The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World

Psychotherapist Colier (Inviting a Monkey to Tea) paints a vivid picture of how addicted we have become to our electronic devices, checking emails and sending text messages to the point of neglecting what is truly important. To illustrate the overwhelming nature of modern communications, Colier reports that one of her high-powered clients receives more than 1,000 emails every day, and if she responded to every one, she wouldn’t have any time left. Colier suggests powering off regularly and pondering such questions as “What really matters?” and “What is my heart’s longing?” while at the same time engaging in a healthy, less obsessive relationship with technology. The majority of the book focuses on how people relate to each other online, while the last part, which could be a book of its own, presents a toolkit for practicing mindfulness as a means of unplugging from digital media. Sprinkled throughout are amusing anecdotes of technology obsessions and lists of questions to ponder. Readers fascinated by how digital technology has changed the world, particularly everyday human interaction, will appreciate the author’s thought-provoking viewpoint. (Nov.)