24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week

by Tiffany Shlain

“Put down your phone and pick up this book” (Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author) that demonstrates how turning off screens one day a week can work wonders on your brain, body, and soul.

Internet pioneer and renowned filmmaker Tiffany Shlain takes us on a provocative and entertaining journey through time and technology, introducing a strategy for living in our 24/7 world: turning off all screens for twenty-four hours each week. This practice, which she’s done for nearly a decade with her husband and kids, has completely changed their lives, giving them more time, productivity, connection, and presence. She and her family call it “Technology Shabbat.” Drawn from the ancient ritual of Shabbat, living 24/6 can work for anyone from any background.

In this “useful and much-needed guide to turning the clock back to a less frazzled pre-Internet and -smartphone day” (Kirkus Reviews), Shlain shares her story, offers lessons she has learned, and provides a blueprint for how to do it yourself. Along the way, she delves into the neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and history of a weekly day of rest across cultures, making the case for why we need to bring this ritual back.

A compelling personal story and a fascinating, far-reaching examination of the complex world we’ve created, 24/6 is a call to regain “the essential dignity of being human in a digital age” (Douglas Rushkoff, author of Team Human).

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Development, Technology, Productivity, Health

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2019

Reviews

[Chris LaTray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose the audio version of this book for a couple reasons. First, I'm a sucker for people's ideas about getting off tech and social media because I personally find both more and more loathsome the older I get. I feel like I'm in a constant battle for my own soul in the constant push-and-pull that results from deciding to participate in it at all or not (and here I am on a stupid website—owned by Amazon of all people—complaining, so this is me being a hypocrite). Secondly, at a little under five hours of listening time I didn't feel like it was a huge commitment.

I appreciate a few things in this book. I like the emotion in the reading, as Shlain does the performance herself. The reading is personal, conversational, and charming. You can hear her choke up on a couple occasions, particularly when reading about her father's funeral, and that is a kind of connection I appreciate. She has some good ideas as far as her one tech free day per week premise is concerned, but nothing I haven't really heard before.

But here are two major gripes. The narrative is bloated with privilege that is so apparent (at least to me, but I have a major chip on my shoulder when it comes to class, which I admit probably clouds my vision) that I can't understand how an editor didn't urge her to dial it back a little. She clearly comes from a wealthy background with a magical father who has all the pithy lines and quotes long dead philosophers. She lives the perfect life with this perfect family (the humble brags about her children were particularly eyeroll-worthy, but who wouldn't do that) where friends gather every Friday to have conversations and randomly pick up instruments and break into song. She talks about her professor husband's first sabbatical, and how the entire family had this glorious month off in Hawaii ... then laments that they have only been able to repeat that a couple times since. Who the hell lives like that? What about the families where at least one, or both, of the parents have to work two jobs to make ends meet? What about their teen children who also work? These are all people who are suffering just as much from tech overload as the wealthy, white collar class. How do they make this 24/6 idea work?

Secondly, and this is my big beef with people who are so immersed in the tech world: she talks so much about how we are going to be connected in the future. How does she know? Can she give me one good reason to believe that most of the world won't be a smoking ruin of a refugee camp in 20-50 years (except for people like her, of course)? This book is utterly blind to the role that tech and powering social media and the rise of all of this cyber infrastructure is playing in climate change. A conversation about all this tech and the future and how we will use it is just puffery unless a long hard look isn't taken on what it means to the planet when every member of a household owns a smart phone, a kindle, a laptop, and an iPad (as hers apparently does). And that says nothing about the toll all the server farms and infrastructure takes on our biosphere when essentially nothing is being done to curb the carbon footprints of all this stuff. It makes me sick, and books like this tend to be more a part of the problem than the solution. This is pretty harsh, I know; Tiffany Schlain seems a nice enough person, if pretty blind to how most of us actually live.

[CM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the idea of this book but I did not really like the book. I love the idea of taking a completely technology free day off every week. I know I definitely use it too much and I have been trying to make a conscious effort to not use it around my small children much or take it with me everywhere on the weekends and to just be more present; but it is hard! It is such a habit to just turn the screen on and check it.

That said, I did not like the writing at all. It seemed like it was all over the place and to be honest in my opinion the author came off sounding very pretentious and self absorbed. The whole time I was reading it I felt like she was trying to convince both me and herself why every decision she makes is the better one or the right one; like she was so much more enlightened than me. It was less about facts and more about this is what I do and why it is so great. I know she is writing a book about her journey but the I, I, I just really started to get to me.

I don't know, this book has gotten such amazing reviews, and I'm actually not sure I talked to anyone who didn't like it, so maybe give it a try if you find this topic interesting but personally I wouldn't recommend it. I didn't learn anything beyond the first statement of the description "turning off screens one day a week can work wonders on your brain, body, and soul."

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came along at just the right time for me. I'm an introvert- I love reading (on my phone!) and listening to podcasts, and I have a drive to keep my brain going all the time.... keep learning, keep growing, keep thinking. I've slowly realized that my brain needs some down time- time to wander, be curious, and gently muse. I've just never made it a priority.

24/6 doesn't shame the reader and it doesn't minimize the importance of technology in our culture, it just welcomes readers to imagine a different way of living. The author (who is a secular Jew), introduces the Jewish tradition of Shabbat and shares how this 3000 year old custom can still assist us today in creating balance- space for rest, connection and renewal. Shlain presents her family's story of Tech Shabbat, the practice of turning off all screens from sundown on Friday until Saturday evening. The book is filled with personal and familial anecdotes, studies on productivity and brain rejuvenation, and exploration of the pros and cons of social media. The chapters are short, quick reads, and the book can be read in entirety in a single day.

I found 24/6 to be inspiring without being pushy. It provides great practical tips and yet gives grace for the reader to find their own pathway. I look forward to experimenting with my own Tech Shabbat.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this opportunity.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

24/6 is thought provoking and offers society a break from the connectedness that is causing a disconnection.

The following are books, TED talks, etc. that are mentioned in the book but not in the resources section.
Books:
The Sabbath World by Judith Shulevitz
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff
Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier
Alone Together by Sherry Turkle
The Five Minute Journal by Alex Ikonn & UJ Ramda
The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
Author- Brett Frishmann- no book title given
Author- Angela Duckworth- no book title given
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Author Dr. Qing Li- no book title given

TED Talks
How a Handful of Tech Companies Control Billions of Minds Every Day by Tristan Harris
How We Need to Remake the Internet by Jaron Lanier

Podcast
On Being hosted by Krista Tippett

Virtual Reality Experiences
Traveling While Black by Roger Ross Williams (VR Documentary)
Becoming Homeless: A Human Experience by the Standford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab

[Vanessa Udy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a blog article. In fact, this probably did start as one. There was no need to stretch it into a book. At least, not THIS particular book. It's not that the ideas behind 24/6 are without merit or that Shlain isn't a good writer (some of her family anecdotes are genuinely heartwarming). I came to this book wanting to try a weekly tech fast and looking for advice on how to go about it. I found this book heavy on the "why" and didn't delve enough into the "how" of a tech fast. In my case, Shlain was preaching to the converted and left me wanting. I also agree with the reviewers who've pointed out the author's privilege. I did find Shlain's liberal white feminism grating at times.

[Shá · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd agree with others that this book is made for the privileged. Those with the flexibility to take an entire 24 hours of playtime. I believe it's essential to disconnect from technology, but even she points out the flaws; yet, tries to (badly) explain them away.

The concept is great, the delivery needs work. If her thoughts were more well thought out, this could have worked. I liked that she gave a list of ideas of what to do with that extra time.

Parents would not benefit from her model. It was basically using that 24 hours to keep your kid entertained. Parents use technology to disconnect from their kids. Who wants to spend 24 hours playing "let's build a fort" with their kids. I can understand using some of the time but not the full 24 hours.

I always appreciate authors who write books on this topic so I give it a 2.5 rounded up.

[Lyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love the idea of this book, the reason for giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️ however, I did not really enjoy reading it. Not my genre and thus did not keep my attention so, unfortunately, I did not finish it..
I totally support the idea of taking a complete day off from technology, once a week. It’s a great idea! However, I feel that especially during this Covid19 pandemic, that I was not the only one who could not disconnect as easily from family members: children, grandchildren and especially, elderly parents. This is where I relied on technology as our daily meeting and conversation point.
I know my daughter actually put this into practice and I really admire her for accomplishing it. She was my drive to read the book and we were going to do this together, however, she has now put this on hold also, due to this pandemic crisis. Her work has taken a different level of priority at the moment. Maybe this was just the wrong time to put this new ideology into practice. However, it did put a little kernel into my brain. Being a baby boomer, I was not raised with the plethora of technology choices, so I just have to turn my psyche back to the “good old days” and make conscious efforts to limit my usage once this pandemic crisis is over.

[Riley (runtobooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

while most of this book was anecdotal and a bit preachy at moments, the concept of 'techno-shabbat' is something i really want to consider adapting moving into 2020.

i've been thinking a lot the past few weeks about how technology and social media serves me, and if it is serving me in a positive or negative way. i've also been thinking about how my relationship with social media has changed as i've grown.

in 2020, i want to be more mindful about how i use technology. i'm not sure if a full 24-hours away will be possible, but an adapted version might be very good for me. for example, i can put the phone and computer away for the day, but allow myself use of my smart watch if i decide to go for a run, as logging my mileage is something that serves me in a positive way.

this might be my last read of 2019, and i'm happy it was this one. the book was not totally what i was expecting, but the concept at its core is something i want to be thinking about moving into the new decade.

[Jessie Gélinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perso, j’ai vraiment adoré lire ce livre. Ça m’a fait réfléchir sur comment j’utilise la technologie. Si tu aimerais moins être sur ton cell 24/7, read this book!

[Stephanie McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels a little wrong to be typing this out on my computer-- but the thesis of the book isn't no screens at all--it's to be more mindful of screen use & the benefits of unplugging one day a week so I will give myself grace. This was the first actionable book I've read around limiting screen time, written in an accessible, thoughtful and compelling way. Tech Shabbat is a concept the author has used in her own life, and now implemented in her family for over a decade with great results. They go offline/off all screens from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday (of course a few things pop up a year that get in the way, but for the most part this is a weekly ritual.), starting the fast with a communal meal that they invite various friends and family too.

As someone who has no children, but would like to have kids someday, and has thought about the challenge of raising kids in this screen-heavy era, this feels like an idea that has substance, and if started early enough, would just be part of their life.

To be clear, this is not a mainstream idea-- the author's family has a landline in case of emergencies, they have to print out maps and designate meeting places when they have plans on Saturday-- so there are inconveniences to living this way-- but she makes a compelling argument & her teenage daughters voices are heard in the book too-- that the benefits are worth it.

I don't know at what point in my life I will be able to fully implement this idea. I live away from my family & boyfriend and I want to be able to communicate with them and the sheer fact of leaving my phone on, opens me up to all the other things my phone can do for me. But until I'm in a job & place where the official tech day off is reasonable-- I will resolve to shutting my phone off more when I'm home and all the people I love are already there. Or when I go on walks with my mom or boyfriend. Or when I go to bed at night when I don't need to be anywhere the next day & leaving it off as long as possible.

I often give 5 stars to non-fiction that altered my perspective of the world. For me, this book did just that. I put a bunch of sticky-tabs in and I will record some of the quotes below. This is a book I need to purchase so I can refer to it again in the future.

"Suicide rates are higher than they have ever been among the general public, and researchers are asking if frequent social media and internet use may be a factor. Doctors who spend more time interfacing with medical reporting software than talking with patients burn out at much higher rates. Other studies show that a lack of empathy and Internet addiction are closely linked." p 89

"Let's remember the meaning of 'screen' is 'filter'. All the social media on our screens is filtered--sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. It's always, in some way, distorted, edited, reshaped." p. 96

"While parents have always worried, we're definitely in new terrain. We're also now worrying that our kids are too risk averse. In more privileged social strata, there seems to be a trend in raising a generation that's delaying adulthood. Fewer teens are getting driver's licenses or after-school jobs. Kids are so preoccupied with their smartphones that they aren't even dating. Instead of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, it's become vape, text, Snap and scroll." p. 105

"My father, who was found of quoting Sophocles, used to say,'Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse.' Digital technology may be new, but massive cultural change isn't, and our role as parents stays the same: to do our best to guide our children through a shifting world." p 114

"One click leads to another, by design, and all of it is directed by someone else: the software engineer or the media giant or the advertiser or the Instagram poster who's giving you FOMO or the manipulative bot army of another government. It has all been designed to lure us in, based on everything it knows about us. And it knows alot." p 128

"My favorite memories of my mom are of her snuggled in bed surrounded by anything a curious person could want: a pile of books, reading glasses, pens to underline and highlight, a collection of different notepads with vintage postcards stuck on their covers--some for words she likes, one for quotes, another for ideas--and a glass jar of lemon drops. These are the tools she uses to preserve bits of wisdom or observations that will endure, like fossils, long after everything else is gone." p 139

"I started doing Tech Shabbats after the intense period when I lost my father and had Blooma within days. It was as if life grabbed me by the shoulders, stared into my eyes and said, 'Figure out what's important!' Here's the thing that's fascinating to me, nearly a decade after my father's death: he is now infinite to me. While we are all human, falliable, imperfect beings who are works in progress, if we attempt to live meaningful and purposeful lives and are present for those we love, we can live forever. Someone once told me: whenever y0u are doing something that the person you lost loved to do, you bring them back. So when I write this book in the darkness of five a.m., when my dad also loved to write; clap through tears at the end of a fantastic film in a packed theater; thrust my own finger and say, 'Tradition!' while eating bagel, lox, and cream cheese; or appreciate the family sitting around the table--all things he loved, he is with me." p 172

If you made it to the end of this review, you are incredible. Now read this book.

[Ramona Mead · Rating 2 out of 5]

The core concept of this book is interesting: taking a structured break from technology once a week. Parts were enlightening and inspiring, yet other times I felt I was being lectured by a parent and fear mongered about the dangers of technology. The author digs deep into the areas surrounding her family's choice to take a Tech Shabbat weekly. We get the history of "a day of rest" as well as facts on the benefits of making eye contact and practicing gratitude. Sometimes it felt like she was all over the place trying to force her argument. Her tips for analog replacements to technology are nice, for those wishing to reduce screen time. Ultimately what I took away from this book was what I already knew going in: balancing technology, screens, and "real life" is challenging and personal. Each individual needs to practice trial and error to find what works best. Perhaps if I had children, I would feel a more urgent need to make a change in my habits?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sydney Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cool idea that I am going to try and implement in my life this fall! She sites good studies and research that made her claims about the 24/6 life very believable. At some points it did seem a little privileged. Her family and the other people who she interviews all have really well paying, educated positions (and are usually positions of power!) that allow them to unplug for a whole day. I would've loved to hear from a wider range/more diverse set of people about how the 24/6 life works for them.
I will say that the last 10 chapters were not really necessary and a lot of the memoir sections did not really add to the book. But they were at least easy to read and went by pretty fast.
Excited to try this in my life!

[Molly Haidlinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good way to start a new year. I really do like the idea of a Tech Shabbat and am going to strongly consider doing my own version.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

things i like: i vaguely knew about shabbat but i learned more about the concept in this book and i really love the idea of an intentional day of rest. i think that's something i'll be implementing in my life maybe once a month? i also appreciated the actual details of how she goes through her day off, and i liked the practical advice at the end on how to take this day off.

things i don't like: she lost me when she was talking about the big picture impact of screens, which i didn't really care about. also the book is repetitive, but it's also a fairly quick read so it didn't bother me too much but it did start getting old near the end.

[jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish. Got a little over halfway through it. The general idea of a Tech Shabbat is wonderful and I support it, but I think this approach to discussing tech is outdated and unhelpful. How do we talk about phone usage without fear mongering? It’s certainly not by saying this, the line that made me quit: “Let’s just call everything what it is. A flip phone is a phone and a smart phone is an addiction machine.”

I understand what Tiffany Shlain is trying to do in this book but the execution just does not work. We really need to herald in the younger generations who are mostly online to generate ideas about healthy tech usage that doesn’t only demonize. I’ve TRIED to lessen my screen time while demonizing and that just induces shame when I revert back to scrolling for hours.

I kept thinking about how scientific studies may point out a lot of negative results from too much screen time, but that the response to that can’t just be a pendulum swing away from tech. That’s the point of the Shabbat, right? We’re not removing ourselves from the grid. We’re giving our brains/bodies a break. Please, can we focus on doing that without creating a morality around extensive phone usage? Moralizing these things never works.

2.5 stars. (P.S. This line made me want to scream: “Instead of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, it’s become text, vape, snap, and scroll.”)

[Bryan Hume · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book, I thought, “The title already tells me everything I need to know,” and, “Couldn’t this just be a blog post?” Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t put this down.

Shlain writes with a tremendous amount of heart, tying in her Jewish roots, family stories, and individuality. Beyond the “Tech Shabbat” concept, she creates a powerful conversation around going deeper and being human. Her perspectives are balanced, well-researched, and incredibly timely.

Although the “check your phone less” space is overly saturated, this book is a welcome reminder to fill our lives with more presence, appreciation, and love. This requires room to rest, space to think, and ultimately, time to unplug.

[Megan Dormoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Improve life with less screen-time"

I thought this book was riddled with useful reminders and tips for how to balance technology usage in our lives.

I appreciated the numerous references and research guidance Shlain provided on the topic, as well as her personal anecdotes, even though it was hard to relate to at times.

One of my favorite topics she brought up was the idea of exits and entrances, to think more intentionally about all the interactions you have throughout the day. I think it's a great practice to be aware of those around you - and to "sew something positive into the fabric of society."

[Erica Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely starting this in small doses. So many great ideas for ways to decrease screen use and the benefits of it!

[Jan Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's too early to tell, but I think this book has changed my life for the better, and I hope for long. The idea is simple: one day of the week, turn off all screens and electronics to connect with yourself, the people around you and the world. Our desire for connection through the internet has fostered a lot of disconnection. However where some documentaries and people go into fear mongering, Tiffany, founder of the Webby Awards, is more optimistic and proposes a more doable solution. Turning off your screens once a week allows you to connect with yourself and provides a genuine day of rest, whereas with our phones we are always turned on in some way, available 24/7 to reply to people. It also can change how you relate to your electronic devices the other 6 days of the week.

By going through why we should do it, and tips for how we can do it this book is short & sweet, and I found it extremely helpful and refreshing to read. Keep in mind that the idea is plain & simple, no need to read the book, but it can help get started, or for me, provide a better framework for why and how to live 24/6.

I've been doing this and it's one of my favourite moments of the week. It allows me to rest, and read, feel less distracted and already has shown many insights into my personhood due to the reflection a fully "offline" day can foster.

I cannot recommend the practice highly enough, and thus a full five stars to Tiffany, because she introduced me to the practice that changed the game for me in a big way, and I will rave about this idea to friends, hopefully for years to come.

PS. If you don't feel like reading, I came across the idea via the "On Being" podcast, and it's a wonderful quick introduction to the practice: https://pca.st/ajjtvf5e

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would have made for a great long-form article. Or like, a nice meaty chapter of some other book. As it stands, I felt like I was reading the same idea over and over and being given a list of things I might like to do instead of being on the internet. I'm not poo-pooing that idea completely, but I really am not lacking for ways to spend my offline time, so a big chunk of the book wasn't super applicable.

Anyway, being away from screens is a good idea. I'd argue that intermittent screen-fasting for one day a week isn't a drastic enough but whatever. It's a good book if you're starting from scratch on your journey away from screens.

[Mahaliah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the message of this book and I hope to start taking a day off screens each week. However, the author is writing from a place of extreme privilege and at times comes off as quite self-righteous. There would be a lot of benefits to living the way the author is able to, but not everyone can, and it’s a bit annoying to be lectured about why what she’s doing is the best way to live for 170 pages. I would recommend reading part 1 to get an introduction to the concept of tech shabbat, and then part 7 for tips on how to make it work for your life. The rest of the book is just filler, with a lot of ideas tossed around in a disorganized way with inconsistent citing.

[shayda :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to be more intentional with my screentime because it was bothering me a lot - i haven’t read/stayed focused on a book in a while and it was tough for me because of how much i love it, so i picked up tons of books and im starting to read more. i’m glad i picked this one up! 4 stars because i’m not really the target audience (it seems like it’s a lot for people with careers/children or families that they can start this practice with), but i want to use bits and pieces to help my screentime!! just by reading this book i’m already feeling so much better and my screentime is BEAUTIFULLY low as an average this week. Happy to be reading again :D

[Mahesh Naidu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with some inspiration on how to go Tech-less one day of your week. I found some of the techniques and suggestions useful and am looking forward to put it to use soon. Not using technology for one day a week in entirety might not be practical in many cases but aiming to be close to that will definitely get me somewhere.

[Esosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Let’s evolve how we think, live and work. We have to start viewing rest as strength, not a weakness, and reward people for taking care of their bodies and minds, as well as creating infrastructures that support this across socioeconomic strata.”

Tiffany Shlain and her family practice what she calls a Tech Shabbat. From Friday evening to Saturday evening her family go technology free; choosing instead to use this time for some quality family bonding, time spent in nature, hosting friends etc. She gives context on why she started this practice, the difference it’s made in their lives and how exactly they achieve this.

My copy of this book is now filled with many highlighted pages and sticky tabs. I went into this with a critical mindset and I’m glad I did because for every possible rebuttal I came up with in my head, Shlain would address it literally in the next sentence or page or chapter. By the end of this book I had no other arguments.

Essentially this is a book about taking time to reflect on your life, taking time to be intentional on what and how you’re spending your moments, taking time to consider your relationships with people, with yourself. Even just taking time to do nothing and let your mind wander. Our attention is so divided on a daily basis and everything is so instantaneous; if you think about how much energy we exhaust during the week, mentally and physically - our bodies and minds really would benefit from unplugging once a week. Now where this book really knocks it out of the park is in describing how to incorporate some form of tech shabbat into your life and how to really make it work for you.

It’s very rare for me to give a self help book 5 stars. If you’re trying to convince people to think about a concept in a certain way or to learn something new then you should be able to do it in a way that’s digestible, convincing and captivating. In my opinion, 24/6 does all of that. I definitely recommend this one for anyone looking to reduce their screen time, increase productivity and overall well being.

This review is already pretty long but if you care to read more on some aspects I liked/appreciated, I've expanded on them below:

- I appreciated that Shlain from the beginning acknowledged that even the ability to unplug one day a week/on the weekend is a privilege. Not everyone works a 9-5 and has weekends free, not everyone can afford to go off the grid for 24 hours.

- I liked the chapter on reimagining rest as a technology. If you look at your day of unplugging as a way to reset/reboot your system it goes a long way. Literally just look at what happens when you have too many tabs open for too long and never shut down your computer, it freezes, it becomes slow, your ability to carry out work on it is compromised, less efficient. Our bodies are like that as well.

- Balance. Shlain praises the benefits of technology and social media while also acknowledging the paradox around the isolation and disconnection it can also cause. There’s no secret agenda to get you to delete all your socials and pretend the internet doesn’t exist. I’ve read other books where people say things like “delete all your social media” as if some people’s livelihoods, hobbies and creativity don’t rely on these platforms. Shlain’s message here is to find balance and to find a way to make technology work for you rather than letting it control you.

- Subject matter experts lol. I loved that when talking about Snapchat, Shlain actually utilized her teenage daughter. There are a few pages where her daughter dissects what she gets out of using social media apps like Snapchat that some adults might not understand; and also discusses the negative aspects of it.

- There’s a whole chapter towards the end on ideas of things to do with your technology free day - it’s even broken down by age groups.There’s also a chapter on things to think about as you go into Tech Shabbats. What are you hoping to get out of it? Identifying barriers ahead of time, evaluating your current screen time etc

- This concept isn’t one size fits all. I’m not married with kids like Shlain. What works for her and her family might not work for me but I’ve been given enough information on the benefits of unplugging and ways to reduce screen time that I can tailor the practice of tech sabbat to fit my needs specifically.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Is what I am about to do a reflection of who I am? And who I want to be? It turns out taking a moment, a beat before acting impulsively, is a big part of building one's character."

"If we focus on things that are infinite, I believe, we could live our lives more abundantly. Like love: the more you love, the more love there is. And memory: memories of good moments in life grow and expand the more you create space to write and reflect about them. Gratitude also feels boundless. The more I started focusing on noticing, calling out, and writing down what I appreciated, my sense of gratitude grew, and I now understand it to be an infinite power."

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive how- and why-to.

The actual information can be found in a lot of other recent titles on the topic, like Digital Minimalism and Indistractable, but 24/6 has an emotional depth that the others are lacking. By grounding her practice of a tech-free day once a week in so much ritual and personal history, the author really brings home how the idea can benefit the reader, no matter what they’re own individual circumstances.

For the most part, the book also manages to avoid the slightly sanctimonious tone of other titles in this genre.

A very touching journey.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a truck load of information about the benefits of getting offline. Mixed with personal stories, information on the effects of screen time/social media and tips for "living 24/6" it covers more than I expected. The arguments posed in this book really spoke to me, however I expect my true review will come with time. In an ideal world I would give up screens one day per week right away but only time will tell if I manage to make any significant changes to my screen time. I think the content of this book could benefit anyone who notices how much time they waste on screens and wants to be more present.

[Lauren Petrullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a novel idea and a clean thought out concept.

The author wove together a cohesive balance of the 24/6 idea, stories to drive home the message, and antidotes to help a reader progress through more the droll content (speaking specifically as a fiction fanatic - usually no love story no interest hahah)

I’ve done two tech Shabbats so far. Yes, I recognize the irony of writing this while I should be on tech Shabbat. However, it is because I’ve communicated my desire to live screen free one day a week to my network and current events have caused some emergency situations where I need to be available.

I’m grateful to this author for sharing this golden nugget life hack! And am working towards continued reinforcement of this in my life.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love love love the idea of the book. Unplug for 24 hours a day each week. Doable with planning and effort. What would that be like! I want to try it.

More presence, more laughing, more appreciating, more eye contact, more day dreaming, more silence, more making, more mistakes, more nature, more rituals, more getting lost, more authentic connecting, more looking up!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Some interesting thoughts on our over consumption of technology and its consequences. Refections on how we use our time, where our focus lies, and how to make meaningful changes. Relevant advice for children, teenagers and their tech related issues as well.