ABC: May
Aneissa'a Book Club includes some unintentionally heavy-hitting novels. It is no secret that I am always chasing personal development. I am continually trying to find ways to better myself. The book, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke has been a tremendous help in opening my eyes to the danger. I do not want to give away too much information concerning this book, but I do want to let you know I give this book five stars. Here are five reasons why anyone who owns a device needs to read this book.
The research:
Almost four decades of research went into this novel. The author Tony Reinke dove into interviews and shockingly interesting statistics. (Reinke, Tony 2017, p. 55) Did you know if you are having a phone conversation while driving you are four times more likely to be involved in an automobile accident? That number jumps up to twenty-three times more likely if you are texting! Now the AT&T mobile phone campaign It Can Wait seems more surreal. The danger of driving distracted is only going to get worse as technology continues to advance. Law enforcement can create new policies, but to some, driving will always be a hobby while they text, tweet, and swipe.
The truth:
The author's wife sprinkles in a quote that would almost go unnoticed if you plan on skimming this novel. It struck me immediately, and I had to stop and digest it. "Compulsive social media habits are a bad trade; your present moment in exchange for an endless series of someone else's past moments." How often are we out with friends located in the perfect situation to enjoy each other's company? We are ready to make new memories, but we become stuck in a virtual tornado of things that are not important, but habit.
The irony:
This novel is like the perfect pancake with symmetrical positive and negative statements on each side. We as cultural creations inevitably want to be out in positive environments, but we retreat to our phones in social situations and unintentionally (or possibly intentionally) emit the signal that we do not want to be bothered. When we are inside, we want to be out, and when we are out there, we want to be secluded.
The flow:
Each chapter of this book is quite literally like a twelve-step program. The author begins by giving us a little technology history. Then, he shows us where techno advances have taken over in areas of our life, and some do not even notice it.
The change:
This book is so captivating; I finished the entire novel within four days. I went back and read it the last week of May to make sure I was absolutely in love with it, and I am. This literature opened my eyes to a part of my life; I did not even realize was so dark. Mind-blowing truths and Biblical scriptures intertwine to show me just how much my device meant to me. The results were painfully astounding. To say I highly recommend this book would be an understatement. I am begging you to purchase this book and indulge in it yourself. iPhone or Android, beeper or blackberry, this novel is relatable to anyone who wants to stay connected to the outside world.
Monday, June 24, 2019, I will review another recommend book. It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way. New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows readers how to live assured when life doesn't turn out like they expected. What do you do when God's timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful? This review along with the previous and future Aneissa’s Book Club book reviews will be posted in the About tab of this website.
Reinke, Tony. "We Feed on the Produced" 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke, Crossway, 2017.
Ehsani, Johnathan P., Bingham, Raymond C., Ionides, Edward, Childers, David. "The Impact of Michigan's Text Messaging Restriction on Motor Vehicle Crashes," Journal of Adolescent Health (Jan. 3, 2014)
