iDisorder

Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us

By: Larry D. Rosen

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

iDisorder: changes to your brain's ability to process information and your ability to relate to the world due to your daily use of media and technology, resulting in signs and symptoms of psychological disorders, such as stress, sleeplessness, and a compulsive need to check in with all of your technology.

Based on decades of research and expertise in the "psychology of technology", Dr. Larry Rosen offers clear, down-to-earth explanations for why many of us are suffering from an "iDisorder". Rosen provides solid, proven strategies to help us overcome the iDisorder we all feel in our lives, while still making use of all that technology offers.

Our world is not going to change, and technology will continue to penetrate society even deeper, leaving us little chance to react to the seemingly daily additions to our lives. Rosen teaches us how to stay human in an increasingly technological world.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 Larry D. Rosen (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A clear warning against becoming someone who brings a smartphone to the dinner table." (Kirkus)

Electronic Media - Bane or Blessing?

Larry Rosen (Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way they Learn; Me, MySpace, and I: Parenting in the Net Generation) has just published his latest book, iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us. Rosen is Professor of Psychology at California State University. In iDisorder he once again shares his research and insights about media in terms we can all understand. He covers disorders thought to be linked to the use of electronic media hence iDisorder) including addiction to technology, delusions, compulsive behavior, ADD others. Rosen’s arguments concerning multitasking make sense to me, but others would contest his research findings and opinions. In each chapter he gives suggestions which may help those increasingly dependent upon electronic media. This is worth while reading for anyone interested in social media or concerned for the affects of electronics on our minds and lives. Stephen Hoye proves his ability to read and interpret a manuscript here again.

Web Therapy in the Wrong Modality

What could Larry D. Rosen have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Dr. Rosen could have understood the technology better.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It doesn't take any longer to say "Facebook" than it does "FB." Written abbreviations need not always be duplicated on the audio representation. Avoid redundancy. "If you downloaded this audiobook digitally..." Well, I could hardly download it analogically.

Any additional comments?

As a technology geek who sometimes feels overwhelmed by it all, I was attracted to this book because it appeared to be handled from the perspective of a kindred spirit - someone who gets the technology and has analyses and ideas on how to take a more relaxed approach to dealing with the constant barrage of notification and information.

Instead, my anxiety is heightened by the author's constant misuse of terminology and misunderstanding of the technology and services involved. His forte is clearly psychology, and, in his endeavours to talk about digital devices and social networking, comes across as an old-timer trying to appear hip while brow-beating this newfangled computer stuff. If you're happy to "check your Twitter page," spend time "texting" on your "Facebook page," using a an "SNS" ("Social Networking System") and blocking a narcissist's comments from "your Facebook page" when they're commenting on a friend's status (or "page") update, and analysing someone's personality type based on the "20 main photographs" on their "page," then this may be for you.

The pop psychology "science" itself is weak at best. For example, a large number of respondents to a survey said they intended to take a "portable electronic device" with them on vacation. Does that include listening to music on your iPod to unwind? How about reading this very book on your Kindle? Is it okay if it's an ordinary paperback? Add to that sloppy grammar and poppy invented terms (WMD - "wireless mobile devices" - really?) and I am less than impressed.