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The Digital Invasion: How Technology Is Shaping You And Your Relationships
Drawing on psychological and neuroscience research, the authors reveal the shaping effects of digital technology, equipping readers and their families with a balanced faith-based approach.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
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343 people want to read
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July 31, 2013
Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.
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If you’re concerned about how digital technology is affecting your life, you should read The Digital Invasion: How Technology Is Shaping You and Your Relationships. In this book, you'll discover that few people take breaks from their digital devices and that technology use causes relationship conflicts. It's well-written by father-daughter authors, Drs. Archibald Hart and Sylvia Frejd. Having professional skills in the topic, Hart is a psychology professor and Frejd is certified in Internet addiction.
While there are advantages to technology, there are disadvantages too. With an increase in communications capabilities, people are losing the ability to connect face-to-face, along with their interpersonal communication skills. Furthermore, people are becoming shallower, while losing their ability to focus and concentrate. On the extreme side, many people are becoming addicted to digital programs, such as Facebook and texting.
As people become immersed in social media, they’re becoming more “ narcissistic ”. This is because they’re becoming more pre-occupied with themselves and what they do as they post stuff about themselves more and more. As an example, many people easily choose when and what to post on Facebook, totally unmindful to how it would affect others. As I’ve said long before reading this book, “ dominate technology; do not let it dominate you ”. Besides telling us about the problems of digital systems, the authors provide us sound recommendations, peppered with their Christian beliefs, to reverse the trend to leave the " virtual " world and begin living in the " real " world.
The useful guide for parents and teachers is The Digital Invasion. This book addresses the mental health, social, and spiritual consequences of technology, while helping you develop lasting and more meaningful relationships and personal growth.
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If you’re concerned about how digital technology is affecting your life, you should read The Digital Invasion: How Technology Is Shaping You and Your Relationships. In this book, you'll discover that few people take breaks from their digital devices and that technology use causes relationship conflicts. It's well-written by father-daughter authors, Drs. Archibald Hart and Sylvia Frejd. Having professional skills in the topic, Hart is a psychology professor and Frejd is certified in Internet addiction.
While there are advantages to technology, there are disadvantages too. With an increase in communications capabilities, people are losing the ability to connect face-to-face, along with their interpersonal communication skills. Furthermore, people are becoming shallower, while losing their ability to focus and concentrate. On the extreme side, many people are becoming addicted to digital programs, such as Facebook and texting.
As people become immersed in social media, they’re becoming more “ narcissistic ”. This is because they’re becoming more pre-occupied with themselves and what they do as they post stuff about themselves more and more. As an example, many people easily choose when and what to post on Facebook, totally unmindful to how it would affect others. As I’ve said long before reading this book, “ dominate technology; do not let it dominate you ”. Besides telling us about the problems of digital systems, the authors provide us sound recommendations, peppered with their Christian beliefs, to reverse the trend to leave the " virtual " world and begin living in the " real " world.
The useful guide for parents and teachers is The Digital Invasion. This book addresses the mental health, social, and spiritual consequences of technology, while helping you develop lasting and more meaningful relationships and personal growth.
August 11, 2013
This book had some great insights and warnings about our "digital" culture. I would recommend this to anyone, especially parents and teachers. I'm going to buy my own copy so if you live in Denver and want to borrow it, let me know. ;)
July 26, 2015
A must read for today's parents. Here are a few highlights from each chapter:
Chapter 1 – A Brave New World?
Digital Immigrants – Those born before the advent of digital technology
3 Types - Avoiders, Reluctant Adopters, Enthusiastic Adopters
Digital Natives – Those born after the advent of digital technology
3 Types - Avoiders, Minimalists, Enthusiastic Participants
Parents need to know when “Enough is enough,” as far as digital usage goes. If your children complain they “are bored,” help them remedy their boredom by playing an outdoor game with them. Yes, we mean with them! Years later you will hear them tell your grandchildren about the games they used to play with you on the lawn or in the park.
Chapter 2 – Awaken to Your Relationship with Technology
There are researchers who believe that life in the digital world is causing us to lose our depth of thinking, contemplating, feeling, and emotions, as well as depth in our relationships and work.
Many employees of giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo, Hewlett-Packard and Ebay are sending their children to a nine-classroom school where technology is totally omitted. This new brand of schools that offers “non computer based education is called “Waldorf Schools.”
Church leaders and pastors need to step to the front of the line and take the lead in guiding our ethical and moral use of the internet.
Chapter 3 – The Rewiring of Our Brains
While the brains of today’s Digital Natives are wiring up for rapid-fire cyber searches, the neural circuits that control the more traditional learning methods are neglected and gradually diminished. The pathway for human interaction and communication weaken as customary one-on-one people skills atrophy. (Dr. Gary Small)
The region of the brain that provides the sensation of pleasure is a system that rewards certain behaviors, which are good, so that you will repeat them. But if the pleasure system is overused, the experience of the pleasure is diminished. You are then driven to seek a higher level of stimulation. Overloading the pleasure system gradually raises the bar so that you have to increase the level of stimulation to maintain the pleasure. This is the basic cause of all addictions. How can we prevent our digital world from causing these addictions? By giving our pleasure system regular breaks in order to restore its balance. If the brain does not get some down time, it cannot function as it should.
We are only really thinking when our brain is idle. It can’t do much thinking when other demands take precedence. Unlike the idling engine of your car that is not achieving anything or going anywhere when the car is stopped, an idling brain is hard at work. A brain at rest is a thinking brain.
Chapter 4 – The Multitasking Myth
There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you but one thing at once, but there is not enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time. (Lord Chesterfield – 1747)
Wherever one turns, the rallying cry in education, business and industry is multitask, but we know of no researcher in this field who applauds multitasking. Several studies of multitasking have found it to be significantly less productive than its alternative, called sequential thinking. A 2005 study found that workers distracted by emails or phone calls suffered from a fall in their IQ level by 10 points, twice as much as found in marijuana smokers.
There has to be a transition from youthful distraction to mature attention in everyone’s life. As a child matures, he or she has to learn how to stay focused and pay attention, and this only happens through disciplined training. The distraction of trying to perform two or more tasks simultaneously can lead to a condition called “Attention Deficit Trait” and it may partially account for the ADD epidemic we are now seeing among children.
Chapter 5 – Relationships and Social Media
One of the major drawbacks of our overuse of social media is that it fosters the growth of narcissism. Narcissists are preoccupied with themselves and are obsessed with what others think of them. The extreme use of social media does not promote more concern or care for others. Rather, it facilitates a focusing on oneself, seeing oneself as the center of the universe.
Social networking can be a valuable tool for building and maintaining relationships you have already formed, especially if you have friends and family far away. But it is not a satisfactory substitute for real, in person relationships. I like to tell people they don’t have 500 Facebook friends, they have 500 Facbook “contacts.” There is a big difference!
“Facebook Addiction Disorder” (FAD) is a condition that is defined by long hours on Facebook, so much time that the healthy balance of one’s life is affected. It is estimated that 350 million people are now suffering from this disorder. According to Psychology Today, Facebook and Twitter are more addictive than tobacco and alcohol.
You are much more interesting than your profile, much more attractive than your pics. So get off Facebook and enjoy real life with someone in person.
Chapter 6 – More Serious Cyber Problems
Pornography, Cyber-Affairs, Sexting, Cyberstalking, Cyberbullying, Internet Gambling, Internet Video Gaming Addiction
The greatest threat to the body of Christ, to the church, to families, and to the individual Christian is the pervasive, destructive pornography available through the internet. (Josh McDowell)
The digital world substitutes itself for reality and allows the creation of “virtue worlds” where you can build an avatar (a computer-generated false ego) or substitute an imaginary social life. What we need is a digital world that can help us engage in reality and thrive. Our “first life,” lived to the fullest, is still the best life.
Chapter 7 – Overcoming Digital Addictions
I had a life once… now I have a computer.
Symptoms of internet addiction:
- A heightened sense of euphoria whenever they are involved in internet activities.
- A general neglect of friends and family with priority given to internet activity.
- Trying to cut back on internet usage but failing to do so.
- Sleep deprivation because of internet usage well into the night.
- Increasingly engaging in denial and dishonesty.
- Withdrawing from real life activities that were once pleasurable.
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression.
The Serenity Prayer – God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
Chapter 8 – Intentional Living in a Digital World
Don’t waste your real life on a virtual life. We must be calculated in what we do if we want to achieve the highest level of well-being and fulfill God’s plan for our lives. Intentional living is about thriving and being responsible for the choices that shape our lives. Unfortunately too many are already living The Pointless Driven Life rather than The Purpose Drive Live.
Some good digital boundaries:
- Don’t check your smartphone until after your morning devotions.
- End your digital day by 9pm.
- Don’t check your phone when having lunch or dinner with a friend.
- Take a digital fast every Sunday.
- No digital gadgets at mealtimes.
- Limit checking emails or texts to once an hour.
- Don’t talk on the phone to virtual people when real people are in front of you.
- Pray daily that God would help you to be a good steward of your virtual life.
Be where your butt is.
Practice the presence of people.
Chapter 9 – A Parent’s Digital Protection Plan
If you want to protect your children from developing an addiction to the digital world, you need to have a very clear plan of action.
The seven-step plan of action to help parents manage their children’s digital usage:
- Lay a foundation of trust (be a good role model).
- Stay informed about the digital world.
- Love enough to set limits on using digital devices.
- Protect your children’s social skills.
- Set up a digital contract.
- Keep the internet safe.
- Stay involved in your children’s digital lives.
Shepherd’s Hill Academy – a Christ-centered and Biblically based residential program and school that serves families of troubled teenagers between the age of 12 & 17. All digital access is removed. Over the years, we’ve discovered that when kids first come, their ability to reason, contemplate, and problem solve is not where it should be. Many come with little ability to think abstractly or objectively. Most are very narcissistic and lack empathy, while some appear to have no conscience whatsoever. Over time their critical, creative, and constructive thinking capabilities begin to return to them as they engage in activities, such as constructive projects, preparing meals, and other problem solving tasks that require those parts of the brain to fire again.
Chapter 10 – Protecting Your “Godspace”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 28:28-30 – The Message)
Scores of Christian believers we have spoken to give this report – “We are running out of time in our daily life, and there is very little left to give to God.”
Idols are anything that become more important to us than God; anything that can absorb our heart and imagination more than God, and that seek to give us what God alone can give. (Timothy Keller)
You must never face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. (L.B. Cowman)
Practice Silence (Sabbath of the mouth) & Solitude (Sabbath of involvement)
Any trial whatever that comes to you can be conquered by silence: go sit in your cell and your cell will teach you everything (St. Poeman in AD 385) (A “cell” was an ancient term for a quiet, private place where one could be alone with God)
Without solitude it is almost impossible to have a spiritual life. (Henri Nouwen)
Let God Love You (Edwina Gately)
Be silent. Be Still. Alone. Empty before God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands. God loves you with an enormous love, and only wants to look upon you with that love. Quiet. Still. Be. Let your God love you.
Chapter 1 – A Brave New World?
Digital Immigrants – Those born before the advent of digital technology
3 Types - Avoiders, Reluctant Adopters, Enthusiastic Adopters
Digital Natives – Those born after the advent of digital technology
3 Types - Avoiders, Minimalists, Enthusiastic Participants
Parents need to know when “Enough is enough,” as far as digital usage goes. If your children complain they “are bored,” help them remedy their boredom by playing an outdoor game with them. Yes, we mean with them! Years later you will hear them tell your grandchildren about the games they used to play with you on the lawn or in the park.
Chapter 2 – Awaken to Your Relationship with Technology
There are researchers who believe that life in the digital world is causing us to lose our depth of thinking, contemplating, feeling, and emotions, as well as depth in our relationships and work.
Many employees of giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo, Hewlett-Packard and Ebay are sending their children to a nine-classroom school where technology is totally omitted. This new brand of schools that offers “non computer based education is called “Waldorf Schools.”
Church leaders and pastors need to step to the front of the line and take the lead in guiding our ethical and moral use of the internet.
Chapter 3 – The Rewiring of Our Brains
While the brains of today’s Digital Natives are wiring up for rapid-fire cyber searches, the neural circuits that control the more traditional learning methods are neglected and gradually diminished. The pathway for human interaction and communication weaken as customary one-on-one people skills atrophy. (Dr. Gary Small)
The region of the brain that provides the sensation of pleasure is a system that rewards certain behaviors, which are good, so that you will repeat them. But if the pleasure system is overused, the experience of the pleasure is diminished. You are then driven to seek a higher level of stimulation. Overloading the pleasure system gradually raises the bar so that you have to increase the level of stimulation to maintain the pleasure. This is the basic cause of all addictions. How can we prevent our digital world from causing these addictions? By giving our pleasure system regular breaks in order to restore its balance. If the brain does not get some down time, it cannot function as it should.
We are only really thinking when our brain is idle. It can’t do much thinking when other demands take precedence. Unlike the idling engine of your car that is not achieving anything or going anywhere when the car is stopped, an idling brain is hard at work. A brain at rest is a thinking brain.
Chapter 4 – The Multitasking Myth
There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you but one thing at once, but there is not enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time. (Lord Chesterfield – 1747)
Wherever one turns, the rallying cry in education, business and industry is multitask, but we know of no researcher in this field who applauds multitasking. Several studies of multitasking have found it to be significantly less productive than its alternative, called sequential thinking. A 2005 study found that workers distracted by emails or phone calls suffered from a fall in their IQ level by 10 points, twice as much as found in marijuana smokers.
There has to be a transition from youthful distraction to mature attention in everyone’s life. As a child matures, he or she has to learn how to stay focused and pay attention, and this only happens through disciplined training. The distraction of trying to perform two or more tasks simultaneously can lead to a condition called “Attention Deficit Trait” and it may partially account for the ADD epidemic we are now seeing among children.
Chapter 5 – Relationships and Social Media
One of the major drawbacks of our overuse of social media is that it fosters the growth of narcissism. Narcissists are preoccupied with themselves and are obsessed with what others think of them. The extreme use of social media does not promote more concern or care for others. Rather, it facilitates a focusing on oneself, seeing oneself as the center of the universe.
Social networking can be a valuable tool for building and maintaining relationships you have already formed, especially if you have friends and family far away. But it is not a satisfactory substitute for real, in person relationships. I like to tell people they don’t have 500 Facebook friends, they have 500 Facbook “contacts.” There is a big difference!
“Facebook Addiction Disorder” (FAD) is a condition that is defined by long hours on Facebook, so much time that the healthy balance of one’s life is affected. It is estimated that 350 million people are now suffering from this disorder. According to Psychology Today, Facebook and Twitter are more addictive than tobacco and alcohol.
You are much more interesting than your profile, much more attractive than your pics. So get off Facebook and enjoy real life with someone in person.
Chapter 6 – More Serious Cyber Problems
Pornography, Cyber-Affairs, Sexting, Cyberstalking, Cyberbullying, Internet Gambling, Internet Video Gaming Addiction
The greatest threat to the body of Christ, to the church, to families, and to the individual Christian is the pervasive, destructive pornography available through the internet. (Josh McDowell)
The digital world substitutes itself for reality and allows the creation of “virtue worlds” where you can build an avatar (a computer-generated false ego) or substitute an imaginary social life. What we need is a digital world that can help us engage in reality and thrive. Our “first life,” lived to the fullest, is still the best life.
Chapter 7 – Overcoming Digital Addictions
I had a life once… now I have a computer.
Symptoms of internet addiction:
- A heightened sense of euphoria whenever they are involved in internet activities.
- A general neglect of friends and family with priority given to internet activity.
- Trying to cut back on internet usage but failing to do so.
- Sleep deprivation because of internet usage well into the night.
- Increasingly engaging in denial and dishonesty.
- Withdrawing from real life activities that were once pleasurable.
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression.
The Serenity Prayer – God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
Chapter 8 – Intentional Living in a Digital World
Don’t waste your real life on a virtual life. We must be calculated in what we do if we want to achieve the highest level of well-being and fulfill God’s plan for our lives. Intentional living is about thriving and being responsible for the choices that shape our lives. Unfortunately too many are already living The Pointless Driven Life rather than The Purpose Drive Live.
Some good digital boundaries:
- Don’t check your smartphone until after your morning devotions.
- End your digital day by 9pm.
- Don’t check your phone when having lunch or dinner with a friend.
- Take a digital fast every Sunday.
- No digital gadgets at mealtimes.
- Limit checking emails or texts to once an hour.
- Don’t talk on the phone to virtual people when real people are in front of you.
- Pray daily that God would help you to be a good steward of your virtual life.
Be where your butt is.
Practice the presence of people.
Chapter 9 – A Parent’s Digital Protection Plan
If you want to protect your children from developing an addiction to the digital world, you need to have a very clear plan of action.
The seven-step plan of action to help parents manage their children’s digital usage:
- Lay a foundation of trust (be a good role model).
- Stay informed about the digital world.
- Love enough to set limits on using digital devices.
- Protect your children’s social skills.
- Set up a digital contract.
- Keep the internet safe.
- Stay involved in your children’s digital lives.
Shepherd’s Hill Academy – a Christ-centered and Biblically based residential program and school that serves families of troubled teenagers between the age of 12 & 17. All digital access is removed. Over the years, we’ve discovered that when kids first come, their ability to reason, contemplate, and problem solve is not where it should be. Many come with little ability to think abstractly or objectively. Most are very narcissistic and lack empathy, while some appear to have no conscience whatsoever. Over time their critical, creative, and constructive thinking capabilities begin to return to them as they engage in activities, such as constructive projects, preparing meals, and other problem solving tasks that require those parts of the brain to fire again.
Chapter 10 – Protecting Your “Godspace”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 28:28-30 – The Message)
Scores of Christian believers we have spoken to give this report – “We are running out of time in our daily life, and there is very little left to give to God.”
Idols are anything that become more important to us than God; anything that can absorb our heart and imagination more than God, and that seek to give us what God alone can give. (Timothy Keller)
You must never face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. (L.B. Cowman)
Practice Silence (Sabbath of the mouth) & Solitude (Sabbath of involvement)
Any trial whatever that comes to you can be conquered by silence: go sit in your cell and your cell will teach you everything (St. Poeman in AD 385) (A “cell” was an ancient term for a quiet, private place where one could be alone with God)
Without solitude it is almost impossible to have a spiritual life. (Henri Nouwen)
Let God Love You (Edwina Gately)
Be silent. Be Still. Alone. Empty before God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands. God loves you with an enormous love, and only wants to look upon you with that love. Quiet. Still. Be. Let your God love you.
October 6, 2020
This book was written in 2013 but it sounds like something that was written in the 1960s or 70s. They talk about technology as if it is the enemy, a threat that parents should be very afraid of, and that there is no research available on the use of digital mediums for the learning tools that they are. There is also a conflicting message from the author, remove technology from the classroom such as the Waldorf method, and teach netiquette as south Korea does at an early age. Which is it, remove it completely or do we adopt an etiquette-based system?
Chapter three mentions the limitations of human capabilities due to the size of our brain, and if we want to be able to process more information will require larger brains or linking the brain to an external processing source. This is simply bad science and should be wholly ridiculed by the scientific community as well as the literary community. These “authors” are advertising themselves as scientists when reality they are ignorant and unwilling to adapt to changes and new technology.
Technology is not "Gods Creation," but created by man. The authors refer to technology as being invasive instead of the tool that it is. The authors use encroaching technology as fear instead of something to be embraced and acknowledged for its utility. The authors also cite or reference sources and articles in order to prove what they are saying what the source in no way is related to what they are writing about.
“You would not turn them (your children) lose in a gang-infested ghetto, so why would you let them enter the digital universe without supervision?” This is an absurd analogy to use and again pints out to ignorance and lack of technological understanding from these hack authors.
The overarching theme in this book is that God has created us with limitations to our brain’s capability, and it can do no more. Adding technology is far beyond the brain’s capabilities or what God has intended.
Chapter three mentions the limitations of human capabilities due to the size of our brain, and if we want to be able to process more information will require larger brains or linking the brain to an external processing source. This is simply bad science and should be wholly ridiculed by the scientific community as well as the literary community. These “authors” are advertising themselves as scientists when reality they are ignorant and unwilling to adapt to changes and new technology.
Technology is not "Gods Creation," but created by man. The authors refer to technology as being invasive instead of the tool that it is. The authors use encroaching technology as fear instead of something to be embraced and acknowledged for its utility. The authors also cite or reference sources and articles in order to prove what they are saying what the source in no way is related to what they are writing about.
“You would not turn them (your children) lose in a gang-infested ghetto, so why would you let them enter the digital universe without supervision?” This is an absurd analogy to use and again pints out to ignorance and lack of technological understanding from these hack authors.
The overarching theme in this book is that God has created us with limitations to our brain’s capability, and it can do no more. Adding technology is far beyond the brain’s capabilities or what God has intended.
July 20, 2017
This book super interesting and would benefit anyone wanting to understand the substantial impact that technology has on our modern lives. It is written from a very balanced, Christian perspective with a focus on acknowledging both the good and the bad of technology and formulating an action plan to ensure we enjoy the benefits of tech while properly protecting ourselves and our families from the potential disasters it can cause in our lives. As someone who makes a living working with technology, I can't even tell you how many times I found myself agreeing 100% with what the authors highlighted as some of its potential downfalls. But as they so often state, it is not the technology that is good or bad in and of itself, it is simply in how we use it! So read this book, educate yourself, make your plan and stick to it!! Highly recommended!
Favorite Quote: "We were created out of community with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and designed to interact and connect with real-life people in deep and meaningful ways. God uses our conversations with himself, with others, and with ourselves to transform us. The digital invasion can isolate us, and the more isolated we become, the less like God we become."
Favorite Quote: "We were created out of community with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and designed to interact and connect with real-life people in deep and meaningful ways. God uses our conversations with himself, with others, and with ourselves to transform us. The digital invasion can isolate us, and the more isolated we become, the less like God we become."
September 30, 2017
Packed with information and warnings of the destructiveness to ourselves and our relationships in a world where technology can easily control our time.
* Our ability to reflect and reason seems to be declining.
* Forty percent consider the Internet to be more important than social activities.
* Josh McDowell: Atheists and skeptics now have equal access to our children just as your youth pastor and you have, which is why the number of Christian youth who believe in the fundamentals of Christianity is decreasing.
* Blaise Pascal: Distraction is the only thing that consoles us from our miseries, and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.
* Our ability to reflect and reason seems to be declining.
* Forty percent consider the Internet to be more important than social activities.
* Josh McDowell: Atheists and skeptics now have equal access to our children just as your youth pastor and you have, which is why the number of Christian youth who believe in the fundamentals of Christianity is decreasing.
* Blaise Pascal: Distraction is the only thing that consoles us from our miseries, and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.
February 11, 2018
We have been invaded. There is no question about it. What will we do about it? This book was a good wake up call for me in how much I use digital technology and how dependent I am on it. The digital fast was a whole new idea for me, and this book really revolutionized my relationship with technology.
October 25, 2020
I highly recommend this book! Internet and technology are talking over our lives. If we let these things go untamed, we will face Spiritual, and social dangers and much more. This is a well researched book and does a good job revealing the problems Chriatians are facing with technology.
August 23, 2013
I received this book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Probably closer to 3.5 stars.
I feel as though the authors had some good information and tons of good intentions. Much of what they said hit close to home and they did offer plenty of practical strategies for dealing with our overly technical world. The first several chapters in particular had lots of interesting information about the development of the brain and psychological studies about things like multi-tasking. The middle of the book kind of lost its momentum and turned into a rant about the evils of Facebook. While I agree that Facebook has a lot of negatives I would also argue that it has positive aspects, too. (Facebook was kind of lumped together with the evils of online dating and internet porn.) The end of the book regained some of its focus looking at how to reconnect with the non-technical world, especially God and family.
While much of the book had strong research cited there were occasions when the authors would succumb to "there's a book written about it, it must be true" type logic instead of "for further exploration on this topic we suggest this book" approaches. And several times I really felt as though they were saying "I read it online so it must be true."
Some of the solutions for dealing with children seemed a little simplistic and not something that would be effective.
Overall a decent read and I expect I will be sharing the book with some friends.
Probably closer to 3.5 stars.
I feel as though the authors had some good information and tons of good intentions. Much of what they said hit close to home and they did offer plenty of practical strategies for dealing with our overly technical world. The first several chapters in particular had lots of interesting information about the development of the brain and psychological studies about things like multi-tasking. The middle of the book kind of lost its momentum and turned into a rant about the evils of Facebook. While I agree that Facebook has a lot of negatives I would also argue that it has positive aspects, too. (Facebook was kind of lumped together with the evils of online dating and internet porn.) The end of the book regained some of its focus looking at how to reconnect with the non-technical world, especially God and family.
While much of the book had strong research cited there were occasions when the authors would succumb to "there's a book written about it, it must be true" type logic instead of "for further exploration on this topic we suggest this book" approaches. And several times I really felt as though they were saying "I read it online so it must be true."
Some of the solutions for dealing with children seemed a little simplistic and not something that would be effective.
Overall a decent read and I expect I will be sharing the book with some friends.
January 30, 2015
This is the first book that I read about how technology is affecting our relationships and everything that we do and I think it is a good introduction to this topic. It covers basic definitions such as what is a digital native and immigrants and the most interesting to me, Nomophobia which is the fear of being separated from your cell phone. It covers every addiction that you can imagine and gives recommendations on how to get rid of those addictions. I was very interested on the discussion about how the over use of technology affects young minds and the brain rest cycle. Overloading the pleasure system gradually raises the bar so that you have to increase the level of stimulation to maintain the pleasure (page 63). This is how addiction begins. If you disagree just spend some time watching people (kids and adults) playing video games. The bottom line of the book is that technology is not bad but as the authors stated, “you must keep a healthy balance between the five dimensions: physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and virtual life” (pg 153). I think the comment in page 192 about how scientists are already seeing a diminished ability to reflect, meditate, or contemplate in those who over engage with the digital world should serve us as a warning.
Great book by Drs Archibald D. Hart and Sylvia Hart Frejd.
Great book by Drs Archibald D. Hart and Sylvia Hart Frejd.
April 6, 2014
The digital tsunami is changing us all, young and old, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This semi-religious book offers biblically-based strategies for becoming stewards of our digital lives.
The Internet can be a demanding mistress for those determined to be "wired" all the time.
It can become a gret distraction from any spiritual foundations, and many problems are delineated here: device and gaming addiction, relationship avoidance, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, sexting, internet gambling, etc.
The book concludes with tips for dissolving such problems, and "freeing space for God" as well as "sanctifying our technology."
Appendices include pledges to be followed for using the Internet responsibly.
The Internet can be a demanding mistress for those determined to be "wired" all the time.
It can become a gret distraction from any spiritual foundations, and many problems are delineated here: device and gaming addiction, relationship avoidance, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, sexting, internet gambling, etc.
The book concludes with tips for dissolving such problems, and "freeing space for God" as well as "sanctifying our technology."
Appendices include pledges to be followed for using the Internet responsibly.
April 25, 2014
I read this for book club and absolutely loved it!! This book written by two Dr's has a very good perspective
on the computer age, and the positives and negatives, and research to back it up. This is from a Christian perspective so there is some of that in there, but it does not overpower the facts either. They they give tips for how to help yourself with some the issues brought up. I found this an easy quick read with a LOT of information.
on the computer age, and the positives and negatives, and research to back it up. This is from a Christian perspective so there is some of that in there, but it does not overpower the facts either. They they give tips for how to help yourself with some the issues brought up. I found this an easy quick read with a LOT of information.
August 7, 2018
I read this quickly since I've been administering AP tests all week. 5 stars for how interesting and informative it is. I have learned so much and plan to make major changes to my use of technology. This brought up great discussion points for me and my husband on how we plan to establish boundaries within our family. I gave it 3 stars because I felt like there were practical tips but wish there had been more concrete examples. All-in-all I'd recommend this.
July 19, 2016
Already planning on reading this again. It has caused me to reconsider the use of technology, and it can/will affect me and my family. Technology has just become son common that we don't ever question it. It has me thinking about my usage of technology, especially social media. The worst part was when it spoke of technology's effects on children! Definitely a must read for every Christian, parent, or church leader.
November 15, 2013
I read this book because I wanted some facts to back-up my feelings about technology overload. By reading this book I found some of those facts. This book also made me wish that more parents would care about what is happening to their children. I will try and take some of these facts and make my family life better.
March 29, 2014
I would highly recommend for all parents and teachers to read this book. As a parent, I learned many practical, invaluable tools on how to set healthy boundaries for technology in our home. I also learned of some of the current research on how technology is hindering our children's short term memory. We need to stay informed and current as parents!
September 4, 2013
It really goes along with all the technology that is going on in today's society. Its sad that most people don't sit down and have a regular conversazione but it does happen. Me and my hubby read this book together and we are going to try and change some things we are doing.
February 5, 2016
Great compilation of what everyone has been saying, but no one is really listening too. There are so many great things about technology and media, but there are so many bad things that we need to keep in check and simply don't. "Be with the people you're with."
July 29, 2013
A book every Christian who participates in our digital world should read! Thought provoking...kind of puts it out there what we don't want to admit.
September 19, 2013
Thought provoking, although a little too pessimistic about digital media.
April 28, 2015
Helpful book on understanding the power of technology in shaping your values and relationships
July 15, 2014
An important read for every American - parents especially!
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