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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A good examination into how we use our phones and how it affects us, especially in the context of our spiritual life and relationship to God. I appreciate that the author is neither a technophobe nor a technophile, and looks for balance between the two.
Well-researched + helpful stories + practical application. I listened to the audiobook first, but followed up by reading the physical copy because I needed to give it more focus. Now it's a matter of actually putting it into practice.
Well-researched + helpful stories + practical application. I listened to the audiobook first, but followed up by reading the physical copy because I needed to give it more focus. Now it's a matter of actually putting it into practice.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Man I was really intrigued by the title of this book but was pretty disappointed by the content. It felt like the author kept saying really eloquent theological statements and then when he would try and apply it to the use of technology it just didn’t make sense. Also his overall tone around technology in general was so negative I don’t think it connected well to a generation who grew up in it. I think the book Tech Wise Family is much more understandable and practical.
'12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You' by Tony Reinke is an excellent book that frankly I dismissed because of an overly catchy title. I expected a BuzzFeed listicle-esque mishmash of encouragements for Christians to focus on Jesus and fearful warnings against the dangers of new technology. What I read instead was a book that takes an approach of genuine sophistication founded on a wealth of sources both secular and Christian to arrive at a theology of technology that is neither naively optimistic nor prudishly condemning.
Reinke's 12 Ways use a butterfly structure with symmetrical ends and a join at the middle, with the crux being chapters 6 and 7 in which Reinke explores the ways smartphones compromise our ability to love God and love each other. It finishes, like it starts, with a vision for eternity that began in a perfect but incomplete garden without technology and ends in a city with redeemed, purposeful technological marvels.
While Reinke is unflinchingly critical of the shortcomings of modern social media and the infiltration of technology into every waking second, I was refreshed by how often he dwells on the positive impact smartphones have had. Fascinatingly, John Piper is a massive fan of his iPhone and iPad (of course, truly discerning Christians would prefer Android). Recent secular works on the same playing field (Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport and Indistractable by Nir Eyal spring to mind, although there are many more) are less balanced and more powerfully negative in their arguments against the pull of smartphones and social media.
Rather than seeing smartphones as an evil we need to be saved from, Reinke sees them as tools which are only as good as the hands that wield them. The responsibility, and the opportunity, lies with the user.
Reinke's 12 Ways use a butterfly structure with symmetrical ends and a join at the middle, with the crux being chapters 6 and 7 in which Reinke explores the ways smartphones compromise our ability to love God and love each other. It finishes, like it starts, with a vision for eternity that began in a perfect but incomplete garden without technology and ends in a city with redeemed, purposeful technological marvels.
While Reinke is unflinchingly critical of the shortcomings of modern social media and the infiltration of technology into every waking second, I was refreshed by how often he dwells on the positive impact smartphones have had. Fascinatingly, John Piper is a massive fan of his iPhone and iPad (of course, truly discerning Christians would prefer Android). Recent secular works on the same playing field (Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport and Indistractable by Nir Eyal spring to mind, although there are many more) are less balanced and more powerfully negative in their arguments against the pull of smartphones and social media.
Rather than seeing smartphones as an evil we need to be saved from, Reinke sees them as tools which are only as good as the hands that wield them. The responsibility, and the opportunity, lies with the user.
Today, when we think about how connected we are to our phones and how old the Bible sometimes seems to be, we can be tempted to think that the Bible doesn’t say anything about how we should interact with our phones. Tony spends this book showing us just how wrong we would be to think that thought. In this book Tony unpacks 12 ways that are phones have changed us and what the Bible has to say about it.
As Tony begins to dive into this book he writes about problems that have faced mankind since the dawn of time. He points out that there is nothing new under the sun, the issues that face us today have always faced us.
You see, our phones have the power to amplify our addictions to distractions and sins, which in turn causes us to lose track of time. Our phones can cause us to get wrapped up in a technological world (missing what’s going on in the here and now); filling us with anger at what we see behind the pixels. Our phones scratch our itch for instant approval and feeling of not wanting to miss out. They undermine our reading comprehension and make it harder for us to find and identify the true meaning of this world. With our phones, we also find ourselves in a sea of new things to see and hear, and we can drown in the lure of our vices. Our phones also help us put on a fake identity and draw us to a place of loneliness.
To help combat that, Tony provides Biblical principles to help us fight off each one. If our phones distract us, God calls us to be silent and know that He is God. If the social media tries to draw us in to anger and useless debates, the Bible calls us to live in relationship with one another, to put others needs above our own. When we desire to have our needs met now and to not miss out, we know that God calls us to seek our joy and fulfillment in Him… On and on he goes, calling out sin and temptation while pointing to the Biblical solution that God designed long before we were born.
The easiest work in the world is to find fault ~ Spurgeon
The truths Reinke points to in this book have instant ramifications on our lives. We often need to be reminded that making passive aggressive posts about our other’s failures is wrong. We need to be reminded that our job as godly men and women is to lift up and support others. God did not command us to pick apart every little thing people do and tear them down, he commanded us to lift up and encourage.
This book points to so many pitfalls in our lives. As you read it you will begin to realize that some of your struggles in life are related to your phone use. Once identified you can work on the issue and begin to take steps to making yourself right with God.
I found myself reading this and wanting to throw my phone away and dig in deep to the Word. Every chapter was written with such care and contemplation, that my mind kept playing the words back for days. This book is a winner!
Tony Reinke is the senior writer for Desiring God. He’s written a large number of articles for Desiring God and has a beautiful way of analyzing content deeply and approachably. With this book he dives in deep to how our world has been changed in the last ten years starting with the release of the iPhone. Never before has a technology so quickly changed our lives.
To see more reviews check out my blog: This Sporadic Life
I am not my own. I am owned by my Lord. I have been bought with a price… And that leads to my point: I do not have “time to kill” -- I have time to redeem.
As Tony begins to dive into this book he writes about problems that have faced mankind since the dawn of time. He points out that there is nothing new under the sun, the issues that face us today have always faced us.
You see, our phones have the power to amplify our addictions to distractions and sins, which in turn causes us to lose track of time. Our phones can cause us to get wrapped up in a technological world (missing what’s going on in the here and now); filling us with anger at what we see behind the pixels. Our phones scratch our itch for instant approval and feeling of not wanting to miss out. They undermine our reading comprehension and make it harder for us to find and identify the true meaning of this world. With our phones, we also find ourselves in a sea of new things to see and hear, and we can drown in the lure of our vices. Our phones also help us put on a fake identity and draw us to a place of loneliness.
To help combat that, Tony provides Biblical principles to help us fight off each one. If our phones distract us, God calls us to be silent and know that He is God. If the social media tries to draw us in to anger and useless debates, the Bible calls us to live in relationship with one another, to put others needs above our own. When we desire to have our needs met now and to not miss out, we know that God calls us to seek our joy and fulfillment in Him… On and on he goes, calling out sin and temptation while pointing to the Biblical solution that God designed long before we were born.
The easiest work in the world is to find fault ~ Spurgeon
The truths Reinke points to in this book have instant ramifications on our lives. We often need to be reminded that making passive aggressive posts about our other’s failures is wrong. We need to be reminded that our job as godly men and women is to lift up and support others. God did not command us to pick apart every little thing people do and tear them down, he commanded us to lift up and encourage.
This book points to so many pitfalls in our lives. As you read it you will begin to realize that some of your struggles in life are related to your phone use. Once identified you can work on the issue and begin to take steps to making yourself right with God.
I found myself reading this and wanting to throw my phone away and dig in deep to the Word. Every chapter was written with such care and contemplation, that my mind kept playing the words back for days. This book is a winner!
Tony Reinke is the senior writer for Desiring God. He’s written a large number of articles for Desiring God and has a beautiful way of analyzing content deeply and approachably. With this book he dives in deep to how our world has been changed in the last ten years starting with the release of the iPhone. Never before has a technology so quickly changed our lives.
To see more reviews check out my blog: This Sporadic Life
A valuable set of reminders that all Christians consistently need to hear in the iPhone epoch.
Not sure it is quite as expansive as it needs to be, given that he is approaching one of the most ubiquitous and all-consuming issues of our day, but Reinke still raises many good, helpful points.
Not sure it is quite as expansive as it needs to be, given that he is approaching one of the most ubiquitous and all-consuming issues of our day, but Reinke still raises many good, helpful points.
This book offers an insightful and convicting exploration of how our constant connection to smartphones is shaping our thoughts, relationships, and spiritual lives. It weaves together biblical wisdom, cultural analysis, and personal reflection to challenge readers to consider the deeper impact of their digital habits. What I appreciated most was the balance—it doesn’t advocate for abandoning technology altogether but encourages intentional and mindful use. It highlights both the benefits and the dangers, addressing issues like distraction, comparison, and the way social media can subtly reshape our desires. The writing is engaging, and the book is filled with practical takeaways that made me reflect on my own habits. That said, while it’s full of wisdom, it wasn’t the most compelling read I’ve ever encountered. Still, it’s a valuable read for anyone looking to cultivate a healthier relationship with technology. I’d definitely recommend it, especially for those who want a faith-based perspective on the digital age.
This book was so life-changing, I created an adult 12-week Sunday School series on it. Realistic, balanced view of tech...
informative
medium-paced