5 Books on Managing Technology

Because I was asked to speak at a workshop on the topic of Mothers and Technology, I read a number of books this summer on the topic of technology.

The summer of 2020 was the perfect time to study the topic of technology. I was ready to face my personal social media habits and consider the example I'm setting for my children. It is a challenge that I'll continue to face, as all of us do in this age, and I'll probably be writing more about what I'm learning in future posts.

If you want to evaluate your technology and phone use, here are five books that I recommend.

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Surving the Tech Tsunami by Gary Miller

When I finished reading this, I said that every Christian should read it. Miller's research meant that reading this book made me feel like I got a synopsis of many books. The style of the book is very practical and readable. At the end of the book, Miller shares his personal research in interviewing Anabaptists leaders and youth from across the US. His findings are sobering, and he gives us a call to action to find ways to survive the tech tsunami.

How to Break Up with Your Phone: The Thirty-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life by Catherine Price

I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim. In the first chapters Price writes about the current research on technology and why we should be concerned. In the second half of the book she takes us through a thirty day step-by-step process to gain control of our phone. She is practical and shares simple ideas that would have never occured to me but that made a real difference in my phone use. Lots of value packed into a short book.

12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke

This book, like Surviving the Tech Tsunami, asked hard questions about how our phone is affecting our relationship with God. Saturated with Scripture, I found this book challenging my attitudes and habits and asking how they line up with the goal of glorifying God.

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked by Adam Atler

I had this book reserved at my library and finally got it two weeks before my workshop. I didn't think I had time to read all of it so skipped to the chapters I thought were most applicable. But this book lived up to its name, and I couldn't lay it down. As I learned about addictions and the deliberate design of social media to capture more of our time and attention, I became angry.

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

The goal of this book is to help us declutter our lives so we can focus on what we truly value. A mix of practical tips, motivational insights, and research, this book helped me see what I'm losing when I'm constantly surrouned with noise and distraction. 

Do you have a favorite book on technology that I missed?