*** Special Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review***

In this episode, I listened to a charming argument for unplugging...

Friends, friends, friends.

Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress.

I’ll admit that I have not been the biggest fan of the idea of less technology. I love new gadgets and the idea of a quote-unquote “detox” or an unplugging never really appealed to me.

After all, this past year has been made infinitely better with the intentional usage of social media. I’ve made friends and felt less alone as we deal with the repercussions of a global pandemic that restricts our freedom of movement.

However, with that being said, I have to admit that we all may be taking technology too far. Last year I read a couple of books that focused on the benefits of disconnecting from tech, but they got very detailed. Invariably, I’d find myself questioning the author’s perspective and I’d become skeptical of the whole exercise.

I was surprised, then, to discover a more holistic and human argument in Paul Greenberg’s delightful little book titled Goodbye Phone, Hello World.

Greenberg made the concept of technology addiction a personal one by connecting it to his own relationship with his son and it made me interested in continuing forward. It was a very effective way to get me invested in his little adventure.

Goodbye Phone, Hello World was so much fun primarily because it focused on the positive benefits that disconnection or unplugging can have on a person’s life, not to mention the lives in a larger community.

I was particularly struck by the reframing of exercise as an extension of meditation, and the minimization of tracking and documenting progress. I still can’t let go of the idea of having a bike that can generate electricity in the home. That just sounds magnificent and fun.

At the end of the day, I still like my phone, I still like my podcasts, and I still like my video games. What I did take from this book was a new dedication to my intentions.

Why do I turn to technology? What am I actually doing with the said gadget and why does it matter?

So ultimately this book didn’t cause a seismic, overnight shift in my life and my habits, but it did something quieter and potentially more impactful in the long run.

It made me think, and that’s why I can recommend it so completely.

That’s all for today. Until next time, keep your bookmarks close.

Peace, Love, Pages.

An interesting take on how to get yourself away from your phone more. Easy ways to get off your phone along with research showing why you should get/stay off your phone throughout the day. Along with that its broken into mind/body and relationships as to why you should distance yourself from your phone more. The illustrations to coincide were interesting as well.

This is a fabulous little book that gives ideas, examples and inspiration for how to spend time that would other wise be spent scrolling on our devices.

The opening pages where the author adds up the time spent on our phones and the equivalent that we have lost really hits hard, especially where he talks about the time he has missed out on with his son. As a parent, I am guilty of sneaking a peek at social media when my son is occupied with something but seeing the time added up like that really made me think and will affect my use of devices in future.

This book makes a convincing argument and useful tool for anyone looking to reduce use of their phone. Not only does it include many helpful hints to get you started but refers to other works that would be of use for anyone wanting to take their reading further.

Greenberg’s words are accompanied in this book by beautiful illustrations throughout.

Every single word is so true. We give so much time to our phones and fail to connect with the world around us. All of these practices should be sought out by us renditioning it to each of our needs accordingly. In a few words, the moral of this book is PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN AND CONNECT WITH THE ONES AROUND YOU. Incorporate your passion and love into your life and your loved ones’ life around you.

Coming out in November. Glad for this review copy by the publishers and Netgalley.

A quick “read” to be sure, but there’s a ton of value in there and it will take time to apply the lessons.

I really appreciated the way the books layout worked with the content to keep me engaged. Great quotes through out which lead me to other materials to read.

I personally would have left the short political section out as it might turn off some readers, but it’s still very much worth consideration regardless of your views.

I loved this book. I always enjoy books that are little chunks of wisdom as I don't always want to be preached to with 30 pages of why I should eat this or not eat that or why I should disconnect from my phone. I thought it was really well written and insightful and particularly liked the part about apps tracking fitness. I kind of love having an Apple Watch tell me I've done all my steps but then wonder how accurate it is. The author's suggestion to really lean into the reality of working out resonated. Thanks for this handy little guide!

In this thoughtful read, Greenberg places digestible food for thought in front of the average smartphone user. His concise persuasions may be best suited for those in the contemplation stage of change, who are ambivalent but willing to entertain a new perspective. Major props for citing Catherine Price's "How to Break Up with Your Phone," which I personally think is an excellent, logical next step for those moving into the preparation and action stages.

Good, commonsense advice on putting down your phone and picking up your life. Lovely, soothing illustrations were a fun edition to the book.

The book talks about the way in which technology has engulfed our lives on a large scale. It does so by providing scientific basis in a lucid format does making us realise its enormity. This is followed by numerous, simple yet effective tools for utilising the time which we will get at our hands if we stop using our phones the amounts we do currently. The phone addiction is increasing tremendously and the numbers are staggering. It's important to do something for getting over it but isn't that easy, thanks to the huge amount of our lives being dependent on the smartphones. Nevertheless, it isn't impossible to be the master of your phone and not vice versa and this book definitely is a good point to start!!

It was funny to be reading this book on my smartphone. Very insightful, and relatable. Such a good read. Not overly long or wordy, very good use of the words used. I’m glad to have read this and would recommend it to any parent or otherwise.

This is a good book for anyone that has been contemplating cutting their screen time and phone usage. I think it’s a great entry point into the whole concept, with easy to read pages, interesting images, and practical tips. There are great resources quoted throughout this book as well, making it easy to dig deeper into the topic.

As someone who has read other books on this topic, I still learned new information throughout and after seeing some of the concepts and other texts referenced, I was inspired to get back into reading more and scrolling less, both learning about stepping away from my phone and embracing my hobbies.

A necessary book. I wish it were available in a small leaflet format and distributed in schools, universities and office spaces - we are all slaves to our phones and, despite various research and scary data, we are not willing to break up with our smartphones, social media, internet browsing until early hours of the morning.

This book could be read in one sitting and really brings your attention to the inevitable - we are all wasting the precious hours of our life doing what?.. Exactly. To think... we could learn new languages and travel the world and instead we choose to stare into the abyss which is our personal smartphone.

Recommended.

This book was a great reminder to take a break from my phone. It was easy to read and set out well, there was just the right amount of information to make it comfortable to read in one sitting, but not enough to make your eyes glaze over.

Well written and important.

"Goodbye Phone, Hello World" by Paul Greenberg is both an honest account of the author's realization about how his smartphone was, in essence, consuming his life, and a bundle of insightful and actionable ways in which we can become more connected to the real world and less attached to these devices.

I really enjoyed this book and made several annotations on tips which I will implement in my own life. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous as well and made the book even more enjoyable to read.

I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone, especially people looking for simple ways to improve their lives and find more joy in their day-to-day, while finding release from the myriad of negative effects that excessive digital consumption has on all of us.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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How often have you questioned the amount of time that you spend glued to your phone?  Is it something that you would like to alter?  If you are even thinking about the role of your phone in your life, this title is well worth a look.


Beautifully illustrated and readable, this book offers alternative ways to use one's time.  The author knows whereof he speaks as he ruefully contemplates the time that he spent on his phone, rather than with his son, with both having entered the world around the same time.  In order to slow down his son's acquisition of a phone,the author takes himself away from all of the "smart" aspects of the phone and returns to flip style where all you can do is talk.  What did he learn?  What did he do instead? What could you do? Read this book to find out.  It may intrigue you.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick and easy read basically walking us step by step through all the reasons why we should let go of our phones and mindless social media cruising - the irony that I read this on my smartphone is not lost on me.

I found many of the exemples a bit of an overreach and slightly demagogic (no, I don’t believe we could hike all over the US/world if we put down our phones) but I felt the book fulfilled its purpose because it made me think twice about some of my actions and what I could do to be more in the moment with myself and my family.

Overall a good book which I think everyone should read to pick up some ideas to live a better life.

Good idea - spend less time on our phones. And I get it. But just don’t think it’s realistic. Maybe I am just pessimistic auger reading this all but I think it’s ridiculous. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Amish aside, we’re all way too connected to our smartphones and way too dismissive of the real world. Author Paul Greenberg begins the book with a quote from the Vietnamese Buddhist sage Thich Nhat Hanh, “Life is available only in the present moment.” How many “present moments” do we miss by checking email, tweeting, “liking” on Facebook or becoming more involved with a celebrity’s family on Instagram than our own?

Greenberg confesses that, like the average American, he’d spent a little less than four hours per day on his iPhone — time he regrets not showering on his son. With a smartphone, “Every tick of the clock can be sold. Every minute can be bundled and shopped to a third party. And the power of the moment-merchants has grown apace.”

So Greenberg quit. Cold turkey. In 2019, he switched to a flip phone. Then came the hard part: “What could I do with 4 extra hours a day? Two extra months in a year? How could I change my life? How could I transform my world?”

I thought that Greenberg’s book would be a shallow one. While the book is slender, it certainly isn’t shallow. It served as a wake-up call to me. I’d never realized how much of my life (and sometimes money) has been stolen from me by Angry Birds, Spider Solitaire, Small Town Murders (don’t ask), Twitter and the ubiquitous Facebook. I haven’t quit cold turkey, but I have cut down — way, way down — since reading this. Thank you so much, Paul Greenberg!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular premise for reflecting on the time sink that is technology/screen or in the palm of our hands. The author brilliantly summarizes and accurately portrays a number of facts that make you rethink the "technology free" life you are living. The prompts to the reader to actively rethink the path you have chosen and the time you have "freely" given to the phone is impactful. I highly recommend my generation this book and I would have liked to see this frame the concern for elderly generations that have not been as aware of the time sink that is technology devices.
The illustrations both visually and factually have made me reconsider the time I hold in my hands.