A clear a crisp attack on Hooked by Nir Eyal.

I picked this book aiming to help me in my own addition towards technology - so yes, I had an agenda. But this beauty really entertained me with some astounding data and a focussed extrapolation of what might become of us if we continue.

'Man's evolution has been hand-in-hand with it's desire to be lazy' - this is a depressing yet awakening fact that we need to realize. As much as people might misuse, abuse or overuse the term 'innovation', it is just a fancy word for us spending less energy to get something done. And our relentless attempt at it, might be the ruin of us.

What this book helped me with - habits that has reduced my online time drastically. For example -
1. I have allotted thinking times during which my phone and laptop automatically switch off (IFTTT rocks).
2. I now sleep with my phone in the drawing room and instead take my kindle with me.
3. I have a porn blocker which i haven't disabled for over two weeks.
4. I now have started reading less listicles and more essays.
5. And the best of them all, I have developed a habit to run.

Now all this are a result of my reflection on using products that were made to hook me. It raised the question of rethinking my own set of ethics when I design a product or feature of a product which is often the last thing startups think about - success metrics in companies are now ones like Minutes on Page, Conversion, Retention, etc, which, cumulatively, is just distracting the customer.

So if you are someone who ever has, is or planning to make a product for consumers - do give this book a read.