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Off: The Day the Internet Died: A Bedtime Fantasy
One day all the screens went dark--and we couldn't even post about it.
We all dream about a life free of scrolling, tweeting, liking, faving, streaming, replying, apologizing for not replying, and other assaults on our poor, saturated brains. But what would an analog world actually look like? Chris Colin, author of What to Talk About , paints a picture that's a little Edenic and a little demented. Un-barraged by celeb gossip and political news, we begin to notice nature again. We take walks, stare at the clouds, and listen to podcasts consisting of our own thoughts. Snapchatting gives way to endless rounds of Go Fish. Minecraft is a game involving sticks and leaves. We talk to our neighbors--not about the TV shows we're streaming--and occasionally we fall in love. Delivered in a pitch-perfect, tongue-in-cheek biblical style, this little book imagines an alternate reality that will hit home in our tech-addled worlds. Rinee Shah's playful illustrations perfectly capture the absurdity of life reflected in our screens. Whether you're addicted to tech or not, you'll see something of yourself when you put down your phone and pick up this smart, funny book.
We all dream about a life free of scrolling, tweeting, liking, faving, streaming, replying, apologizing for not replying, and other assaults on our poor, saturated brains. But what would an analog world actually look like? Chris Colin, author of What to Talk About , paints a picture that's a little Edenic and a little demented. Un-barraged by celeb gossip and political news, we begin to notice nature again. We take walks, stare at the clouds, and listen to podcasts consisting of our own thoughts. Snapchatting gives way to endless rounds of Go Fish. Minecraft is a game involving sticks and leaves. We talk to our neighbors--not about the TV shows we're streaming--and occasionally we fall in love. Delivered in a pitch-perfect, tongue-in-cheek biblical style, this little book imagines an alternate reality that will hit home in our tech-addled worlds. Rinee Shah's playful illustrations perfectly capture the absurdity of life reflected in our screens. Whether you're addicted to tech or not, you'll see something of yourself when you put down your phone and pick up this smart, funny book.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 23, 2021
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 21, 2025
This made me giggle many times.
July 12, 2021
What would happen if the internet died? The biblical language and illustration style in this story makes the internet outage into an end-times event, although other resources remain available to the author and their children. Internet love connections are no longer a thing (to the chagrin of the turnip farmer), but books, flutes, sticks, and fast food are still part of daily life. But the drama is heavy, as is the realization that everyday activities can no longer be shared or commented on large-scale. The best one can do is an in-person thumbs up.
January 1, 2022
A fun little reflection on our dependency with electronics and the internet. Not for children though, even though "A Bedtime Fantasy" might suggest otherwise. Too many jokes that would go over kids' heads.
April 14, 2021
Clever!
July 17, 2021
Hilarious and wonderful and so of-the-moment. Just what I need when I am taking myself too seriously. Had to buy this one!
September 21, 2021
Very true...very humorous. What WOULD we do the day the internet died? Many would not know what the hell to do.
January 5, 2022
It's a brief book, takes about 5 minutes to read, but will give you a chuckle about how invasive, pervasive, degrading, and bleak the internet is. It's written in a faux biblical voice.
March 24, 2022
Strange but funny!
August 29, 2022
A good deal of fun.
December 2, 2022
a humorous bedtime story for adults! It's great!
January 10, 2023
this seemed coded plus it wasnt funny to me
January 28, 2026
1/26 An amusing adult picture book I couldn't help but read, but unfortunately nothing special.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews