A Social Media Hiatus Reading List

Books that will motivate and inform you, and a few that will inspire.

I take regular social media breaks.

It’s vital to my well-being, as well as my capacity for critical thinking. I try to take one or two full months away from social media each year, as well as keeping one day a week totally internet-free.

Over my years of social media experimentation I’ve found things that inspire me and help strengthen my resolve. Taking breaks from social media isn’t easy, especially when, during the pandemic, it became such a lifeline.

But in taking breaks I have found a deeper connection to myself, the patterns of my life, and increased embodiment. I’ve found a lot of healing.

(Pssst! Did you know you can get nearly half-off a subscription to the writer RIGHT NOW?)

Cal Newport

Newport’s Digital Minimalism and Deep Work are two books that are integral to understanding why time away from social media is vital to our well being. I listened to Digital Minimalism while on a social media hiatus in Europe. It was really hard not to post all of my Europe things on social media, but I find that my most vivid memories are from the times where I was not concerned with posting anything anywhere!

Jenny Odell

Odell’s book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy has a beautiful cover whose fresh flowers have adorned many Instagram posts. It seems many have read and enjoyed her book, and like to share their enjoyment on social media? Ironic. I’m one of the many people who have loved this book. It’s quiet and, unlike many other books about social media (mostly written by men) it isn’t didactic.

Not only is Odell’s writing engaging and well-researched, but it’s deep. It’s not just about why we shouldn’t spend all of our time on social media— it’s about what we lose as individuals and communities, and what’s expected of us by the tech companies who profit off of keeping us in a state of low (or high) grade anxiety and reactivity.

Here is the Medium post that turned into Jenny’s book. Below is a great talk by Jenny.

I think what makes Odell’s book so special is that it’s about how incredibly connected we are to the world around us, and how changeable we are. It’s about her, and from a very personal space, yet entirely relatable. It’s inspiring and beautiful and definitely worth your time.

Adam Greenfield

Greenfield’s book Radical Technology: The Design of Every Day Life is more technical, more of a road map of how new technologies (3D printing, blockchain, and algorithms) work and how they are changing the way we think and operate as societies and humans. Here’s Greenfield talking about his book:

While this book could be categorized as drier than the other recommendations herein, I think it’s essential that we understand the technologies engage with and it is absolutely worth a read. Order from his publisher, Verso (hyperlinked above) and get a discount (they are often running sales on bundles and Verso is one of the best publishers out there for everything anti-capitalist).

What books have you read that have helped you let go of social media in a healthy way? Have you ever taken a social media hiatus?

I’ll be sending out some more recommendations soon.