Book Analysis Essay on Irresistible

Introduction

The book "Irresistible: the rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us hooked" is a classical masterpiece that highlights the degree of human addiction on technology and the impacts it has on human lives. The paper will first cover the transition of the internet from generating fun to being addictive, then why most people are addicted to technology and the effects of the internet on human lives. The article will also discuss the necessary strategies that one should follow to rescue themselves from behavioral addiction, especially from technological addiction.

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Based on the provided choices of the books, I selected "Irresistible: the rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us hooked." I chose the book since it covers one of the severe challenges faced by most people across the globe. The book illuminates the new obsession that is controlling human lives and the tools that can be used in rescuing the sanity of the affected individuals, families, and businesses. Adam Alter, the author of the book, narrates the rise of behavioral addiction and explains why technology is irresistible to addiction. The current generation is either obsessed with TV episodes, phone, Facebook feeds, Instagram likes to name but a few. Being a social addict, the book became highly appealing to me since it explains the origin of technology addiction, why people are hooked up in it, and the possible solutions to the problem. Alter explains how one can control the use of addictive technological products for good, and this is essential information to me, given that I tend to waste a lot of time on social media platforms.

The book offers excellent insight into the behavioral addiction nature of technology and why once one has been addicted to technology, they cannot easily come out of the addiction as compared to drug addiction. Alter first elaborates that addiction to technology is not genetic or inherent in people and that it is majorly influenced by environment and circumstance. Alter states that everyone is vulnerable and internet with its simulation of culture comparison and connectivity is very prone for abuse. Alter (2018) states that addiction to technology is hard to control since most gadgets are at human disposal for use, unlike drugs that require one to seclusion during consumption. For instance, a gaming addict must use computers at work to keep in touch with their families, while an alcoholic addict can avoid bars. The second reason provided by Alter concerning irresistibility to technological addiction is that technology is immersive and mobile. Most addictive gadgets or activities carried on those gadgets can easily be accessed and carried everywhere.

The third reason provided by Alter concerning widespread addiction to technology is that it is bottomless. Most human services are rendered via technology. For instance, if one needs a car at night, they will use their phones, and if they want to send some messages to their families or friends, they will still have to use those gadgets, and this increases the degree of addiction to technology (Alter, 2018). The first topic was impactful to me since it shed more light on the origin of technology addiction and insisted that it is not genetic. This means that students can easily control their addiction to technology. The second topic discusses why technological addiction is widespread and means of controlling the obsession. The topic is impactful to students since it offers insight on how one should minimize overreliance on the use of technology that might result in addiction.

The sentiments expressed by Alter concerning addictive technology have been corroborated by Lu & Smith (2008), who believes that technology is highly addictive, and it has affected the productivity of many employees across the globe, destroyed many families, and improved laziness among youths. Just like Alter, Lu & Smith (2008) believes that environmental factors mainly influence addiction to technology, and it is not hereditary. Lu & Smith (2008) also considers that addictive technology is hard to control due to its immersive and bottomless nature.

The book offers insightful information about addictive technology that will help me regulate the use of technology to avoid being addicted to it. It first provides the evolution of addictive technology and what people do daily, which makes them hooked up in it. Based on this information, I will be able to avoid overreliance on technology and to use them only when need be. My primary addiction was on the use of the mobile phone to access social media platforms, and based on the strategies offered by Alter in minimizing addictive technology, I will delete some of the apps on my phone, and I will only access those cites after finishing all the jobs.

References

Alter, A. (2018). Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. London, England: Penguin.

Lu, Y., & Smith, S. (2008). Augmented Reality E-Commerce: How the Technology Benefits People's Lives. Human-Computer Interaction. DOI: 10.5772/6301