Reviews

James Acaster's Guide to Quitting Social Media by James Acaster

mulebeatsdrums's review against another edition

Go to review page

Acaster's previous book Per ect Sound Whatever was advertised with the argument  "2016 was the best year or music ever" but went on to provide a brutally honest account of an emotional mental crisis. I foolishly assumed that this would be a similarly honest account of leaving social media with some darkly comic anecdotes sprinkled throughout. Instead, this book is a completely fictionalised obscurist yarn that is so mundane that it feels like a shaggy dog story with a punchline that never comes.

I'm sure there is an audience for this bizarre alternative history, but I'm not it. I'm bitterly disappointed not to finish it too, because I've thoroughly enjoyed Acaster's other books. In fact, I think I'm going to read Perfect Sound Whatever again. 

madelynwhite7's review

Go to review page

4.0

as insane and funny as i had hoped. audiobook is a must

jstrahan's review

Go to review page

3.0

Quite funny sometimes, listened on audible

jennboyack_scott's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

2.5

ailishh's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny fast-paced

4.0

saffronbunny's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

glammybird's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

2.75

smackey10's review

Go to review page

5.0

Hilarious satirical fun

lordnelson's review

Go to review page

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

2.75

What
Acaster shows us how social media can become negative.  Being addicting, poor for our health and deteriorating personalities, he chooses to self impose a mission to rid his life of SM and sets out to achieve everything he’s missing IRL. 
As we go along we realise how little other people care and what he’s missing out on really isn’t significant when comparing to real life. 

How 
The book dives into insane hypotheticals w fantastic pop culture references to express how ridiculous some of the things we get away with online truely are. Stalking, bullying, wasting time etc.

 I expected more of a biography type of situation clearly explaining how everything was truthfully problematic. Because of my expectation I was originally frustrated but became pleasantly impressed with the lengths to convey the true unimportance of SM with irreverence.  

True
Yes, stalking, anonymous bullying, and a lack of time spent developing a personality are lost to SM immersion. 
Although its benefits were not exactly highlighted. in small doses for few, long distance couples, travelling workers and holidaymakers all trying to easily stay in touch w family and keeping relationships alive. 

Best bits 
“Turns out cancelling only works if the person getting cancelled accepts it. If they choose to ignore it and can’t carry on as normal. There’s absolutely nothing other people can do about it.”

“Don’t imagine they’re naked. Imagine they’re dead and none of it matters”

When quit replace w something 
Get off sm realise how little people care; invisible man

jess_18's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny relaxing medium-paced

4.0

this will be my last act on my phone before i promptly cover it in tar and leave in in a storage unit in wales