When I set out to write a book about the natural history of breasts, I knew I'd have to answer some awkward questions about my book topic. At a...
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For the past few years I've often wondered why my thoughts seemed "cluttered," unfocused and why my memory wasn't as good. I didn't think age was a problem because I am only in my mid-30's. Hamlet's Blackberry explained why I've felt this way, I've simply got too much technological stimuli at once.
Author William Powell explains why many of us feel "cluttered" and provides sensible methods to help individuals recover their lost ability to focus and to truly think. Powers illustrates his points by telling the stories of how several different individuals throughout history reacted to a new onslaught of stimuli brought about by new technology. What is most refreshing, and helpful, is that Powers is not anti-technology. He fully explains that without technology he would not be able to live the life he's got because technology enables him to telecommute from his home. The fact that this book is not simply an anti-technology screed makes Powers advice much easier to swallow for the book's intended audience, those of us who love technology and find ourselves more and more connected.
I found the historical examples provided by Powers interesting but not necessarily helpful. The most helpful part of the book are the common sense suggestions provided by Powers to help readers improve their digital lives. Powers recognizes that only a method that an individual perceives will be a benefit to them will actually work and that what may work for one individual may not work for another. Powers suggestion of having a "technology free" weekend won't work for me, but another one of his suggestions, doing only one thing at a time, has worked. I've concentrated on only watching TV or being on the 'net, not both. I've also abandoned my practice of reading during TV commercials. Doing that I've found I remember a lot more of what I've read. That's probably a "no, duh!" statement but for some reason I couldn't, or just didn't, identify that as a problem before.
This is a good book for anyone who truly wishes to try to bring some balance, and sanity, back to their life without totally abandoning technology.
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
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Chris Martin has commented on (1) product.
Hamlet's Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age
Chris Martin, January 1, 2011
This book has changed my life for the better.For the past few years I've often wondered why my thoughts seemed "cluttered," unfocused and why my memory wasn't as good. I didn't think age was a problem because I am only in my mid-30's. Hamlet's Blackberry explained why I've felt this way, I've simply got too much technological stimuli at once.
Author William Powell explains why many of us feel "cluttered" and provides sensible methods to help individuals recover their lost ability to focus and to truly think. Powers illustrates his points by telling the stories of how several different individuals throughout history reacted to a new onslaught of stimuli brought about by new technology. What is most refreshing, and helpful, is that Powers is not anti-technology. He fully explains that without technology he would not be able to live the life he's got because technology enables him to telecommute from his home. The fact that this book is not simply an anti-technology screed makes Powers advice much easier to swallow for the book's intended audience, those of us who love technology and find ourselves more and more connected.
I found the historical examples provided by Powers interesting but not necessarily helpful. The most helpful part of the book are the common sense suggestions provided by Powers to help readers improve their digital lives. Powers recognizes that only a method that an individual perceives will be a benefit to them will actually work and that what may work for one individual may not work for another. Powers suggestion of having a "technology free" weekend won't work for me, but another one of his suggestions, doing only one thing at a time, has worked. I've concentrated on only watching TV or being on the 'net, not both. I've also abandoned my practice of reading during TV commercials. Doing that I've found I remember a lot more of what I've read. That's probably a "no, duh!" statement but for some reason I couldn't, or just didn't, identify that as a problem before.
This is a good book for anyone who truly wishes to try to bring some balance, and sanity, back to their life without totally abandoning technology.