“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking” (Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood). The fundamentals of a good book begin with the author’s ability to tell a story, yes, but also how relatable the material can be to audiences alike. This does not mean necessarily that the author has to be a great writer in order to produce a great book. What constitutes a good read is valued respectably by the reader’s opinion. As humans, we are emotional creatures living in a world of hate at times and a book or story can help us relate to something we are unable to reach physically. However, a good book involves the reader’s engagement and its relevance to the society in which they live in. In the book Alone Together by Sherry Turkle, the author sheds light on how technological advances have caused a negative effect on the growth of personal relationships and their intimacy in society today. Although the book lacks use of the author’s recognition, she provides little reasoning of the validity and importance of her debates over the effects of technology, she offers great insight into the lives of the college students she interviewed. The interviews she conducted helped me become more aware of things I have never recognized before personally and paved way for further discussions on the moral issues in American culture presently due to technology.
Sherry Turkle’s book raises potential dangers of cell phone usage and the lack of awareness of technology and us, making her book significant to current events and easily relevant to thousands of people all around the world. Specifically involving social networking. We have grown a potentially harmful addiction to our smart phones and the availability to stay connected, “I keep the sound on when I drive. When a text comes in, I have to look no matter what” (171). I too have been a victim to TWD, texting while driving. Although I am highly aware of its dangers I find myself innately prone to grabbing my phone as soon as it sets off a tone regardless of whether or not the message may be important. Why do we do this? We see more commercials about fatal accidents due to texting than drunk driving nowadays. So why do we still choose to take the risk? The answer is simple, we are addicted to our smart phones like crack to a pipe in need of a serious national intervention. Turkle raises these issues substantially for an even further debate.
Americans are lacking moralistic values as a direct derivative of being shackled to their phones rather than building personal connections. For years I have been anti-technology for the simple fact that I grew up doing things the old way. Mom never used a GPS to get from point A to point B, nor did I have a cell phone to stay up to date with where I was constantly. Me and my friends grew up exploring San Jose on a VTA line for hours until the sun faded away and if we ever needed a ride back home we stuck a quarter in an ancient box called the pay-phone and got picked up from wherever we were. Turkle sparks this faded memory in Chapter 9, Growing Up Tethered, “There used to be a point for an urban child, an important moment, when there was a first time to navigate the city alone” (173). If it wasn’t for our crazy, spontaneous, yet innocent adventures I wouldn’t be who I am today. We learned valuable lessons of how cruel our world can really be and we grew humble because of that. The fact of the matter is, rather, we weren’t sheltered but privileged to experience the world for all its inevitable flaws. In this new age kids and teens similarly are tethered to an electronic device and trapped in a fantasy world they themselves are creating. Where is the availability of moral growth when you’re stuck starring into an LED screen all day?
The book is an excellent read because it isn’t limited to a unique individual but offers a correlation to many different types of personalities because it is considerably relatable. Furthermore, it raises respected premonitions about the steady downfall of our society due to the advancements of technology. I have already recommended it to several colleagues and hope that Turkle’s concepts may be spread by word of mouth. Who knows, perhaps one day this could lead to a heightened awareness of the issue, however it may be a long time coming and by then it may be too late.
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