Goodbye Phone, Hello World: 65 Ways to Disconnect from Tech and Reconnect to Joy

For me, this book was simultaneously an easy read, a difficult chore and a necessary exercise.A EASY READ: the author’s style is concise, fluid and articulate. Intelligent observations there are aplenty, but what really makes this work engaging is how much it seems to come from the heart. The author makes the personal stakes known right off the bat with a painful confession: how time spent on his smartphone took away precious hours/days/months that could have been spent with his beloved son. From that moment on, I was hooked. As a father myself, I understood where the author was coming from; admittedly though, his honesty made me afraid of where he would be going. I knew I was about to learn some unpleasant things about myself and my own obsession with this technology. This is what makes the book…A DIFFICULT CHORE: the author throws down the gauntlet with a startling observation: the average person spends 1,400 hours per year on their smartphone — almost two months out of every twelve. Though we’d like to think that phone-time is devoted to work or family or friends, we know it isn’t. It’s spent on mindless distractions that ultimately mean nothing.Coming to terms with that statistic is frankly heartbreaking. I found myself asking two questions: how the hell could I have given up so much of my life? What could I have done differently with that time? This self-examination is the difficult chore, one which the author had to undertake to write this book. I imagine he was tempted to turn away from such painful reflections (I know I was). Fortunately, he kept going, offering an array of wise solutions in how to move forward. These are what turn GOODBYE PHONE into…A NECESSARY EXERCISE: drawing on his own experience as well as the guidance of great thinkers from around the world, the author creates a strategy for leaving the tangled maze of smart-phone distraction for the open air of the real world. Those previously lost 1,400 hours now become gateways to learning new skills, augmenting empathy and strengthening/rebuilding relationships.None of this is easy, at least for me. As someone who has been tied to his iPhone for over a decade, I am struggling to break free of its hold. If you’re in a similar situation, I believe you will find this book a powerful ally.

Finished the book within a day or so.. Paul Greenberg is absolutely phenomenal and one of the most insightful authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of supporting. Would read 10,000 times if I could

In this short, simple book, author Paul Greenburg explains his personal journey of letting go of his smartphone after realizing how many moments it had stolen between him and his son. The book begins with his spare, moving reflections about this, and then transitions into chapters about how to recover from smartphone overuse. Each one addresses a different life category, but in all of them, he quotes from Eastern thinkers, shares research and quotes about the cost of digital overuse, and encourages practical life habits for unplugging.In each chapter, Greenberg suggests a variety of alternative activities and lifestyle habits that people can choose instead of using their phones. Some of these were less practical than I had hoped, since not everyone can conceivably go on long-distance cycling and sailing trips, or travel around the world, but he does make apt cost comparisons for those who do have that capability and choose to spend their time and money on digital distractions. And, overall, his ideas focus on practical suggestions for basic lifestyle changes and improvements, like reading, memorization, exercising without depending on smartphone apps, and spending more meaningful time with other people.Throughout the book, as he cites persuasive research about the costs of digital technology, he always remains hospitable to people who feel overwhelmed at the thought of changing. He never shames people for their choices, and this book provides a gentle, easy path for someone to become more familiar with the costs of technology without feeling doom, gloom, or panic. Also, as he mentions, even though there are lots of great books available that critique the digital world, many of them are too long and complex for the average smartphone addict to read. Here, he provides a simpler introduction to the topic, sharing some of the most important findings and insights from his reading. The book's citations will provide a guide to further reading for anyone who is interested in more, but this is all that some people will want or need, and I'm glad that it's available here.This book's appealing design, simple layout, and practical suggestions will make it a winner for anyone middle school age and older who wants to reevaluate their relationship to technology and decide on practical ways to recover or create habits that are more healthy and meaningful for their mind, body, and relationships. I'm glad that this book exists, and it would pair well with "How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life" for anyone who is interested in a more in-depth game plan for defeating tech addiction.

This book is a beautifully written short manual which teaches the reader how to develop a focused life of meaning by disconnecting. Boredom has become obsolete and competition for our attention is off the charts. Mr. Greenberg helps the reader learn (or relearn) the practice of single tasking by limiting the accessibility of our phones and becoming more present irl.

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.

New and old ways to free, based in current research and timeless wisdom. Also beautifully illustrated and designed.

Small book, but great advice and suggestions on how to reset and get back to what really matters. Definitely recommend this as a book to read if you are looking for ways to disconnect successfully.