iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us

by Larry D. Rosen

Based on decades of research on the social impact of technology, Dr. Larry Rosen offers clear, down-to-earth explanations for why many of us are suffering from an "iDisorder." Rosen offers solid, proven strategies to help us overcome the iDisorder we all feel in our lives while still making use of all that technology offers. Our world is not going to change, and technology will continue to penetrate society even deeper leaving us little chance to react to the seemingly daily additions to our lives. Rosen teaches us how to stay human in an increasingly technological world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Technology, Sociology, Health, Self Help, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Dr. Rosen is Professor Emeritus and Past Chair of the Psychology Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He is a research psychologist, computer educator, keynote speaker and is recognized as an international expert in the “Psychology of Technology”

Reviews

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book 10 years after it was written. When it came out it was probably thought to be a book that predicted a very dark future. Well, here it is 2021 and it is all pretty much as bad as he predicted. Worse so. We really know all his information to be true but now it is just so accepted. People need to get off their phones and spend a little time thinking!

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another attempt to try to stretch a short anecdotal essay into a full fledged book.

Just typing, cutting and pasting and voila you got a book.

[Steve H · Rating 3 out of 5]

My expectations didn't match my experience with this book. It was informative and raised a number of issues, but I'm not sure I now understand our obsession with technology, the way the subtitle promises. I was hoping we'd have some explanation of "why" we behave a certain way or an answer to "does this technology cause that?" However, the book deals with relationships and correlations. So, there's no proof that technology is doing this and such, but people who have a certain mental issue may use technology more. In many of the chapters there's no certainty that technology makes people angry/depressed/unfocused. It could be that people who are angry/depressed/unfocused just use technology more.

This is probably a better book to experience in print. There are a lot of tables, lists, and evaluations. The evaluations and some of the tables are available in a PDF on one of the discs (not useful when driving), but the lists are tedious to listen to. And, call me pedantic, but the narrator's choice to read abbreviations as abbreviations rather than what the abbreviations stand for, e.g. reading "FB" as "eff bee" and "e.g." as "eee jee" wore on my nerves. (If you read "eee gee" to yourself, it means "for example" in English. As I said, call me pedantic. "FB" stands for Facebook.)

Overall, though, it did provide some food for thought as well as caused an awareness of my technology use and some patterns I will try to avoid, such as using flickering screens too frequently (like now?) or within an hour or two of trying to sleep.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative & explains why a lot of society seems to be walking around with their heads up their butt.

[Peter Galamaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the sources for this book is quoted as follows: "What I’ve been doing over the last few months is attempting to convince people that we’re facing an issue that’s as important and unprecedented as climate change. And I call it ‘mind change’ because I think there’s certain parallels."

I would tend to agree.

This book outlines the impact that the heavy use of technology is having on people - and it isn't good.

Dr. Rosen doesn't propose the impossible - to get rid of it entirely. However, he advocates increased self-awareness of one's own habits. Most importantly, he provides a roadmap to parents and educators (now the last generation to know life before the Internet and cell phones) for helping young people develop healthy tech habits.

The book spends a great deal of time on a few types of psychological disorders - narcissism, lack of empathy, sexual dysfunction, eating/body perception disorders, depression, mania, ADD/ADHD etc. Dr. Rosen explains how most people deal with some of these issues to varying degrees throughout their lifetimes and mostly with no serious problems. However, when one throws Internet/tech into the mix, these conditions are exacerbated - and to a dangerous degree for some and at least detrimental to most.

[Crystal EVHS Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book that talks about the social media addictions with today's teens. There's many things that I didn't know about and this book has opened my eyes to this.

[Ilib4kids · Rating 2 out of 5]

303.483 ROS
My review: this book discusses iDisorder, such as narcissism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addition, depression, ADHD, social phobia, hypochondriasis, body dysmorphic disorder, schizo disordres and voyeurism caused by computer usage.

Baby Boomers, Gen Xers(1965-1979), Net Generation(1080-1989), iGeneration(1990-1998)

Laptop ---> Netbook(light weight Laptop) --- > smartphone --->Tablet, e-reader -- > iPod, followed by iPod Touch, about music

Chap 2 Media start with "me": my words - Narcissism problem
NPD: Narcissistic personality disorder
NPI: Narcissistic personality Inventory (a psychological tests)
Uses and gratifications Theory,
Social Capital Theory (boding social capital, maintaining social capital, bridging social capital)
Attention Restoration theory: return to nature.
meformer(talking about self) vs. informer(share information)

Chap 3 Obsessively checking in with your technology ... 24/7 - my words: technology addicts.

Chap 4 Getting high on technology: hooked on smartphones, social networking and texting
sensation-seeking, Harm avoidance(disinhibition), and reward dependence lead to addition

chap 5 The Ups and Downs of leading a cyberlife: my words: facebook depression
3 disorders: depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder

Chap 6: my words: ADHD problem.
p113 If a child's brain gets habituated to that pace and to the extreme alertness needed to keep responding and winning, the child ultimately may find the realities of world underwhelming, understimulating.

Chap 8: My words: hypochondriasis problem.
Chap 9: My words: eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa.
Social Identity theory, Social Learning theory
Chap 10: My words: schizo problem.
Schizoid disorder(emotional coldness, extreme social withdrawal), schizotypal disorder (magical thinking)
Chap 11: My words: social voyeurism problem.

Chap 12: my words: how to build healthy brain
1)Resetting our brain: take a short break away from computer use, like walk, etc
2)Avoid multi-tasking (which just rapid task switches)

Terms:
WMD: wireless mobile device
MUDs: multi-user domains
OCD: obsessive compulsive disorder
FOMO: fear of missing out
ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
BDD: body dysmorphic disorder
MBI: Mauchausen by Interent
Google Effects.
Dunbar's number: a person can only maintain between 100 and 200 stable relationship online and offline worlds.

iDisorder -- my summary
1. disinhibition: means people speak more mean, harsh online
2. Facebook depression: defined as depression that develops when preteens and teems spend a great deal of time on social media sites. p76

Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet by Sherry Turkle (landmark book)
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life By Goffman, Erving (famous book)
How to Train a Wild Elephant: And Other Adventures in Mindfulness
by Jan Chozen Bays ( Mindfulness training)

[Timothy Kisare · Rating 4 out of 5]

iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us
By: Larry D. Rosen
256 pages
Non-Fiction

This book was about emotional, psychological disorders that can be caused or be worsen by the overuse of modern technology. This book talked about many kinds of personality disorders, such as a disorder that you always think you have a disease, or a disorder that you are the most significant existing human on Earth ( Narcissism ). It goes in depth though each disorder and describes symptoms of it and how to prevent it with nice looking graphs occasionally. It also gives a example of a person that has that disease and describes what kind of life that person lives and how he/she most likely got that personal disorder.

I thought this was a very good book. I was able to understand the concepts and the main idea of each idea of each chapter and the charts and graphs in each chapter helped me to understand it. There were also quotes from either someone who had the disorder or someone who was close to a person who had the disorder. Those quotes helped me understand what people thought when they had the disease or they knew someone who had the disease. Although I thought this was a very nice book, there is a reason why I rated it four stars instead of five. The reason is, the book was kind of choppy and the chapters ended suddenly. Although they explained the disorder, they didn't really wrap it up. Overall, I thought it was a nice book with lots of scientific facts.(less)

[Candy Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's it the internet and electronics are EVIL. EVIL I SAY. Just kidding, electronics are not evil they just make humans lazy.

Actually I really enjoyed this book. I was able to relate to some of the the theories and oddly enough they made sense. The lessons that this book provides gives you insight. There are quizzes and tables to see how bad you are with always gaming or texting. I now will practice a few of the techniques he offered in this book. No longer will I have a cell phone on the table. No longer will I answer a text will having a face to face chat with friends and family. No longer will I have any games on my cellphone. I will make sure that I spend time in nature and with real life.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but pretty dense to read and more detailed than I needed. The book shows how too much technology can aggeavate and even cause a variety of psycological disorders. The take-home poinrs I got out of it are don't be glued to your technology, limit use and take breaks, avoid multitasking, and spend time in nature.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a number of useful points that helped me, and when I shared it with others, they were interested, too. In summary, I would say the book is good at helping someone identify an iDisorder, but there was not really much recovery-related material. What there was felt like unproved advice or speculation about what might help.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

NY Times liked this book also. They summarize it better than I could & I agree with their review!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/bus...

[Sandie]

Too much explanation of why technology feeds into our weaknesses and not a lot of general information on how to deal with our obsession with technology. Didn't actually finish as it was too long drawn out.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 2 out of 5]

1/5 a study of the obvious, 1/5 hyperbole, 1/5 facile advice for dealing with addictions and disorders that probably require psychiatric counsel, 1/5 interesting and/or useful tidbits, and 1/5 repetition. More or less.

[jaleninalemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us / Larry D. Rosen..

http://bit.ly/idisorder
https://jaleninalemi.wordpress.com/20...

Aslında çok ama çok uzun zamandır sırasını bekleyen bir kitaptı. İlk çıktığında görmüş fakat ancak 2 sene önce almıştı. Tam bu yaz okumaya başladığımda da uzun bir ara vermek durumunda kalınca kısmet şimdiye oldu.

Kitap güzel miydi ye geçecek olursam yorumum, son kertede iyi bir kitap olduğu şeklinde. Çünkü başlarda biraz zorlandım. Öyle ki biraz fazla akademik dille yazılmış olduğu için. Ee tabii yazar PhD olunca hâliyle alışkanlıklarından ötürü böyle yazmıştır 😉 (Tecrübeyle sabit! :/ ). Ben bir ders kitabı gibi okumadığım, daha doğrusu o amaçla, güdüyle satın almadığım için biraz sıkıldım dilinden. Özellikle de başlarda. Çok fazla dipnot ve sayısal analiz rahatsız etti. Ancak sonra kitaba kaptırınca, hem diline alışınca hem de konu iyice sarınca (kendimden şeyler bulunca) sanırım o kısımlar daha az rahatsız edici gelmeye başladı. Onu da söyleyim.

Demem o ki siz de içinde bulunduğumuz teknolojik yoğunluğu anlayabilme adına okumaya karar verirseniz, başlarda hafif sıkılırsanız bırakmayın kitabı. Az sabredin açılıyor (Windows gibi sonradan :p ).

IMG_4349

Genel anlamda kitap, çok güzel bir düzen içerisinde teknolojik aletlerle olan bağımlılık ilişkilerini ana başlıklar hâlinde kategorize ediyor; ayrı ayrı hepsine değinip hem sebeplerini hem gelişimini veriyor, hem artık bir ‘disorder’ olarak rahatsızlık seviyesinde olan durumlar için çok güzel çözüm önerileri sunuyor. Aralara çok güzel mini testler koyarak hem kendimizdeki seviyeyi birebir öğrenmemizi sağlıyor, hem de çok bildik yaşamdan örnekler üzerinden çok güzel analiz ediyor.

idisorder 208-209

Bu arada çok manidar bir şekilde, tam dijital detoks yapayım diye düşünmeye başladığım bir dönemde sırası geldi ve okumaya başladım; tam okumaya başladım, kendiliğinden hayat bana sanırım iki ay falan bir dijital detoks yaptırdı! Çok enteresan.



Sonuç olarak, bazı örnekleri bir tık eskimiş olsa da (hem benim çok geç okumamdan kaynaklı olarak, çünkü sonuçta basım tarihi eski; hem de teknolojinin dehşet hızı nedeniyle ki hiçbir kitabın o hızı yakalaması mümkün değil kanaatindeyim) bunun saydığım sebeplerden ötürü bir negatiflik olmadığını düşünüyorum, instagram ve bloglarla haşır neşir bir kitle olarak okumamız gereken bir kitap olduğuna inanıyorum. Şahsen kendimin de bir noktada kendi çapımda tespit ettiğim hem olumlu hem olumsuz birkaç durumun bilimsel olarak da ortaya konabilen ve konan gerçekler olduğunu görmek bayağı bir şaşırtıcı oldu.

IMG_4351

Son olarak kitapta yer alan ve dikkatimi çeken birkaç anekdotu, bilgiyi ve ifadeyi de sizlerle paylaşmak isterim:

For minimal time and cost, the Internet in general and social networks in particular allow us to correspond with others who share our interests, meet people we would never otherwise meet, download entertaining software such as games, and keep in touch with friends. Psychologically, we benefit: We gain a feeling of status and trendiness, we are taken seriously and listened to, we can manipulate our online profile to suit our needs, and we are allowed to go on and on about interests that our physical family and friends might find very boring. [s. 71]
Negative feelings and thoughts are not just associated with low self-esteem but also with other mental disorders. Depression and social anxiety might also be involved, especially as they are associated with disordered thoughts. Other conditions that can lead to negative thoughts include poor social skills and being lonely. Addictive substances, in this case technology, the Internet, and smartphones, provide, for many, an escape from these distressing thoughts. [s. 73]
There are other possible factors influencing the development of addiction, too. For example, Dr. Young noted that negative life events—such as job dissatisfaction, medical illness, unemployment, and academic instability—could trigger addiction. The rewarding qualities of the Internet and the anonymity of being online could help these individuals avoid their suffering and dull their pain. [s. 73]
However. the research is now showing that technology may act as a trigger to induce these mood swings. This is the precise definition of an iDisorder. [s. 78]
In essence they showed that online social interactions have the same qualities as real-world interactions. More negative interactions thought about more often are more likely to evoke depressive symptoms regardless of whether it is face to face or on Facebook. [s. 86]
idisorder 212-213

Further, Holleran examined the exact words used in the status updates and found that more depressed people used fewer positive emotion words, more death-related words, more religious words, more metaphysical words (e.g., faith, moral), more swear words, and more negative emotion words (e.g., worthless, sad). [s. 87]
Social compensation… People who are on social networks have more close friends and get more social support than those who are not on social networks. [s. 97]
“liked” a post is the new millennial way of saying “I am thinking of you,” and all together the posts and ‘likes’ made her/him feel supported. [s. 99]
We live in a plugged-in-world. [s. 105]
Preoccupied with communicating in the cyber world, withdrawing into their own “TechnoCocoons”. [s. 124]
Uses and Gratifications Theory says people choose to use certain media or technology because those systems and their content match their feelings, desires, values, or beliefs. [s. 148]
Electronic voyeurism (e.g. the negative consequences of employers searching for the posted personal information) [s. 187]
The researchers found that (a) one of the two main motivations for reading blogs was voyeurism, with users higher in voyeuristic intentions being more likely to read other people’s blogs. (b) The other main motivation for reading and posting blogs was impression management, which is people’s desire to present a coherent and meaningful representation of themselves online that might or might not match their personality offline. [s. 191]
Face it: We are connected and we have created a cyber world that requires us to be connected. [s. 207]
How do you know if you need a tech break?
Just notice how long you are able to focus on a single task before switching 0 another and note what tasks appear to draw your attention more strongly. Consider the obvious distractions: smartphones, laptops or desktops, television, and music, and pay close attention to when you are humming along with a song as you are supposed to be focusing on a task or glancing at the laptop to check your e-mail. If any of these are distracting, turn them off, remove them from your sight, and give yourself a tech break every 15 minutes. Do know that the older you are the more likely you are to be distracted by those chimes and flashing reminders. But then again, if you are younger you may not have your prefrontal cortex completely myelinated and you may be at risk for distractions, also. [s. 210]

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fully expected this book to be terrible, judging by the star rating, but it actually wasn't that bad. It is always strange reading something about technology which is now eight years old, as I think that in many ways things have got worse rather than better, but there is definitely still a lot of relevance in this book.

Although many of us are intuitively aware that our obsession with technology is probably not healthy, this book actually gives psychological voice to that. Using known psychological disorders as laid out in the DSM4, the author identifies how technology is exacerbating many of them, or encouraging or enhancing them in a way which is apparently completely acceptable.

There are chapters on narcissism (which I think is even worse today than ever - this was written before Instagram was even a thing), OCD, schizoid behaviours, net-driven hypochondria and Munchausens by Internet among others. I found the chapters were well argued and backed up with a ton of academic evidence.

The author is at pains to assure us that he is not anti-technology. He also offers some practical solutions to try to combat the onset of some of these disorders. Will reading this book change anyone's habits? I suspect not, but at least one can gain awareness as technology infiltrates every moment of our lives.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduces some potential psychological benefits and dangers of technology to non-experts. Each chapter in this book counterposes a mental illness (or illnesses) with a trend in technology. For example, one chapter talks about how technology (social media, message boards) can be used to overcome social isolation or exacerbate it. Since these are research-based issues, I often found myself wondering how research had changed since the book was published in 2012. Some assertions--like "first person shooter games increase aggression"--were not exhaustively backed nor the study methods closely interrogated. Still, this was an easy and thought-provoking read, although those already familiar with the DSM may find parts of it redundant with their existing knowledge.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read other books on this concept that are way better than this one. Nothing new here. Obviously technology isn't all good and this book doesn't present it in an exciting or fun way. Dry, boring and repeative.

Check out a book titled "Glow Kids" similar concept but just an all around better book. There are other books as well with same or similar ideas but just a better book. If you want to learn about the dangers of technology look elsewhere.

Also idk why this book seems outdated when it isn't that old. Wait this book was published in 2012?? Why does it seem like it is from the 90s. I read older books like Sherri Terkels that seem less outdated than this one.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am one of the remaining members of the world population who have neither a smartphone, tablet, or a laptop computer. I used to before my car accident; however, life changed.

Larry Rosen explores in iDisorder in several fascinating charts and diagrams how the world has changed. Please follow his journey. I used to be fascinated by all of this before my fun romp with neurology, and the memory of that joy kept me from disliking this altogether.

The imagery on the cover is fascinating. I wonder who from Letra Libre Inc. came up with that design.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5; I thought the research was there and many of the points were excellent, but much of his advice on how to deal with the problem felt like it would be in the ideal world or sounds very structured. One example is talking to your children about technology; I would hope that the flow would be more natural. I did appreciate the ideas though and might tweak them. Good ideas though and very much worth the read.

[Natasha Schmidt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Purchased based on a recommedation. I was put of by the dry writing. I am a school counselor and am familiar with DSM5 diagnosis. Disappointed.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting but also very repetitive.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every single chapter will convince you that you have a diagnosable disorder. Thankfully, the book offers tools in the form of assessments and tips to curb your burgeoning iDisorders.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This gets a DNF from me. It reads so old-fashioned with its 2012 publication date. I wasn't getting new info and felt I was being preached to. Opted to save time and not finish.

[Emma Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gives a lot of good things to think through/ warnings about the overuse of technology.

[Gaylord Dold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosen, Larry D. iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming its Hold on Us. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2012 (256pp.$25)

No matter where we go---to a restaurant, a movie, a public restroom, and yes, even a funeral, people are seen clutching and using a slim device that allows them to do just about anything they can do from an Internet-enabled computer at home. Who hasn’t attended a so-called business meeting during which every person is staring at a MacBookPro and talking on a cell phone simultaneously (while someone else plays a Power-Point)?

Called a “wireless mobile device” (WMD---how ironic is that?), this object has for many become an obsession, something they check endlessly regardless of where they are or who they are with.

These obsessed zombies think nothing of fondling their device (like a rosary or Arabic worry beads) or sending a text while “conversing” with another person. Not only have the hitherto common rules of etiquette and privacy gone out the window, but WMDs have become a danger to individual psychical and emotional health. Even more than that, these devices threaten the safety of roads, intrude into the focus of study, destroy meetings at work and dominate home life.

Rosen, a noted research psychologist and author of “Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way they Learn” brings together a wealth of new research (some of which he’s done himself with colleagues) to examine the over-reliance on gadgets and websites that can produce or mimic common psychological maladies like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, narcissistic personality disorder, body dysmorphism, voyeurism and addiction.

Who can’t be impressed by the objective similarity of Facebook rants and constant message checking (and the concomitant feelings of anxiety) that go with perpetual enslavement to WMDs? In sa study Rosen conducted of more than 750 WMD-obsessed individuals in 2011, he found clear links between the screen technology and a person’s poor emotional health.

For example, cognitive psychologists have derived theoretical explanations for the link between media and depression, a link somehow related (though the cause is in dispute) to continual “relationships” with disembodied people who exist only behind a screen.

And the similarity of ADHD symptoms to those of a person who tries to “multi-task” while clutching a mini-screen is obvious---careless mistakes in homework, work and driving, trouble with attention, failing to follow instructions, being easily distracted, forgetting hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Studies on focused attention show that even experienced computer users are distracted while trying to read online or in hypertext documents. Other detriments: poor sleep patterns, information overload, lack of depth in materials read, and overuse of caffeine. Result: WMDS are changing the neuron circuits in our brains and making us crazy.

This useful book compares screen-technology overuse with classic symptoms of mental illness and gives practical tips on how to reduce one’s reliance, addiction or obsession. It also makes practical suggestions on improving sleep, physical fitness, mindfulness and quality of life, most of which have to do with re-connecting to nature and other people. But really, one doesn’t have to be a Ph.D. to know that talking on a cellphone during a funeral (or while in a public restroom) is sick.

Our job is clear---revere the natural world and clear our heads, walk outside a lot, turn off all the screens around you, read a book, meditate, have dinner with friends, drive quietly with the windows down, meditate like a Zen monk, make love frequently and groom the dog. Go hear a string quartet. Get out of town and study the night sky. Take the iPod out of your ears and listen to the wind in the trees. Look people in the eye when they’re talking to you.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the book has important concepts (that of addiction to technology), it was not an enjoyable read. I had trouble reading this one.
Perhaps I will re-read it in the future to see if my mind is changed.
(DNF but I nearly read the whole book).

[Melina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and though provoking. Isn't as solution focused as I had hoped, focuses more on diagnoses and symptom presentation.

[Riki H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us
Larry D. Rosen
256 pages
Non-Fiction

This book was about emotional, psychological disorders that can be caused or be worsen by the overuse of modern technology. This book talked about many kinds of personality disorders, such as a disorder that you always think you have a disease, or a disorder that you are the most significant existing human on Earth ( Narcissism ). It goes in depth though each disorder and describes symptoms of it and how to prevent it with nice looking graphs occasionally. It also gives a example of a person that has that disease and describes what kind of life that person lives and how he/she most likely got that personal disorder.

I thought this was a very good book. I was able to understand the concepts and the main idea of each idea of each chapter and the charts and graphs in each chapter helped me to understand it. There were also quotes from either someone who had the disorder or someone who was close to a person who had the disorder. Those quotes helped me understand what people thought when they had the disease or they knew someone who had the disease. Although I thought this was a very nice book, there is a reason why I rated it four stars instead of five. The reason is, the book was kind of choppy and the chapters ended suddenly. Although they explained the disorder, they didn't really wrap it up. Overall, I thought it was a nice book with lots of scientific facts.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, with the ubiquitousness of television, computer games, tablets and smart phones, most people in the developed world are using electronic devices almost continuously. This book shows how obsessive use of technology has created a society of people who behave as if they were mentally ill. Most people would not like to think of themselves that way, but just think - if you continually check Facebook and other social media, can't bear to be without your phone, ignore others at social gatherings by surfing the web, drive while texting, keep changing your online profile pictures, use computers to avoid people, look up medical advice online, play computer games all the time, or enjoy reading celebrity gossip a bit too much, then you might have an iDisorder. The evidence is overwhelming: there is no question that interacting with electronic devices changes our behaviour and changes our brain structures, and that their overuse causes serious problems. A qualified psychologist, Dr Rosen does not suggest getting rid of technology. He uses it himself and knows it's here to stay. But he does suggest some helpful strategies in limiting its use in order to promote better mental and physical health. I was a little disappointed that this book was so short, especially as it seemed to barely touch on some topics, but maybe that's for the best. With shortening attention spans, it's more likely that people will read a shorter book. And for the sake of their physical and mental health, everybody using a computer should read it.