Enthusiastically, Dawn

Let’s talk for a minute, can we? Do you own a phone? If you don’t you are one of the last great holdouts. I’m impressed. However, if you are like the majority of human beings in the world you do own one, and your daily average phone use amounts to 3 hours and 45 minutes per day. I know, because I researched that information at Backlinko, a site speacilizing in smartphone use statistics. I also know because I have been in a daily battle for my mind over the past few years trying to keep a tight reign on my own phone use! In order to succeed I had to eliminate a number of major social media platforms. But that is a post for a future day.

This day, I am here to review a book published in 2017 by Tony Reinke, called 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You.

I enjoy listening to Tony Reinke on the Ask Pastor John podcast, a show that he hosts with John Piper for Desiring God. However, I stumbled on his book while perusing Crossway for my potential next review. I felt mixed, as I expected it to be dry, like a sermon infused lecture. Instead I got to read one of the most practically applicable, informed, well researcheded books on the topic. This book is steeped with Biblical wisdom, along with a journalistic thrust into the full spectrum of impact our phones have on our lives and relationships. This is the reality we now find ourselves living, moving, and having our being in today.

We may already recognize that our relationship with technology impacts our real-life interactions and communications. In other words how we manage our phone use and relationship to technology, has ramifications beyond the now, some of which we see already. Much of what has been shown in Tony’s book I found to be so affirming, but also I had the thought it’s even worse than I suspected. Much of the fruit of what is discussed in this book, has ripened – it’s hard to believe this book was written eight years ago.

Tony’s writing is approachable, but like any good journalist, he presents the facts, but not in a doom and gloom way. He offers the hard reality check we need to think about and carefully consider our choices in light of our desire to be thoughtful, responsible people. People who prioritize God’s word and ways. He doesn’t say, we should, say, ditch our phones, instead he presents a solid case for considering our ways. He brings us to the deep well of reflection. He presents the facts, which are pretty damning. But he does not leave us there, he brings us back to where truth lives- in we who are to be truth tellers, and light holder outers- not people who are screen gazers. And that is my biggest take away- this book affirmed my desire to please the Lord with stewarding the most important commodity I have…my attention. If we as Christians are to love God with all our whole being, but our whole being is compromised from morning to night, how will we succeed? We are still so easily swayed by trends, and times.

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27 (ESV)

If I am defensive about my smartphone or technology use, I think Tony gives us reason to examine ourselves. “Our bondage to technology is measured by our inability to thoughtfully criticize ourselves.” Reinke states, before offering suggestions on how we can do just this- and balance by God’s grace, with humility this technologically rich time. I would like to see an updated version of this book for the 10 year anniversary of it’s publication! Having Tony’s research and write in light of current advances since the last publishing would be interesting!

I think that every single Christian needs to read this book. It’s that good, it’s that profound, and it’s absolutely worth your time and attention. Required reading. An engaging book that is hard to put down, once you start. Maybe even harder to put down than your phone?

This book is available through all your favorite booksellers.

Thanks for taking the time to read this review. Please check out the excellent resources available through Crossway and thank you also to the team at Crossway for sending me another excellent resource in return for an honest review.

Enthusiastically, Dawn