 2011}}</ref> | |||
The ] instructed the council of the ], who had given their 2008 prize to Hari, to examine the allegations.<ref name="HariOrwell">{{cite news |last=Gunter |first=Joel |date=30 June 2011 |title=Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/orwell-prize-council-begins-investigation-into-johann-hari/s2/a544924/ |work=journalism.co.uk |publisher=Mousetrap Media}}</ref><ref name="HariMST">{{cite press release |title=Media Standards Trust response to Johann Hari allegations |date=28 June 2011 |publisher=Media Standards Trust |url=http://mediastandardstrust.org/mst-news/media-standards-trust-response-to-johann-hari-allegations/ |access-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701105333/http://mediastandardstrust.org/mst-news/media-standards-trust-response-to-johann-hari-allegations |archive-date=1 July 2011}}</ref> The council concluded that "the article contained inaccuracies and conflated different parts of someone else's story" and did not meet the standards of Orwell Prize-winning journalism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2011 |title=Johann Hari did not deserve Orwell Prize, say organisers |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/09/27/johann-hari-did-not-deserve-orwell-prize-say-organisers/ |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=Politics.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2011 |title=Orwell Prize accuses Johann Hari of plagiarism |url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/sep/27/johann-hari-fresh-plagiarism-allegations |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Hari returned the prize,<ref>{{cite web |date=28 September 2011 |title=The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari |url=https://www.orwellfoundation.com/news/the-orwell-prize-and-johann-hari/}}</ref> though he did not return the prize money of £2,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pugh |first=Andrew |date=27 September 2011 |title=Johann Hari yet to return Orwell prize £2,000 |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=47949&c=1 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302025226/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=47949&c=1 |archive-date=2 March 2012 |access-date=25 July 2017 |newspaper=Press Gazette}}</ref> He later offered to repay the sum, but ''Political Quarterly'', which had paid the prize money, instead invited him to make a donation to ], of which ] had been a member. Hari arranged with English PEN to make a donation equal to the value of the prize, to be paid in installments when he returned to work at ''The Independent'', but he did not return to work there.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 October 2011 |title=The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari – English PEN |url=https://www.englishpen.org/press/the-orwell-prize-and-johann-hari/}}</ref> | |||
===Fabrication=== | |||
In addition to plagiarism, Hari was found to have fabricated elements of stories.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f6a6aa68-2367-11e6-9d4d-c11776a5124d|work=Financial Times|title=Guardian admits to fabrication by freelancer|url-access=subscription}}</ref> | |||
=== Fabrication and misrepresentation === | |||
In one of the stories for which he won the Orwell Prize, he reported on atrocities in the Central African Republic, claiming that French soldiers told him that "Children would bring us the severed heads of their parents and scream for help, but our orders were not to help them." However, an NGO worker who translated for Hari said that the quotation was invented and that Hari exaggerated the extent of the devastation in the CAR.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-07-27|title=Top UK Journalist Stripped Of Major Prize As Scandal Growns And Grows|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/johann-hari-orwell-prize_n_910818|access-date=2022-01-11|website=HuffPost UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-30 |title=Johann Hari in Africa: the crucial emails – Telegraph Blogs |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100098789/johann-hari-in-africa-the-crucial-emails/ |access-date=2022-01-11 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730173427/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100098789/johann-hari-in-africa-the-crucial-emails/ |archive-date=30 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In his apology after his plagiarism was exposed, Hari claimed that other staff of the NGO had supported his version of events.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-14|title=Johann Hari: A personal apology|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html|access-date=2022-01-12|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-14|title=Johann Hari admits plagiarism and returns Orwell Prize {{!}} Media news|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/johann-hari-admits-plagiarism-and-returns-orwell-prize/s2/a546013/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=www.journalism.co.uk}}</ref> | |||
In one of the stories for which Hari won the Orwell Prize, he reported on atrocities in the Central African Republic, stating that French soldiers told him that "Children would bring us the severed heads of their parents and scream for help, but our orders were not to help them." However, an NGO worker who translated for Hari said that the quotation was invented and that Hari exaggerated the extent of the devastation in the CAR.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 July 2011|title=Top UK Journalist Stripped Of Major Prize As Scandal Growns And Grows|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/johann-hari-orwell-prize_n_910818|access-date=11 January 2022|website=HuffPost UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 July 2011 |title=Johann Hari in Africa: the crucial emails – Telegraph Blogs |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100098789/johann-hari-in-africa-the-crucial-emails/ |access-date=11 January 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730173427/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100098789/johann-hari-in-africa-the-crucial-emails/ |archive-date=30 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In his apology after his plagiarism was exposed, Hari said that other staff of the NGO had supported his version of events.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2011|title=Johann Hari: A personal apology|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html|access-date=12 January 2022|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2011|title=Johann Hari admits plagiarism and returns Orwell Prize {{!}} Media news|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/johann-hari-admits-plagiarism-and-returns-orwell-prize/s2/a546013/|access-date=12 January 2022|website=www.journalism.co.uk}}</ref> | |||
He was also reported to have invented an account of seeing a demonstrator die at the ] summit, when he had in fact left in a taxi before the event.<ref name="Dirty Hari"/> ''Private Eye''{{'}}s Hackwatch column also suggested that he pretended to have used the drug ecstasy and misrepresented a two-week package tour in Iraq as a one-month research visit, in order to bolster support for the Iraq war by claiming that Iraqi civilians he spoke to were in favor of an invasion.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Private Eye |number=1076 |page=5 |date=23 March 2003 |title=Hari's Game |url=http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/article0003736.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012205438/http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/article0003736.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
In an article about military robots, Hari falsely claimed that former Japanese prime minister ] was attacked by a factory robot and was nearly killed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2010 |title=Johann Hari: The age of the killer robot is no longer a sci-fi fantasy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/johann-hari-the-age-of-the-killer-robot-is-no-longer-a-scifi-fantasy-1875220.html |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2010 |title=Commentary on Killer Robots is Mostly Bunk |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/commentary-on-killer-robots-is-mostly-bunk}}</ref><ref name="commentary.org">{{Cite web |date=December 2011 |title=Dirty Hari |url=https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-foreman/dirty-hari/}}</ref> Hari falsely claimed that a large globe erected for the Copenhagen climate summit was "covered with corporate logos" for ] and ], with "the ] brand ... stamped over Africa."<ref name="commentary.org" /> ''Private Eye''{{'}}s Hackwatch column also suggested that he pretended to have used the drug ecstasy and misrepresented a two-week package tour in Iraq as a one-month research visit, in order to bolster support for the Iraq war by stating that Iraqi civilians he spoke to were in favour of an invasion, although in an earlier article<ref>{{cite news |last=Hari |first=Johann |date=3 December 2002 |title=The mother of all package tours |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2002/dec/03/iraq.iraq |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> he had given a conflicting account stating that Iraqis were reticent about their opinions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2003 |title=Hari's Game |url=http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/article0003736.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012205438/http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/article0003736.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Private Eye |page=5 |number=1076}}</ref> | |||
He was also accused of misrepresenting writing by George Galloway, Eric Hobsbawm, and Nick Cohen.<ref name=Weiss>{{Cite news|title=Bloggers defy Britain's tough libel laws|author=Michael Weiss|work=Slate Magazine|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012021206/www.slate.com/id/2175579/|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref> | |||
Hari has been accused of misrepresenting writing by ], ], Nick Cohen and ].<ref name="Weiss">{{Cite news |author=Michael Weiss |title=Bloggers defy Britain's tough libel laws |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2175579/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012021206/http://www.slate.com/id/2175579/ |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Slate Magazine}}</ref><ref name="commentary.org" /> | |||
While Hari was working at the ''New Statesman'', the magazine's deputy editor, Cristina Odone, doubted the authenticity of quotations in a story he wrote. When she asked to see his notebooks, he stalled, then claimed to have lost them. Odone subsequently found that her Misplaced Pages entry had been altered by Hari's sockpuppet account "David Rose" to falsely accuse her of homophobia and anti-Semitism.<ref name="Dirty Hari"/> | |||
=== |
=== Malicious editing of Misplaced Pages === | ||
In September 2011, Hari admitted that he had edited articles on Misplaced Pages about himself and journalists with whom he had had disputes. |
In September 2011, Hari admitted that he had edited articles on Misplaced Pages about himself and journalists with whom he had had disputes. Using a ] under the name "David r from meth productions", he added false and defamatory claims to articles about journalists including ], ], ], ], ]<ref name="cohen hari wiki">{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nick |date=9 July 2011 |title=Diary |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/diary---9-july-2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804025853/http://www.spectator.co.uk/politics/all/7075743/diary.thtml |archive-date=4 August 2011 |access-date=28 July 2011 |newspaper=] |location=London}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{cite news |author=Thompson, Damian |date=11 July 2011 |title=The scandal that will not go away |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100096411/the-scandal-that-will-not-go-away |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825110027/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100096411/the-scandal-that-will-not-go-away/ |archive-date=25 August 2011 |work=] blog}}</ref> and edited the article about himself "to make him seem one of the essential writers of our times".<ref name="cohen hari wiki" /> | ||
In July 2011, Cohen wrote about the suspicious Misplaced Pages editing in ''],<ref name="cohen hari wiki" />'' prompting '']'' journalist ] to publish a blog post collecting evidence.<ref name="DAG_newstatesman">{{cite news|author=Allen Green, David|author-link=David Allen Green|date=15 September 2011|title=The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose |
In July 2011, Cohen wrote about the suspicious Misplaced Pages editing in ''],<ref name="cohen hari wiki" />'' prompting the '']'' journalist ] to publish a blog post collecting evidence.<ref name="DAG_newstatesman">{{cite news |author=Allen Green, David |author-link=David Allen Green |date=15 September 2011 |title=The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/09/hari-rose-wikipedia-admitted |access-date=22 September 2011 |work=]}}</ref> Hari used the fake identity "David Rose" to pretend to be an editor who was qualified in environmental science, and David Allen Green noticed that an 'methuselahproductions' email address associated with the David Rose identity had also been used to post incest erotica.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 June 2021 |title=Archive.ph |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/09/hari-rose-wikipedia-admitted |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220109024612/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/09/hari-rose-wikipedia-admitted |archive-date=9 January 2022 |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 July 2011 |title="What's in a name? That which we call a Rose." |url=https://conservativehome.com/2011/07/10/whats-in-a-name-that-which-we-call-a-rose/}}</ref><ref>https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/incest/little-brother-learned-to-be-a-whore {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> | ||
This led to an investigation by the Misplaced Pages community and "David Rose" was blocked from Misplaced Pages.<ref name="DAG_newstatesman" /> Hari published an apology in ''The Independent'', admitting that he had been "David Rose" and writing: "I edited the entries of people I had clashed with in ways that were juvenile or malicious: I called one of them anti-Semitic and homophobic, and the other a drunk. I am mortified to have done this, because it breaches the most basic ethical rule: don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you. I apologise to the latter group unreservedly and totally."<ref name="Hari149">Hari, Johann (14 September 2011). </ref> | |||
===Use of libel law to suppress criticism=== | |||
Hari used threats of suing for libel to prevent critics revealing his misrepresentations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-08|title=The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/09/hari-rose-wikipedia-admitted|access-date=2022-01-12|website=New Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref> His critique of a Nick Cohen article, "What's Left: How Liberals Lost Their Way", was criticised for factual and interpretive errors by British bloggers. Hari used libel law against a blogger who wrote that "a reputation for making things up should spell career death", forcing the blogger to remove the post in question.<ref name=Weiss /> | |||
=== Use of libel law to suppress criticism === | |||
==Later career== | |||
Hari used threats of ] revealing his misrepresentations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2021 |title=The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/09/hari-rose-wikipedia-admitted |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref> British bloggers criticised his critique of Nick Cohen's ''What's Left: How Liberals Lost Their Way'' for factual and interpretive errors. Hari used libel law against a blogger who wrote that "a reputation for making things up should spell career death", leading to the blogger removing the post in question.<ref name="Weiss" /> | |||
===''Chasing the Scream'' (2015)=== | |||
== Later career == | |||
=== ''Chasing the Scream'' (2015) === | |||
{{Main|Chasing the Scream}} | {{Main|Chasing the Scream}} | ||
Hari’s 2015 book, ''Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs'', is a critique of the global prohibition of illicit drugs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |url=http://johannhari.com/2012/01/20/a-short-update/ |title=Update |publisher=Johannhari.com |date=20 January 2012 |access-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118175610/http://johannhari.com/2012/01/20/a-short-update/ |archive-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/chasing-the-scream-9781408857854/|title=Chasing the Scream | |||
|website=Bloomsbury Publishing}}</ref> |
|website=Bloomsbury Publishing}}</ref> Hari argues that prohibition, drug laws, and the persecution of people who use drugs collectively do more harm to people and society than the drugs themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-18 |title=Johann Hari's Chasing the Scream looks to Vancouver for a start to the end of the war on drugs |url=https://www.straight.com/life/491366/johann-haris-chasing-scream-looks-vancouver-start-end-war-drugs |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}</ref> Hari also delivered a 2015 TED Talk on the topic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong/ | title=TED talk: Everything you thought you knew about addictions is wrong |date=18 January 2018}}</ref> Hari posits that illicit drug use and most addictions are neither primarily character flaws nor genetic disorders, but rather responses to negative experiences and/or a lack of supportive relationships. | ||
The book covers the history of ], starting in early 20th-century America. Figures discussed in the book include jazz singer ], the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ], and gangster ]. | |||
Due to the previous scandals, Hari put the audio of some interviews conducted for the book online. Writer ] criticised instances where quotes were inaccurately transcribed or misrepresented, stating that out of a sample of dozens of clips, "in almost all cases, words in quotes had been changed or omitted without being noted, often for no apparent purpose, but in several cases to subtly change the narrative." <ref>{{Cite web|title=Johann Hari Is Still Lying to You|url=https://www.jeremy-duns.com/blog/2014/9/7/kdgwxcbsned1rknh0h3zdvqrebxa3x|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Jeremy Duns|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Short*, Frustrated Piece On Johann Hari's Quote Deceptions|url=https://www.jeremy-duns.com/blog/2015/1/20/a-short-frustrated-piece-on-johann-haris-quote-deceptions|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Jeremy Duns|language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
In ''Chasing the Scream'' Hari discusses the societal consequences of the war on drugs, such as ], crime and violence, and the role of ]s. Hari advocates for decriminalization, ], and treatment as alternatives to punishment. The book presents examples of where such policy shifts are effective according to Hari, including Portugal and ], Canada, among others. | |||
===''Lost Connections'' (2018)=== | |||
In January 2018, Hari's book ''Lost Connections'', which deals with depression and anxiety, was published, with Hari citing his childhood issues, career crisis, and experiences with ]s and ] as fuelling his curiosity in the subject. '']'' praised the book.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/johann-hari/lost-connections/ | title=Kirkus Review: Lost Connections | date =23 January 2018}}</ref> | |||
], reviewing for ''The Guardian'', wrote that "Chasing the Scream is a powerful contribution to an urgent debate, but this is its central problem: in contrast to the often brutal realities it describes, it uses the gauche journalistic equivalent of the narrative voice found in Mills & Boon novels."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=John |date=2015-01-09 |title=Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari review – taking on the war on drugs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/09/chasing-the-scream-johann-hari-war-on-drugs |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Barbara Spindel, in a review in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', praised Hari's writing but that his focus on himself and his own experiences come off as "as naive or, worse, manipulative" when compared to the people he interviewed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spindel |first=By Barbara |date=2015-01-16 |title='Chasing the Scream,' by Johann Hari |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/books/article/Chasing-the-Scream-by-Johann-Hari-6018997.php |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> ] writing for ''New York Times'' stated that Hari's arguments are weakened by forced conclusions, an eagerness to accept some researchers' conclusions, and a reliance on anecdotes instead of data. Mnookin describes these issues as an extensions of Hari's previous professional misconduct: "Hari might not be passing off other people’s work as his own anymore, but he still seems to be looking for quick fixes."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-13 |title='Chasing the Scream,' by Johann Hari (Published 2015) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/books/review/chasing-the-scream-by-johann-hari.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221226054650/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/books/review/chasing-the-scream-by-johann-hari.html |archive-date=2022-12-26 |access-date=2024-12-15 |language=en}}</ref> A wholly positive write-up by ''Kirkus Reviews'' described ''Chasing the Scream'' as a “compassionate and humane argument to overturn draconian drug policies.”<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/johann-hari/chasing-the-scream/ |title=CHASING THE SCREAM {{!}} Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref> | |||
Psychiatrist Carmine Pariante criticised Hari's "extreme scepticism" of antidepressants as "wrong, unhelpful and even dangerous". <ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/johann-hari-depression-anti-depressants-psychiatrists-pills-therapy-change-lifestyle-job-psychology-a8151606.html</ref> | |||
=== ''Lost Connections'' (2018) === | |||
An excerpt published in '']'' was sharply criticised by neuroscientist and ''Guardian'' columnist Dean Burnett, who pointed out that Hari appeared to be reporting as his own discoveries material—such as the ]—that has been common knowledge for decades, and for misrepresenting the medical, psychiatric, and scientific establishments as "some shadowy monolithic organisation, in thrall to the drug industry".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2018/jan/08/is-everything-johann-hari-knows-about-depression-wrong-lost-connections |first=Dean |last=Burnett |date=9 January 2018 |work=] |title=Is everything Johann Hari knows about depression wrong? |access-date=10 January 2018 }}</ref> Burnett subsequently wrote that he had been pressured by friends of Hari's at ''The Guardian'' to offer Hari a pre-emptive right to reply and, after publication, to link to Hari's attempt at rebuttal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/garwboy/status/1352648404980162566 |title= This has come up a few times lately. But it suddenly dawned on me that I'm not employed by the Guardian any more, so can be more honest about how this went down. It's a very strong example of how 'the media' can look after 'their own' so vigorously, no matter the consequences. |first=Dean |last=Burnett |via=] |date=22 January 2021 |access-date=23 January 2021 }}</ref> | |||
''Lost Connections'' challenges conventional understandings of depression, anxiety, and related mental health issues, arguing that these conditions are not solely caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Instead, citing extensive research conducted for the book, Hari proposes that the root causes of depression and anxiety are often rooted in social, environmental, and psychological factors, such as access to meaningful work, proximity to friends and family, and past experiences with childhood trauma. | |||
The book dedicates significant time to human connection, emphasizing its crucial role in mental well-being. Hari explores how modern society, characterized by superficial interactions and increasing isolation, contributes to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and how these states relate to the more long-term conditions of depression and anxiety. | |||
===''Stolen Focus'' (2022)=== | |||
In January 2022, Hari published a book called ''Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention'', claiming that elements of modern lifestyles, including social media, are "destroying our ability to concentrate".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-02|title=Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/02/attention-span-focus-screens-apps-smartphones-social-media|access-date=2022-01-11|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The book received praise from ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-02|title=Stolen Focus : Why You Can't Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again|url=https://stolenfocusbook.com/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=stolenfocusbook.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The book debuted at number seven on ] for the week ending February 12, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/02/27/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ |access-date=February 18, 2022 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
The second half of ''Lost Connections'' explores solutions to these mental health conditions, approaching them from the premise described above. Hari highlights the importance of meaningful relationships, community involvement, and a sense of purpose in combating mental illness. | |||
Neuroscientist Dean Burnett and psychologist ] criticised the book for failing to cite strong evidence for the claim of shrinking attention spans, as well as presenting mainstream psychological concepts as niche ideas that Hari had discovered.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-07|title=Johann Hari's stolen ideas|url=https://unherd.com/2022/01/johann-haris-stolen-ideas/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=UnHerd|language=en-GB}}</ref> Writer/broadcaster ] investigated some of the claims in the book and found that Hari had failed to cite the primary sources for some studies, and misrepresented the results of studies that suggested multitasking could have benefits in certain conditions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thread by @DrMatthewSweet on Thread Reader App|url=https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1479125910896975877.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=threadreaderapp.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/too-few-of-us-are-paying-attention-to-the-problems-with-johann-hari-s-new-book-1.4775651 |title=Too few of us are paying attention to the problems with Johann Hari's new book |first=Hugh |last=Linehan |publisher=] |date=15 January 2022 |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> | |||
Hari cites his own childhood issues, career challenges, and experiences with antidepressants and psychotherapy as fueling his curiosity in the subject. | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Hari is gay.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |title=Sleeping with the enemy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/13/gayrights.thefarright |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=13 December 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |title=Has being gay influenced my view of the war on drugs? |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/has-being-gay-influenced-my-view-of-war-on-drugs/ |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=OpenDemocracy |date=1 March 2015}}</ref> He has said, "I'm an atheist, but I am in awe of the fact the reaction of the Charleston victims' families is genuinely Christ-like", in reference to the ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/johannhari101/status/612195166124945408?lang=en |title=I'm an atheist, but I am in awe of the fact the reaction of the Charleston victims' families is genuinely Christ-like http://cnn.it/1CjkVPs |access-date=15 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210115061904/https://twitter.com/johannhari101/status/612195166124945408?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
''Lost Connections'' suggests a more holistic approach to the treatment of depression and anxiety. While Hari emphasizes that someone who finds benefits in taking an anti-depressant medication, for example, should not stop taking them, they should also consider lifestyle changes that aim to address the underlying causes of their mental health issues, such as those social and environmental factors discussed in the book. | |||
==Awards== | |||
'']'' published a positive review of the book, calling it a "weighty, well-supported, persuasive argument against treating depression pharmaceutically."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/johann-hari/lost-connections/ | title=Kirkus Review: Lost Connections | date =23 January 2018}}</ref> In the '']'', Thomas Bransby wrote that ''Lost Connections'' is a “perfect balance of fictionalised non-fiction and factual evidence, coupling diverse personal narratives with an intense investigation into the failings of Western society to better connect us all.”<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bransby |first=Thomas |date=2018-06-28 |title=Books: <i>Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions</i> |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6014428/ |journal=British Journal of General Practice |language=en |volume=68 |issue=672 |pages=331–331 |doi=10.3399/bjgp18X697709 |issn=0960-1643 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241207111724/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6014428/ |archive-date=2024-12-07}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' wrote that ''Lost Connections'' is an "eye-opening, highly detailed though sometimes frustrating investigation into the causes and cures of depression." ''The Guardian''<nowiki/>'s review also alluded to Hari's earlier examples of journalism malpractice that date to his time as a freelance newspaper reporter, and in contrast, notes that in ''Lost Connections'', Hari is "meticulous in revealing his methods" and made "copious" notes and interview recordings available to explain and detail his research of the book.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sturges |first=Fiona |date=2018-01-17 |title=Lost Connections by Johann Hari review – too many drugs, not enough understanding |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/17/lost-connections-johann-hari-review |access-date=2025-01-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> | |||
=== ''Stolen Focus'' (2022) === | |||
Hari's 2022 book, ''Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again'', continues with the author’s focus on mental health. The book argues that people’s declining attention spans are not due to personal failings, but rather are the result of systemic societal forces primarily rooted in modern technology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 January 2022 |title=Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/02/attention-span-focus-screens-apps-smartphones-social-media |first=Johann |last=Hari |access-date=11 January 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> | |||
As with his previous books, ''Stolen Focus'' presents a mix of research, interviews, and first-person narrative. Hari identifies twelve factors contributing to an "attention crisis". Examples include technology addictions such as ], the increased prevalence of ], the decline of children's exposure to outdoor play and independent exploration, and the purported influence of ]s on brain functions. | |||
Hari suggests that ]'s emphasis on profits over human well-being creates environments that constantly bombard humans, not only with stimuli, but also with demands. He criticizes the tech industry for designing products that exploit people’s emotional vulnerabilities to maximize engagement at the cost of focus. ''Stolen Focus'' also discusses the impacts of sleep deprivation and the lack of opportunities for meaningful work. | |||
Hari calls for collective action and the formation of "movement to reclaim our minds". His suggestions focus on societal changes, rather than personal action, and include calling for a shorter work week, providing children with greater access to nature, and more robust regulation of the tech industry. | |||
The book debuted at number seven on the ] for the week ending 12 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction – Best Sellers |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/02/27/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ |access-date=18 February 2022 }}</ref> ''Stolen Focus'' was listed as one of the '']''' "best books" of 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rachman |first=Gideon |date=2022-11-25 |title=Best books of 2022: Politics |url=https://www.ft.com/content/76ec6181-1678-4ce3-9e59-508b126145cc |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> | |||
=== ''Magic Pill'' (2024) === | |||
''Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs'', explores the development and rise in popularity of ] for ] and ]. The book focuses on the best-known of these medicines, ]’s brand-name Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, but its findings are applicable to semaglutide drugs in general. | |||
In addition to a summary of existing research, Hari interviews scientists in the space. He also delivers a first-person account of his own experience taking Ozempic for more than one year. | |||
Upon publication, both ''The Telegraph'' and '']'' gave positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nuki |first=Paul |date=2024-04-29 |title=Why Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs are more dangerous than you think |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/magic-pill-by-johann-hari-review-ozempic-wegovy/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Magic-Pill-The-Extraordinary-Benefits-and-Disturbing-Risks-of-the-New-Weight-Loss-Drugs-/pid=9793094 |title=Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs, by By Johann Hari. {{!}} Booklist Online}}</ref> | |||
=== Criticism of inaccuracy and misrepresentation in books === | |||
Due to the previous scandals, Hari put the audio of some interviews conducted for ''Chasing the Scream'' online. Writer ] criticised instances where quotes were inaccurately transcribed or misrepresented, stating that out of a sample of dozens of clips, "in almost all cases, words in quotes had been changed or omitted without being noted, often for no apparent purpose, but in several cases to subtly change the narrative."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Johann Hari Is Still Lying to You|url=https://www.jeremy-duns.com/blog/2014/9/7/kdgwxcbsned1rknh0h3zdvqrebxa3x|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Jeremy Duns|date=7 September 2014 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Short*, Frustrated Piece On Johann Hari's Quote Deceptions|url=https://www.jeremy-duns.com/blog/2015/1/20/a-short-frustrated-piece-on-johann-haris-quote-deceptions|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Jeremy Duns|date=20 January 2015 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In a review for New Matilda, Michael Brull expressed reservations about Hari's citational practices and highlighted contradictions between the narrative in ''Chasing the Scream'' and a 2009 article by Hari.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newmatilda.com/2016/03/04/chasing-the-scream-review-part-iv-my-reservations-about-johann-hari/|title=Chasing the Scream Review Part IV: My Reservations About Johann Hari|date=4 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
The journalist Zoe Stavri criticised ''Lost Connections'' for a lack of citations for key claims like "between 65 and 80% of people on antidepressants are depressed again within a year", reliance on the work of a single researcher, treating research on a single class of antidepressants as if it applies to all antidepressants, and conflating stress and depression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anotherangrywoman.com/2018/01/08/five-things-wrong-with-johann-haris-comeback-book-that-i-spotted-from-the-extract-alone/amp/?__twitter_impression=true|title=Five things wrong with Johann Hari's comeback book that I spotted from the extract alone|date=8 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anotherangrywoman.com/2018/01/22/thinking-critically-about-lost-connections-1-an-introduction-of-sorts/|title=Thinking critically about Lost Connections 1: An introduction, of sorts|date=22 January 2018}}</ref> The psychologist and science writer ] criticised Hari for repeatedly stating that "between 65 and 80% of people on antidepressants are depressed again within a year" without a clear citation. He traced the source to a pop science book rather than a review of the scientific literature.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=951588133610643457|user=StuartJRitchie|title=Thread Part 2 -> Eventually, I found Hari's source! It's not a recent meta-analysis of the full literature on anti-…|date=11 January 2018}}</ref> | |||
Ritchie and the neuroscientist Dean Burnett both criticised ''Stolen Focus'' for failing to cite strong evidence for the existence of shrinking ]s, as well as for presenting mainstream psychological concepts as niche ideas that Hari had discovered.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 January 2022|title=Johann Hari's stolen ideas|url=https://unherd.com/2022/01/johann-haris-stolen-ideas/|access-date=11 January 2022|website=UnHerd|language=en-GB}}</ref> Writer/broadcaster ] investigated some of the statements in the book and found that Hari had failed to cite the primary sources for some studies, and misrepresented the results of studies that suggested multitasking could have benefits in certain conditions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thread by @DrMatthewSweet on Thread Reader App|url=https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1479125910896975877.html|access-date=11 January 2022|website=threadreaderapp.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/too-few-of-us-are-paying-attention-to-the-problems-with-johann-hari-s-new-book-1.4775651 |title=Too few of us are paying attention to the problems with Johann Hari's new book |first=Hugh |last=Linehan |publisher=] |date=15 January 2022 |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> An author of one of the papers Hari cited intervened to state that he was "not happy with misrepresentation of our results".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The strange rehabilitation of Johann Hari |url=https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/06/13/the-strange-rehabilitation-of-johann-hari/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.spiked-online.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>https://x.com/lorenz_spreen/status/1479486880429355014 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> | |||
''Magic Pill'' attracted criticism for inaccuracies. Writing for ''The Guardian'', Tom Chivers criticised the use of references which did not support the book's claims, as well as scientific inaccuracies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chivers |first=Tom |date=2024-05-01 |title=Magic Pill by Johann Hari review – weighing in |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/may/01/magic-pill-by-johann-hari-review-weighing-in |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A fact check by '']'' found six examples of "errors, outdated data and disputed claims".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shirreff |first=Lauren |date=2024-05-29 |title=We fact-checked a famous plagiarist's book on Ozempic—and uncovered a string of errors |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/fact-checking-magic-pill-johann-hari-ozempic/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> '']'' magazine lambasted Hari's book for what it described as false claims and dubious references.<ref>Private Eye magazine #1624 6 June 2024 page 36 - Literary Review - "Magic Pillock"</ref> | |||
== Personal life == | |||
Hari is gay.<ref>Haldane, J. (2012). Against erotic entitlements. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, (222), 19-21.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |date=1 March 2015 |title=Has being gay influenced my view of the war on drugs? |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/has-being-gay-influenced-my-view-of-war-on-drugs/ |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=OpenDemocracy}}</ref> In a 2002 article, he stated that he had had sex with men who were members of homophobic far-right and Islamist groups.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hari |first1=Johann |date=13 December 2002 |title=Sleeping with the enemy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/13/gayrights.thefarright |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> | |||
== Awards == | |||
* Student News Journalist of the Year by '']'', 2000<ref>{{cite news |first=Sally |last=Morris |work=] |location=London |title=Future Perfect |date=15 June 2000}}</ref> | * Student News Journalist of the Year by '']'', 2000<ref>{{cite news |first=Sally |last=Morris |work=] |location=London |title=Future Perfect |date=15 June 2000}}</ref> | ||
* Young Journalist of the Year at the ], 2003<ref name=pg2>{{cite news|title=British Press Awards: Past Winners |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=39598 |work=] |access-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320035609/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=39598 |archive-date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> | * Young Journalist of the Year at the ], 2003<ref name=pg2>{{cite news|title=British Press Awards: Past Winners |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=39598 |work=] |access-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320035609/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=39598 |archive-date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> | ||
Line 90: | Line 128: | ||
* ] for political journalism, 2008<ref name="autogenerated2006">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/4977814.stm |work=BBC News |title=Johann Hari |date=5 May 2006 |access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> (withdrawn 2011) | * ] for political journalism, 2008<ref name="autogenerated2006">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/4977814.stm |work=BBC News |title=Johann Hari |date=5 May 2006 |access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> (withdrawn 2011) | ||
* Journalist of the Year at the ], 2009<ref>{{cite news |title=Independent journalist wins Stonewall award |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-journalist-wins-stonewall-award-1816698.html |work=The Independent |date=7 November 2009 |access-date=7 November 2009 |location=London}}</ref> | * Journalist of the Year at the ], 2009<ref>{{cite news |title=Independent journalist wins Stonewall award |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/independent-journalist-wins-stonewall-award-1816698.html |work=The Independent |date=7 November 2009 |access-date=7 November 2009 |location=London}}</ref> | ||
* |
* Newspaper Journalist of the Year at ] Media Awards, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11834 |title=AIUK Media Awards: Winners and Nominees 2010 |publisher=Amnesty International UK |access-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314043143/http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11834 |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}</ref> for the article ''Congo's tragedy: The War the World Forgot''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/congos-tragedy-the-war-the-world-forgot-6101835.html|title=Congo's tragedy: the war the world forgot|website=]|access-date=25 July 2018|date=5 May 2006}}</ref> | ||
* ], 2010<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/wire/6554 |title=Johann Hari picks up Martha Gellhorn Prize |work=Press Gazette blog |location=London |date=24 May 2010 |access-date=2 July 2010 |archive-date=25 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725054148/http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/wire/6554 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
* Newspaper Journalist of the Year at ] Media Awards, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11834 |title=AIUK Media Awards: Winners and Nominees 2010 |publisher=Amnesty International UK |access-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314043143/http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11834 |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}</ref> for the article ''Congo's tragedy: The War the World Forgot''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/congos-tragedy-the-war-the-world-forgot-6101835.html|title=Congo's tragedy: the war the world forgot|website=]|access-date=25 July 2018|date=5 May 2006}}</ref> | |||
* ], 2010<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/wire/6554 |title=Johann Hari picks up Martha Gellhorn Prize |work=Press Gazette blog |location=London |date=24 May 2010 |access-date=2 July 2010}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
{{div col}} | {{div col}} | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
{{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
==Books== | == Books == | ||
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=God Save the Queen? |year=2002 |publisher=Icon Books |isbn=978-1-84046-401-6}} | * {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=God Save the Queen? |year=2002 |publisher=Icon Books |isbn=978-1-84046-401-6}} | ||
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs |year=2015 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1- |
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs |year=2015 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-62040-890-2|title-link=Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs }} | ||
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions |year=2018 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1- |
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions |year=2018 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-63286-830-5}} | ||
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention |year=2021 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1- |
* {{cite book |author=Johann Hari |title=Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention |year=2021 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-5266-2022-4}} | ||
* Johann Hari (2024). ''Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs.'' Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-52667015. | |||
==References== | == References == | ||
{{Reflist|30em}} | {{Reflist|30em}} | ||
==External links== | == External links == | ||
{{Commons category}} | {{Commons category}} | ||
{{Wikiquote}} | {{Wikiquote}} | ||
* {{Official|johannhari.com}} | * {{Official website|johannhari.com}} | ||
* | * | ||
* | * | ||
* {{C-SPAN|95963}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
Line 129: | Line 159: | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Revision as of 00:20, 23 January 2025
Scottish writer
Johann Hari | |
---|---|
Hari in 2011 | |
Born | Johann Eduard Hari (1979-01-21) 21 January 1979 (age 46) Glasgow, Scotland |
Citizenship |
|
Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge |
Occupation |
|
Notable work | Chasing the Scream |
Website | johannhari |
Johann Eduard Hari (born 21 January 1979) is a British writer and journalist. Up until 2011, Hari wrote for The Independent, among other outlets, before resigning after admitting to plagiarism and fabrications dating back to 2001.
After the scandal, he began writing books on technology, addiction and medical policy, which have attracted criticism for inaccuracy and poor citational practices. His books include 2022's Stolen Focus, about technology and modern lifestyles' impact on attention spans and mental health, and 2015's Chasing the Scream, about addiction and the war on drugs. Both were New York Times bestsellers, and Hari’s 2015 TED Talk based on Chasing the Scream was one of the most-watched of the year.
Hari’s other books include Magic Pill, about semaglutide medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, and Lost Connections, about depression, anxiety, and related mental health conditions. He is also listed as a producer and writer on the 2021 film The United States vs. Billie Holiday, which was nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and other awards.
Early life
Hari was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish mother and Swiss father, before his family relocated to London when he was an infant. Hari states he was physically abused in his childhood while his father was away and his mother was ill.
He attended the John Lyon School, an independent school affiliated with Harrow, and then Woodhouse College, a state sixth form in Finchley. Hari graduated from King's College, Cambridge, in 2001 with a double first in social and political sciences.
Early career
In 2000, Hari was joint winner of The Times Student News Journalist of the Year award for his work on the Cambridge student newspaper, Varsity.
After university, he joined the New Statesman, where he worked between 2001 and 2003, and then wrote two columns a week for The Independent. At the 2003 Press Gazette Awards, he won Young Journalist of the Year. A play by Hari, Going Down in History, was performed at the Garage Theatre in Edinburgh, and his book God Save the Queen? was published by Icon Books in 2002.
In addition to being a columnist for The Independent, Hari's work also appeared in The Huffington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, The Nation, Le Monde, El País, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Haaretz, and he reported from locations around the world, such as Congo and Venezuela. He appeared regularly as an arts critic on the BBC Two programme The Review Show and was a book critic for Slate. In 2009, he was named by The Daily Telegraph as one of the most influential people on the left in Britain.
2011 plagiarism, fabrication and misconduct scandal
Plagiarism
In June 2011, bloggers at Deterritorial Support Group, as well as Yahoo! Ireland editor Brian Whelan, discovered that Hari had plagiarised material published in other interviews and writings by his interview subjects. For example, a 2009 interview with Afghan women's rights activist Malalai Joya included quotations from her book Raising My Voice in a manner that made them appear as if spoken directly to Hari. A piece entitled "How Multiculturalism Is Betraying Women" which Hari submitted when entering the Orwell Prize was plagiarised from Der Spiegel.
Hari initially denied any wrongdoing, stating that the unattributed quotes were for clarification and did not present someone else's thoughts as his own. However, he later said that his behaviour was "completely wrong" and that "when I interviewed people, I often presented things that had been said to other journalists or had been written in books as if they had been said to me, which was not truthful". Hari was suspended for two months from The Independent and in January 2012 it was announced that he was leaving the newspaper.
The Media Standards Trust instructed the council of the Orwell Prize, who had given their 2008 prize to Hari, to examine the allegations. The council concluded that "the article contained inaccuracies and conflated different parts of someone else's story" and did not meet the standards of Orwell Prize-winning journalism. Hari returned the prize, though he did not return the prize money of £2,000. He later offered to repay the sum, but Political Quarterly, which had paid the prize money, instead invited him to make a donation to English PEN, of which George Orwell had been a member. Hari arranged with English PEN to make a donation equal to the value of the prize, to be paid in installments when he returned to work at The Independent, but he did not return to work there.
Fabrication and misrepresentation
In one of the stories for which Hari won the Orwell Prize, he reported on atrocities in the Central African Republic, stating that French soldiers told him that "Children would bring us the severed heads of their parents and scream for help, but our orders were not to help them." However, an NGO worker who translated for Hari said that the quotation was invented and that Hari exaggerated the extent of the devastation in the CAR. In his apology after his plagiarism was exposed, Hari said that other staff of the NGO had supported his version of events.
In an article about military robots, Hari falsely claimed that former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi was attacked by a factory robot and was nearly killed. Hari falsely claimed that a large globe erected for the Copenhagen climate summit was "covered with corporate logos" for McDonald's and Carlsberg, with "the Coke brand ... stamped over Africa." Private Eye's Hackwatch column also suggested that he pretended to have used the drug ecstasy and misrepresented a two-week package tour in Iraq as a one-month research visit, in order to bolster support for the Iraq war by stating that Iraqi civilians he spoke to were in favour of an invasion, although in an earlier article he had given a conflicting account stating that Iraqis were reticent about their opinions.
Hari has been accused of misrepresenting writing by George Galloway, Eric Hobsbawm, Nick Cohen and Noam Chomsky.
Malicious editing of Misplaced Pages
In September 2011, Hari admitted that he had edited articles on Misplaced Pages about himself and journalists with whom he had had disputes. Using a sock puppet account under the name "David r from meth productions", he added false and defamatory claims to articles about journalists including Nick Cohen, Cristina Odone, Francis Wheen, Andrew Roberts, Niall Ferguson and Oliver Kamm, and edited the article about himself "to make him seem one of the essential writers of our times".
In July 2011, Cohen wrote about the suspicious Misplaced Pages editing in The Spectator, prompting the New Statesman journalist David Allen Green to publish a blog post collecting evidence. Hari used the fake identity "David Rose" to pretend to be an editor who was qualified in environmental science, and David Allen Green noticed that an 'methuselahproductions' email address associated with the David Rose identity had also been used to post incest erotica.
This led to an investigation by the Misplaced Pages community and "David Rose" was blocked from Misplaced Pages. Hari published an apology in The Independent, admitting that he had been "David Rose" and writing: "I edited the entries of people I had clashed with in ways that were juvenile or malicious: I called one of them anti-Semitic and homophobic, and the other a drunk. I am mortified to have done this, because it breaches the most basic ethical rule: don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you. I apologise to the latter group unreservedly and totally."
Use of libel law to suppress criticism
Hari used threats of suing for libel to prevent critics revealing his misrepresentations. British bloggers criticised his critique of Nick Cohen's What's Left: How Liberals Lost Their Way for factual and interpretive errors. Hari used libel law against a blogger who wrote that "a reputation for making things up should spell career death", leading to the blogger removing the post in question.
Later career
Chasing the Scream (2015)
Main article: Chasing the ScreamHari’s 2015 book, Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, is a critique of the global prohibition of illicit drugs. Hari argues that prohibition, drug laws, and the persecution of people who use drugs collectively do more harm to people and society than the drugs themselves. Hari also delivered a 2015 TED Talk on the topic. Hari posits that illicit drug use and most addictions are neither primarily character flaws nor genetic disorders, but rather responses to negative experiences and/or a lack of supportive relationships.
The book covers the history of drug prohibition, starting in early 20th-century America. Figures discussed in the book include jazz singer Billie Holiday, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Harry J. Anslinger, and gangster Arnold Rothstein.
In Chasing the Scream Hari discusses the societal consequences of the war on drugs, such as mass incarceration, crime and violence, and the role of drug cartels. Hari advocates for decriminalization, harm reduction, and treatment as alternatives to punishment. The book presents examples of where such policy shifts are effective according to Hari, including Portugal and Vancouver, Canada, among others.
John Harris, reviewing for The Guardian, wrote that "Chasing the Scream is a powerful contribution to an urgent debate, but this is its central problem: in contrast to the often brutal realities it describes, it uses the gauche journalistic equivalent of the narrative voice found in Mills & Boon novels." Barbara Spindel, in a review in the San Francisco Chronicle, praised Hari's writing but that his focus on himself and his own experiences come off as "as naive or, worse, manipulative" when compared to the people he interviewed. Seth Mnookin writing for New York Times stated that Hari's arguments are weakened by forced conclusions, an eagerness to accept some researchers' conclusions, and a reliance on anecdotes instead of data. Mnookin describes these issues as an extensions of Hari's previous professional misconduct: "Hari might not be passing off other people’s work as his own anymore, but he still seems to be looking for quick fixes." A wholly positive write-up by Kirkus Reviews described Chasing the Scream as a “compassionate and humane argument to overturn draconian drug policies.”
Lost Connections (2018)
Lost Connections challenges conventional understandings of depression, anxiety, and related mental health issues, arguing that these conditions are not solely caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Instead, citing extensive research conducted for the book, Hari proposes that the root causes of depression and anxiety are often rooted in social, environmental, and psychological factors, such as access to meaningful work, proximity to friends and family, and past experiences with childhood trauma.
The book dedicates significant time to human connection, emphasizing its crucial role in mental well-being. Hari explores how modern society, characterized by superficial interactions and increasing isolation, contributes to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and how these states relate to the more long-term conditions of depression and anxiety.
The second half of Lost Connections explores solutions to these mental health conditions, approaching them from the premise described above. Hari highlights the importance of meaningful relationships, community involvement, and a sense of purpose in combating mental illness.
Hari cites his own childhood issues, career challenges, and experiences with antidepressants and psychotherapy as fueling his curiosity in the subject.
Lost Connections suggests a more holistic approach to the treatment of depression and anxiety. While Hari emphasizes that someone who finds benefits in taking an anti-depressant medication, for example, should not stop taking them, they should also consider lifestyle changes that aim to address the underlying causes of their mental health issues, such as those social and environmental factors discussed in the book.
Kirkus Reviews published a positive review of the book, calling it a "weighty, well-supported, persuasive argument against treating depression pharmaceutically." In the British Journal of General Practice, Thomas Bransby wrote that Lost Connections is a “perfect balance of fictionalised non-fiction and factual evidence, coupling diverse personal narratives with an intense investigation into the failings of Western society to better connect us all.” The Guardian wrote that Lost Connections is an "eye-opening, highly detailed though sometimes frustrating investigation into the causes and cures of depression." The Guardian's review also alluded to Hari's earlier examples of journalism malpractice that date to his time as a freelance newspaper reporter, and in contrast, notes that in Lost Connections, Hari is "meticulous in revealing his methods" and made "copious" notes and interview recordings available to explain and detail his research of the book.
Stolen Focus (2022)
Hari's 2022 book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again, continues with the author’s focus on mental health. The book argues that people’s declining attention spans are not due to personal failings, but rather are the result of systemic societal forces primarily rooted in modern technology.
As with his previous books, Stolen Focus presents a mix of research, interviews, and first-person narrative. Hari identifies twelve factors contributing to an "attention crisis". Examples include technology addictions such as social media, the increased prevalence of chronic stress, the decline of children's exposure to outdoor play and independent exploration, and the purported influence of ultra-processed foods on brain functions.
Hari suggests that late-stage capitalism's emphasis on profits over human well-being creates environments that constantly bombard humans, not only with stimuli, but also with demands. He criticizes the tech industry for designing products that exploit people’s emotional vulnerabilities to maximize engagement at the cost of focus. Stolen Focus also discusses the impacts of sleep deprivation and the lack of opportunities for meaningful work.
Hari calls for collective action and the formation of "movement to reclaim our minds". His suggestions focus on societal changes, rather than personal action, and include calling for a shorter work week, providing children with greater access to nature, and more robust regulation of the tech industry.
The book debuted at number seven on the New York Times nonfiction best-seller list for the week ending 12 February 2022. Stolen Focus was listed as one of the Financial Times' "best books" of 2022.
Magic Pill (2024)
Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs, explores the development and rise in popularity of semaglutide medications for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The book focuses on the best-known of these medicines, Novo Nordisk’s brand-name Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, but its findings are applicable to semaglutide drugs in general.
In addition to a summary of existing research, Hari interviews scientists in the space. He also delivers a first-person account of his own experience taking Ozempic for more than one year.
Upon publication, both The Telegraph and Booklist gave positive reviews.
Criticism of inaccuracy and misrepresentation in books
Due to the previous scandals, Hari put the audio of some interviews conducted for Chasing the Scream online. Writer Jeremy Duns criticised instances where quotes were inaccurately transcribed or misrepresented, stating that out of a sample of dozens of clips, "in almost all cases, words in quotes had been changed or omitted without being noted, often for no apparent purpose, but in several cases to subtly change the narrative." In a review for New Matilda, Michael Brull expressed reservations about Hari's citational practices and highlighted contradictions between the narrative in Chasing the Scream and a 2009 article by Hari.
The journalist Zoe Stavri criticised Lost Connections for a lack of citations for key claims like "between 65 and 80% of people on antidepressants are depressed again within a year", reliance on the work of a single researcher, treating research on a single class of antidepressants as if it applies to all antidepressants, and conflating stress and depression. The psychologist and science writer Stuart Ritchie criticised Hari for repeatedly stating that "between 65 and 80% of people on antidepressants are depressed again within a year" without a clear citation. He traced the source to a pop science book rather than a review of the scientific literature.
Ritchie and the neuroscientist Dean Burnett both criticised Stolen Focus for failing to cite strong evidence for the existence of shrinking attention spans, as well as for presenting mainstream psychological concepts as niche ideas that Hari had discovered. Writer/broadcaster Matthew Sweet investigated some of the statements in the book and found that Hari had failed to cite the primary sources for some studies, and misrepresented the results of studies that suggested multitasking could have benefits in certain conditions. An author of one of the papers Hari cited intervened to state that he was "not happy with misrepresentation of our results".
Magic Pill attracted criticism for inaccuracies. Writing for The Guardian, Tom Chivers criticised the use of references which did not support the book's claims, as well as scientific inaccuracies. A fact check by The Daily Telegraph found six examples of "errors, outdated data and disputed claims". Private Eye magazine lambasted Hari's book for what it described as false claims and dubious references.
Personal life
Hari is gay. In a 2002 article, he stated that he had had sex with men who were members of homophobic far-right and Islamist groups.
Awards
- Student News Journalist of the Year by The Times, 2000
- Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards, 2003
- Newspaper Journalist of the Year at Amnesty International Media Awards, 2007, for the article The Dark Side of Dubai
- Author of Story of the Year at the Environmental Press Awards, 2008
- Orwell Prize for political journalism, 2008 (withdrawn 2011)
- Journalist of the Year at the Stonewall Awards, 2009
- Newspaper Journalist of the Year at Amnesty International Media Awards, 2010, for the article Congo's tragedy: The War the World Forgot
- Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, 2010
See also
Books
- Johann Hari (2002). God Save the Queen?. Icon Books. ISBN 978-1-84046-401-6.
- Johann Hari (2015). Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-62040-890-2.
- Johann Hari (2018). Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-63286-830-5.
- Johann Hari (2021). Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-5266-2022-4.
- Johann Hari (2024). Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-52667015.
References
- ^ Aitkenhead, Decca (2 January 2015). "Johann Hari: 'I failed badly. When you harm people, you should shut up, go away and reflect on what happened'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- "Stolen Focus by Johann Hari: 9780593138533 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- "The most popular talks of 2015 | TED Talks". www.ted.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021) - Awards - IMDb. Retrieved 11 November 2024 – via www.imdb.com.
- "About the Author". Chasing The Scream. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- Anthony, Andrew (7 January 2018). "Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety'". The Observer.
- Hari, Johann. "A simple lesson on schools: Money works". Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- Adkins, T. S.; Bulmer, N. S. D.; Jones, P. M.; Langley, H. C. (2018). A Register of Admissions to King's College Cambridge, 1934–2010. King's College Cambridge. p. 988.
- ^ Spanner, Huw (November 2004). "Let The Fiery Columns Glow". Third Way Magazine. pp. 16–19.
- Hari, Johann (2015). Chasing The Scream. Bloomsbury USA, New York. p. 180.
- Dale, Iain; Brivati, Brian (27 September 2009). "Top 100 most influential Left-wingers: 100-51". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- Sabbagh, Dan (28 June 2011). "Johann Hari denies these accusations of plagiarism". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- O'Neill, Brendan (29 June 2011). "Johann Hari and the tyranny of the 'good lie'". The Telegraph blog. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- Flock, Elizabeth (28 June 2011). "Johann Hari denies he plagiarized, sparking mockery campaign". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- Dowell, Ben (1 July 2011). "Johann Hari: more plagiarism allegations". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- "Dirty Hari". December 2011.
- Hari, Johann. "Interview etiquette". johannhari.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- Hari, Johann (29 June 2011). "Johann Hari: My journalism is at the centre of a storm. This is what I have learned". The Independent. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- Anthony, Andrew (7 January 2018). "Johann Hari: 'I was afraid to dismantle the story about depression and anxiety'". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- McAthy, Rachel (12 July 2011). "Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari|Johann Hari suspended for two months pending investigation". journalism.co.uk. Mousetrap Media.
- Deans, Jason (13 July 2011). "Journalist suspended over plagiarism row". The Guardian. p. 10. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- "Johann Hari leaves the Independent after plagiarism storm". TheGuardian.com. 20 January 2012.
- Gunter, Joel (30 June 2011). "Orwell Prize Council begins investigation into Johann Hari". journalism.co.uk. Mousetrap Media.
- "Media Standards Trust response to Johann Hari allegations" (Press release). Media Standards Trust. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- "Johann Hari did not deserve Orwell Prize, say organisers". Politics.co.uk. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Orwell Prize accuses Johann Hari of plagiarism". the Guardian. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari". 28 September 2011.
- Pugh, Andrew (27 September 2011). "Johann Hari yet to return Orwell prize £2,000". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "The Orwell Prize and Johann Hari – English PEN". 4 October 2011.
- "Top UK Journalist Stripped Of Major Prize As Scandal Growns And Grows". HuffPost UK. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Johann Hari in Africa: the crucial emails – Telegraph Blogs". 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Johann Hari: A personal apology". The Independent. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Johann Hari admits plagiarism and returns Orwell Prize | Media news". www.journalism.co.uk. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Johann Hari: The age of the killer robot is no longer a sci-fi fantasy". Independent.co.uk. 22 January 2010.
- "Commentary on Killer Robots is Mostly Bunk". 26 January 2010.
- ^ "Dirty Hari". December 2011.
- Hari, Johann (3 December 2002). "The mother of all package tours". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- "Hari's Game". Private Eye. No. 1076. 23 March 2003. p. 5. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Michael Weiss. "Bloggers defy Britain's tough libel laws". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Cohen, Nick (9 July 2011). "Diary". The Spectator. London. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- Thompson, Damian (11 July 2011). "The scandal that will not go away". The Daily Telegraph blog. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011.
- ^ Allen Green, David (15 September 2011). "The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose". New Statesman. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- "Archive.ph". 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ""What's in a name? That which we call a Rose."". 10 July 2011.
- https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/incest/little-brother-learned-to-be-a-whore
- Hari, Johann (14 September 2011). "A personal apology". The Independent.
- "The tale of Mr Hari and Dr Rose". New Statesman. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- Hari, Johann (20 January 2012). "Update". Johannhari.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- "Chasing the Scream". Bloomsbury Publishing.
- "Johann Hari's Chasing the Scream looks to Vancouver for a start to the end of the war on drugs". The Georgia Straight. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- "TED talk: Everything you thought you knew about addictions is wrong". 18 January 2018.
- Harris, John (9 January 2015). "Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari review – taking on the war on drugs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- Spindel, By Barbara (16 January 2015). "'Chasing the Scream,' by Johann Hari". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- "'Chasing the Scream,' by Johann Hari (Published 2015)". 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- CHASING THE SCREAM | Kirkus Reviews.
- "Kirkus Review: Lost Connections". 23 January 2018.
- Bransby, Thomas (28 June 2018). "Books: Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions". British Journal of General Practice. 68 (672): 331–331. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X697709. ISSN 0960-1643. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024.
- Sturges, Fiona (17 January 2018). "Lost Connections by Johann Hari review – too many drugs, not enough understanding". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- Hari, Johann (2 January 2022). "Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction – Best Sellers". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- Rachman, Gideon (25 November 2022). "Best books of 2022: Politics". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- Nuki, Paul (29 April 2024). "Why Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs are more dangerous than you think". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs, by By Johann Hari. | Booklist Online.
- "Johann Hari Is Still Lying to You". Jeremy Duns. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "A Short*, Frustrated Piece On Johann Hari's Quote Deceptions". Jeremy Duns. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Chasing the Scream Review Part IV: My Reservations About Johann Hari". 4 March 2016.
- "Five things wrong with Johann Hari's comeback book that I spotted from the extract alone". 8 January 2018.
- "Thinking critically about Lost Connections 1: An introduction, of sorts". 22 January 2018.
- @StuartJRitchie (11 January 2018). "Thread Part 2 -> Eventually, I found Hari's source! It's not a recent meta-analysis of the full literature on anti-…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Johann Hari's stolen ideas". UnHerd. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Thread by @DrMatthewSweet on Thread Reader App". threadreaderapp.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- Linehan, Hugh (15 January 2022). "Too few of us are paying attention to the problems with Johann Hari's new book". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- "The strange rehabilitation of Johann Hari". www.spiked-online.com. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- https://x.com/lorenz_spreen/status/1479486880429355014
- Chivers, Tom (1 May 2024). "Magic Pill by Johann Hari review – weighing in". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- Shirreff, Lauren (29 May 2024). "We fact-checked a famous plagiarist's book on Ozempic—and uncovered a string of errors". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- Private Eye magazine #1624 6 June 2024 page 36 - Literary Review - "Magic Pillock"
- Haldane, J. (2012). Against erotic entitlements. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, (222), 19-21.
- Hari, Johann (1 March 2015). "Has being gay influenced my view of the war on drugs?". OpenDemocracy. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- Hari, Johann (13 December 2002). "Sleeping with the enemy". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- Morris, Sally (15 June 2000). "Future Perfect". The Times. London.
- "British Press Awards: Past Winners". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Johann Hari". BBC News. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- "The dark side of Dubai". Independent.co.uk. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- "Winners announced for Environmental Press Awards". Press Gazette. London. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "Independent journalist wins Stonewall award". The Independent. London. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- "AIUK Media Awards: Winners and Nominees 2010". Amnesty International UK. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- "Congo's tragedy: the war the world forgot". Independent.co.uk. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- "Johann Hari picks up Martha Gellhorn Prize". Press Gazette blog. London. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
External links
- Official website
- Articles about Johann Hari in The Guardian
- Articles for The Independent
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1979 births
- Living people
- 21st-century atheists
- Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
- British atheists
- British LGBTQ journalists
- British LGBTQ writers
- Scottish male journalists
- British people of Swiss descent
- British republicans
- British social democrats
- British drug policy reform activists
- British gay writers
- Conflict-of-interest editing on Misplaced Pages
- HuffPost writers and columnists
- The Independent people
- Journalistic hoaxes
- Journalistic scandals
- Journalists from London
- People educated at The John Lyon School