Books that will change the way you think about your relationship with the internet
Consider this your required reading list.
For a long time, I knew in my gut that I wanted to change my relationship with the Internet and my phone. I’ve been ruminating on the subject for years. Despite this, it took me reading a few books on the subject to really open up my mind, change my perspective, and start to create some action.
Maybe it’s the validation of someone else telling you what you’re feeling is real or starting to understand the emotions you’re having in a more scientific and academic way, but I’ve found that educating myself in this space was a vital first step to making real change.
Whether you like to read a physical book, an e-book, or audiobook, these books can change your perspective and shift you into a mindset that is ready to take on the next steps in your digital journey.
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
Only have the time to read one book from this list? Make it this one. I found Stolen Focus to be one of the best books I’ve read all year. Hari does an incredible job of taking you on his own journey fighting an unhealthy relationship with technology while also explaining how we even got to this place in the first place (we, being the unassuming technology users). He breaks down the why behind our behavior shift of the last two decades and expands on the technology systems that were built (and continue to evolve) to suck us in and keep us there. It’s a book I think of and reference in my own writings often.
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Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
Dopamine Nation is one of those books I had heard about for years and felt I “got the gist of” by listening to Lembke speak on a few podcasts. When I started on this journey though, I decided to pick it up to help give myself a better understanding of what’s actually going on in my brain when I’m consuming digital media. Instead of merely giving me a dopamine primer, this book reshaped my path and completely reshifted the way I think about my actions.
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Atomic Habits by James Clear
A classic in the self-help space, you might have already read it, but you have definitely heard of Atomic Habits. Every chapter somehow contains life changing advice. His way of breaking down habits sounds simple at first, but put into practice will completely shift your way of thinking. Here’s the thing about changing your relationship with technology: you have to show up every day, you have to stay motivated. Clear gives you tangible advice to keep you on the right path. And who knows, maybe you can apply his advice to other parts of your life too.
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Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Cal Newport, of Deep Work fame, pieces together a unique perspective in this space. To start, before embarking on this project, he didn’t even have social media. I’ll be honest, it was hard for this to not be a bit of a turn-off at first. He has a unique approach though, he recommends a whole digital minimalism philosophy – changing your way of thinking and your values to align with the ethos. The book was more, dare I say, intellectual than what I was expecting – philosophy has never been my thing (read: it’s over my head) – but he does outline some practical, straight-forward advice for really reshifting your habits and creating a lifestyle that supports what I believe in.
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The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
If you have children, chances are you’ve heard of or read this book already. It’s been a huge focus of a lot of parent groups and discussions that I have been a part of. Personally, I enjoyed reading this book with a unique lens: how can we apply this same mindset to adulthood? The data and statistics surrounding the effects of a tech-centered childhood are staggering. I was lucky to be part of the “last generation” before iPhones (they were released my senior year of high school, and I didn’t get one until well into college). Yet, I still relate to the same feelings that the adolescents report in this book. It’s imperative we allow our children to grow up with limited tech, but I don’t think the “buck stops” at 18.
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Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter
Michael Easter runs one of the top newsletters on Substack, The Two Percent, so he’s likely no stranger to you. In Scarcity Brain, he breaks down the innate human nature to crave more. This craving is at the core of our relationships with our phones – we want more likes, we want more content, we want more information, we want more things. It’s vital to understand this piece of our human wiring, and even better he breaks down practical tips for how to break free from the “scarcity loop” and find satisfaction with less. In this case, less truly is more.
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Hi reader. In the coming weeks, I’m launching a new reader Q&A series. If you have a question about digital minimalism or starting your own journey to break free from the internet, shoot me a message at the link below.
Great list. Id also recommend how to break up with your phone by Catherine Price. She has a Substack and has a lot of good info on this.
Stolen Focus was so good! A definite must-read ✨