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James Acaster's Guide to Quitting Social Media
This is a self help book like no other. Because you are not helping yourself, James Acaster is helping you.
When James quit all forms of social media in 2019 he felt like he'd been born anew, but he was worried he'd suffer withdrawal and get lured back online to compete in a never ending popularity contest with only one possible winner (f*cking Zuckerberg). He knew that in order to stay clean he'd have to replace everything social media used to give him with three-dimensional, real-life activities.
And so it was that James found ways to anonymously bully strangers, see photos of everyone's dogs, get invited to as many parties as possible, immediately know about all celebrity deaths, get public figures fired, argue with everybody about everything, and so much more without even owning a phone (he painted over the screen of his old one to stop himself looking at Instagram).
His life is amazing and yours could be too if you buy JAMES ACASTER'S GUIDE TO QUITTING SOCIAL MEDIA, BEING THE BEST YOU YOU CAN BE AND SAVING YOURSELF FROM LONELINESS VOL. 1.
You will also need to do everything the book tells you to. Including helping us promote the book by tweeting about it.
When James quit all forms of social media in 2019 he felt like he'd been born anew, but he was worried he'd suffer withdrawal and get lured back online to compete in a never ending popularity contest with only one possible winner (f*cking Zuckerberg). He knew that in order to stay clean he'd have to replace everything social media used to give him with three-dimensional, real-life activities.
And so it was that James found ways to anonymously bully strangers, see photos of everyone's dogs, get invited to as many parties as possible, immediately know about all celebrity deaths, get public figures fired, argue with everybody about everything, and so much more without even owning a phone (he painted over the screen of his old one to stop himself looking at Instagram).
His life is amazing and yours could be too if you buy JAMES ACASTER'S GUIDE TO QUITTING SOCIAL MEDIA, BEING THE BEST YOU YOU CAN BE AND SAVING YOURSELF FROM LONELINESS VOL. 1.
You will also need to do everything the book tells you to. Including helping us promote the book by tweeting about it.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
352 people are currently reading
2186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
August 20, 2022
Maybe a bit too much? | I'm glad I went for the audiobook, I can't imagine the print version is as funny, lacking Acaster's delivery. He makes me laugh in everything he does, but I think this is a single joke that goes on too long. If you enjoyed his set of Netflix specials, this is the same concept, ostensibly autobiographical but actually fiction, and the Character James cluelessly creates the problems he's railing against throughout. This worked terrifically well in three stand-up routines separated by intermissions, I'm not sure it works as fully for seven hours of audiobook. It became a bit repetitive and the final payoff was insignificant, without the twist that he often delivers. Maybe break it up, and listen to it an hour at a time, with a few days between each. If you didn't enjoy his Netflix specials, skip this in favor of James Acaster's Classic Scrapes, and if you're unfamiliar with Acaster, don't start here, begin with his stand-up (Netflix or Cold Lasagna or really even his appearances on panel shows).
August 21, 2022
sad times, I expected James Acaster’s view on quitting social media and how he actually did it + thoughts and it to be realistically based on his life, and so when it wasn’t that and quite fictitious, I was just surprised. It was very inherently ‘James Acaster’, but somehow shockingly, I did not absolutely adore it. I do, however, see the value in what he has written and know others with different expectations would adore everything about this, as I expected myself to as well.
August 21, 2022
Surreal and brilliant. If you loved his 3 part Netflix special , you will love this. I listened to the audiobook and I feel that’s the way to get the best experience.
I laughed out loud constantly.
I laughed out loud constantly.
September 21, 2022
God he's good. Sustaining this bit for the length of an entire book. Making me laugh out loud many times. Serving up genuinely devastating criticisms of how we all behave on the internet, hidden in this absurd Trojan horse of a comedy book. Pure gold.
August 27, 2022
Oh my god this was absolutely rubbish. Really enjoy James Acaster's standup and podcasts. Perfect Sound Whatever was a great book. But this is just drivel.
It's like a single joke that has been draaaaaaaagged out into a whole book. At least he isn't on social media so won't see this review.
😴🤳📱
It's like a single joke that has been draaaaaaaagged out into a whole book. At least he isn't on social media so won't see this review.
😴🤳📱
October 12, 2022
10/10 wholeheartedly agree with everything that was penned and very much about to tar over all of my devices. Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique etc.
November 25, 2022
Way too long.
The audio book was funny for about 30 minutes but it got boring and repetitive soon after.
The audio book was funny for about 30 minutes but it got boring and repetitive soon after.
November 17, 2023
3.5 stars. i love james acaster and this was definitely as funny as i thought it would be, if a little repetitive at times.
September 13, 2022
Incredibly silly and absurd, v funny
Listened to at work in my very boring ditch, was exactly the tonic I needed, this will be my last update before painting my phone with tar and signing off social media forever
Listened to at work in my very boring ditch, was exactly the tonic I needed, this will be my last update before painting my phone with tar and signing off social media forever
September 2, 2022
I wanted to love this because I LOVE James Acaster. I even bought the audio book because I wanted to hear him read it. I’m sure it definitely is the way to go, because he definitely adds to the production value but the book was not for me. Definitely too weird and I can’t imagine if I bought the paper copy that I would’ve made it as far as I did in the audio book. I likely won’t finish it.
August 26, 2022
A funny satire of the social media age, winningly told in James' brilliant voice. Good fun.
January 19, 2023
Pretty disappointing. If 'Classic Scrapes' was his memoirs/genuinely funny anecdotes honed over time, and 'Perfect Sound Whatever' was an interesting deep dive into music (which appealed to me as a big music fan with wide-ranging tastes), this is basically just one long, incredibly overworked joke/allegory.
Given that the fact that Acaster has come off social media is fairly well known you might expect this to be an interesting reflection on his experience. Instead it's a long piece of fiction about trying to do everything you would normally do online (making friends, bullying people, creating memes...) but in an offline, analog world. For me the joke wore thin quite quickly. it could work as a five-minute routine, but I struggled with a five-hour read. Any sub-textual criticisms or analysis made about our relationship with social media were pretty low-hanging. It wasn't particularly enjoyable either.
I can imagine the audio book would be better. I feel like I've seen enough of his material to have a decent rendition of his "voice" and delivery in my head - and a lot of it was pretty Acaster-y - but even then it did fall flat on the page.
Would give this one a miss.
Given that the fact that Acaster has come off social media is fairly well known you might expect this to be an interesting reflection on his experience. Instead it's a long piece of fiction about trying to do everything you would normally do online (making friends, bullying people, creating memes...) but in an offline, analog world. For me the joke wore thin quite quickly. it could work as a five-minute routine, but I struggled with a five-hour read. Any sub-textual criticisms or analysis made about our relationship with social media were pretty low-hanging. It wasn't particularly enjoyable either.
I can imagine the audio book would be better. I feel like I've seen enough of his material to have a decent rendition of his "voice" and delivery in my head - and a lot of it was pretty Acaster-y - but even then it did fall flat on the page.
Would give this one a miss.
August 21, 2022
Absolute gibberish and not in a good way!
I have read/listened to James’s last two books which I enjoyed but this one is a book with nothing to say. I can only assume that the story came to him while in a fever dream.
I have read/listened to James’s last two books which I enjoyed but this one is a book with nothing to say. I can only assume that the story came to him while in a fever dream.
March 24, 2024
3.5 Stars
I wasn't entirely sure what I was walking into when I started this book, but I must say, I'm very pleased with how it ended up. This was a slow start for me, once again because I wasn't entirely sure what the actual theme was, or what tone it was meant to express, but once I'd gotten into it and started to understand what was going on, I enjoyed this thoroughly.
This was such an interesting take on the whole social media debate. It managed to express perfectly how stupid everything we do on social media is and how insane a lot of these things would be if we did them in real life. The ridiculous scenarios shown in this book managed to be super comedic while also getting it's point across. I also have to mention how very James Acaster this book was. You could hear his voice shining throughout this read, it read like attending one of his shows - pretty amazing if you ask me.
Now, this book is advertised as a Vol. 1 so I think it's safe to assume another will be released in the future? I certainly haven't heard anything about it yet but I will be keeping my ears peeled for any news.
I wasn't entirely sure what I was walking into when I started this book, but I must say, I'm very pleased with how it ended up. This was a slow start for me, once again because I wasn't entirely sure what the actual theme was, or what tone it was meant to express, but once I'd gotten into it and started to understand what was going on, I enjoyed this thoroughly.
This was such an interesting take on the whole social media debate. It managed to express perfectly how stupid everything we do on social media is and how insane a lot of these things would be if we did them in real life. The ridiculous scenarios shown in this book managed to be super comedic while also getting it's point across. I also have to mention how very James Acaster this book was. You could hear his voice shining throughout this read, it read like attending one of his shows - pretty amazing if you ask me.
Now, this book is advertised as a Vol. 1 so I think it's safe to assume another will be released in the future? I certainly haven't heard anything about it yet but I will be keeping my ears peeled for any news.
August 5, 2025
grappig maar misschien net iets te langdradig
January 12, 2023
I thought I was destined to love everything James Acaster and this was much more of a...like. Fitting really.
When I started the book, I hadn't realised it was the fictitious tale of an almost a whimsical, parodixical version of James Acaster and his experience of quitting social media. Since James *did* quit social media (or did he? I'll be keeping my eye out for Jaym Baecaster), I expected an actual exploration of that whereas this felt, tonally, more like James' earlier stand-up where he hid more behind a persona. As a stand-up, I think I could have enjoyed this tangent of a tale, but as a book it felt like the joke was becoming increasingly laboured.
I did still laugh plenty of times throughout and I thought it was a very clever way of putting the spotlight on how bizarre social media is when you apply it to "real life" but not my favourite work from James.
When I started the book, I hadn't realised it was the fictitious tale of an almost a whimsical, parodixical version of James Acaster and his experience of quitting social media. Since James *did* quit social media (or did he? I'll be keeping my eye out for Jaym Baecaster), I expected an actual exploration of that whereas this felt, tonally, more like James' earlier stand-up where he hid more behind a persona. As a stand-up, I think I could have enjoyed this tangent of a tale, but as a book it felt like the joke was becoming increasingly laboured.
I did still laugh plenty of times throughout and I thought it was a very clever way of putting the spotlight on how bizarre social media is when you apply it to "real life" but not my favourite work from James.
September 11, 2022
This book was quite funny. I listened to it as an audiobook and would only really recommend it in this form because I don’t think his comedy translates without his delivery.
It was also especially entertaining since I have quit social media (barring this site and LinkedIn) because it does highlight the bizarre cultural norms which have developed from social media.
The comedy was at times relatable and at others absurdly silly which I liked a lot. I do think it could be very polarising though which may be why the reviews are a little lower.
It was also especially entertaining since I have quit social media (barring this site and LinkedIn) because it does highlight the bizarre cultural norms which have developed from social media.
The comedy was at times relatable and at others absurdly silly which I liked a lot. I do think it could be very polarising though which may be why the reviews are a little lower.
February 24, 2023
James is hilarious and this book made me giggle the whole way through, it’s very silly satire that makes some very good points if you can find them. I highly recommend the audio book as I’m not sure it would be as funny on the written page. I enjoyed it but as its one big long running joke, it does get a bit much and feels a bit too long.
August 28, 2022
Like Daisy Jones and the Six, this book was meant to be listened to. I 100% suggest that everyone listens to the audiobook- absolutely hilarious. This book is a cross between what we loved about Repertoire and The Colbert Report. Do NOT expect this story to actually strongly resemble the real life of James Acaster…that would be a rookie mistake- especially because he said he wanted this to be a fiction book.
This story is so funny because it does extol the dangers and drawbacks of social media but also recognizes how an “offline” alternative is not necessarily a 1:1 ratio. As someone who listens to the Off Menu podcast I loved to see the return of Jason Mackenzie. Additionally, the name “Jane Bacaster” gave me “Ped Pambles” vibes- so s/o to Brett Goldstein for that.
If you want to laugh at just some absolutely absurd ways of living, this book is definitely for you. If you’re looking for an actual self help guide that will help you delete social media….why did you come to James Acaster for that advice in the first place.
Granted, this review is incredibly biased because I would listen to James Acaster explain how he views the world for hours. After watching a video of his interpretation of Pinocchio and Nish Kumar saying that he wanted a James Acaster interpretation of the Bible…I cannot help but agree.
What an absolutely wild rollercoaster ride from a fictional version of James Acaster.
This story is so funny because it does extol the dangers and drawbacks of social media but also recognizes how an “offline” alternative is not necessarily a 1:1 ratio. As someone who listens to the Off Menu podcast I loved to see the return of Jason Mackenzie. Additionally, the name “Jane Bacaster” gave me “Ped Pambles” vibes- so s/o to Brett Goldstein for that.
If you want to laugh at just some absolutely absurd ways of living, this book is definitely for you. If you’re looking for an actual self help guide that will help you delete social media….why did you come to James Acaster for that advice in the first place.
Granted, this review is incredibly biased because I would listen to James Acaster explain how he views the world for hours. After watching a video of his interpretation of Pinocchio and Nish Kumar saying that he wanted a James Acaster interpretation of the Bible…I cannot help but agree.
What an absolutely wild rollercoaster ride from a fictional version of James Acaster.
August 31, 2022
This book is wacky, ridiculous, hilarious, and insightful—which is how I feel about nearly everything I’ve seen and listened to by James Acaster. I can’t explain why I love him so much, and he wouldn’t appreciate this level of attachment from a stranger, but I can’t seem to help it. I am a fan—through and through.
FYI: it does have a fair amount of strong language. (Don’t be mad, James. I don’t think anyone is reading my reviews, but in case I have friends who are and who wouldn’t appreciate that, I want to give them a heads up.)
FYI: it does have a fair amount of strong language. (Don’t be mad, James. I don’t think anyone is reading my reviews, but in case I have friends who are and who wouldn’t appreciate that, I want to give them a heads up.)
August 25, 2022
I wanted to love this, like I'd loved most everything else James has written. However this is the first thing of his I haven't enjoyed. I listened to the audiobook and didn't laugh once. I'll go listen to Classic Scrapes again.
September 26, 2022
If you’re a fan of James Acaster’s comedy, you’ll enjoy this!
February 25, 2023
James Acaster is one of the most enjoyable UK celebrities in the nation's current roster so it is not surprising that the audiobook of this is pretty great. It does, however, feel like a bit of a trip, especially if - like myself - you try to get through it in one sitting. Sometimes it just gets too much.
I found myself drifting off from time to time (and no, James, not to look at my screen) but whenever I jumped back in, I would quickly find myself giggling. So it is perhaps best suited to being listened to in sections and not as an introduction to Acaster's comedy (he is a pretty excellent comedian and comedy panelist).
I found myself drifting off from time to time (and no, James, not to look at my screen) but whenever I jumped back in, I would quickly find myself giggling. So it is perhaps best suited to being listened to in sections and not as an introduction to Acaster's comedy (he is a pretty excellent comedian and comedy panelist).
January 14, 2024
Classic Acaster comedy which is always a hit, but audiobook was definitely the better option here. Can’t imagine the absurdist comedy landing as well without the voice behind it. All in all the pace felt quite slow as once you get into the rhythm of stories being “off the wall”, each new chapter slightly loses its edge. Nevertheless the final resolution brought it all back together in a neat way that used all the content to come to a funny end. Glad I’ve conquered it but unfortunately ended up feeling more eager to just get it done.
January 3, 2024
I'm a big James Acaster fan and this was a silly comedy romp with him, but it was quite repetitive and I'm not huge fan of comedy character books, which this is.
I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I think I enjoyed more, because he's so animated and I'd recommend for fans of him to do the same because it's a lot of fun that way.
I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I think I enjoyed more, because he's so animated and I'd recommend for fans of him to do the same because it's a lot of fun that way.
May 11, 2024
i am a massive fan of this man and his comedy but that being said, i massively prefer his comedy when it’s about himself (i don’t know if that makes sense). there was a few bits which did make me genuinely laugh but i found myself not wanting to listen due to the sheer length of the book which did put me off so i ended up not finishing it. hopefully the other two books he has done will be more up my street 🤞
July 2, 2024
This book took me by surprise, I knew enough to expect I wouldn't ACTUALLY be getting grade A advice on quitting twitter, but I was unprepared for the level that Acaster's comedy would rip social media use a new one. The antics of the Tangfastic Crew are individually quite funny, bt also a pretty great parody of the reasons people do what they do online! Definitely recommend if you like his comedy!
March 3, 2023
This book is everything I thought it would be, so funny that it had me laughing out loud so many times. Would definitely recommend the audiobook because some of the jokes will only be funny when told by James Acaster, not if you just read them. His humour is brilliant and it's a very funny satire about social media.
August 25, 2022
Very entertaining, and I now know how to survive without social media. I imagine the written version is not as good as James' delivery in the audiobook. And yes, the Spokespeople is the cleverest part of the book (closely follwed by the Papermen (all the toughness of men and all the fragility of paper)).
September 21, 2022
Absolutely smashed through the audiobook of this, it's quality.
Surreal, absurd and absolutely classic acaster. Fantastic.
Surreal, absurd and absolutely classic acaster. Fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews