Hamlet's BlackBerry

Why do so many people who rely on phones, laptops and other digital tools feel that these devices are taking more from them than they give back? William Powers takes aim at the common belief that more connection always means a better life. He argues that learning when to step away from it is part of living well. The full title, Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age, reflects this aim.

The book mixes personal reflection with an intellectual journey. Powers draws on the history of technology and on the ideas of thinkers such as Shakespeare and Thoreau. Most discussions of connectedness approach it from an organizational or economic angle, and he cites books like Here Comes Everybody and Wikinomics as examples. Powers looks instead at how constant connection affects people on a personal, psychological and emotional level.