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[Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free
Updated Second Edition! Most of us are unintentional with screens , but tech industry architects intentionally make their content distracting, manipulative, and addictive. [Un]Intentional shows how our obsession with screens often takes us—unintentionally—to places we regret. It reveals the way many apps, games, and videos are designed to entice us to make decisions and form harmful habits that profit the creators at our expense. [Un]Intentional helps you break free by guiding you through proven biblical practices to reclaim your thought life, make good decisions, and fulfill your God-given mission.
204 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2021
24 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 11, 2023
It was refreshing to read something about technology that is not just insightful, but also Scripture-soaked and discipleship-focused. It was refreshing to read from an author who walks the walk, who tells a story of his own life of transformation and holds a moral vision for the Christian life that’s different from the light, pop-Christian, self-deprecating fare I’ve read in other Christian books on discipline.
This one is good. Top of the list on this topic.
This one is good. Top of the list on this topic.
January 25, 2023
Excellent!! I appreciated the research on technology presented in the book as well as the practical tips to live a productive lifestyle.
January 2, 2019
This book helps remove the blinders from our eyes about how many companies and people try to manipulate our thoughts in today's digital environments (social media, etc). It gives a clear path to how to properly gain control over these attempts to influence our minds and hearts. With some strong mental and spiritual muscles in place, we can then deflect negative behaviors and breathe life into others online. Doug outlines the reality of today's digital environment, casts a vision for what a healthy view is, and empowers us with tools that help us battle toward healthy online relationships. I highly recommend that everyone reflect on Doug's message for their own heart, as well as for parents to consider the impact this could have on their children.
January 28, 2023
Eye opening! Helpful!
December 28, 2018
[Un]Intentional by Doug Smith is engaging, clever and well-written. Doug shines light on a serious issue we have all sensed but many have been lulled into ignoring; our hyper attention to screens and the negative impact it has on our well-being. His myriad of facts are researched and well documented. The early chapters reveal the disconcerting agenda working against us. I was feeling uneasy thinking of how enormous AND successful the effort is to ensnare us. Thankfully, as you read on, Doug walks you through a viable plan to defeat their plot. His style is relatable and genuine. He shows he has walked the walk. I have given copies of this book to some important people in my life.
December 25, 2022
Eye-opening. Challenging. Encouraging.
Simply a must-read in our screen-saturated culture.
Simply a must-read in our screen-saturated culture.
July 12, 2025
Excellent food for thought and much encouragement to take action to be in intentional about one’s cell phone use. I appreciate/appreciated all the scripture references and biblical perspective though I wouldn’t say I agreed with every single thing. It was good.
September 17, 2019
I chose to read this book for several reasons:
1) It’s disquieting to witness the attachment people have with their electronic devices. Especially troubling is when this occurs in the physical presence of other people, such as during a meal.
2) Reports about the effects of electronic gaming have varied over the years. I didn’t know which ones to believe.
3) I knew I needed to implement some changes in my own home, but I wasn’t sure how to do it.
Another reason, I chose this book is because of who wrote it. The author, Doug Smith, brings something unique to the table. This dad of four has over twenty years of experience as a professional software developer. He’s overcome his own screen addiction through the grace and the power of Jesus Christ.
[Un]Intentional is written with a Christian worldview. Doug is passionate to share, not only the data he has found, but also the hope and salvation.
His style of writing is informative and full of grace. He doesn’t take a shaming stance, but rather a concerned and helpful one.
Plus, the book contains two pages of impressive endorsements by professors, pastors, and business professionals including Dave Ramsey.
Readers learn who, why, and how people are intentionally shaping our desires via our screens.
Smith provides extensive endnotes, full of sources to back up his statements.
The first half of this book outlines the possible dangers behind our screens due to the techniques and strategies used by companies.
The second half offers practical steps we can take to protect our families’ minds, hearts, and relationships. Smith offers numerous ideas and resources. They are not just for parents to use with their children. He offers counsel for adults who are struggling with screen usage as well.
Smith goes straight to the heart. With wisdom and solid, biblical teaching he points to God and a purpose-filled life.
The book gave us excellent points to help initiate conversations within our family and redirect our visions. I highly recommend this book.
1) It’s disquieting to witness the attachment people have with their electronic devices. Especially troubling is when this occurs in the physical presence of other people, such as during a meal.
2) Reports about the effects of electronic gaming have varied over the years. I didn’t know which ones to believe.
3) I knew I needed to implement some changes in my own home, but I wasn’t sure how to do it.
Another reason, I chose this book is because of who wrote it. The author, Doug Smith, brings something unique to the table. This dad of four has over twenty years of experience as a professional software developer. He’s overcome his own screen addiction through the grace and the power of Jesus Christ.
[Un]Intentional is written with a Christian worldview. Doug is passionate to share, not only the data he has found, but also the hope and salvation.
His style of writing is informative and full of grace. He doesn’t take a shaming stance, but rather a concerned and helpful one.
Plus, the book contains two pages of impressive endorsements by professors, pastors, and business professionals including Dave Ramsey.
Readers learn who, why, and how people are intentionally shaping our desires via our screens.
Smith provides extensive endnotes, full of sources to back up his statements.
The first half of this book outlines the possible dangers behind our screens due to the techniques and strategies used by companies.
The second half offers practical steps we can take to protect our families’ minds, hearts, and relationships. Smith offers numerous ideas and resources. They are not just for parents to use with their children. He offers counsel for adults who are struggling with screen usage as well.
Smith goes straight to the heart. With wisdom and solid, biblical teaching he points to God and a purpose-filled life.
The book gave us excellent points to help initiate conversations within our family and redirect our visions. I highly recommend this book.
June 28, 2021
Lots of great insight about our screen usage
It is really hard to live in today's society and not have a problem balancing your screen usage. We spend so much of our time looking down at our phones. Our relationships suffer, our mental health suffers, and our tastes and thought processes are shaped (sometimes without us even knowing it). I needed to read this book. I needed all the information provided about how our screen usage molds our brain and how habits are formed. After reading this book, I am trying to work on my screen usage, especially the amount of time I spend on my phone. I want my life to matter. I want to leave a positive impact on those inside my sphere of influence. I cannot do that if I am so distracted by screens and their constant influx of advertising and emotion provoking "information." The information in this book is alarming, but it's also laced with hope. It's a message so many of us need.
It is really hard to live in today's society and not have a problem balancing your screen usage. We spend so much of our time looking down at our phones. Our relationships suffer, our mental health suffers, and our tastes and thought processes are shaped (sometimes without us even knowing it). I needed to read this book. I needed all the information provided about how our screen usage molds our brain and how habits are formed. After reading this book, I am trying to work on my screen usage, especially the amount of time I spend on my phone. I want my life to matter. I want to leave a positive impact on those inside my sphere of influence. I cannot do that if I am so distracted by screens and their constant influx of advertising and emotion provoking "information." The information in this book is alarming, but it's also laced with hope. It's a message so many of us need.
February 9, 2023
This is a great introduction to the idea of propaganda and the formation of our minds. I've been studying the topic for quite some time and the author here gives a really good overview without getting too deep.
For an extension I'd recommend reading James K.A. Smith's work, as well as some of Dru Johnson's stuff. They don't focus so much on the propaganda perspective, but they get into how to form ourselves through ritual and practice.
SECOND READ-THROUGH: I read this a second time in preparation for an interview. I don't know that I gleaned too much more, but it was short and enjoyable.
For an extension I'd recommend reading James K.A. Smith's work, as well as some of Dru Johnson's stuff. They don't focus so much on the propaganda perspective, but they get into how to form ourselves through ritual and practice.
SECOND READ-THROUGH: I read this a second time in preparation for an interview. I don't know that I gleaned too much more, but it was short and enjoyable.
September 27, 2025
This was an audio book I decided to listen to while delivering flyers for the food bank drive (hours and hours of walking!) It was really good. He has a Biblical approach to the problems with screens. The people creating social media are very intentional at capturing our attention and as a result, we have started to live our lives in unintentional ways. I was quite persuaded by his argument that we have to take back the control and be in charge of our own lives and one of the key ways to do that is to break the screen addiction. I was quite persuaded by the author's approach to this topic. I know I'm much happier and contended when I spend time reading and listening to good podcasts and audio books. The pull of social media is really strong and easy to get sucked into as a time waster.
February 19, 2023
I heard about [Un]Intentional through a podcast where the author was interviewed, and I was intrigued. I learned a lot about how screens influence our desires through this book, and it inspired me to make some changes in my life. I appreciate Doug Smith's perspective and research.
Overall, there are gems to mine in [Un]Intentional-- you just have to dig through a lot of Christianese and cliches to get to them.
Overall, there are gems to mine in [Un]Intentional-- you just have to dig through a lot of Christianese and cliches to get to them.
May 24, 2023
Y’all!!! This book!! Not being dramatic l, this is probably one of the most impactful books I have read! I already think differently and pay more attention to how often and what I am doing on my screens. Even if you do not have a Christian faith I think there is still so much to be gained from this book - and if you are a believer Smith does a great job of applying the Bible into this important context. Go read it!!!
September 17, 2023
🤢
Не закончила. Очередная книга, которая рекламирует себя больше, чем описывает что-то полезное.
Не закончила. Очередная книга, которая рекламирует себя больше, чем описывает что-то полезное.
March 9, 2019
Doug Smith has written a important book. It is deep, well researched, and emotive. Doug addresses an important and difficult to discuss issue with candor, openness, and humility.
I appreciate his skillful description of the problem and his tools-based approach to thriving in this screen-saturated reality.
But my favorite part of this book is the thread of intentionality weaved through its structure and message. If you strive to live intentionally this book will be a thought provoking and challenging read.
I appreciate his skillful description of the problem and his tools-based approach to thriving in this screen-saturated reality.
But my favorite part of this book is the thread of intentionality weaved through its structure and message. If you strive to live intentionally this book will be a thought provoking and challenging read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews