Excellent book and challenge. Social media continues to play a major role in people’s lives and sometimes we just need a detox. Wendy Speake’s book is challenging, thought provoking and encouraging with daily readings to help as the reader embarks on the fasting journey. Would highly recommend everyone do this fast at some point in life.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book one day at a time as I fasted from Facebook and Instagram. I really needed something to help encourage me to take a break. I loved this book and this whole process did wonders for my heart. I finished Day 41 yesterday and still don’t want to get back on social media. I feel like it has robbed so much of my life and time with Jesus and has made me prideful and self absorbed. I plan to do this fast for another 40 days and then reevaluate how I want to use social media! Thank you for this marvelous book Wendy!

This book was received as an ARC from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

The addiction and troubles that come at a price of social media can be real draining to your life and we are so consumed by it that we forget what is happening around us and ignore who is in front of us including our family, friends and God Himself. This book tells you how to take a 40 day social media fast and remind yourself what your purpose in life is and who is important to you in your life at the present moment. This book also teaches you about many blessings in your life that were overlooked due to your excessive consumption of social media that we take for granted and are very important in life. This book will be perfect to reset and remind yourself what and whom is really important.

We will consider adding this title to our Self-Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Thus book came at just the right time for me. I've grown tired of social media; the tension it creates and the unhappiness it causes. As a teacher, I would be inclined to recommend some of the advice given here to my students on the basis that social media is such a time consuming thing. Thankfully this book has helped me to escape from the addiction and I have not missed it at all! Beautifully and compassionately practical. If you're struggling with screen time, I recommend.

( received a complimentary copy in exchange for a review )

Very much enjoyed spending daily moments with this devotional during quarantine. Had known for awhile that I needed to step away from social media, and that it would not be easy. This book helped guide me to be able to do so. Highly recommend and will be revisiting this devotional each year.

I really loved this book. Social media has taken over our lives, especially during this pandemic. I found myself stressed by social media and unsure what to do. The timing could not have been better! I am so grateful to Wendy Speake for her honest words and encouragement. I look forward to completing another 40 day social media fast at the end of this year. I can't think of a better way to end 2020 and bring in 2021!

Please note this is a 3.5.

I don't adhere in any way to the bulk of the beliefs in this book, which is part of why I put in for it, to attempt a little more of an outside reader approach. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, and there's a lot of value in it even for those who aren't Christian. I think there's a level of devotion that people have to their phones these days that is, quite simply, unprecedented, and there's a lot of time that goes completely to waste. The author of this book covers this very well, and she relates those awful feelings of time being sucked into a black hole with deft ease.

I think one of the biggest things I appreciated was the idea of the 'social media presence' and how much people hype themselves up online, from the perfect religiosity to the perfect life, and I've read a few books by authors who do try that (see: any of my Rachel Hollis reviews). This author at least understands that her life isn't a perfect thing to be lauded, but rather, a matter of constant improvement, which is certainly refreshing.

Regardless of your religion, this book is an important refocus and refresh, and I can't say it's a bad thing to give up on social media for a time and just let it all go. If you're lucky, 'some time' can be forever. You never know.

This book was great for fasting from social media. It is encouraging and full of ways to help in putting Jesus first before picking up that cell phone. This book helps in learning to go to the throne before the phone.

A very timely and practical book to show the power and control something can have over our lives and distract us from our real purpose, goal and model. Our focus should always be on Him for all aspects of our lives. Validation, love and perfect guidance can only come from our Heavenly Father.

I fully recommend Wendy Speak’s “ The 40 Day Social Media Fast.” As a full-time mentor for teens, this seemed impossible. I’m still on the road to figuring out how to live a healthy social-media diet, However, the daily encouragements and tips really makes it possible to keep going even after the failures.

Thank you, Wendy!!!

This is a great book to help guide you with the phone addiction so many of us struggle with. I loved every chapter! Wendy gives practical information about the internet or screen time, challenges you to replace that wasted time with something meaningful and let the chains of phone bondage fall away. There is no judgment or condemnation in her words just hope and courage to change. I will be reading it again and passing it on to my friends.

f you have been feeling weary, overwhelmed with the loud world we seem to live in, needing to learn how to put technology in its right place, and ready to make a change – but need help with truth to do it, along with something to help turn your focus to the One! Then turn to the pages in The 40-Day Social Media Fast ~ Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion by Wendy Speake and take the 40-day fast! What, did you say 40-days!? Yes, and it can be done, I have done it in the past. It takes time to let go of bad habits and learn a new habit. We do this, not alone, but with God.

We all know that smartphones and social media can keep us from what matters most and living in the moment. Maybe, like me, you need a reset, time away, or for whatever reasons. Sometimes deleting/removing what is a distraction for a short-time will make a lasting change for good.

The book is 40-days of devotions with Biblical truth and Scripture to help turn us to the One and keeping God in His rightful place in our lives and not some device. Statics show the average person in 2019 spent 153 minutes a day on social media, and that doesn’t include all the other screens in your life.

You will be directed to turn to God in prayer and to ask yourself where changes need to be made. In the book are some helpful questions to do this. Then you will choose a time you want to start your fast and what exactly it is you are fasting from and why. The author says we want to exchange our online distractions for real-life devotion and the goal of fasting is more of Jesus. This book is definitely a helpful tool to help with that!

Each of the daily devotions can be read in a short few minutes each day. However, you will want to spend time pondering on the questions brought up in the daily readings and spend time praying to God. At the end of this, hopefully you will have set up better habits and have a deeper relationship with the Lord.

I need this and I know many that do. This is year the screens seem especially loud with it being an election year and I know it is time to turn it off. So will you join me on a 40-day fast?

This was a book that you could read in different ways. You could take 40 days to read each small chapter a day. I read a little at a time just like a regular book. This book had so many useful tools and just talked out how much social media can bombard you in life.

Wendy is a beautiful writer. She truly encourages you to seek God and give Him the first place in you life.. The 40 day social media fast is a beautiful devotional where Wendy everyday leads you into silening the voices around you and focus in the voice of the One who realy matters. . Since the beginning of this year i have been feeling overwhelmed by all the news, advices and opinións about the pandemic. I was doing to much scrolling reading and checking every article i found in social media. I was feeling lost and out of focus in our ministry. This 40 days of social media fasting helps us as families to refocus and reorganize our church ministry. It was not easy but it was a decision i had to make to put down my phone every day.

Wendy did such a beautiful job writing the 40 day sugar fast so when I saw she now had a 40 day social media fast book Coming out I had to jump in and get to reading. Wendy is so relatable on every day and brings so many things to light. I have done a social media fast many time before reading this book but this time having the book as my companion each day was eye opening to exactly why I was doing the fast and why I need to continue boundaries with social media posts and scrolling as I crawl my way back on. We should all care about how much energy and effort we are putting into social media, because even though it can be good and used as a tool to encourage others, share our story, Share the gospel and share what Jesus is doing in our life, we can so easily forget our focus and end up putting ourself on a stage as we post and comment. I received clarity around so many things I personally do and shouldn’t do when posting and scrolling and I will be changing how I post, scroll, read, and engage with social media. As I slowly re enter the social media world I will be entering it on guard while placing boundaries and time limits. I have also discovered in this journey how much less stressed and anxious I am and I rarely have my phone in my hand. I’m learning to embrace each moment with my children and savoring each of those moments for me and my family alone, and Wendy speaks on moments like these as well in her book. Somethings are meant for just me to experience and I love that. I love the freedom I feel of not having to share every little detail and it’s allowed me to really absorb each moment with my children as well as being open up to self discovery.

While I certainly appreciate the concept, a 40 day social media fast is a little bit harder than it sounds. On day one, I gladly deleted two of my social apps. I found, however, that I kept wanting to reopen them, but thankfully withheld. I decided to dive into Ms. Speake’s 40 days of devotion headfirst, and was encouraged by her words and accompanying scripture. I do plan to stick with this endeavor and am thankful to have this book as a guide. This will be a popular idea for many, as I think we can all agree that many times our devices are addictive. However, each success story will be up to perseverance and willpower on the user’s part.

The 40 day social media fast is the perfect book for the times we are living in. I am on day 27 and it has been very rewarding and a blessing in my life. Even when I thought I was not as addicted as others to social media when I read each chapter, identify with each area of the fast and every story Wendy shares. In a small or big way we are all addicted and it affects our lives and takes away from whom we truly should be following and giving our time to... our Lord Jesus Christ. The author shares personal stories, alternative solutions and Bible verses that truly show that God's word is the instruction manual for our lives. Everyone should read this book and experience the fast for themselves. It is the best investment we can all make to get us closer to God, strengthen family relationships and help us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrew 12:1). This is an easy read and motivating book with real life applications. No more mindless scrolling for me but more strolling, family time, concentration and opening the Word.

She did it again. Wendy Speake encourages me to focus on Jesus just as she did with the sugar fast, now she encourages us to quit sugar (remember? The 40-Day Sugar Fast: Where Physical Detox Meets Spiritual Transformation) for the brain and go for the real thing with God and his Word.

I have been not around social media since June 2020 to _____ (don´t know yet when I´m coming back, I feel so comfortable and free like this) so I was an ideal reader for this book. I think as I was on this journey this book would be extra support for my life to focus on the important, and sure it was. I love to be in touch and have meaningful connections with people, but I´m a lot like Jesus, needing to go alone with the father, silence and quiet places are a gift for me. For you too if you try. This book is a great company if you decide to have that kind of time.

If you have never ever done something like this I encourage you to do it, it is like a detox for your brain. I have several friends who are always saying goodbye publicly and in some hours they come back, they can´t, it is a huge addiction, I have talked to them but it is very rooted and they don´t really want to change. I hope you don´t have your identity in others or your enjoyment may come from several real places, not just online people. Do not expect something just about quitting your digital habits, but expect to get closer to Jesus, your family, neighbor and get closer to real friends. If you or your family are really into social media, you all may do these devotionals together and get healthier in that area of your life.

THE 40 DAY SOCIAL MEDIA FAST was sent to me by Net Galley, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.
Published by Baker Books, SOCIAL MEDIA FAST is a well-written Christian devotional, written by Wendy Speake.
In THE FORTY DAY SOCIAL MEDIA FAST, Wendy encourages you to give up all social media for forty days. She encourages you to spend that time with your family, growing meaningful relationships. She encourages trying IN PERSON friendships…Or, in this time of COVID (my addition) to pick up a phone and have a real conversation…or write a snail mail letter. She also encourages spending some of that time in God’s Word, or doing a new Bible Study.
Possible times that she suggests for doing the fast are:
January – God wants us to bring our first fruits to Him…How about giving the first hour, day, month of the year?
Lent – Give up social media to focus on God.
Summer – Vacations should be family time, not tech time!!
Each section in this book divides into three sections…Scripture, Devotion, and Prayer. Her first day is titled IS SOCIAL MEDIA BAD? It makes me think of the verse, EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE, BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS BENEFICIAL. I have learned that that is SO TRUE! Sometimes, Facebook can be SO discouraging…even Twitter. People are so mean sometimes. I think it’s because they are behind the safety of the screen, and people can’t do anything about their behavior. You can even give yourself a screen name, so that no one else knows who is spouting out the garbage.
I love this prayer that Wendy wrote, HELP ME TO VALUE WHAT YOU VALUE, LORD: THE ETERNAL SOULS OF PEOPLE.
I don’t know if she always does it or not, but, with this E-book, she included emails to add with the encouragement. She also wrote, THE FORTY DAY SUGAR FAST, which includes a whole video study and encouragement.
I’d encourage you to pick up both of these books – THE FORTY DAY SOCIAL MEDIA FAST & THE 40 DAY SUGAR FAST. They are both fantastic.

I love this devotional. Wendy is such a good writer. She really relates this back to her experiences and real world. This could not have come at a better time for me. The election postings were really stressing me out. My solution was to go dark. I have been so much happier!