Wonder if your smart phone is getting in the way of life? The author, an NPR reporter, used her show to guide 20,000 listeners through 7 challenges designed to help them make wiser choices regarding their use of technology. The book provides the science behind our difficulties with technology, experiences of people during the challenges, and great commentary on how people are affected. She is clear that the point isn't to do away with technology but to ensure we are controlling how we use it rather than letting it control us. The challenges, simple to try, are included. Excellent guidance for anyone who knows that they are in fact checking FB, reading emails, playing games, or accessing other favorite apps more than they should be!

Thanks, Netgalley, for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Educational and interesting. A scholarly look at how changing technology affects the human brain and how humans deal with choosing to prioritize (or not) use of time.
I was expecting a discussion on letting ones mind wander to stimulate deeper creative thinking.
That topic was covered along with much more.
A good portion of the book investigates human behavior, addictive or obsessive, and habits dealing with cell phones and similar electronic devices and the need to be continually connected, whether to social media or available for work. Will future generations know how to sit still, do nothing, or observe and consider, coming to conclusions by themselves?
Included are many references I will be looking into further.

The book also offers an organised challenge for the readers to discover their own patterns of electronics use. It allows an opportunity to rethink or at least become aware of how one uses time.

I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

Loved all the topics in this book. Tought me techniques on how to not check my phone all the time.

An excellent source to help you have a more healthy relationship with technology. While this has challenges that are for everybody, you tailor them to your own life and technology. This isn't simply "use the phone less". Instead it is an examination of our fascination with devices without judgment. What are we replacing when we are glued to our screens? Are we actually being productive with them, or simply using them as an escape to avoid something else? Even if you do not do the challenges this book will get you thinking. And it will help to bore you which actually might be just what you need. The book examines the relationship between new ways of thinking spring from boredom, a boredom we avoid by filling in every free moment with technology. A great thought provoking read.

(1 1/2). This is an interesting topic, that the use of screens, devices and other modern means of communication are so overwhelming that we have lost a lot of our mojo. The hypothesis that allocated down time will bring about more creativity, problem solving and civility certainly seems on point to me. When your brain isn't constantly scrambling we all seem to work better. A reasonable thought, a fairly weak presentation.

Thinking you may be spending way too much time on your Smartphone? I think it's safe to say most of us are!

In 2015, the author led 20,000 listeners of her show on NPR, through 7 challenges which she shares with us in this book. They aren't difficult but they are very eye-opening.

The book doesn't bash technology, but emphasizes the human aspect of everyday life and the need for mind wandering, daydreaming if you will and the creative and productive results of doing so. It's about balance.

Excellent read and a very good radio show!

Netgalley/St. Martin's Press   Release September 05, 2017

"My real worry is on formation of the young's deep-reading processes. That takes time - it takes actually years to form the ability to put inference and background knowledge and analogy and epiphany all together in a child's brain". Not just kids but adults have to relearn reading slowly with our recent skimming mania.

The author refers to many books and authors to bring about the importance of boredom in creativity surge and getting rid of modern day addiction of digital devices.

There are many exercises and testimonials in cutting the shackles of the numerous apps that are eating up our time.

Very accessible book on 'this modern life' of smartphone, texts, photos..