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beckeal's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely some good suggestions in this book. Ones I’m going to try.
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But man oh man! Dude writes like a robot! He’s definitely spent too long in academia. Would it have killed him to use a contraction or two? That said, it had a certain charm. To me. And just eccentric enough to turn off some readers.
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Also, he’s a bit of an alarmist. Or a salesman. I mean, I don’t disagree with the manipulative, and ruthless profit hunting of the tech companies, but Newport’s “OMG, freak out about this! And then solve it with my brilliant advice!” tactic got kinda tired.
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And he’s obv a bit of a snob. But you know. Whatever.
.
But man oh man! Dude writes like a robot! He’s definitely spent too long in academia. Would it have killed him to use a contraction or two? That said, it had a certain charm. To me. And just eccentric enough to turn off some readers.
.
Also, he’s a bit of an alarmist. Or a salesman. I mean, I don’t disagree with the manipulative, and ruthless profit hunting of the tech companies, but Newport’s “OMG, freak out about this! And then solve it with my brilliant advice!” tactic got kinda tired.
.
And he’s obv a bit of a snob. But you know. Whatever.
markrickaby's review
4.0
Like Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking meets Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but for your social media and attention economy habits.
floatwiththesticks's review against another edition
Lots of food for thought; the psychology behind our perceived “need” for constant digital access is fascinating. Will be trying my hardest to live as a digital minimalist from now on.
(Goodreads is absolutely essential: she makes the cut).
Edit: It is, like most of the world, very ableist. As a newly disabled person, the chapters on walking and increased productivity were instant skips… Not everyone is physically/mentally able to schedule face to face meet ups or even speak on the phone. I got some good points from it but had to pick and choose what was accessible for my own life.
(Goodreads is absolutely essential: she makes the cut).
Edit: It is, like most of the world, very ableist. As a newly disabled person, the chapters on walking and increased productivity were instant skips… Not everyone is physically/mentally able to schedule face to face meet ups or even speak on the phone. I got some good points from it but had to pick and choose what was accessible for my own life.
ambergamgee's review against another edition
3.0
I agree with the general concept here. I appreciate how much he points out that technology is a tool, not something to be shunned completely. That we should use it to enhance the things that we value, and not be the things we value just themselves. To be careful of the traps tech people create for us.
My problems are:
1. The author has never used social media. He’s been criticized for writing about social media with no personal experience extensively so I won’t go into it much here. But really, sometimes he’d say things about social media that made it clear he didn’t really know what was going on.
2. He is pretty blind to the differences in class. Not only because he takes it for granted that everyone has smart phones, etc. but his alternatives are sometimes absurd. Having TVs and WiFi at your $10/month gym is bad! Sign up for $210/month cross fit so you can talk to people while you work out! Reading on paper is better than reading digitally (side note: I listened to this on my phone on an app) and so you should join this $50 membership club to get printed short stories! And all kinds of stuff like this.
He also frequently quotes and points to people as examples, people that are independently wealthy and so are able to make unique choices with their leisure. Including people who made their wealth in tech.
But he also fails to mention anything about how people in poverty and working class can not afford many hobbies, and so tv and internet is an accessible and very cheap mode of entertainment and education and connection. I felt that not touching on that at all was ignorant and showed some major blind spots.
3. He completely ignores the fact that there are introverted people. He frequently writes about how “everyone” needs “frequent” social interactions to be refueled. That it is ingrained in all of us, one and all! But approximately 50% of people are introverted and refuel from solitary time.
Overall, there’s a time and place for technology, and for the most part he acknowledges that. I did inadvertently drop my phone usage an average of 40 minutes a day over the course of reading this, so it’s not all bad. 3 stars.
My problems are:
1. The author has never used social media. He’s been criticized for writing about social media with no personal experience extensively so I won’t go into it much here. But really, sometimes he’d say things about social media that made it clear he didn’t really know what was going on.
2. He is pretty blind to the differences in class. Not only because he takes it for granted that everyone has smart phones, etc. but his alternatives are sometimes absurd. Having TVs and WiFi at your $10/month gym is bad! Sign up for $210/month cross fit so you can talk to people while you work out! Reading on paper is better than reading digitally (side note: I listened to this on my phone on an app) and so you should join this $50 membership club to get printed short stories! And all kinds of stuff like this.
He also frequently quotes and points to people as examples, people that are independently wealthy and so are able to make unique choices with their leisure. Including people who made their wealth in tech.
But he also fails to mention anything about how people in poverty and working class can not afford many hobbies, and so tv and internet is an accessible and very cheap mode of entertainment and education and connection. I felt that not touching on that at all was ignorant and showed some major blind spots.
3. He completely ignores the fact that there are introverted people. He frequently writes about how “everyone” needs “frequent” social interactions to be refueled. That it is ingrained in all of us, one and all! But approximately 50% of people are introverted and refuel from solitary time.
Overall, there’s a time and place for technology, and for the most part he acknowledges that. I did inadvertently drop my phone usage an average of 40 minutes a day over the course of reading this, so it’s not all bad. 3 stars.
ponderspren's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This book is more for people that currently struggle with too much screen time and want to change, than people who have already become aware and reduced their screen time. There is still some value for people in the latter group, but not as much.
sydneyqamar's review against another edition
5.0
Transformative! Newport's argument for a philosophy of digital minimalism is so convincing that it compels you to finish the book. The second half is replete with tips, advice and success stories. One of the most captivating and quick reads in a long time!