How to Be Online and Also Be Happy

by Issy Beech

How to Be Online and Also Be Happy is your playful guide to using the internet in a rewarding, productive and meaningful way. While spending time online can be one of the most fulfilling aspects of our lives, it's also a source of great discontent, addiction and anxiety. But there’s no reason to believe that the internet itself is making us sad, it's the way we are using and engaging with it.

How to Be Online and Also Be Happy will teach you how to cultivate a conscientious and good-feeling relationship with the internet and social media. Offering tips and advice to help you approach this landscape, former internet addict Issy Beech will teach you how to set boundaries with your devices and show you how you can engage more purposefully, ultimately teaching you how to use the World Wide Web to make you happier.

The Survive the Modern World series tackles big subjects in a fun and digestible way. The tone is frank and chatty, but the content is comprehensive. Upskill and expand your knowledge with these accessible pocket guides.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Flexibound

Published December 14, 2021

Reviews

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

realising the irony of logging this into my goodreads the second after finishing 😐😐😐

[ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am so grateful that i found this book because it perfectly describes my thoughts on social media use and how it negatively (and positively) impacts you and your development. being a 20 year old who grew up in the emerging "new" social media era has had its perks but also its extremely bad lows and i'm thankful that im now navigating ways around how it works for me and this book explains what i already try to tell people in more depth. i really, highly recommend everyone in the 13-30 age gap to read this, especially if all you do is stay on social media and believe your life revolves around it.

[Hope Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite self-explanatory but good reminders and fun tips !

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While most of it is quite obvious, it’s actually a nice, easy book to keep close when I need a reminder to check myself and my social media use. It also gives lots of tips on how to limit social media use that are again, obvious, but helpful and needed. It’ll hopefully be something I refer back to often.

[Kenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this last night (and read it digitally…. lol). Full of good reminders, but a little trite. Did make me think it’d be smart to invest in an at-home desktop computer someday and to uninstall the social apps from my phone. Tbd if I do either of those things ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Good reflective read, inspiring.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars! This was a quick read; I kept it by my bedside and was able to get a few pages in each night or morning in my free time. Although I don’t think this book will solve all your problems if you’re looking to detox from being online, it’s a good starting point for those who feel overwhelmed by their online time, and a good reminder for those who have been able to get some solid habits in place to spend less time online. It’s not a deep or heavy read, and I really appreciated the author’s levity on a topic that’s actually top of mind to so many people that struggle with social media / phone usage or addiction.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are now two books I think should be required reading before becoming a citizen of the internet this one and So You've Been Publicly Shamed. This does a great job of reminding us of why the internet came to be and why we gleefully got on it in the first place and using that information how we can assign and restrain it to the rightful place in our life. Highly recommend and keeping it for future use and reference.

[Olga Sergeyev · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I have definitely NOT been happy online, especially post election, and feel like I cry every time I pick up my phone. While most of this book felt familiar, it served as a great reminder to reflect on why and how I use social media. It also offers practical tips for limiting screen time and managing social media use. Nothing groundbreaking, but still helpful. Just a reminder: spending 3.5 hours a day on your phone adds up to an entire day each week spent staring at a screen. Something to think about!

[Darian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because Shannon from the Fluently Forward podcast had mentioned this book a couple times and peaked my interest. While a lot of this information is somewhat self explanatory or straight forward this book has some great information and activities. It’s definitely a good reminder to be mindful of an assess your online use and presence.

[Aeslinn Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Loved the layout and design of the book (which was admittedly what convinced me to purchase it in the first place) and the content wasn't too bad either, honestly. Granted, I didn't have very high expectations, but for a self-help book on being better at using the internet and not ruining your own life, it was satisfactory. A good, happy read for the end of the year.

[Hermione Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kinda informative but also at the same time kinda common sense. It would be perfect for someone who was addicted to their phone on their path to fixing their keep schedule or something but that is just not me. But it was still pretty useful an i did use some of the activities.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and contains great advice.

[Karine · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing new here that I feel I didn't already know, but it is a handy reference to have if you feel like your online life is taking over everything else.