Reconnected

What a fun book! And SO good! The concepts and conversations that are discussed are wonderful. It's a good easier read, and not heavy were you want to not finish the book. I loved this! Great book!

Wise, conversational, and laugh-out-loud funny, Reconnected is a must read for anyone with a smart phone. Carlos Whitaker spent seven weeks with no screens to see how it would impact his brain and his ability to human. He documented the whole experience and has distilled his most sage learnings into an approachable, non-judgmental book that will keep you entertained even as you’re gleaning lessons on being connected in a disconnected world.

The experiment begins with a brain scan to get a documented “before.” Carlos owns that he spends “7ish” hours a day on his phone, and he wanted to see how (and if) his brain would respond to seven weeks without his phone (or any screen). He spends the first two weeks in near silence in a monastery, the next two weeks with an Amish family in Ohio, and the final three weeks at home. Then he returns to have a follow up brain scan to see if there are measurable differences to match the internal changes he had undergone.

This book is phenomenal, and it’s also probably not what you’re thinking. I dare you to add it to your library. Thank you to Carlos for sharing with us the benefit of your experience as you took on this experiment- also? Thanks to Heather for her heady support and encouragement when you felt you might be better off coming home in the first 24hrs. Loved this book. It’s so needed.

I’d like to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a great, thoughtful read. The writing has a lot of voice, authenticity, and humor. Whittaker makes it clear that he’s not anti-phone, but he gives a lot of reasons for more intentional engagement with screens, and practical suggestions for how to be more present in daily life. I did a lot of highlighting in my Kindle for this book, and have a feeling I’ll return to it a lot for its advice on how to be “not anti-technology, but pro-community.” I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be more present in their daily life with their friends, family, and/or community.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review is my honest opinion.

In 2022, Carlos Whittaker spent 7 days being completely screen free - no phone, no computer, no t.v, no screens. He spent two weeks at a monastery, two weeks working on an Amish farm, and three weeks at home with his family. As part of this experience, he also worked with a doctor to get before & after scans of his brain to see if the screen-free time had any impact.

This book will hit most people right in the gut. Doing the math on how much time is spent with electronics is eye-opening, and the real first point of the book to stop and do some self-reflection on how we currently prioritize and use our own time. Through Carlos's experiment and experience, he reflected on several aspects of life that society has been missing out on. I paused mid-way through the book to reflect and make immediate adjustments to my electronic notifications. I also have a list of some key words that are great topics to focus on and remember, especially as I am tempted to grab my phone and spend some time looking at electronics.

This book makes you think! I can't wait to get a hard copy and highlight and take notes, reassess any progress I've made at that point, and continue to reflect on the role that screens play in my life.

I have followed Carlos for years, and was really excited about a new book from him. This book did NOT disappoint. I cannot exclaim enough how timely and necessary this message is. I personally have needed this book for a while now. It made me think, convicted me, and made me stop and notice things in my life. I had to digest a lot of it slowly, as real change doesnt happen overnight. However, this book made me journal, ask questions about my own life, and really think about changes that I want to make. I do not want to be engrossed in a digital world at the expense of the real world around me. Thank you Carlos for such a necessary message, and for sharing your story so openly.

I squealed with delight when NetGalley and the publisher approved me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and THIS. BOOK. DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT!!! Seriously. Carlos Whittaker has such a way with words. I love all of his books, but this is a favorite. This is one of those “buy a copy for yourself and all of your friends and talk about it until said friends are so annoyed with you for talking about it that they give in and read it themselves and then they can’t stop talking about it” books. I digress. I’ve read a lot of books about taking a digital sabbath of sorts, or the importance of limiting technology, all along those lines. But this book is REVOLUTIONARY! I’m just an average work from home / stay at home toddler mom and am floored by how much this book impacted me. The way Whittaker tells his story, invites the reader in, and then applies it to the readers’s life is incredible. Not only will you want to have better boundaries with your phone after reading this book, you’ll want to be more intentional in so many ways. Pick up a copy and you won’t be sorry you did!

I’m not sure if I just needed this book at this time or if it’s the best book Carlos has ever written. As he writes, I feel like I am with him in the monastery and on the farm. The way in which he describes his emotions and reflections draws me in and paints a beautiful picture of what could be in my own life, I’m so thankful for this work.

I have been following Carlos for quite sometime as we have a mutual friend in common, so while I was aware that he was taking 7 weeks "away" from social media, he didn't give any hints as to what those weeks entailed. As soon as he announced his book and the details of those 7 weeks I knew that I was all in. Two weeks spent with monks in California, two weeks spent with the Amish in Ohio, and the last three weeks spent back at home in his normal day to day, all without a single screen. No phone, no laptop, no desktop, no television. While I'd like to think this is a dream, (a call back to the nostalgia of my childhood as a millennial where playing outside was the thing to do) I'm not sure I'd be able to handle all that comes with powering down. When I say I devoured this story, I mean it. I started it mid-afternoon, fell asleep with it in my hands, woke up at 4am with the hunger to read more, and finished in the early hours of the morning. This book makes me hope for a better rhythm for myself. It makes me hope that all of the readers find a better rhythm and maybe a stronger sense of self and community. Funnily enough Carlos' calls his followers the "Instafamilia" and references those followers as "Hope Dealers" and man did he dole out the hope in this story. I want to read this book over and over, soaking up the importance of the words and the experiences. Please, please, please pre-order this book. Read this book, Live (some parts) of this book.

An honorable mention that made me LOL "Stop it, cat." I read this story 3 times and cackled my way through each time.

I've followed Carlos Whittaker on Instagram for many years, and this book is like sitting on his couch listening to him tell the stories of the time he spent screen free. I went into this book thinking that Carlos was going to advocate for us readers to try going screen free (I should have known better!), but instead he gives some recommendations on how to cut back on screen time which is perfect for our current times. This is a book I need to skim each year to be reminded of the actions to take to cut back on screen time.

The bulk of the book was about Carlos' time at the monastery followed by his time at the Amish farm. He briefly wrote about his 3 weeks at home screen free as he wrapped up the book. I wish he would have spent more time talking about his time screen free at home because that's something we all can relate to. It's easy to cut back on screen time when you are on "vacation" or outside your normal routine, but it's much more difficult during your day-to-day life with ingrained habits.

Thank you Nelson Books | Thomas Nelson for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I typically don’t read book like this. I’m not a religious person at all, but I follow Carlos on Instagram and enjoy his content. When he was talking about the basis of this book I was very intrigued. The idea of not only disconnecting from the world for 7 weeks, but basically joining a monastery sounded crazy! I’m so glad I read this one. As Carlos takes us on his journey of detoxing from SM and electronics he also takes on a journey of learning about the monks that live in the monastery and life with the Amish. I wish that he had maybe talked more about his time at home without SM, but overall I really liked the book. In a world where we have become so dependent on SM and trends and immediate gratification, I think we could all use 7 weeks of “time out”.

Wow. This was a truly powerful book that I was in desperate in need of reading right now. I’ve been wanting to make some changes and this really encouraged me to follow through with those

This was my first book from Carlos and I genuinely enjoyed it. Not only were the stories and experiences entertaining, he brought practical applications from his learned experiences that made this experiment feel like something we too can learn from. I don’t think I’ll take 7-weeks of no-screens and live with monks and the Amish, but I’m glad Carlos did so we can all glean from his experience!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is going to sound weird in 2024, but...I can't relate. I am someone who lives the kind of life that maybe Carlos wants to live in some version - I don't even have social media on my phone at. all. In fact, my phone is connected to an email address that is JUST for my phone, so I don't have email away from my desktop. I don't turn my desktop on on Sundays (and haven't for 13 years), leaving me completely disconnected for an entire day each week. I read every morning and even longer on Sundays. I use technology, but am not used by it.

That said, I enjoyed this book immensely. It helped me to understand that the benefits my soul senses that I reap from choosing what is, admittedly, a harder lifestyle in today's world are real. I connected immediately with the experience that Carlos was having throughout his journey because it is exactly the kind of experience I work diligently to cultivate in my own life.

And...the book convicted me of where I'm slipping a little. It seems magical and wonderful to linger over meals the way the book describes, but...I'm also single, so it's learning to savor in the solitude. I guess I've grown weary of the marvelousness of solitude in my prolonged singleness. Maybe. It all reminds me of that time I was an undergraduate student taking a photography class after a prolonged serious illness - the way my eyes saw new color, the way I was living with eyes wide open to see things that I hadn't seen before. Even though I have a good relationship with technology, there is still room in my life for my relationship with wonder to keep growing. And I needed this book to remind of that. So thank you.

Let's compare brains sometime.

I've always been a fan of Carlos Whittaker and have enjoyed each of his books. But RECONNECTED was like a breath of fresh air. The topic is not something necessarily new, but Carlos approaches it in a unique and interesting way. I found myself completely immersed in the pages, wanting to know more and more about life at the monastery and even more about life with the Amish. I'm convinced, without a doubt, that technology (while useful in most ways) has contributed to our society's destruction. We no longer rely on one another like we used to. We no longer know what's real and what's deep fake. Carlos's book makes me think twice about picking up my phone to "numb my mind" when things are hard or challenging, or I don't know the answer to a question. Instead, we should turn to God and each other! Way to go, Carlos! I will recommend this book to my friends, my connection group at church, and my teens. By the way, Carlos is so talented and engaging, and this book is great for both Christians and non - Christians. RECONNECTED is a must-read for EVERYONE who uses any sort of screen technology!

If you have been following Carlos Whittaker on his socials, then you will come to enjoy this book as you do his stories and reels. His great storytelling is matched with his journey of what life is like not only as a monk or an Amish person but also one that does not have a phone! Cue the astonishment! Yes, Mr. Whittaker takes more than 7 weeks away from our precious handheld everything. He even takes brain scans before and after to see if there any results in being attached to the handheld as we are all so guilty to do. He not gives us some advice to get us away from the screens but makes such valid points that we have longed have forgotten to do as a result of our obsession with our phones. He brings us to the core of being a human is that is community and relationships. Some we take for granted but yet here we are so connected more than we ever been and yet are the loneliest that we have ever been. This book is not meant to be read once and done. Instead, I see it as a refresher to new resolutions for ourselves and our lives and what is truly important. Is it the followers, the likes and the virality of what we post? Or is it the eye contact and actual conversations over a meal without a phone in hand? He brings up so many great nuggets for us to digest in our everyday life with the phone. When was the last time you went a day, a hour, even 30 minutes away from our phone? What do you think you could accomplish, think, wonder or even perhaps, become a little bored? Is that really a bad thing? I think Carlos Whittaker is meant for everybody to ready in this heavy digital world!

I follow Carlos on Instagram every day. I remember when he went away from the internet and we all wondered if he was writing another book. Well, we were right. This book seems so simple (just put down your phone once in a while and enjoy the world), but not many of us actually do it. Reading about his time with the monks and the Amish family was so fun. I cannot imagine totally being cut off from technology for seven weeks, but I also think I would enjoy it a lot also.

This is such a good read for anyone who may need a little tech detox.

This was my first book by Carlos and I truly enjoyed it. I loved his storytelling and humor. The insights and truth about disconnecting from phones/technology and reconnecting with life hit home. I love the practical applications, the vulnerability, and honesty. I also appreciated that his experiment was medically documented and showed results that he noticed and felt. I had already been making changes to reconnect in my life and this book makes me want to do more. Thank you "Amish Farmer Monk Carlos."

I've already been recommending this book to everyone and I'm looking forward to experiencing more books from Carlos Whittaker.

There is definitely a theme of “unplugging” that I’m noticing in the publishing industry lately — a necessary topic! Carlos writes in a personal, funny, energetic way that keeps the reader interested. In all of his books, he seeks to learn about himself in a specific area and invites readers in to the process. This book has personal stories and practical applications for disconnecting and reconnecting in our own lives.

I've followed Carlos on social media for some time and was excited to hear about this book, and to find out what he did while he was away from social media. He offers his journey and experiences to learn from without ever feeling judgemental of the choices you make. It's the most practical and uplifting book I've read on the relationship we have with our phones and how to reconnect with other humans. Thank you to the publisher for providing this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Reconnected, Carlos Whittaker set out on a journey to rediscover God and himself. He realized that he was being consumed and controlled by technology. What inspired him to do so was a simple notification that stated his screen time was an average 7 hours and 23 mins a day. This is about 49 hours. He decided he wanted to do an experiment and to learn how a monk and the Amish live their lives. He explored how they connect to God and to others and what we can learn and apply to our lives.



He learned that monks pray a lot and he had a daily schedule to follow. They have meals in silence. He had to write and journal daily with a pen. He explained how he was scared a lot. This was when he realized that he would be spending a lot of time alone in his own thoughts. He shared how each monk had to discover their own gifts and where they fit into the community and their identity. He learned the importance of walking more and how it can even bring health benefits. He encouraged readers to walk without technology and he relayed how alone we can feel without any distractions. He shared how we can sit and contemplate the majesty of God and enjoy His creation. We can learn to really read the Bible and grow closer to God.


He traveled with the Amish and stayed on a farm filled with acres of land. He at first saw how the Amish eats their meals. They take their sweet time and don’t get in any hurry. Dinner lasted four hours and breakfast 45 minutes. Americans on average eat their meals in under 12 minutes and we keep trying to get done even sooner. This causes stress on our bodies and weight gain. The Amish feel like a meal is meant to be intimate and we are supposed to share stories. They all come together to cook a meal or clean up. They have no technology at the table. They would make sure their tasks were completed by meal time and they would stick to the schedule. They would be busy doing farm chores during the day. They explained how their church would be twice a year in their barn. The church would rotate to each other barns.


I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to reconnect with God. They are tired of being bound by technology and they are being held back from real relationships and community. I liked how he looked at monks and Amish and how they live in their community. It was really interesting learning more about both cultures and how they live day to day and how that compares to us.




“I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”

Carlos Whittaker’s "Reconnected" is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with technology in an increasingly digital world. For anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the constant barrage of notifications, pings, and the endless scroll, this book offers not just an escape, but a roadmap to rediscovering what it truly means to be human.

Whittaker, a well-known podcaster and author, candidly shares his personal journey of digital detox, where he took extreme measures to unplug from the virtual world that had ensnared him. Overwhelmed and feeling disconnected from his faith, community, and even himself, Whittaker embarked on a nearly two-month screen-free experiment, immersing himself in environments as diverse as a monastery, an Amish farm, and his own home.

What makes "Reconnected" particularly compelling is Whittaker's honesty about the challenges he faced during this digital fast. He doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of detaching from the constant connectivity that many of us have come to rely on. Yet, it’s through these challenges that Whittaker uncovers profound insights that are both relatable and inspiring.

The book is filled with practical advice on how to reclaim your life from the clutches of technology. Whittaker delves into the impact that constant screen time has on our brains, our relationships, and our emotional well-being, offering strategies to counteract these effects. His reflections on the joy of being bored, the value of getting lost, and the importance of not needing to Google every question serve as gentle reminders that life’s richness often lies in the simplicity we’ve lost in our pursuit of digital convenience.

Whittaker also emphasizes the importance of retraining ourselves to notice the world around us before reaching for our phones. He offers practical tips for prioritizing in-person relationships, even in a world where screens are often a necessary part of work and school. Perhaps most striking is his insight on how reducing our dependence on technology can amplify our connection to God, highlighting how the noise of the digital world often drowns out the still, small voice that guides us spiritually.

Reconnected is more than just a guide to digital detox; it’s an invitation to reset your life in a way that aligns with your values and fosters genuine connection with the world around you. Whittaker’s engaging writing style, blending wisdom from the past with modern-day challenges, makes this book both accessible and deeply impactful.

For anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or overstimulated by the demands of technology, Reconnected is a must-read. It’s a powerful reminder that we were made for more than the endless scroll and that by taking back control from our devices, we can start truly living again.

I love this book...so far. I stopped reading because I want to buy the physical book and lie back on the couch in the sun to enjoy it fully without using a screen.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against screens, but this is one I want to leave lying around to pick up when I am ready to savour more of the words.

It grabbed me from the first page, and I already felt so much emotion that I could see that Carlos was on a profound journey. It takes great faith to step out and step back. This book will transform lives and engage those who live with faith and those who don't. I believe it will challenge us because it is already challenging me only a few chapters in.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait to buy myself a copy.

This is a great book! The conversational writing made me feel like I was with the author; I was fully immersed! This was an ARC and I was caught off guard by the heavy emphasis on religion. I was only vaguely familiar with the author and knew part of the book took place in a monastery, so I expected some religious aspects. There’s a huge focus on god and faith. Not a problem for me, just wasn’t expecting it from the synopsis.

The book is split into three sections. The monastery, the Amish and home. The monastery gets the bulk of the focus, and I wish it had been split more evenly with the Amish. I would have liked a bit more information at the end about Carlos’s transition back to real life as it felt quite brief.

Overall enjoyed the book and would recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

5 stars
Reconnected
Carlos Whittaker

I am typically not one for memoir type books, but this is perhaps the best one I have ever read. I loved everything about this book. I had not previously heard of Carlos Whittaker; however, the idea of someone going completely off grid was/is very appealing.
Whittaker removes himself from society by first spending time at a Monastery and an Amish farm. His insights and humor are appealing and fun to read. I am old enough to remember a time without cell phones and cable TV, and I often wish there was a way to go back to that time of true connection with others.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

I was familiar with the author via the Annie F Downs podcast network, That Sounds Fun, but I hadn’t actually listened to his podcast or followed him on social media myself, so I went in to this book sort of blind but thinking, this guy is probably pretty cool.
I loved the premise - figuring out what all our excessive screen time is doing to us via a sort of extreme social experiment on himself. Carlos lives with monks and the Amish, phone free, then spends time with his family at the end of it without his phone too, and journals his way throughout.
The tone is really conversational and has a lot of heart and humor. I found this book quite gripping and was keen to know what was happening next. I have read a few Christian books about unplugging and slowing down but I loved that Carlos took himself out of his own life at such great personal sacrifice in order to write this one.
It definitely spurred me to make some changes in my screen time and family life and I appreciate having the motivation, not from a place of pressure or guilt or hand-wringing (unlike some other well known secular books about screens out there) but from someone who just wanted to improve their own life and recognized they had a problem.
All in all, a fascinating read. I’ll definitely be recommending it.

Fantastic read. Looking forward to the documentary. See my Goodreads review (linked below) for my complete thoughts.

What a timely, meaningful book! Carlos does an excellent job of addressing the major issues with the Digital Age without just regurgitating the data and points that many others are writing. Instead, he tells funny, personal, engaging stories that help flesh out what many are saying about the dangers of technology and the best ways to overcome these problems.

As a pastor, I think this is the perfect book to hand to members of my congregation as we talk about Digital Discipleship.

If you've ever wondered whether your phone is consuming too much of your time and energy, you're not alone. Author and online influencer Carlos Whittaker faced the same concern when he discovered he was spending over seven hours a day on his phone. Curious about the impact this behavior was having on his brain, he decided to disconnect for a while. In Reconnected, Whittaker shares his journey through a couple of weeks without his phone—first at a monastery, then on an Amish farm, and finally with screen-free time at home. Although he admits that his phone usage has returned to nearly pre-experiment levels, his perspective on technology and how he interacts with the world has been profoundly altered. This conversational-style book is easy to read and poses valuable questions that many of us would benefit from considering.

I've been a long-time Instagram follower of Carlos Whitaker, so I was excited to read his newest book -- especially when I saw the topic he was going to be tackling! In "Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human", Whitaker spends weeks with monks in the mountains of California and then weeks with Amish farmers in Ohio to determine what life would be like without his phone. While his time in California was almost boring in its simplicity and solitude, his time in Ohio was filled with constant farm chores and backbreaking physical labor. I was really struck by the following quotes:

"How much is the device you keep in your pocket . . . making God smaller than you want Him to be? . . . Are your screens adding to the greatness of God in your life? Or are they reducing God to a sound bite?"

"Hesitation is a consequence of believing we are in control. When it comes to God, since we have so many answers at our fingertips in Google, we crave more tangible assurance of God and his ways. And when the proof isn't evident and doesn't show up right away, what do we do? We start grasping at control to give us a false sense of safety . . . Waiting for blessed assurance before we take one step toward where we were supposed to be going in faith a long time ago."

I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a good read for anyone! Apparently, he has a documentary coming out that's based on this book and I can't wait to see it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book!! Carlos Whittaker, the author, gives us all a lot to think about as it relates to our smart phones, screens and life in general. I was a little hesitant to pick up this book as I feared it would hit a little too close to home in this screen filled life- but it was very enjoyable to read AND also gave me a lot of really important things to think about.

To be clear, Carlos does not villainize phones or screens. He simply invites us to better understand the impacts screens can have on our lives and relationships and to choose to be more intentional about how we use them. What I’ve learned from this book will stick with me for a long time. I’ve already made some changes in order to bring back more wonder and focus and presence into my life and relationships- with other people and with God. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this important book.

In a world that is wrapped around cell phones and social media there are times we all should take a break from it. With all the bad news in the world why always have it in your face with every notification? The author did a social experiment by living among monks for a few weeks followed by living with the Amish community. Having grown up about half an hour from Arthur, Illinois, which has a large volume of Amish families, I have always wondered what the Amish are like. The reader goes along with the author on his journey. This is a very relatable and at times funny read, Tips on ways to improve being addicted to your phone are also included. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the advance copy for review!

I can be a harsh reviewer on non fiction books. Typically they are too dry and too long.

I liked this book as it was about him trying something out, rather than just thinking about it. Additionally he is witty and funny

My one concern is about the Dr. he saw for brain imaging. It seems reviews for this doctor or mixed and he charges high fees so his services are not accessible it seems. So this part of the book, while I understand its purpose, it feels a bit like a sponsorship or something.

I was so delighted to be approved for an advance reader copy of this book! I've been following Carlos on Instagram for awhile and love his way with words but also his genuine, authenticity for people so the whole premise of this book about connecting with people I knew would be up my alley! It did not disappoint! Carlos spends two weeks with monks at a monastery without his phone, followed by two weeks on an Amish farm, followed by several weeks at home without his device as a social experiment on himself.

I really enjoyed the conversational, authentic tone of this book. Often books like this feel very preachy, but this felt like sitting down with a great storyteller friend sharing about his experiences. I do wish there had been more content around his time at home and what his balance/life has been like since the experiment. But even without an in-depth dive into that time, it was an excellent, thought-provoking read that I'd highly recommend!

5 stars

Carlos is such a great storyteller and this book showcases just that. I found myself saying so true over and over. I laughed out loud so many times because from following him on social media I could just see him in these situations! This book truly was eye opening and was wonderful to read. Thank you Carlos for taking us along with you on this journey.

Thank you to Nelson publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Synopsis: Carlos Whittaker gives up his cell phone and lives a screen free/digital free life for two months.

Thoughts: As a member of the instafamilia, I love everything Carlos does. This book was extremely thought provoking and interesting to hear what going digital does to relationships, health and your life.

Thank you to Carlos Whittaker, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the copy!

Carlos does it again. I do not call myself religious but Carlos has such an amazing way of teaching people how to reconnect to our humanness and each other despite our beliefs. A beautiful read and reminder that everyone needs. No shame about using technology at all but a total approach about whether it is helping our relationships or harming them. Love love 💕

I had high expectations for this book and it 100000% delivered. The premise is fascinating and I was immediately hooked! What I love most about this book and Carlos in general is that what you see is what you get. He is real. He shares real feelings. Its not all sunshine and he is not afraid to be authentic about his hesitations and fears and emotions. This book made me want to throw my phone in the lake and never look back. Side note: I adore Carlos and if you aren’t following him on IG, what are you even doing with your life? Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really good, thought-provoking tale that I really enjoyed. Carlos does a great job of leading the reader to think not just about giving up smart phones (and several times cautions that this is not a book about the dangers of smart phone addictions), but to think more about the ways and reasons technology and smart phones can be used to enhance community in your life.

The many humourous stories of his adjustments to living with monks and the Amish were refreshing and it was easy to get drawn in to Carlos's journey of detaching himself from his phone.

I would have liked to see more of a spiritual theme throughout, but he did mention his faith a few times.

*I received a free digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I enjoyed this book. It was the right amount of funny without distracting from the real issues talked about. It almost read like a novel, which is always a plus in my book when it comes to non-fiction/ memoirs. It was also a practical book - you could easily apply some of the ideas and principles in the book in the real world, without having to go to a monastery or to an Amish farm.

I knew nothing of Carlos Whittaker, but having read the description of Reconnected, I wanted to give the book a try, and I am glad I did! I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, which was a quick read. Carlos spends time with monks, as well as an Amish community, in order to give living life without a cell phone a try. While at each, he is surprised to see many others with cell phones! He forms a greater understanding of himself, sense of community, and of making conscious decisions as to when/how to use his cell phone--which he uses for his source of income, btw.
Many thanks to Nelson Books, NetGalley, and Mr Whittaker for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

As a longtime member of the Instafamilia, I was looking forward to hearing about Carlos Whittaker’s 7 screen free weeks. LosWhit is a great story teller and his stories from his time with the monks and the Amish are very enlightening. Reconnected is jam packed with insights of the benefits of going screen free. I’m looking forward to seeing the documentary.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

There's a real desire to find more connection in the real world vs. the digital one right now, and Carlos Whittaker addresses this with humor. Patrons will be interested in reading about his digital Sabbath.

In RECONNECTED, Carlos Whittaker tells the story of doing what so many of us groan about doing: giving up our screens and on-line angst and making peace with ourselves, then returning to our everyday lives with a fresh perspective on what matters most and how to use our technology as a tool, but being mindful and choiceful in our relationship with it. I felt the power of the desert, of the weaning off a bleating, blurry-visioned world in favor of the present, of embodied living. It was so peaceful, so profound, I was deeply refreshed simply reading of his experience and taking to heart, his stories, I have time-boxed my technology and set new boundaries in my usage. I love his writing and even more the bravery in sharing a tough and rewarding journey. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Wow, I read this book super fast. I have been following Loswhit on instagram for a long time and have read all but one of his books. I knew this one would be interesting because I have always been intrigued by the way Carlos talks about community and human relationships. I even started charging my phone in a different room based on his suggestion last year and it has really impacted my life in a positive way.

This book felt a little bit like a social/psychological experiment which I really enjoyed. I felt like Carlos did a great job covering almost the entire scope of being human by talking about way we can be better with out internal life (solitude, etc) and our external life (friends, family, neighbors). I know I will be referencing his suggestions over the long haul.

My only dislike for the book is how quickly it wrapped up. Carlos spends many chapters unpacking his two weeks with Monks and two weeks with the Amish but the three weeks with his family at the end are pretty short. I would have loved to learn more about the ins and outs of being screen free at home while the rest of his family was going about life as usual.

I could write an entire blog about my feelings on this book but suffice it to say that it was extremely relatable and I feel confident that I can apply the suggestions Carlos provides for getting my screen time under control and being a better human.

Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker is a brilliant book! Carlos shares with the reader his journey of how he understood how much his phone and other electronic screens, took away from his ability to truly "connect" with others and the world. Carlos spent seven weeks with no screens and prior to his experiment, he had a brain scan by a well-renowned neurologist, so he could see how the elimination of screens for the 7 week period would impact his brain in either a positive or negative way. He documented the entire experience through journaling and even took video of certain rare moments, to capture the essence of what he was experiencing and be better able to express this to the reader. This book is filled with wisdom, humor, and so much rich content, and Carlos shares his learnings in a non-judgmental, engaging way.

After getting his brain scan, Carlos spends the first two weeks in near silence in a monastery, the next two weeks with an Amish family in Ohio, and the final three weeks at home. He then returns to have a follow up brain scan to see if there are any measurable differences with his brain, that would correlate to the emotional, spiritual, and mental changes he noticed while being screen-free.

This book is an exceptional read and I highly recommend it to everyone! The audiobook version is great to listen to, as Carlos has such a rich humor and laid back expression when narrating, and many of the moments he describes, such as a bobcat experience in the monastery, will have you laughing out loud!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Reconnected" by Carlos Whittaker. Even though Whittaker has published previous books and has a "Instafamily" of hundreds of thousands, this is my first encounter with his work.
First of all, the premise is so timely. As a teacher who has witnessed students' phone addictions, social media drama, depression, and even online school threats, I appreciate all Whittaker does in his book. Whittaker takes us on a journey of real experiences that involve a monastery and an Amish farm. His low key charm and tone enables the reader to appreciate the different, humorous, and sometimes difficult situations in which he finds himself.
Noteworthy moments are Whittaker's learning to pray five times a day with the monks and eating ninety minute meals with the Amish. Most difficult is silence. I liked how the author entertained with experiences and shared God-centered wisdom.
Thank you, Netgalley, for this inspirational book. Whittaker at one point says, " They were in charge of their phones; their phones were not in charge of them." I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to return to the place of looking up, wondering, and praying instead of Googling.

Wow, this book is life-changing, mind-blowing, perspective-shifting. I loved every moment of reading it, and it stayed with me long after I finished reading it. I recommend to anyone and everyone. The whole world needs this book.

This was really good! Thought provoking, challenging, and practical. I would have liked to have read more about when he re-entered the world without his phone and then with his phone to see the difference (however, as a part of the Instafamilia, I have noticed the difference). That being said, I really enjoyed reading about his experiences with the monks and the Amish. The things that he learned are things that I needed to learn as well. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book! Carlos Whittaker writes with depth, authenticity, and laugh-out-loud humor. In this book, he documents his experiment with screen-free living in a story like way that draws in the reader in a captivating and non-judgmental way. I loved the insights and simple applications he suggests at the end of each chapter. I’ve already recommended this book to others—so good!

This book was a good reminder of what we already know about technology. It was delivered in a slightly different way that at the end seems more balanced. The perspective from people who we have possibly wrongly put in boxes that don't fit was a great way to further highlight the differences and similarities of all humans. It helps to point to the best in us without ignoring some of the worst that we need to work on. Overall, a nicely written book that was an easy read since the stories were told in an interesting way.