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Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness
If you're not 100% satisfied with your life, read this book.
Feel like life is passing you by as you struggle to focus and find peace? If daily distractions, lingering past trauma, and the fear of missed opportunities haunt you, Unplug Your Robot is your essential guide to breaking free.
Here’s how to feel enthusiastic and happy on a daily basis.
Many believe happiness comes from changing their circumstances—making more money, finding a different partner, or buying a bigger house. It doesn't. Lasting happiness has nothing to do with external factors.
The formula for long-term happiness is simple:
Step #1: Unplug the robot—this is all the Not You (the conditioning, the stories, and the unhelpful beliefs you've picked up from friends, family, teachers, and society).
Step #2: Connect with the Real You—Rediscover the person who is inherently complete, content, and capable of happiness.
This isn't just another self-help book; it's a blueprint for lasting happiness and mental strength. Bestselling author Karin Kiser delivers practical tools and insights for those wrestling with ADHD, anxiety, or simply the nagging sense that they’re not living their best life.
Develop a complete system for creating the life you were meant to live, rather than the one your parents, your college degree, or society thinks you should be living:
• Navigate life’s chaos with a clear mind. Overcome the paralyzing effects of past traumas and the constant buzz of anxiety. Learn to trust in your innate capacity to lead a vibrant and meaningful life.
• Regain control of your happiness and mental space. When you understand the mechanics of your mind, you will have the tools needed to transform your life from the inside out. Essential for digital detox and better focus, these strategies will program your thought patterns and behaviors to liberate you from automatic habits and ingrained patterns and add more meaning to your life.
Begin today and unlock a life filled with focus, peace, and enthusiasm.
Feel like life is passing you by as you struggle to focus and find peace? If daily distractions, lingering past trauma, and the fear of missed opportunities haunt you, Unplug Your Robot is your essential guide to breaking free.
Here’s how to feel enthusiastic and happy on a daily basis.
Many believe happiness comes from changing their circumstances—making more money, finding a different partner, or buying a bigger house. It doesn't. Lasting happiness has nothing to do with external factors.
The formula for long-term happiness is simple:
Step #1: Unplug the robot—this is all the Not You (the conditioning, the stories, and the unhelpful beliefs you've picked up from friends, family, teachers, and society).
Step #2: Connect with the Real You—Rediscover the person who is inherently complete, content, and capable of happiness.
This isn't just another self-help book; it's a blueprint for lasting happiness and mental strength. Bestselling author Karin Kiser delivers practical tools and insights for those wrestling with ADHD, anxiety, or simply the nagging sense that they’re not living their best life.
Develop a complete system for creating the life you were meant to live, rather than the one your parents, your college degree, or society thinks you should be living:
• Navigate life’s chaos with a clear mind. Overcome the paralyzing effects of past traumas and the constant buzz of anxiety. Learn to trust in your innate capacity to lead a vibrant and meaningful life.
• Regain control of your happiness and mental space. When you understand the mechanics of your mind, you will have the tools needed to transform your life from the inside out. Essential for digital detox and better focus, these strategies will program your thought patterns and behaviors to liberate you from automatic habits and ingrained patterns and add more meaning to your life.
Begin today and unlock a life filled with focus, peace, and enthusiasm.
- GenresNonfiction
125 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2022
About the author
Karin Kiser
14 books29 followersAward-winning author Karin Kiser is founder of Radical Simplicity and author of 10 books, including Unplug Your Robot and the international bestseller Lighten Your Load. She helps people simplify and detox their lives so they can live at a higher level with more time, energy, simplicity and ease.
As a visionary, mentor and speaker, she inspires individuals around the world to greater health and happiness by helping them reduce the physical, mental and emotional toxins blocking their path. She is on a mission to help people live lives of joy, radiant health and regeneration, for themselves and for the planet.
Karin is also known as a transformational coach and Earth steward. In 2020, she created the pro bono Power of One Project to demonstrate how one person can reach thousands of people and positively impact the world. Using book proceeds and donations, she has funded more than 1,800 new trees that will be planted around the world.
When not on the West Coast, she can be found walking, writing, volunteering or leading cleanup efforts along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes.
Learn more about her work at KarinKiser.com and CaminoChroniclesPress.com.
As a visionary, mentor and speaker, she inspires individuals around the world to greater health and happiness by helping them reduce the physical, mental and emotional toxins blocking their path. She is on a mission to help people live lives of joy, radiant health and regeneration, for themselves and for the planet.
Karin is also known as a transformational coach and Earth steward. In 2020, she created the pro bono Power of One Project to demonstrate how one person can reach thousands of people and positively impact the world. Using book proceeds and donations, she has funded more than 1,800 new trees that will be planted around the world.
When not on the West Coast, she can be found walking, writing, volunteering or leading cleanup efforts along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes.
Learn more about her work at KarinKiser.com and CaminoChroniclesPress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 11, 2024
An original and excellent book
With this book, readers will realise how connected they are with their routines, whether they perform them consciously or not. “Unplug your robot” is definitely a must! Anyone who reads it will modify their life with simple changes.
Karin Kiser has come up with an original way to explain people that they live on autopilot all the time. She wants to show them that life is much more than having routines and habits.
So, in each chapter, the writer deals with specific points that will help people visualise what changes they should do to unwind, connect and add more awareness and meaning to your life.
What I liked is that it contains several questions to do a sort of introspection about your life; I found it didactic, engaging and inspirational. Without a doubt, I recommend it.
With this book, readers will realise how connected they are with their routines, whether they perform them consciously or not. “Unplug your robot” is definitely a must! Anyone who reads it will modify their life with simple changes.
Karin Kiser has come up with an original way to explain people that they live on autopilot all the time. She wants to show them that life is much more than having routines and habits.
So, in each chapter, the writer deals with specific points that will help people visualise what changes they should do to unwind, connect and add more awareness and meaning to your life.
What I liked is that it contains several questions to do a sort of introspection about your life; I found it didactic, engaging and inspirational. Without a doubt, I recommend it.
October 16, 2026
A Practical Reminder to Live Life on Your Own Terms
Unplug Your Robot explores how easily everyday routines, social expectations, and ingrained beliefs can turn life into an endless cycle of doing what is expected rather than what feels meaningful. Karin Kiser encourages readers to question the mental programming they have picked up over the years and reconnect with the parts of themselves that may have been pushed aside. Having read her other book, Happiness Unleashed, which I found useful, I was already familiar with her focus on making happiness a more intentional part of everyday life. This book builds on that idea by examining the habits and conditioning that can keep people stuck on autopilot.
One of the more interesting aspects of Kiser's approach is the reminder that lasting happiness doesn't necessarily require a dramatic life makeover or a perfectly arranged set of circumstances. Instead, the book encourages greater awareness of automatic reactions, limiting beliefs, and the pressure to live according to other people's expectations. I appreciated the emphasis on making small, deliberate changes, as these can feel much more manageable than trying to reinvent an entire life overnight. The practical exercises and reflective prompts also give readers something to work with beyond simply thinking about the ideas.
Unplug Your Robot is a useful read for anyone who feels caught in repetitive routines or suspects they have been following a script written by family, society, or past experiences. Some of the central ideas become repetitive as the book progresses, but its message about living more consciously remains worthwhile. Ultimately, Kiser invites readers to stop running on autopilot and start making choices that reflect who they genuinely want to be.
Unplug Your Robot explores how easily everyday routines, social expectations, and ingrained beliefs can turn life into an endless cycle of doing what is expected rather than what feels meaningful. Karin Kiser encourages readers to question the mental programming they have picked up over the years and reconnect with the parts of themselves that may have been pushed aside. Having read her other book, Happiness Unleashed, which I found useful, I was already familiar with her focus on making happiness a more intentional part of everyday life. This book builds on that idea by examining the habits and conditioning that can keep people stuck on autopilot.
One of the more interesting aspects of Kiser's approach is the reminder that lasting happiness doesn't necessarily require a dramatic life makeover or a perfectly arranged set of circumstances. Instead, the book encourages greater awareness of automatic reactions, limiting beliefs, and the pressure to live according to other people's expectations. I appreciated the emphasis on making small, deliberate changes, as these can feel much more manageable than trying to reinvent an entire life overnight. The practical exercises and reflective prompts also give readers something to work with beyond simply thinking about the ideas.
Unplug Your Robot is a useful read for anyone who feels caught in repetitive routines or suspects they have been following a script written by family, society, or past experiences. Some of the central ideas become repetitive as the book progresses, but its message about living more consciously remains worthwhile. Ultimately, Kiser invites readers to stop running on autopilot and start making choices that reflect who they genuinely want to be.
October 28, 2026
Karin's Unplug Your Robot is an encouraging self-help guide to mindful living. The author acts as the guide, and the reader has two goals. One is to stop living on autopilot, and the other is to find your real self. Curiosity is the most important trait in the book.
The book follows four clear steps: notice the robot, pull the plug, connect with your real self, and write a new story. She gives a quiz to see how much the robot is running your life. She also says many ideas in our heads came from parents, schools, and TV, and we never chose them. That can feel scary, because the title means you have to let go of old habits and old stories to be free.
The book’s message is useful, but it could have explained some ideas in more detail. Karen sometimes makes broad claims about society and the systems people follow. Readers may want more examples or evidence to support these claims. Overall, it is a thoughtful book about finding freedom from habits and beliefs that no longer help us.
The book follows four clear steps: notice the robot, pull the plug, connect with your real self, and write a new story. She gives a quiz to see how much the robot is running your life. She also says many ideas in our heads came from parents, schools, and TV, and we never chose them. That can feel scary, because the title means you have to let go of old habits and old stories to be free.
The book’s message is useful, but it could have explained some ideas in more detail. Karen sometimes makes broad claims about society and the systems people follow. Readers may want more examples or evidence to support these claims. Overall, it is a thoughtful book about finding freedom from habits and beliefs that no longer help us.
August 30, 2026
The Book We All Need in This Hyper‑Connected Age
This is a must read in this age online always connected age that studies have shown over and over again isn't healthy for our mind. This book shows you getting unplugged from our your devices, e.g., Phone, iPad, Computer, Internet in general, alone can greatly improve your sense of happiness.
This is a must read in this age online always connected age that studies have shown over and over again isn't healthy for our mind. This book shows you getting unplugged from our your devices, e.g., Phone, iPad, Computer, Internet in general, alone can greatly improve your sense of happiness.
October 20, 2026
Unplug Your Robot is a neat little book (and not an academic book) on how to unplug from all the busyness of today’s time. Just what is the robot? “…what we absorb from society, the mainstream, the proverbial, “they say…” It’s the collective conditioning, norms we’ve consciously or unconsciously accepted as true.”
When we were younger, as kids, we saw each day as a new day, for adventure. We had an abundance for curiosity. As we grew older, responsibility and influences caused us to allow our adventuring selves and curiosity to become buried or dim.
Unplug Your Robot contains practical steps to help the reader unplug from all the noise so that the reader can focus on living in the now, connecting with what made us curious as children, how to continue be adventurous, and how to enjoy life now. I think we all need to read this neat little book and learn how to live again. Aren’t you tired of living on autopilot?
When we were younger, as kids, we saw each day as a new day, for adventure. We had an abundance for curiosity. As we grew older, responsibility and influences caused us to allow our adventuring selves and curiosity to become buried or dim.
Unplug Your Robot contains practical steps to help the reader unplug from all the noise so that the reader can focus on living in the now, connecting with what made us curious as children, how to continue be adventurous, and how to enjoy life now. I think we all need to read this neat little book and learn how to live again. Aren’t you tired of living on autopilot?
October 22, 2026
One thing I liked about Unplug Your Robot is that it focuses on small, practical changes instead of big life changes. Kiser encourages us to pay more attention to our automatic reactions, question limiting beliefs, and worry less about what other people think. She also talks about the importance of self-love, kindness, staying positive, and living in the present moment.
The practical exercises and self-check tools are another strong point. Instead of just telling us to change our lives, Kiser encourages us to think about our habits and recognize where we may be going through life on autopilot.
The practical exercises and self-check tools are another strong point. Instead of just telling us to change our lives, Kiser encourages us to think about our habits and recognize where we may be going through life on autopilot.
October 19, 2026
Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness is a warm, practical reminder that real life is about more than just following routines and ticking boxes. Karin Kiser encourages us to step back, question our automatic habits, and reconnect with who we truly want to be.
What I took from this book is that you don’t always need a completely different life to feel happier. Sometimes we just need to look more carefully at the life we already have and notice the habits, fears, and expectations that stop us from enjoying it. While we can't control every situation, we can choose how we respond and the actions we take.
What I took from this book is that you don’t always need a completely different life to feel happier. Sometimes we just need to look more carefully at the life we already have and notice the habits, fears, and expectations that stop us from enjoying it. While we can't control every situation, we can choose how we respond and the actions we take.
May 26, 2022
I normally would not have picked up this book. It caught my attention a little. I ignored it but when it came back on Amazon's recommended list, I decided to read. I'm sure glad I did. The book is amazing. I have been reading, thinking and more thinking, exploring on what makes me happiest. This book was a God-send. I like to read books straight thru and then come back and explore the exercises. I couldn't on this one. Turned out to be a good thing too. The author was on the same page of my beliefs already. What took me a few minutes to grasp the word "robot" -- its meaning. One of the exercises towards the beginning was to difficult for me "closely monitor your thoughts for a day or two"...I could do it for 30 minutes every once in a while (lol). But all the other exercises were great. I completed every one of them after that. The results speak for myself. I'm happier than ever now. I changed a few beliefs, well probably more than a few, many to-dos and not to-dos. Habits don't change overnight. I did stick to them and/or returned to them when I did slip up. It's a work in progress. My happiness I thought was okay. Now it's way past okay. I never thought previously I could be this happy. I'm a writing and I struggled to keep my assets in the seat and get it done. Now, there's no issue. I jump out of bed excited for my adventures that day. I'm doing things and going places never tried before. And happy about it. Thank you Karin! Thank you very much for writing this book. I have recommended it to others and will keep doing so. Writing this summary has been on the top of my list but I've been writing so much for my book and articles, and happy doing so, I didn't want to stop. I could write another 10 pages on how much this has helped me. Even my coach and therapist haven't been able to do this. Highly recommend you read this.
January 12, 2024
This book got into my hands just at the right moment
“Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness” by Karin Kiser offers a very refreshing perspective on how to reclaim enthusiasm, joy, and fulfillment in our daily lives. Kiser invites readers to challenge the robotic routines that often dictate our actions and emotions, emphasizing the possibility of living a more empowered and purposeful existence. This book got into my hands just at the right moment. I was and I guess I still am stuck in a 9 to 5 job. My day to day looks exactly the same every single day. Even my weekend was the same this week as it was last week. But this book made me see that there is more to life than this. It really provides a plan that helps you to break free from unconscious routines and conditioning. The author’s writing is engaging and practical, making the concept of "unplugging your robot" accessible to everyone. This book does highly encourage readers to add optimism and joy to their lives, fostering a sense of clarity and purpose in each moment. I loved it. It gave my life another vibe and I started to think out of the box.
“Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness” by Karin Kiser offers a very refreshing perspective on how to reclaim enthusiasm, joy, and fulfillment in our daily lives. Kiser invites readers to challenge the robotic routines that often dictate our actions and emotions, emphasizing the possibility of living a more empowered and purposeful existence. This book got into my hands just at the right moment. I was and I guess I still am stuck in a 9 to 5 job. My day to day looks exactly the same every single day. Even my weekend was the same this week as it was last week. But this book made me see that there is more to life than this. It really provides a plan that helps you to break free from unconscious routines and conditioning. The author’s writing is engaging and practical, making the concept of "unplugging your robot" accessible to everyone. This book does highly encourage readers to add optimism and joy to their lives, fostering a sense of clarity and purpose in each moment. I loved it. It gave my life another vibe and I started to think out of the box.
January 13, 2024
guidance to shatter unconscious routines and societal expectations
"Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness" by Karin Kiser offers guidance to shatter unconscious routines and societal expectations, enabling readers to rediscover their true nature and live a more fulfilling life. The concept of "unplugging your robot" resonates as a call to break free from societal scripts and live more authentically. The author's approach is timely and addresses the widespread dissatisfaction many individuals feel. The book provides concrete steps to add awareness, synchronicity, freedom, and meaning to life. the author's insights and guidance are encouraging, making "Unplug Your Robot" a compelling read for anyone yearning for a more vibrant and fulfilling existence. This book can help you challenge the monotony of daily life and empower you to embrace optimism, joy, and purpose.
"Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness" by Karin Kiser offers guidance to shatter unconscious routines and societal expectations, enabling readers to rediscover their true nature and live a more fulfilling life. The concept of "unplugging your robot" resonates as a call to break free from societal scripts and live more authentically. The author's approach is timely and addresses the widespread dissatisfaction many individuals feel. The book provides concrete steps to add awareness, synchronicity, freedom, and meaning to life. the author's insights and guidance are encouraging, making "Unplug Your Robot" a compelling read for anyone yearning for a more vibrant and fulfilling existence. This book can help you challenge the monotony of daily life and empower you to embrace optimism, joy, and purpose.
January 11, 2024
A book to find happiness again!
It is a book to recollect yourself with the meaning of your life and be happy again without always being in automatic mode.
Life is much more than getting up every day at the same time, getting in the car, getting through the traffic, working and going home to sleep. Several times in my life, I have felt stuck doing repetitive tasks without any sense and without asking myself many questions. It is as if I were a robot, and the worst of all is that I have found a very dangerous comfort in it.
The eagerness to which we are accustomed makes us think that it is normal to be robots but the truth is that it is not and that in fact it is very important to disconnect that robot to find happiness and give meaning to our life. I totally recommend you this book!
It is a book to recollect yourself with the meaning of your life and be happy again without always being in automatic mode.
Life is much more than getting up every day at the same time, getting in the car, getting through the traffic, working and going home to sleep. Several times in my life, I have felt stuck doing repetitive tasks without any sense and without asking myself many questions. It is as if I were a robot, and the worst of all is that I have found a very dangerous comfort in it.
The eagerness to which we are accustomed makes us think that it is normal to be robots but the truth is that it is not and that in fact it is very important to disconnect that robot to find happiness and give meaning to our life. I totally recommend you this book!
January 12, 2024
I believe this book is just the right one for anyone. Unplug Your Robot give us in this read an incredible guide that will change our life. This book's perspective offers a practical roadmap to break free from monotonous routines and rediscover lasting happiness and purpose, helping me to find motivation and felt optimist about life, providing actionable steps to avoid unconscious habits that made us lose enthusiasm and joy.
I felt so related to each of the chapters and stories and I think that in this kind of books, it is such an important aspect, feeling connected with the author's stories and being able to find a book so easy to read with a lot of content that challenges the societal notion that life is about predictable routines, encouraging me to embrace the richness of experience.
I felt so related to each of the chapters and stories and I think that in this kind of books, it is such an important aspect, feeling connected with the author's stories and being able to find a book so easy to read with a lot of content that challenges the societal notion that life is about predictable routines, encouraging me to embrace the richness of experience.
April 15, 2024
This book touched the deepest fiber of my being. Every day on my way to work I ask myself if I am really living or just surviving. I tend to think that I live in a cyclical monotony where I fail to enjoy the little things, like walking or driving or even relating to people on autopilot.
Believe me when I tell you that this book opened not only my head but also my heart, I could, for the first time in a long time, be honest with myself and think about what I want for me.
The author has a sublime talent and that can be seen in every single page. I’ve to say that this is a title to read and reread at different moments of life, I believe that in each of them we will be able to obtain different answers.
Believe me when I tell you that this book opened not only my head but also my heart, I could, for the first time in a long time, be honest with myself and think about what I want for me.
The author has a sublime talent and that can be seen in every single page. I’ve to say that this is a title to read and reread at different moments of life, I believe that in each of them we will be able to obtain different answers.
January 11, 2024
Many times, we do not feel optimistic or positive when faced with different situations in our lives, but author Karin Kiser teaches us how to do this and live our lives fully.
In her book, "Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness", she proposes to change our habits and routines that do not allow us to fully enjoy our lives.
The phrase that resonated most in me from this reading is "optimism, joy and fulfillment are possible. Not just for some people"; without a doubt, a phrase that gives hope and encouragement to many. I certainly recommend this reading to all those readers wanting to change their lives.
In her book, "Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness", she proposes to change our habits and routines that do not allow us to fully enjoy our lives.
The phrase that resonated most in me from this reading is "optimism, joy and fulfillment are possible. Not just for some people"; without a doubt, a phrase that gives hope and encouragement to many. I certainly recommend this reading to all those readers wanting to change their lives.
January 17, 2024
"Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness" is a thought-provoking book about daily routine and the conditioning that limits the true experience of life. The author presents a practical and motivating approach to break free from the chains of repetitive and monotonous routines and habits and achieve a greater connection with oneself.
We are used to living in an automatic way, like a "robot" and even though this is what we believe to be normal, it should not be. This is what most limits our ability to experience fulfillment and joy.
It is a very complete book that addresses the various related topics and has invited me to change and improve.
We are used to living in an automatic way, like a "robot" and even though this is what we believe to be normal, it should not be. This is what most limits our ability to experience fulfillment and joy.
It is a very complete book that addresses the various related topics and has invited me to change and improve.
April 14, 2024
Unplug Your Robot is a book designed to help whoever reads it to get up and do something new. From people who lack motivation to people who live every single day the same way, Karin Kiser finds a way to change that for good.
I think the author addresses a very common condition of humankind, doing the same every day provides stability and, at the end of the day, it's what we were programmed to do since we're kids. That is not free, we are paying the cost of it, with anxiety, fear, demotivation, and who knows what else.
A recommended read for a variety of readers that share something in common: the desire to change
I think the author addresses a very common condition of humankind, doing the same every day provides stability and, at the end of the day, it's what we were programmed to do since we're kids. That is not free, we are paying the cost of it, with anxiety, fear, demotivation, and who knows what else.
A recommended read for a variety of readers that share something in common: the desire to change
April 17, 2024
Great book!
''Unplug Your Robot'' is a book that shows a very interesting strategy of how to free oneself from the monotony of life to discover happiness and optimism. The book probably deepens strategies to find joy in everyday moments, embrace change, and cultivate a positive mentality. Here you will learn how to break the routine and adapt to the new wishes in a shake. Sometimes, we don't know how to do it or even how to start and this book helps you find the way. The book is easy to read and useful, you will see the changes in your life. I found this book helpful and interesting, and I recommend it.
''Unplug Your Robot'' is a book that shows a very interesting strategy of how to free oneself from the monotony of life to discover happiness and optimism. The book probably deepens strategies to find joy in everyday moments, embrace change, and cultivate a positive mentality. Here you will learn how to break the routine and adapt to the new wishes in a shake. Sometimes, we don't know how to do it or even how to start and this book helps you find the way. The book is easy to read and useful, you will see the changes in your life. I found this book helpful and interesting, and I recommend it.
January 11, 2024
Unplug your robot
This book is geared towards getting you out of the routines that keep us monotonous in our approach to life. Our whole lives we have been conditioned to perform specific roles and in order to love fully, we need to break out of them to truly access our full potential. The book starts us off with a quiz that will determine how much of a robot we are in our lives so we can then go and figure out where we need to unplug. This was interesting and it was certainly enlightening. I think that it will help me get out of my routines.
This book is geared towards getting you out of the routines that keep us monotonous in our approach to life. Our whole lives we have been conditioned to perform specific roles and in order to love fully, we need to break out of them to truly access our full potential. The book starts us off with a quiz that will determine how much of a robot we are in our lives so we can then go and figure out where we need to unplug. This was interesting and it was certainly enlightening. I think that it will help me get out of my routines.
January 19, 2024
Unplugged!
This is my second Karin Kiser book and, like the first, this one is so helpful. Chapter after chapter I found myself saying, "Yep, I do that." Karin is an excellent writer and very thought-provoking with her books. Like her other books, she is actually available to answer questions you may have.
I HIGHLY recommend Karin's books for self-help and "unplugging." Thank you Karin for writing another winner. I'm still a work in progress but getting so much better at unplugging my robot.
This is my second Karin Kiser book and, like the first, this one is so helpful. Chapter after chapter I found myself saying, "Yep, I do that." Karin is an excellent writer and very thought-provoking with her books. Like her other books, she is actually available to answer questions you may have.
I HIGHLY recommend Karin's books for self-help and "unplugging." Thank you Karin for writing another winner. I'm still a work in progress but getting so much better at unplugging my robot.
October 17, 2025
For a short book in very understandable language, I found it to be helpful in the authors ideas and exercises.
I particularly liked the idea of journaling the ick in our past away.
Worth a read if you’re in therapy or have some things to deal with.
I particularly liked the idea of journaling the ick in our past away.
Worth a read if you’re in therapy or have some things to deal with.
December 31, 2024
This book has really made me think about my relationship to my phone (& my “robot”), will definitely reread & re complete the challenges in it
- kindle unlimited
- kindle unlimited
September 23, 2025
An excellent read
What a fine, inspirational book. Very concise and insightful, very eye opening and fun. I learned much about myself and how I want to live my life.
What a fine, inspirational book. Very concise and insightful, very eye opening and fun. I learned much about myself and how I want to live my life.
November 4, 2026
Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness by Karin Kiser is a self-help book that helps you reflect on your life today and find ways to live more happily by unplugging from the so-called “Robot” within.
In other words, “the Robot” is the collection of beliefs and assumptions we have acquired over the years, particularly during our school and college days. However, we haven’t tested them yet, and just as some knowledge it contains may be useful, others may prove worthless! E.g., we’ve learned that buying online is preferable because of significant discounts and other benefits. However, when it comes to buying ready-made clothes, we change the rule and buy from physical stores. Why? Because, unlike brick-and-mortar stores with trial rooms, online shopping doesn't allow us to try on a shirt or skirt and check whether it fits well before buying.
This is a short and pithy book of around 135 pages, consisting of four parts. To some extent, our “Robots” control each of us. Part One uses a quiz to help ascertain how much. Part Two deals with the issues you may face when attempting to unplug your “Robot” and how to overcome them. Once unplugged from the “Robot” , Part Three guides you towards reconnecting with your real self through intuition, nature, your heart, and the present moment. Finally, after you've altered and reconfigured yourself through the first three parts, Part Four guides you through rolling out version 2.0 of yourself and maintaining a happy and fulfilled lifestyle thereafter.
Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness builds on the common problems of life and the capabilities of the human mind we are aware of but often don't attach much importance to. For instance, we observe the “Robot” at work in us every day when we find ourselves repeating much the same actions we performed the previous day (if undisturbed). Unless something unusual happens (such as a serious accident on the road while you're out jogging in the morning), your “Robot” has already decided how long you should run, where you should turn back, whether to buy that packet of milk at the intersection on your way back, and then walk the remaining distance home! This book has only given a name— “the Robot” —to this familiar capability of the mind, something we have known about all along, haven’t we? Next, the book tells us of the incredible power of the mind to engage with “the Robot” and compel it to accept change.
Similarly, many of the book's recommendations come from recognizing and harnessing various capabilities of the mind (that we are aware of but didn’t think much about) to bring about desirable changes in how it works.
One noteworthy feature of this book is that, apart from a few widows/orphans, it is virtually free of grammatical and other errors.
That said, a problem I had with it is that it ventures into controversial territory that is better avoided. For example, the lines "Modern society does not encourage us to love and approve of ourselves. According to some religious teachings, we are all born sinners" (p. 115), are likely to unsettle readers who do believe that human beings are intrinsically flawed. Albert Einstein, regarded as a man of wisdom worldwide, appears to lean towards this view when he says, "It is easier to denature plutonium than it is to denature the evil spirit of man." Of course, the author has the right to hold her own opinion, but asserting it at this point may be unwise, as it risks opening the door to controversy that is unlikely to do anything useful to advance the book's purpose.
Overall, Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness is a well-written and useful self-help book. I recommend it to anyone who feels trapped in a monotonous, tedious, or shackled lifestyle and instead seeks true freedom, joy, and fulfillment.
According to the author, our Robot is "...what we absorb from society, the mainstream, the proverbial 'they say...' ...It's our collective conditioning, norms we've consciously or unconsciously accepted as true. We get this conditioning from our parents, our schools, our friends. It also comes from Hollywood movies, magazines, the nightly news, and television." (p. 13, Kindle edition).
In other words, “the Robot” is the collection of beliefs and assumptions we have acquired over the years, particularly during our school and college days. However, we haven’t tested them yet, and just as some knowledge it contains may be useful, others may prove worthless! E.g., we’ve learned that buying online is preferable because of significant discounts and other benefits. However, when it comes to buying ready-made clothes, we change the rule and buy from physical stores. Why? Because, unlike brick-and-mortar stores with trial rooms, online shopping doesn't allow us to try on a shirt or skirt and check whether it fits well before buying.
This is a short and pithy book of around 135 pages, consisting of four parts. To some extent, our “Robots” control each of us. Part One uses a quiz to help ascertain how much. Part Two deals with the issues you may face when attempting to unplug your “Robot” and how to overcome them. Once unplugged from the “Robot” , Part Three guides you towards reconnecting with your real self through intuition, nature, your heart, and the present moment. Finally, after you've altered and reconfigured yourself through the first three parts, Part Four guides you through rolling out version 2.0 of yourself and maintaining a happy and fulfilled lifestyle thereafter.
Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness builds on the common problems of life and the capabilities of the human mind we are aware of but often don't attach much importance to. For instance, we observe the “Robot” at work in us every day when we find ourselves repeating much the same actions we performed the previous day (if undisturbed). Unless something unusual happens (such as a serious accident on the road while you're out jogging in the morning), your “Robot” has already decided how long you should run, where you should turn back, whether to buy that packet of milk at the intersection on your way back, and then walk the remaining distance home! This book has only given a name— “the Robot” —to this familiar capability of the mind, something we have known about all along, haven’t we? Next, the book tells us of the incredible power of the mind to engage with “the Robot” and compel it to accept change.
Similarly, many of the book's recommendations come from recognizing and harnessing various capabilities of the mind (that we are aware of but didn’t think much about) to bring about desirable changes in how it works.
One noteworthy feature of this book is that, apart from a few widows/orphans, it is virtually free of grammatical and other errors.
That said, a problem I had with it is that it ventures into controversial territory that is better avoided. For example, the lines "Modern society does not encourage us to love and approve of ourselves. According to some religious teachings, we are all born sinners" (p. 115), are likely to unsettle readers who do believe that human beings are intrinsically flawed. Albert Einstein, regarded as a man of wisdom worldwide, appears to lean towards this view when he says, "It is easier to denature plutonium than it is to denature the evil spirit of man." Of course, the author has the right to hold her own opinion, but asserting it at this point may be unwise, as it risks opening the door to controversy that is unlikely to do anything useful to advance the book's purpose.
Overall, Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness is a well-written and useful self-help book. I recommend it to anyone who feels trapped in a monotonous, tedious, or shackled lifestyle and instead seeks true freedom, joy, and fulfillment.
November 7, 2026
What is the robot and how do we turn it off? The third book in the Dare to Be Aware Series, Unplug Your Robot is the radical wake-up call we all need to start living in the moment and embracing our authentic selves. Many of us spend our days mindlessly going about our routines and completing work. Our thoughts and opinions are based on life-long beliefs, and our free time is spent lost in mindless entertainment. We are stressed, anxious and unhappy and wonder what happened to our sense of joy and wonder; most importantly, we ask, how do we get it back?
The founder of Radical Simplicity and the author of multiple self-help books, Karin Kiser challenges readers to reevaluate every aspect of their lives. To do this, she encourages us to rigorously analyze our thoughts, actions and beliefs to ultimately identify the robot in our lives. Only once its effects have been uncovered, can audiences “pull the plug," to "connect to the real you and create a new story.”
Overall, I enjoyed Unplug Your Robot, and it helped me to confront some truths in my own life. We should all be periodically evaluating what we believe and why because life is too short to be dictated by “what we should do”, or “what has always been done.” While I don’t personally feel the need to aggressively analyze everything I know, asking these questions ensures that we are living the happiest and most fulfilled versions of ourselves. Words such as indoctrination and triggers may put some readers on edge, but this discomfort is also necessary to ensure that we put these concepts into practice. I appreciate that Kiser challenges us to go back to the basics and try to find the joy and wonder that we all felt as children, empowering us to pursue our life-long interests and reclaiming control over our lives. Additionally, examples from her own journey and simple exercises make Unplug Your Robot a worthwhile read for everyone.
The founder of Radical Simplicity and the author of multiple self-help books, Karin Kiser challenges readers to reevaluate every aspect of their lives. To do this, she encourages us to rigorously analyze our thoughts, actions and beliefs to ultimately identify the robot in our lives. Only once its effects have been uncovered, can audiences “pull the plug," to "connect to the real you and create a new story.”
Overall, I enjoyed Unplug Your Robot, and it helped me to confront some truths in my own life. We should all be periodically evaluating what we believe and why because life is too short to be dictated by “what we should do”, or “what has always been done.” While I don’t personally feel the need to aggressively analyze everything I know, asking these questions ensures that we are living the happiest and most fulfilled versions of ourselves. Words such as indoctrination and triggers may put some readers on edge, but this discomfort is also necessary to ensure that we put these concepts into practice. I appreciate that Kiser challenges us to go back to the basics and try to find the joy and wonder that we all felt as children, empowering us to pursue our life-long interests and reclaiming control over our lives. Additionally, examples from her own journey and simple exercises make Unplug Your Robot a worthwhile read for everyone.
January 7, 2024
Unplug Your Robot is a nonfiction book about what concrete steps you can take to try to be happier in your life. This is a timely book, since many individuals feel maladjusted or dissatisfied for various reasons.
The term “unplug your robot” means getting away from societal expectation. Part of the concept means shaking up the drudgery and monotony of your routine, but it’s more than that. It’s also about taking actions that will make you feel you’re living more joyously and spontaneously.
That’s important, but it’s not necessarily something that everyone has the courage to do. There is such a weight placed on all of us to follow a script that’s been laid out for us by parents, teachers, bosses, and by society in general.
Getting away from that isn’t easy, but this book teaches you how to do it. It may not be possible for everyone to follow the directions the author lays out, but those who do may end up completely transforming their lives. Anyone who feels a deep and abiding sense of malaise would benefit from reading this book and at least attempting to implement the lessons contained therein.
The term “unplug your robot” means getting away from societal expectation. Part of the concept means shaking up the drudgery and monotony of your routine, but it’s more than that. It’s also about taking actions that will make you feel you’re living more joyously and spontaneously.
That’s important, but it’s not necessarily something that everyone has the courage to do. There is such a weight placed on all of us to follow a script that’s been laid out for us by parents, teachers, bosses, and by society in general.
Getting away from that isn’t easy, but this book teaches you how to do it. It may not be possible for everyone to follow the directions the author lays out, but those who do may end up completely transforming their lives. Anyone who feels a deep and abiding sense of malaise would benefit from reading this book and at least attempting to implement the lessons contained therein.
November 5, 2026
I found this book to be really eye opening. Not so much in that I think it has made me seek more happiness...I think the concept of happiness is a little obscure, but I do love the idea of taking each day with more intention. This book will make you realize how much of your day is done on autopilot and the depth of your "robot's" control. I also enjoyed how this book encourages you to embrace more "play" and seek more joy in life, the things that make you laugh and smile and truly fill your cup, versus constantly worrying about the next best thing. For a lot of adults, I think we can easily get stuck in ruts of work, family, and all the other day to day necessities and this book shares insight on how to just stop and breathe and maybe do something a little different, even if it's putting on the your shoes in a different way. I think this is the kind of book you can read again and again, especially if you find yourself being sucked back into your robot, and its a good book to remind you to embrace each day fully.
January 9, 2024
A guide to an empowered life...
"Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness" by Karin Kiser is a transformative guide that holds the key to daily enthusiasm and happiness. Kiser, renowned for the #1 International Bestseller "Lighten Your Load," unveils the possibility of waking up with purpose, feeling daily excitement, and embracing a life filled with optimism and fulfillment. The author identifies the 'robot' within us—the monotonous routine, unconscious habits, and societal pressures that limit our true potential. In this insightful book, Kiser offers a roadmap to break free from the unconscious routine and conditioning that hold us back. "Unplug Your Robot" emphasizes rediscovering one's true nature, accessing greater aliveness, and living life more fully. Kiser advocates for a shift from a half-lived, predictable existence to one filled with awareness, synchronicity, freedom, and meaning. Highly recommended.
"Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness" by Karin Kiser is a transformative guide that holds the key to daily enthusiasm and happiness. Kiser, renowned for the #1 International Bestseller "Lighten Your Load," unveils the possibility of waking up with purpose, feeling daily excitement, and embracing a life filled with optimism and fulfillment. The author identifies the 'robot' within us—the monotonous routine, unconscious habits, and societal pressures that limit our true potential. In this insightful book, Kiser offers a roadmap to break free from the unconscious routine and conditioning that hold us back. "Unplug Your Robot" emphasizes rediscovering one's true nature, accessing greater aliveness, and living life more fully. Kiser advocates for a shift from a half-lived, predictable existence to one filled with awareness, synchronicity, freedom, and meaning. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2024
In the book Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness, author Karin Kiser tells us that in our lives we are extremely routine, doing the same activities over and over again to the point that we are not aware of such acts, just as I would do. a robot, including looking at screens where the average American, the author quotes, spends almost half of his waking time interacting with computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic gadgets, living almost in a hypnotic trance. I found the self-assessment that the book provides us to be very useful, allowing us to know "what degree of robotics we have." For this reason, the author shows us throughout her work how to disconnect in various aspects of our lives, giving us tips on how to do it, and then offering us ideas on how to connect with the Real You.
I really liked this book because it makes us become fully aware of how we live? our life. Highly recommended reading to get out of "robot" mode and live in "human" mode.
I really liked this book because it makes us become fully aware of how we live? our life. Highly recommended reading to get out of "robot" mode and live in "human" mode.
November 26, 2022
‘Unplug Your Robot’ is a nonfiction self-help book written to change how you think about the normalities we think are meant to be part of our existence. The author introduces the concept of unplugging from the unconscious routine and living with clarity.
The literature is easy to read and follow. The intention is clear, to be happy and to live a fulfilled life. As you begin, you are instantly intrigued and find the material thought-provoking. While I have read my fair share of self-help material, I found this book to be very positive.
This is a helpful book and has an inspirational voice. I recommend this book to self-help material fans but mainly to those who really want to change the way their day-to-day life is currently being managed.
The literature is easy to read and follow. The intention is clear, to be happy and to live a fulfilled life. As you begin, you are instantly intrigued and find the material thought-provoking. While I have read my fair share of self-help material, I found this book to be very positive.
This is a helpful book and has an inspirational voice. I recommend this book to self-help material fans but mainly to those who really want to change the way their day-to-day life is currently being managed.
January 11, 2024
I just discovered a book that is like a fresh breath in the middle of the daily routine! "Unplug Your Robot" by Karin Kiser is an extraordinary guide that takes you by the hand to the freedom of creating your own life and living every moment with clarity and purpose. Through the pages of this book, you will learn tools to disconnect and forge your own path.
This book holds immense value for me, serving as a source of inspiration to challenge my everyday habits and motivating me to pursue the life I truly envision and deserve. It's the kind of book that remains relevant with each reread, acting as a reminder that I possess the ability to shape my own existence. I would suggest it to anyone feeling confined by the monotony of daily life and seeking a profound transformation.
This book holds immense value for me, serving as a source of inspiration to challenge my everyday habits and motivating me to pursue the life I truly envision and deserve. It's the kind of book that remains relevant with each reread, acting as a reminder that I possess the ability to shape my own existence. I would suggest it to anyone feeling confined by the monotony of daily life and seeking a profound transformation.
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