Though the narration was perfectly fine, nothing stellar but the topics at hand are a little lack luster in part. The cover does not portray the overall concept at all. And talking about getting back to community and person to person connections in a world, country so divided needs more solutions than this book offered. Honestly? I felt like some one was complaining about the internet to me and lack of privacy while snapping and posting a selfie. Don’t feel bad if you pass on this, but if you read or listen just know it’ll be a fast read, or a good audio book to be on in the background…..while you doom scroll and text your mom.

I was driving around listening to this yesterday and I was just shouting "yes!" and "that makes perfect sense!" I am big on irl experiences. I get coffee just for the chance to see the shop and meet the baristas. Everyday I try to go out and do/see something. It fuels me. But it seems to be harder and harder lately.
I loved the parts about museums. I actually put together several digital exhibits back in 2014 before they were essential as they are now. It is not the same thing as being in the museum. I learned that when I went to DC in 2019 and actually walked through the museums. There is an entire vibe to those places and you need to be there for that.
Yes some of the stuff in the book is right leaning but I a have an open mind and can agree that in this case the author makes a good point. In fact, I can see why she makes the points she makes. Some of us have gone so far in the other direction that we are our own version of Qanon.
Anyway, I loved this. I loved the narration. I might buy this actually.

The Extinction Of Experience by Christine Rosen, The author investigates how much why and what effect technology has had and is having on life as we know it. From high school students who can’t write a sentence in cursive to autographs. That aren’t authentic the book varies in scope and I found it all so very interesting. I do want to say if you decide to read this book I would definitely skip the first and second chapter as the two almost made me DNF I listen to the audiobook and found the relaxing tone of the narrator‘s voice and the topic almost put me to sleep. I did think Susie Althens did a great job narrating as she has a very nice voice but also a very relaxing voice. There were a lot of historical context in the book which I totally appreciated but they were also things I didn’t understand such as wanting technology to be more responsible when parents and self-awareness is just as capable of maintaining our time online. Such as in the case of writing cursive I am so glad my husband and I decided to make our daughters learn how to write in that style and our youngest is graduating this year so she would’ve had no problem writing a sentence in cursive but I digress this was a great book with great historical stories to accompany the points she was making from how walkmans started our anti-socialization to nowe the Internet. I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I was going to and appreciate getting to listen to it as an early reader. #NetGalley, #TantoreAudio,#SusieAlthens, #ChristineRosen, #TheExtinctionOfExperience,

This book is a must read! Rosen makes me feel like a traditionalist here. When I got to the part about museums being more social media focused, whether it be allowing photos in the exhibits or an entire museum based around selfies (think Ice Cream Museum) I was upset. To think that we have to integrate to what people like to keep them engaged with the arts could mean we lose the way we once enjoyed our art.

On another note, one I’m guilty of - enjoying unboxing videos, watching people work, the ASMR videos… I find myself an enjoyer for the dopamine hits it gives. Hell, when I get a TikTok comment with over 10k likes it also hits the spot.

I think it’s time for me to set a timer for specific apps on my phone now. I have a lot of thoughts after this book.

Review of “The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World”

By: Christine Rosen

Available Now!

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Tantor Audio, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Rating System Below)
Blog Post will go up Sep 20/24 -- https://pagesandpurls.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/review-of-the-extinction-of-experience-being-human-in-a-disembodied-world/

I absolutely loved “The Extinction of Experience” by Christine Rosen. It’s one of those books that really makes you stop and think about how deeply technology has shaped our everyday lives. Rosen’s insights into how we’re becoming passive participants in our world—whether it’s relying on GPS instead of navigating or looking up Yelp reviews before stepping into a restaurant—hit home in such a profound way. The way she highlights our dependency on instant gratification and how it’s warping our sense of patience and connection was incredibly eye-opening.

What really stood out to me was Rosen’s reflection on how public spaces have transformed into little more than “WiFi hotspots.” It’s such a powerful observation, and it made me rethink how much time we spend being absorbed in digital life instead of embracing real, tangible experiences. Her example of how we check the weather on our phones instead of just stepping outside perfectly encapsulates how disconnected we’ve become from the world around us. It’s truly a wake-up call for anyone who has ever felt like technology has stolen the beauty of living in the moment.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. The blend of personal stories and philosophical musings is both captivating and relatable, especially in a world where it’s so easy to get lost in the digital blur. Rosen reminds us that life, in its truest form, takes time, patience, and a willingness to disconnect. Everyone needs to read this book—it’s a refreshing reminder of what we’re losing in the rush for constant connectivity.

Get it at…

📗 - Hard Copy -📗

Your Local Canadian Book Seller

Indigo

Amazon Canada

📱 - Digital - 📱

Kobo

Kindle

🎧 - Audio - 🎧

Audible

Libro.FM - (Note, it is still flagged as Pre-Order Now)

___________________

*Star Rating Guide*

⭐

The writing style didn’t appeal to me.

The characters didn’t resonate with me.

I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing.

I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.

⭐⭐

The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind.

Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story.

I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly.

When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.

⭐⭐⭐

If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this.

While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read.

If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book.

Reading it was time well-spent.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was brilliant.

I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page.

The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book.

My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it.

I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf.

I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.

I'm not gonna lie - this book was both distressing and depressing, based on the research and conclusions the author draws. I really appreciated her research and the breadth of her coverage of the crazy ways that technology has taken over our lives in ways I don't think many of us are fully aware of. As a 62 year old who remembers dialing a phone the old fashioned way, I feel like I should be more cognizant of all of this, but even I have become complacent in allowing technology to take over aspects of my life without thinking about it. I especially liked her discussion of boredom and its benefits, and our ability to tolerate waiting. I did not love the narrator. Her voice was a bit too precise and monotone to truly enjoy this as an audiobook.. But I really believe this is a book worth reading.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The Extinction of Experience looks at how our daily life has morphed over time to be more fast-paced, convenient, and tech-centered. Christine Rosen identifies the realities younger generations face including limited face-to-face interactions and curated feeds.

The book did start off slow and the first chapter did not hook me. The narration from Suzie Althens is a bit dry and monotone, so you need to be actively invested to get the most out of this audiobook. I did, however, enjoy the rest of Rosen’s exploration on human experience. I was most interested in learning about how the skill of learning cursive has been phased out and it’s negatively impacting learning. There are many of these type of things that feel a bit shocking, but also make sense when you recognize that many children cannot spell without spell check assisting them.

I felt personally interested in the topic of this book because I have seen the detriment technology has wreaked on young minds and am actively in pursue of taking a counter-culture approach with my own children (no television, no tablets, just physical books, pencils, crayons, and good ole outside time). It is sad that our culture has so drastically shifted in just a few decades, but here we are. The more knowledge we can arm ourselves with regarding the risks of too much integration of technology can hopefully empower change towards a healthier future.

I would also comment that the examples used in the book seemed to skew right leaning, which I found pretty annoying. I find a more balanced approach to be more effective. There were references to QAnon and J6 that I felt did not really propel the book’s narrative, but (probably) gave the author some smug satisfaction.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, the author Christine Rosen, and the narrator Suzie Althens for an ALC of The Extinction of Experience!

If you’ve ever wondered what living in the digital era is doing to not only our brains, but the ways in which our society is regressing, this book is for you.

I found Rosen’s reflections on the elimination of human experience in modern society both compulsively readable and devastating. There’s a lot of information within this book that expands on what is often minimized to “brainrot” amongst those who are chronically online. However, Rosen reflects on much more than just social media, placing emphasis on the ways that technology is eliminating humans’ biological ability to communicate. There’s chapters that focus on the importance of body language, the necessity of needing to utilize all five senses in order to properly process an experience, and how the use of technology is greatly stunting our educational systems. The ways in which technology is drastically changing the way we view art, learn to read and write, pursue dating, and even go about sharing and consuming our food are also looked at throughout.

This book made me both angry and nostalgic, shedding a very sobering light on the fact that the childhood me and the generations before me got to experience will likely cease to exist to those growing up in both current and future generations.

I’m excited to see more nonfiction works tackle this subject as it continues to change and progress. The way Rosen structured the information within is very consumable and easily accessible. I can’t wait to see what kinds of conversations this work provokes!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me access to an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Extinction of Experience will be published on September 10th, 2024