Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age

Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age

  • Downloads:7887
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-12-02 16:21:26
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Felicia Wu Song
  • ISBN:0830851135
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Sarah

It is truly a “Wow” book。 Felicia addresses our phones, social media and the digital world in a way that avoids shaming and invites us to take a deep dive into understanding the power of this new life that has spread across the globe。 She then offers practical and beautiful tools for reflecting and taking actions that are liberating。This would be powerful for small groups, book clubs and small and large communities of reflection and faith。 Note- Felicia’s audience balances between intellectuals It is truly a “Wow” book。 Felicia addresses our phones, social media and the digital world in a way that avoids shaming and invites us to take a deep dive into understanding the power of this new life that has spread across the globe。 She then offers practical and beautiful tools for reflecting and taking actions that are liberating。This would be powerful for small groups, book clubs and small and large communities of reflection and faith。 Note- Felicia’s audience balances between intellectuals in higher education and those of us who prefer an easier read:) Although it is not a “trade press” book, it is accessible。 Can you tell? I’m a big fan of this book。 I’m guessing you will be, too。 。。。more

Douglas Ranck

This book had me at the title。 The conviction of knowing how restless I am with my own devices immediately began but Felicia Wu Song brought hope。 It is easy to find writings taking the easy road by categorizing our relationship with devices as all or nothing。 Anybody can tell us to dump our social media platforms and move back to a flip phone with no bells or whistles。Dr。 Song is upfront in admitting, “The visual effects of these tools is undoubtedly impressive。 Our social media feeds take on t This book had me at the title。 The conviction of knowing how restless I am with my own devices immediately began but Felicia Wu Song brought hope。 It is easy to find writings taking the easy road by categorizing our relationship with devices as all or nothing。 Anybody can tell us to dump our social media platforms and move back to a flip phone with no bells or whistles。Dr。 Song is upfront in admitting, “The visual effects of these tools is undoubtedly impressive。 Our social media feeds take on the likeness of fashion runways where we all become consumers of each other’s curated collection 。 。 。” This is followed, later in the book with, “The more we seek control through the powerful tools and allure of digital media, the less we exercise and growing our capacity to negotiate those real-life relationships that are so often not in our control。”Dr。 Song took the narrow path of helping us manage well。 Her work to bring science into balance with theology and practical application move us toward a healthy view of how we handle the ever-present clarion call of those so easily transportable devices。 Her data and research lead us to move more toward communion and creating counter-liturgies。As a pastor of youth, children and families I see firsthand the best and worst effects when devices are out of control。 Felicia Wu Song offers tools for pastors, community leaders, teachers, parents, and anyone who manages (or doesn’t manage) devices。 The short section of “Commitments to Ordered Digital Life” is worth the price of the book。 Find a comfortable chair and rest in the “restlessness” and hope of this book。 。。。more

Ashley Ochi

Though a self-professed late adopter of tech, it’s apparent that Dr。 Song has been onto this for years。 This book is one significant culmination of careful attention to the ever-evolving and embedded nature of technology, lived experience as both a parent and professor, and well-integrated insights of sociology and theology—on the way to a healthier situation of tech in our lives。 It has arrived at exactly the right moment, as we reimagine what proximal, embodied connectedness will be as we emer Though a self-professed late adopter of tech, it’s apparent that Dr。 Song has been onto this for years。 This book is one significant culmination of careful attention to the ever-evolving and embedded nature of technology, lived experience as both a parent and professor, and well-integrated insights of sociology and theology—on the way to a healthier situation of tech in our lives。 It has arrived at exactly the right moment, as we reimagine what proximal, embodied connectedness will be as we emerge from the most stringent pandemic-related constraints。 Beyond a wise criticism of the “soft tyranny” that is wrought on us by unrelenting digital connectedness, this book offers praxes for resistance, reparative “counterliturgies,” and a moving case for embodied presence and sabbath rest。 As acknowledged in the final pages, we all remain in the trenches of navigating the digital, but this offering is a warm invitation to hope and an urging toward evaluation and change that is gentle, sustainable and effective。 If we find ourselves in the trenches now, this book is a major signpost marking our path out。 。。。more

Eddie LaRow

Fantastic book。 Very fitting for our times。 “Now, it seems, we have driven our collective selves to the edge of democracy’s cliffs, looking into a strange and troubling canyon of all that can happen when social media and digital technologies become weaponized to control popular sentiment and manipulate people’s understanding of reality and each other。" Fantastic book。 Very fitting for our times。 “Now, it seems, we have driven our collective selves to the edge of democracy’s cliffs, looking into a strange and troubling canyon of all that can happen when social media and digital technologies become weaponized to control popular sentiment and manipulate people’s understanding of reality and each other。" 。。。more