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Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World
OUT The new book by Sunday Times bestselling author, Emma Gannon
I love Emma Gannon's wise and refreshing perspective on work, and more broadly on the challenges of building a meaningful life in an era of distraction, overwhelm and uncertainty. - Oliver Burkeman, New York Times Bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks
A sensible, kind and useful book about forging a healthier relationship with social media. - Marian Keyes, Sunday Times Bestselling author
__________
Millennials might have grown up online but now they want to log off. And it's not just millennials. A year of lockdowns, Zoom meetings and reduced physical contact has made us more dependent on the internet than ever before - but has it lost its humanity?
Our focus on community and real connection has been sent off-course and we're becoming more aware of how the algorithm manipulates us and how our data has made us a product to be sold. So, where do we go from here and how can we get back on track? (Dis)connected examines these topics and offers tangible tips and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost right now and want to find themselves again.
__________
Emma Gannon is a cordial and provocative spirit. Read her, listen to her, explore her world and the world at large through her eyes. Hers is a journey well worth taking. - Julia Cameron, New York Times Bestselling author of The Artist's Way
I love Emma Gannon's wise and refreshing perspective on work, and more broadly on the challenges of building a meaningful life in an era of distraction, overwhelm and uncertainty. - Oliver Burkeman, New York Times Bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks
A sensible, kind and useful book about forging a healthier relationship with social media. - Marian Keyes, Sunday Times Bestselling author
__________
Millennials might have grown up online but now they want to log off. And it's not just millennials. A year of lockdowns, Zoom meetings and reduced physical contact has made us more dependent on the internet than ever before - but has it lost its humanity?
Our focus on community and real connection has been sent off-course and we're becoming more aware of how the algorithm manipulates us and how our data has made us a product to be sold. So, where do we go from here and how can we get back on track? (Dis)connected examines these topics and offers tangible tips and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost right now and want to find themselves again.
__________
Emma Gannon is a cordial and provocative spirit. Read her, listen to her, explore her world and the world at large through her eyes. Hers is a journey well worth taking. - Julia Cameron, New York Times Bestselling author of The Artist's Way
Hardcover
First published May 31, 2022
29 people are currently reading
1248 people want to read
About the author
Emma Gannon
17 books673 followersEmma Gannon is the Sunday Times bestselling author of eight books, including ‘A Year of Nothing‘ and ‘Olive’, her debut novel, which was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Her second novel, ‘Table for One’, published in 2025 with HarperCollins. Emma also runs the popular Substack newsletter, ‘The Hyphen’, which has thousands of paid subscribers. She also hosts creativity retreats all over the world and was a judge for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
May 24, 2022
Do we post every detail of our lives on social media? Have we created a SM alter-ego for ourselves? Why do we reach for the phone the first thing in the morning?
Social media has slowly but surely taken over our lives. As someone who was born in the mid-80s in India, I (and my generation) have grown up with the invention and growth of technology. From playing cassettes in Walkmans to burning CDs with our favourite songs to switching to the pen drive (I see I forgot the infamous floppy disk altogether!), we have seen it all. Now we create playlists on Spotify and share them for all to see.
If the purpose of social media was to bring people together, it did succeed in the initial years. Long-lost friends were found, and NRI relatives were brought back into the fold. But slowly, we are all drifting off again. Because how interested are we really in knowing what some distant friend or relative is doing?
The author, Emma Gannon, is a prominent influencer in the Twitter and Instagram space. However, after a few years of popularity, she talks about how she felt the need to connect with a few real people rather than engage with hundreds of unknown ones who don't know (and don't give a damn) about how our lives are. All of them form their opinions based on a photo or a tweet and rarely change them. In fact, we all have become so attuned to these unknown followers' reactions that we think a lot before posting something online - will those people "like" it?
With quick prompts, the author encourages us to disconnect: put down the phone and look at the world around us. She has peppered the narrative with anecdotes that could feature any of us.
It is a short audiobook (2+ hours) that I finished in an afternoon but it kept me thinking for quite a while.
4.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the audio ARC.
Social media has slowly but surely taken over our lives. As someone who was born in the mid-80s in India, I (and my generation) have grown up with the invention and growth of technology. From playing cassettes in Walkmans to burning CDs with our favourite songs to switching to the pen drive (I see I forgot the infamous floppy disk altogether!), we have seen it all. Now we create playlists on Spotify and share them for all to see.
If the purpose of social media was to bring people together, it did succeed in the initial years. Long-lost friends were found, and NRI relatives were brought back into the fold. But slowly, we are all drifting off again. Because how interested are we really in knowing what some distant friend or relative is doing?
The author, Emma Gannon, is a prominent influencer in the Twitter and Instagram space. However, after a few years of popularity, she talks about how she felt the need to connect with a few real people rather than engage with hundreds of unknown ones who don't know (and don't give a damn) about how our lives are. All of them form their opinions based on a photo or a tweet and rarely change them. In fact, we all have become so attuned to these unknown followers' reactions that we think a lot before posting something online - will those people "like" it?
With quick prompts, the author encourages us to disconnect: put down the phone and look at the world around us. She has peppered the narrative with anecdotes that could feature any of us.
It is a short audiobook (2+ hours) that I finished in an afternoon but it kept me thinking for quite a while.
4.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the audio ARC.
February 12, 2022
I was really excited to read this book, as I'm very keen to spend less time on my phone and more time 'staying human', as the tagline says.
There are some excellent points in this book and Emma has clearly done her research. However, I became far too distracted by the countless grammatical errors and am surprised that this book has been printed when so many sentences simply don't make sense.
I also found it distracting when the "quick prompts" were slapped half-way through a sentence... very odd and unnecessary.
I will be noting the "quick prompts" and trying to use them in my daily life, but my copy is now full of book darts where so many grammatical errors distracted from the point.
There are some excellent points in this book and Emma has clearly done her research. However, I became far too distracted by the countless grammatical errors and am surprised that this book has been printed when so many sentences simply don't make sense.
I also found it distracting when the "quick prompts" were slapped half-way through a sentence... very odd and unnecessary.
I will be noting the "quick prompts" and trying to use them in my daily life, but my copy is now full of book darts where so many grammatical errors distracted from the point.
April 13, 2022
Disconnected provides fantastic insight to finding ways to rediscover ones self in a consistently connected society. It is a joke that we would not know what to do without the internet. Yet, the more connected we are, it is no longer a joke.
I work from home, so I'm always plugged in. I mentioned that to someone while connected to Zoom and chatting over the vpn on my college's server. I realized at that moment that it was no longer a joke. I've been so plugged in and completely tuned out the world around that Emma's book merely scratches the surface for me. Outside my family, I realized I haven't had human interaction face-to-face in nearly a year.
Taking a few prompts from Disconnected, I plan to start reconnecting with the world around me. I hope Emma writes more on this. Her view of how Twitter virtually decided everything for her is exactly how I feel about Instagram now,
Thank you to the publisher, Emma Gannon, and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this insightful e-arc.
I work from home, so I'm always plugged in. I mentioned that to someone while connected to Zoom and chatting over the vpn on my college's server. I realized at that moment that it was no longer a joke. I've been so plugged in and completely tuned out the world around that Emma's book merely scratches the surface for me. Outside my family, I realized I haven't had human interaction face-to-face in nearly a year.
Taking a few prompts from Disconnected, I plan to start reconnecting with the world around me. I hope Emma writes more on this. Her view of how Twitter virtually decided everything for her is exactly how I feel about Instagram now,
Thank you to the publisher, Emma Gannon, and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this insightful e-arc.
April 20, 2022
“According to the online magazine “Inc.”, we tap, swipe and click on our phones 2,617 times per day.”
Emma Gannon narrates the audiobook version of her latest book, “Disconnected”. She reads flawlessly. The clarity of her diction, her tone and reading speed make for a pleasant listening experience.
“Disconnected” is a book which I believe will benefit anyone who spends time on the internet and who has a social media account. It’s not about digital detoxing but rather about making your time on social media count so your days and nights are not reduced to endless scrolling.
Gannon writes about the importance of living in the present, spending time connecting with your loved ones offline and doing more of the things which make you happy, in order to live a more balanced life.
“Disconnect” is wise, considered, practical and well written. It includes frequent prompts, allowing you to reflect on your own use of time. It is food for thought for anyone who experiences internet fatigue and others who are frustrated with the lack of freedom and quality time in their days due to ingrained social media habits. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Synopsis
Lockdowns, Zoom meetings, and reduced physical contact have made us more dependent on the internet than ever before—and now we want to log off.
“Disconnected” is a little book about reclaiming our humanity in our increasingly digitized, monetized world. Our focus on community and real connection has been sent off-course, and we're becoming more aware of how the algorithm manipulates us and how our data has made us a product to be sold. So, where do we go from here, and how can we get back on track? “Disconnected” examines these topics and offers tangible tips and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost and are looking to find our real-life selves again.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the advanced audiobook.
Emma Gannon narrates the audiobook version of her latest book, “Disconnected”. She reads flawlessly. The clarity of her diction, her tone and reading speed make for a pleasant listening experience.
“Disconnected” is a book which I believe will benefit anyone who spends time on the internet and who has a social media account. It’s not about digital detoxing but rather about making your time on social media count so your days and nights are not reduced to endless scrolling.
Gannon writes about the importance of living in the present, spending time connecting with your loved ones offline and doing more of the things which make you happy, in order to live a more balanced life.
“Disconnect” is wise, considered, practical and well written. It includes frequent prompts, allowing you to reflect on your own use of time. It is food for thought for anyone who experiences internet fatigue and others who are frustrated with the lack of freedom and quality time in their days due to ingrained social media habits. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Synopsis
Lockdowns, Zoom meetings, and reduced physical contact have made us more dependent on the internet than ever before—and now we want to log off.
“Disconnected” is a little book about reclaiming our humanity in our increasingly digitized, monetized world. Our focus on community and real connection has been sent off-course, and we're becoming more aware of how the algorithm manipulates us and how our data has made us a product to be sold. So, where do we go from here, and how can we get back on track? “Disconnected” examines these topics and offers tangible tips and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost and are looking to find our real-life selves again.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the advanced audiobook.
April 28, 2022
I was really excited to read this book as I've been spending a lot of time on the internet as a content creator. And I was right! It offers a really good insight on why we might be *a little bit* addicted to the internet and the world of social media and how to reconnect with our daily lives. It definitely has benefited me and if you're looking for something to help you understand more about how it all might affect our lifestyle and why it's important to remember it's like another little world of our own we can make better use of, this book is perfect! The author makes excellent points and you know what I love most about it? It's not judgemental!
November 23, 2022
Veel liefde voor Emma Gannon. Dat wil ik eerst even kwijt. En daarna: ik denk dat ik meer van haar fictie dan van haar non-fictie houd. Hoewel ik dit boekje met plezier heb gelezen, heb ik niet per se heel nieuwe inzichten opgedaan oid. Dat geeft niks, het was leuk om te lezen. Ik hoop gewoon dat Gannon binnenkort weer met een roman komt :)
April 25, 2022
I enjoyed Disconnected by Emma Gannon so much! What a brilliant and relevant topic to talk about in such a profound and personal way! As everything is so technologic these days, the vast majority of us, I imagine, would have a hard time going without cell phones, computers, social media accounts, email, etc. Ai is the a wave of the future. Are we becoming like machines? Losing our humanity?
Disconnected examines multiple topics regarding many of devices above, and the entrapment many have been consumed in (even more so since mandated isolation through the pandemic). She offers tangible tips (through prompts in the book) and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost and are looking to find our real-life selves again.
Disconnected is an eye-opener. Informative, intuitive, perceptively it's right on point, I found the book to helpful and thought provoking.
The author, Emma Gannon, was also the audio book narrator, and her voice was inspiring and a pure joy to listen to. I would listen to anything she would write/narrate.
This was a sensational book, relatable on every level!
5 STARS!
My thanks to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Audio, and Emma Gannon for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own..
Disconnected examines multiple topics regarding many of devices above, and the entrapment many have been consumed in (even more so since mandated isolation through the pandemic). She offers tangible tips (through prompts in the book) and advice for those of us who might feel a little lost and are looking to find our real-life selves again.
Disconnected is an eye-opener. Informative, intuitive, perceptively it's right on point, I found the book to helpful and thought provoking.
The author, Emma Gannon, was also the audio book narrator, and her voice was inspiring and a pure joy to listen to. I would listen to anything she would write/narrate.
This was a sensational book, relatable on every level!
5 STARS!
My thanks to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Audio, and Emma Gannon for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own..
December 23, 2022
3.5 Stars. Nothing profound but pretty spot on. Essentially, this is about how the internet has increasingly become a place that is not about community building but instead about promoting individualism. Gannon provides tips and prompts to urge you not to abandon the internet altogether but to cultivate internet habits that make you more connected to humanity, rather than divided from it.
May 30, 2022
Emma Gannon’s Dis-connected brings a re-awakening to the concept of an offline world after the Pandemic lockdowns have ceased. After being forced almost entirely online during the pandemic, Gannon’s latest release prompts us to consider taking time for ourselves, re-connecting with friends and family, and setting boundaries for our e-self.
A thought provoking, quick read about the social media we use and how we have moved from less social and more consumption media.
This book has great points on ending Cancel culture; how about we use a semicolon and not a full stop? As simple as it seems being told to open dialogue instead of shutting others off - it’s an imperative piece of this book and a very important statement.
Have we became too used to an urgency in communication that has also resulted in an urgency to stop communicating?
I enjoyed the quick prompts and lists used within this book - I feel it helped break up text and made it more easily consumed - the prompts also allowed for moments of self reflection, which I intend to use in a journal going forward.
Thank you, Andrews McMeel Publishing & NetGalley for the Advanced E-copy of this book.
A thought provoking, quick read about the social media we use and how we have moved from less social and more consumption media.
This book has great points on ending Cancel culture; how about we use a semicolon and not a full stop? As simple as it seems being told to open dialogue instead of shutting others off - it’s an imperative piece of this book and a very important statement.
Have we became too used to an urgency in communication that has also resulted in an urgency to stop communicating?
I enjoyed the quick prompts and lists used within this book - I feel it helped break up text and made it more easily consumed - the prompts also allowed for moments of self reflection, which I intend to use in a journal going forward.
Thank you, Andrews McMeel Publishing & NetGalley for the Advanced E-copy of this book.
March 31, 2024
I learned about Emma Gannon's book on her podcast Ctrl Alt Delete (recommending), about a year ago. And finally, I read it and I loved it.
She goes into topics like social media, digital overload, and the importance of disconnecting from our screens to maintain our humanity.
I liked the insights, the anecdotes, and the practical tips for protecting our mental health, creativity, and personal connections in today's digital age.
The book motivates the reader to find a balance between their online and offline lives and to always prioritize the human connection.
She goes into topics like social media, digital overload, and the importance of disconnecting from our screens to maintain our humanity.
I liked the insights, the anecdotes, and the practical tips for protecting our mental health, creativity, and personal connections in today's digital age.
The book motivates the reader to find a balance between their online and offline lives and to always prioritize the human connection.
June 2, 2022
I'm always excited about content (ugh this word) that deals with being online and reshaping our online ecosystems. I was quite intrigued because this book seemed to recognize that we each have a unique experience on the internet and was seeking to address how we get the best out of it.
Anything that does not immediately say "Internet. BAD. Go outside and SMELL the roses" is a perspective i want to hear about!
It did however spend a lot of time doing exactly that. I liked the exploration into how humans have always wanted to display things they like - be it above their fireplace in stone huts or on Instagram. Wanting our display to be lauded is just something social media has thrown into the mix.
The book steers far from a deep dive though. It can be called an elongated essay, maybe.
I listened to the audio-book and it wasn't quite clear to me when we moved from one section to the other.
Another thing that did not work for me in the audio format were the "quick prompts". These would suddenly pop up out from nowhere and I could not really absorb any of it coherently. My understanding is most people listen to audiobooks while doing some other activity - cooking, walking or cleaning? The prompts being pushed to the end of the chapter, like a summary , would give people a chance to make note of them if they'd like to. Soothing book to listen to, but I did not feel like I learnt much that was new.
2.5 Stars
Anything that does not immediately say "Internet. BAD. Go outside and SMELL the roses" is a perspective i want to hear about!
It did however spend a lot of time doing exactly that. I liked the exploration into how humans have always wanted to display things they like - be it above their fireplace in stone huts or on Instagram. Wanting our display to be lauded is just something social media has thrown into the mix.
The book steers far from a deep dive though. It can be called an elongated essay, maybe.
I listened to the audio-book and it wasn't quite clear to me when we moved from one section to the other.
Another thing that did not work for me in the audio format were the "quick prompts". These would suddenly pop up out from nowhere and I could not really absorb any of it coherently. My understanding is most people listen to audiobooks while doing some other activity - cooking, walking or cleaning? The prompts being pushed to the end of the chapter, like a summary , would give people a chance to make note of them if they'd like to. Soothing book to listen to, but I did not feel like I learnt much that was new.
2.5 Stars
May 23, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for free digital copy and libro.fm for the educator ALC! This book will be out 5/31!
What is your relationship with social media?
Obviously, I spend a lot of time on this app, and definitely struggle at times with feeling overwhelmed with Instagram, social media, and my connection to my phone in general.
I went into this thinking book thinking it was going to perhaps be...annoying (😂) and I was very pleasantly surprised. I feel like Gannon speaks to all of the issues/struggles I have been seeing/thinking about/dealing with surround the internet and social media. She brings in real-world examples and experiences and offers both quick and longer practices to help you think more critically (in a positive way) about your relationship with social media and the internet in general.
I was sort of expecting this book to feel preachy and it didn't feel that way AT ALL. She absolutely does not try to tell the reader that in order to have a more fulfilled life they need to shut off everything/completely disconnect. This book is short, quick, and completely accessible. While I read a little of the ebook, I listened to this primarily on audio, and I do want to get a copy of this book to spend some more time reflecting on the practices and prompts Gannon offers.
I definitely recommend if you are feeling blah with social media and/or want to try some things to change your perspective with it!
What is your relationship with social media?
Obviously, I spend a lot of time on this app, and definitely struggle at times with feeling overwhelmed with Instagram, social media, and my connection to my phone in general.
I went into this thinking book thinking it was going to perhaps be...annoying (😂) and I was very pleasantly surprised. I feel like Gannon speaks to all of the issues/struggles I have been seeing/thinking about/dealing with surround the internet and social media. She brings in real-world examples and experiences and offers both quick and longer practices to help you think more critically (in a positive way) about your relationship with social media and the internet in general.
I was sort of expecting this book to feel preachy and it didn't feel that way AT ALL. She absolutely does not try to tell the reader that in order to have a more fulfilled life they need to shut off everything/completely disconnect. This book is short, quick, and completely accessible. While I read a little of the ebook, I listened to this primarily on audio, and I do want to get a copy of this book to spend some more time reflecting on the practices and prompts Gannon offers.
I definitely recommend if you are feeling blah with social media and/or want to try some things to change your perspective with it!
May 24, 2022
Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World is a self-help book by Emma Gannon. The ebook version is 128 pages. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at three hours and is narrated by the author.
This book is a quick read about how we as humans have become more dependent on the internet--especially during the pandemic--while also reducing physical contact. Gannon does a deep dive into the manipulation of algorithms, our data as salable products, and where we might be able to go from here. At the ends of chapters, she provides easy-to-follow "quick prompts" to help remind yourself who you really are outside of the always-connected internet.
I was nodding in agreement a lot while listening to this book. I felt very seen by this book, partly because I am also an "elder millennial" like the author. In general, I really liked her prose! I think I'll have to check out her podcast, Ctrl Alt Delete.
Special thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing an audio galley of this book for me to review. All opinions contained herein are my own. The audiobook version of Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World releases on May 31st, 2022.
This book is a quick read about how we as humans have become more dependent on the internet--especially during the pandemic--while also reducing physical contact. Gannon does a deep dive into the manipulation of algorithms, our data as salable products, and where we might be able to go from here. At the ends of chapters, she provides easy-to-follow "quick prompts" to help remind yourself who you really are outside of the always-connected internet.
I was nodding in agreement a lot while listening to this book. I felt very seen by this book, partly because I am also an "elder millennial" like the author. In general, I really liked her prose! I think I'll have to check out her podcast, Ctrl Alt Delete.
Special thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing an audio galley of this book for me to review. All opinions contained herein are my own. The audiobook version of Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World releases on May 31st, 2022.
June 4, 2022
This book made me realize how social media creates an illusion of being well-connected when in fact it can make one feel so disconnected, alone, and lonely.
As a teacher in the new normal educational setting, social media is one of the portals I use to connected with my students. It also serves as an alternative learning management system because it's free, accessible to students, and easy to navigate. But it also has its downsides. My students are easoly distracted and has short retention span. I also experience the same. Added to this, misinformation is rampant in social media sites.
This book gave me ideas through helpful and precise prompts that will enable me to reflect and focus on how I use social media, the Internet in general, to my advantage. Added to this, the author also presented a lot of helpful ideas to make social media work for us and not against us. At the end of each chapter is a journal or writing activity that I am sure my students will enjoy too.
As a teacher in the new normal educational setting, social media is one of the portals I use to connected with my students. It also serves as an alternative learning management system because it's free, accessible to students, and easy to navigate. But it also has its downsides. My students are easoly distracted and has short retention span. I also experience the same. Added to this, misinformation is rampant in social media sites.
This book gave me ideas through helpful and precise prompts that will enable me to reflect and focus on how I use social media, the Internet in general, to my advantage. Added to this, the author also presented a lot of helpful ideas to make social media work for us and not against us. At the end of each chapter is a journal or writing activity that I am sure my students will enjoy too.
May 11, 2022
As someone who feels like I spend too much time online, I jumped at the chance to listen to this book! I found it interesting how much of our lives revolve around internet use and how quickly it took over without me really realzing it. As a result, I find myself thinking intentionally about my internet use and whether I really need to be online or not. I liked the prompts that are used, they have helped me change my behavior and set better boundaries.
I liked the narrator and am enjoying the quiet space when I'm not mindlessly scrolling on social media. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their relationship with the internet and social media.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley.
I liked the narrator and am enjoying the quiet space when I'm not mindlessly scrolling on social media. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their relationship with the internet and social media.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley.
May 24, 2022
This book came to me at the right time. I have been feeling too attached to social media and my phone in general. This book was a great tool for self reflection. Why am I on the internet? Who am I doing this for? Do likes/followers mean success? Why are we always trying to make a better machine? One line that stood out to me was “What can we do that machines can’t?” I absolutely love that! That line brought me back down Earth to really think about what I can do as a human without technology. Too many of us have grown up surrounded by technology and we’ve forgotten or never learned how to live without our extra “limb”. It makes me wonder what I’m truly capable of accomplishing without the internet as my security blanket.
May 24, 2022
This book came to me at the right time. I have been feeling too attached to social media and my phone in general. This book was a great tool for self reflection. Why am I on the internet? Who am I doing this for? Do likes/followers mean success? Why are we always trying to make a better machine? One line that stood out to me was “What can we do that machines can’t?” I absolutely love that! That line brought me back down Earth to really think about what I can do as a human without technology. Too many of us have grown up surrounded by technology and we’ve forgotten or never learned how to live without our extra “limb”. It makes me wonder what I’m truly capable of accomplishing without the internet as my security blanket.
May 15, 2022
This is a great short read full of sensible tips about being more truly connected and less shackled to our online worlds. I was worried it would be preachy and oversimplify things, but this wasn't the case. I enjoyed the authors ability to recognise her own failings and use them to describe possible ways out, without suggesting she had it all sorted already. I'm also a 'geriatric millenial' so there was loads in here which I connected to (no pun intended!) and I'll definitely try some of the prompts and practical ideas over the coming months, while also being comfortable that o won't get it all right straight off the bat!
March 15, 2022
Some helpful tips but not as many as expected .The author mainly shares her own experiences and touches on a range of topics and reads more as a autobiography. The flow of the book gets broken with the placement of the excersizes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2022
It was a reminder of how to remain sane and still connect with social media. I feel these were lessons i already learned along the way, but this could help those who see themselves in trouble and need a life raft.
Thank you Libro.fm for my copy!
Thank you Libro.fm for my copy!
April 20, 2022
I loved that this is narrated by the author. I thought she did a great job explaining her points. I will likely take away a few ideas from this
May 3, 2022
Audiobook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (RTC)
February 25, 2024
Ok but not as inspiring or insightful as some other books on this subject that I have read
June 1, 2022
In Disconnected, Emma Gannon acknowledges that it is not possible to completely disengage from the internet and specifically social media. However, she does look at how to keep it from bringing down your quality of life. She includes tips on stepping away from our phone and engaging in the “real” world and has prompts for the reader to reflect on their own social media usage.
I like that the author narrated her own audiobook. I think that there are a lot of people out there who will be able to relate to the points this book is making; however, I wasn’t one of them. I would say the book is mainly aimed at millennials, as Emma tackles the issues of always being connected from her own personal experience, which is likely to be different from younger people’s experience. The prompts would have been better at the end of each chapter instead of in the middle.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
I like that the author narrated her own audiobook. I think that there are a lot of people out there who will be able to relate to the points this book is making; however, I wasn’t one of them. I would say the book is mainly aimed at millennials, as Emma tackles the issues of always being connected from her own personal experience, which is likely to be different from younger people’s experience. The prompts would have been better at the end of each chapter instead of in the middle.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
August 6, 2022
(Dis)Connected by Emma Gannon
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This was a quick Sunday read for me at a less than 200 pages. I love Emma Gannon as a podcaster and her fiction debut ‘Olive’ is a masterpiece. I bought ‘Sabotage’ for two of my friends who absolutely loved it and so I thought I would pick up the sister guide ‘(Dis)Connected’ for myself.
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It wasn’t what I had expected. I thought this book would be strictly discussing the perils and pitfalls of social media and how to remove yourself from it but the book spoke a lot about online authenticity and how to use social media productively. The issue I had with (Dis)Connected was it felt quite directionless and I’m not 100% sure what the goal was here. It tried to discuss a lot without saying very much. I did want to love it but I didn’t. Sorry 🥲…
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This was a quick Sunday read for me at a less than 200 pages. I love Emma Gannon as a podcaster and her fiction debut ‘Olive’ is a masterpiece. I bought ‘Sabotage’ for two of my friends who absolutely loved it and so I thought I would pick up the sister guide ‘(Dis)Connected’ for myself.
•
•
It wasn’t what I had expected. I thought this book would be strictly discussing the perils and pitfalls of social media and how to remove yourself from it but the book spoke a lot about online authenticity and how to use social media productively. The issue I had with (Dis)Connected was it felt quite directionless and I’m not 100% sure what the goal was here. It tried to discuss a lot without saying very much. I did want to love it but I didn’t. Sorry 🥲…
July 16, 2022
I thought this book was really good.
I'm not the most social media addicted person there is & try to refrain from this as much as i can- i avoid looking at my phone in the morning, i will try and find the more analog slow way of doing things and have frequent digital detoxes, so i felt like a lot of the suggestions were for people who were massively addicted to social media platforms.
However this book was eye opening to me. As someone who never really considered themselves addicted to social media, i was surprised when upon reflection, I realised that certain things e.g. all aspects of planning my wedding were influenced by social media. Things like "bridesmaid proposals" were never a thing before social media. Hen dos were probably just in the pub rather than everyone feeling like they need a fancy abroad hen do because of the social media pressure. I found myself influenced by a lot of people from social media without me even really realising! It also has just made me more conscious to not get so easily influenced either online or offline.
It made me realise the ways in which I'm not authentic (both online AND offline eg in the workplace). In my industry (i work in the legal sector), self censorship is key and you are prohibited from being vocal about your opinions etc.
I think its helped me realise how important it is to maintain your authenticity in your opinions despite how social media tries to convince everyone to think in the same way. For example, I hate working from home (another reason why i feel like i'm constantly "connected" and i crave actual human contact and connection with) and social media makes me feel like an alien for holding this belief because people who make content for social media prefer to make content about how much they love WFH & hate companies planning office returns because those sorts of videos please the algorithm more.
I remember one time someone I followed (Corporate Natalie) made a funny video about how WFH can affect your mental health and the amount of backlash she got in the comments...She then gave into the pressure and made a video about hating having to return back into the office to please the algorithm/her followers.
I love the throwbacks to early technology and it made me realise how much less harmful it was back then.
It also made me brainstorm ways in which I can find/build my own in person communities and they were all really useful suggestions.
I'm not the most social media addicted person there is & try to refrain from this as much as i can- i avoid looking at my phone in the morning, i will try and find the more analog slow way of doing things and have frequent digital detoxes, so i felt like a lot of the suggestions were for people who were massively addicted to social media platforms.
However this book was eye opening to me. As someone who never really considered themselves addicted to social media, i was surprised when upon reflection, I realised that certain things e.g. all aspects of planning my wedding were influenced by social media. Things like "bridesmaid proposals" were never a thing before social media. Hen dos were probably just in the pub rather than everyone feeling like they need a fancy abroad hen do because of the social media pressure. I found myself influenced by a lot of people from social media without me even really realising! It also has just made me more conscious to not get so easily influenced either online or offline.
It made me realise the ways in which I'm not authentic (both online AND offline eg in the workplace). In my industry (i work in the legal sector), self censorship is key and you are prohibited from being vocal about your opinions etc.
I think its helped me realise how important it is to maintain your authenticity in your opinions despite how social media tries to convince everyone to think in the same way. For example, I hate working from home (another reason why i feel like i'm constantly "connected" and i crave actual human contact and connection with) and social media makes me feel like an alien for holding this belief because people who make content for social media prefer to make content about how much they love WFH & hate companies planning office returns because those sorts of videos please the algorithm more.
I remember one time someone I followed (Corporate Natalie) made a funny video about how WFH can affect your mental health and the amount of backlash she got in the comments...She then gave into the pressure and made a video about hating having to return back into the office to please the algorithm/her followers.
I love the throwbacks to early technology and it made me realise how much less harmful it was back then.
It also made me brainstorm ways in which I can find/build my own in person communities and they were all really useful suggestions.
April 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This audiobook was an interesting peek into the way the Internet has taken over our lives and, in some ways, has us squirming in a chokehold we aren't even trying to escape. I'm one of those people whose childhood involved a lot more running around outside with friends and spending every extra minute at the local stable than computers and smartphones. I got my first mobile phone at the age of 17, for crying out loud, the thing cost a fortune and could be used for exactly two things - calling and texting.
Right now, though, I'm just as bad as everybody else. Computers are an absolute must in my line of work, and I spend far, far too much time hunched over my smartphone in my free time. I worry constantly about my teenager, who was born into this craziness and considers it to be perfectly normal, because all her friends are exactly the same. Mother's Day is coming up, and after listening to this audiobook I decided to tell my family to forget about the roses and other paraphernalia - what I want, and what I'm going to insist upon this year, is a smartphone-free day. My family is not going to cheer, I suspect, but that's just too bad. Roses aren't going to cut it this time.
In a nutshell, this audiobook was a welcome reminder to step back and take a critical look at your online presence and social media consumption. Are you the same person online and in real life? Do you actually have real connections with the people you are 'friends' with? Are you following accounts that make you miserable, or do you get something meaningful out of them? Just how addicted are you to that smartphone you're holding right now? All important questions that deserve an answer.
I can't say that this audiobook had any substantial new information - if you've ever been the slightest bit worried about your screen time, you'll already be aware of these things - but it was still a little nudge and a reminder to keep thinking. There are also many simple and useful exercises to try, like calling somebody you haven't heard from in years instead of just clicking 'like' on their post. The audiobook was also very well narrated (by the author herself, I believe) and pleasant to listen to.
This audiobook was an interesting peek into the way the Internet has taken over our lives and, in some ways, has us squirming in a chokehold we aren't even trying to escape. I'm one of those people whose childhood involved a lot more running around outside with friends and spending every extra minute at the local stable than computers and smartphones. I got my first mobile phone at the age of 17, for crying out loud, the thing cost a fortune and could be used for exactly two things - calling and texting.
Right now, though, I'm just as bad as everybody else. Computers are an absolute must in my line of work, and I spend far, far too much time hunched over my smartphone in my free time. I worry constantly about my teenager, who was born into this craziness and considers it to be perfectly normal, because all her friends are exactly the same. Mother's Day is coming up, and after listening to this audiobook I decided to tell my family to forget about the roses and other paraphernalia - what I want, and what I'm going to insist upon this year, is a smartphone-free day. My family is not going to cheer, I suspect, but that's just too bad. Roses aren't going to cut it this time.
In a nutshell, this audiobook was a welcome reminder to step back and take a critical look at your online presence and social media consumption. Are you the same person online and in real life? Do you actually have real connections with the people you are 'friends' with? Are you following accounts that make you miserable, or do you get something meaningful out of them? Just how addicted are you to that smartphone you're holding right now? All important questions that deserve an answer.
I can't say that this audiobook had any substantial new information - if you've ever been the slightest bit worried about your screen time, you'll already be aware of these things - but it was still a little nudge and a reminder to keep thinking. There are also many simple and useful exercises to try, like calling somebody you haven't heard from in years instead of just clicking 'like' on their post. The audiobook was also very well narrated (by the author herself, I believe) and pleasant to listen to.
October 1, 2022
3 stars
I found a lot of the self-reflection prompts to be helpful and will definitely be consulting my newly-generated list of offline activities next time I feel the telltale "disconnected" symptom of being terminally online. However, in the book's second half, Gannon repeatedly contradicts herself. How can she be cognizant of how harmful the influencer industrial complex is and yet praise the idea of "life coaches" and consultants at the same time... it feels like a massive contradiction to her concept of authenticity. But since she is a person who makes a living off the internet economy, essentially, that's not necessarily surprising. She is also bizarrely pro-cop. Like, jarringly so. This might be the first time I've ever seen someone praise the NextDoor app with a straight face, and she goes so far as to suggest people should use it to "solve local crimes" (not a direct quote because I'm too lazy to look it up, but a faithful paraphrase). Wtf! I was also confused by her weird insistence that people should always be open to political conversations with other people with whom they have fundamental disagreements. Sorry, but no. Gannon pays lip service to the need to protect marginalized people in online spaces, but it didn't feel very genuine by the end of the book as a result of everything else she said regarding what qualifies as healthy discourse. She also seems very confused about what "cancellation" actually entails or who it happens to in practice. It certainly doesn't tend to stick for the people who actually deserve it.
So yeah, she had me for the first half of the book and by the end of the second half I was thinking "is she... a Tory?" At the very least, she seems very paranoid.
I found a lot of the self-reflection prompts to be helpful and will definitely be consulting my newly-generated list of offline activities next time I feel the telltale "disconnected" symptom of being terminally online. However, in the book's second half, Gannon repeatedly contradicts herself. How can she be cognizant of how harmful the influencer industrial complex is and yet praise the idea of "life coaches" and consultants at the same time... it feels like a massive contradiction to her concept of authenticity. But since she is a person who makes a living off the internet economy, essentially, that's not necessarily surprising. She is also bizarrely pro-cop. Like, jarringly so. This might be the first time I've ever seen someone praise the NextDoor app with a straight face, and she goes so far as to suggest people should use it to "solve local crimes" (not a direct quote because I'm too lazy to look it up, but a faithful paraphrase). Wtf! I was also confused by her weird insistence that people should always be open to political conversations with other people with whom they have fundamental disagreements. Sorry, but no. Gannon pays lip service to the need to protect marginalized people in online spaces, but it didn't feel very genuine by the end of the book as a result of everything else she said regarding what qualifies as healthy discourse. She also seems very confused about what "cancellation" actually entails or who it happens to in practice. It certainly doesn't tend to stick for the people who actually deserve it.
So yeah, she had me for the first half of the book and by the end of the second half I was thinking "is she... a Tory?" At the very least, she seems very paranoid.
April 12, 2022
If you are currently re-examining your relationship to social media, or trying to re-form your relationship to the internet in general, RUN to your nearest bookstore to pick up this book.
I've read a spate of books about modern society's relationship to the internet, and I think this is one of the best. It is definitely the most helpful because Emma Gannon included workbook-esque prompts you can complete that help you reflect on yourself as a citizen of the net/ a human.
This is a piece that is so needed because Gannon writes from a genuine place because of her own relationship to social media. Unlike other writers/pundits about this topic, Gannon does not shame her reader. She doesn't prescribe, she doesn't tell us what we should or shouldn't do. She talks about what we can do. She talks about how we can re-frame not reject. It's extremely refreshing to hear these takes from someone who acknowledges that cutting out all social media / internet is not just hard, it can literally be impossible.
What she does focus on is ideas, tips and tricks about how to bring our humanity online. How to re connect with ourselves and others offline while simultaneously using the internet as a force for strong communities and conversations.
Emma Gannon writes in a young, fresh voice that makes you feel like you're just having a chat with your friend. What I appreciated the most was how she talks about her own need for validation on social media as it's something we all experienced. I appreciate how open she is about that.
This is such a short, quick read, I highly recommend that all citizens of the internet pick it up. I can't wait to turn some of my reflections into actions.
I've read a spate of books about modern society's relationship to the internet, and I think this is one of the best. It is definitely the most helpful because Emma Gannon included workbook-esque prompts you can complete that help you reflect on yourself as a citizen of the net/ a human.
This is a piece that is so needed because Gannon writes from a genuine place because of her own relationship to social media. Unlike other writers/pundits about this topic, Gannon does not shame her reader. She doesn't prescribe, she doesn't tell us what we should or shouldn't do. She talks about what we can do. She talks about how we can re-frame not reject. It's extremely refreshing to hear these takes from someone who acknowledges that cutting out all social media / internet is not just hard, it can literally be impossible.
What she does focus on is ideas, tips and tricks about how to bring our humanity online. How to re connect with ourselves and others offline while simultaneously using the internet as a force for strong communities and conversations.
Emma Gannon writes in a young, fresh voice that makes you feel like you're just having a chat with your friend. What I appreciated the most was how she talks about her own need for validation on social media as it's something we all experienced. I appreciate how open she is about that.
This is such a short, quick read, I highly recommend that all citizens of the internet pick it up. I can't wait to turn some of my reflections into actions.
August 14, 2023
2.5/5 ⭐⭐
First of all, I like Emma's writing because it feels relatable and easily understood. There's no pretentiousness or buzzwords. She's an open book - vulnerable, critical, intelligent. I enjoy her creations (books + podcast + her Instagram account) A LOT. I will continue reading her writing because it makes me think and question certain things. There's no doubt here.
Now, going back to Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World. It's a short and critical book about what it means to be online. She questions lots of essential things - do we have internet fatigue? Are we all influencers? How to be a good online citizen? And many more. These topics are important to me, and I enjoyed reading her thoughts.
However, I wish she had discussed some things in more detail and offered her own personal tips on how she handles certain things. For example, internet trolls. As an online creator, does she block them? Report? Ignore? Also, some ideas were too repetitive and not that original. Finally, I was not too fond of the prompts at the end of each chapter. They felt distracting.
All in all, it is a quick book that you can finish in a half-day. The topics Emma discusses are important and relevant to everyone who uses the internet. However, at the same time, there's nothing ground-breaking here. The book is a nice reminder to continue questioning ourselves and not take things for granted online.
First of all, I like Emma's writing because it feels relatable and easily understood. There's no pretentiousness or buzzwords. She's an open book - vulnerable, critical, intelligent. I enjoy her creations (books + podcast + her Instagram account) A LOT. I will continue reading her writing because it makes me think and question certain things. There's no doubt here.
Now, going back to Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World. It's a short and critical book about what it means to be online. She questions lots of essential things - do we have internet fatigue? Are we all influencers? How to be a good online citizen? And many more. These topics are important to me, and I enjoyed reading her thoughts.
However, I wish she had discussed some things in more detail and offered her own personal tips on how she handles certain things. For example, internet trolls. As an online creator, does she block them? Report? Ignore? Also, some ideas were too repetitive and not that original. Finally, I was not too fond of the prompts at the end of each chapter. They felt distracting.
All in all, it is a quick book that you can finish in a half-day. The topics Emma discusses are important and relevant to everyone who uses the internet. However, at the same time, there's nothing ground-breaking here. The book is a nice reminder to continue questioning ourselves and not take things for granted online.
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