Book Review, Prediction and Summary of Critiques of "Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in A Digital Age" by Sherry Turkle
Summary of Critiques LINK.
After struggling with Padlet for quite a while, I think I have a working document to share on the critiques of the book I reviewed for this week, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in A Digital Age. Please let me know if you have any trouble accessing it. Also, if anyone can help me learn how to embed it so it is visible on the blog without needing the link, I'd be grateful for your advice. Thanks!
Prediction Podcast LINK
Book Review
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. Turkle, S. New York: Penguin Press, 2015,
436 pages, $18.00, ISBN 9780143109792
436 pages, $18.00, ISBN 9780143109792
At the dinner table, parents are checking emails on their phones while their children fight to get their
attention. At work, employees hunch over their computers with headphones on and email their
colleagues at the next desk. In class, students check Facebook and shop for shoes. A woman, out on
a date, goes to the bathroom to check who else has swiped right on her profile and decides whether to
stay and finish this date or move onto the next one in case it proves to be more promising. These
scenarios are a sample of real-life scenarios that Sherry Turkle, sociologist, MIT professor and author of
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, provides to illustrate one of the most
negative effects that technological advances have on our lives - the decline of face-to-face
conversations. Building on her previous research which identified our growing loneliness despite our
increased connectivity, Turkle considers this work a call to action. Turkle argues that while social media
makes us feel better connected with more people and in charge of our lives, our connections have
become increasingly shallow and insincere as we present edited versions of ourselves. As we spend
more time on our devices and depend on communicating through texting and emailing instead of
face-to-face, we are losing the ability to empathize, build deep relationships, take risks, deal with our
vulnerabilities and self-reflect. In Reclaiming Conversation, Turkle provides ample evidence of the harmful
effects of our growing dependence on our devices as primary forms of communication through interviews
with students, professors, lawyers, business people, parents and children. Yet, Turkle argues, we are at
a point where we recognize that we can, and should, change the direction of the conversation.
attention. At work, employees hunch over their computers with headphones on and email their
colleagues at the next desk. In class, students check Facebook and shop for shoes. A woman, out on
a date, goes to the bathroom to check who else has swiped right on her profile and decides whether to
stay and finish this date or move onto the next one in case it proves to be more promising. These
scenarios are a sample of real-life scenarios that Sherry Turkle, sociologist, MIT professor and author of
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, provides to illustrate one of the most
negative effects that technological advances have on our lives - the decline of face-to-face
conversations. Building on her previous research which identified our growing loneliness despite our
increased connectivity, Turkle considers this work a call to action. Turkle argues that while social media
makes us feel better connected with more people and in charge of our lives, our connections have
become increasingly shallow and insincere as we present edited versions of ourselves. As we spend
more time on our devices and depend on communicating through texting and emailing instead of
face-to-face, we are losing the ability to empathize, build deep relationships, take risks, deal with our
vulnerabilities and self-reflect. In Reclaiming Conversation, Turkle provides ample evidence of the harmful
effects of our growing dependence on our devices as primary forms of communication through interviews
with students, professors, lawyers, business people, parents and children. Yet, Turkle argues, we are at
a point where we recognize that we can, and should, change the direction of the conversation.
Turkle frames her book through a quote by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden: “I had three chairs in my
house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.” Turkle uses the single chair to explain that
while turning to our devices at all hours of the day makes us feel more connected to our virtual friends,
it leaves us lonelier than ever. We increasingly use our devices to cut out boredom by playing games,
texting and emailing friends just so we can hear back from them, online shopping and watching videos.
This constant engagement leaves little time for us to engage our creativity and imagination, develop an
understanding of our true selves, learn to appreciate time alone and establish the building blocks of
empathy. Turkle writes that constant digital connectivity is removing our capacity to “construct a stable
sense of self”. She describes that being comfortable with who you are sets the stage for you to be able
to understand and empathize with others. Turkle echoes voices that have been getting louder - that
children are showing decreasing ability to empathize with each other because without face-to-face
interactions, they are losing the ability to read body language, tone and facial expressions. Many of the
people she interviewed for her book described alone time spent scrolling through their social media just
to see what they might have missed. They admitted that they reach for their phones out of habit, boredom
and for fear of missing out. Turkle encourages her readers to disconnect and rediscover the beauty of
solitude. She writes that “we need to convince people to slow things down, let their minds wander, and
take time alone”.
house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.” Turkle uses the single chair to explain that
while turning to our devices at all hours of the day makes us feel more connected to our virtual friends,
it leaves us lonelier than ever. We increasingly use our devices to cut out boredom by playing games,
texting and emailing friends just so we can hear back from them, online shopping and watching videos.
This constant engagement leaves little time for us to engage our creativity and imagination, develop an
understanding of our true selves, learn to appreciate time alone and establish the building blocks of
empathy. Turkle writes that constant digital connectivity is removing our capacity to “construct a stable
sense of self”. She describes that being comfortable with who you are sets the stage for you to be able
to understand and empathize with others. Turkle echoes voices that have been getting louder - that
children are showing decreasing ability to empathize with each other because without face-to-face
interactions, they are losing the ability to read body language, tone and facial expressions. Many of the
people she interviewed for her book described alone time spent scrolling through their social media just
to see what they might have missed. They admitted that they reach for their phones out of habit, boredom
and for fear of missing out. Turkle encourages her readers to disconnect and rediscover the beauty of
solitude. She writes that “we need to convince people to slow things down, let their minds wander, and
take time alone”.
Two chairs represent family, friendship and romance. Technology has pervaded our personal lives and
it is common to see parents, nannies, and children on their devices at home, at the park, on vacation
and in their bedrooms. Turkle outlines the problems that develop as family members fail to disconnect
in front of each other. She describes the loss of learning how to listen actively to another person and
how to work through situations where you don’t agree with someone within the safe and private
confines of the family home. This is the place where you can develop who you are, trusting that those
around you are supporting you and guiding you. The trend that is emerging in young people is a
decreased ability to engage in conversation and an increase in anxiety about talking to others. This
trend can be found also in friendships as social media allows people to craft and edit their perfect self,
profile and posts. Turkle’s research shows that people prefer to communicate via text or email and are
increasingly loathe to have face-to-face conversations. The people Turkle interviewed explained that
digital communication gave them greater control over what they want to say and that face-to-face
communication can be messy, unpredictable and sometimes boring. Turkle found that when people
are in the same room with each other, they are often either engaged on their phones or talking with
each other about what is on their phones. Their devices are never out of reach and their users are
unable to fully disconnect and be present with each other. Courting and romantic relationships also
suffer from too much connectivity as communication between two people who wish to date seems
more real and comfortable online than in person. Rules for dating in this age of connectivity run
counter to the reality of having a constant online presence. While one might feel compelled to text or
email a friend back right away, in dating, it is understood that a certain amount of time must lapse
before responding to avoid looking too needy. What Turkle found in her research was that instead of
feeling more in control of a situation because of the ability to edit and revise before sending, people
described the misunderstandings and crossed signals that emerged instead. The written electronic
word misses important physical and emotional cues that are present in person.
it is common to see parents, nannies, and children on their devices at home, at the park, on vacation
and in their bedrooms. Turkle outlines the problems that develop as family members fail to disconnect
in front of each other. She describes the loss of learning how to listen actively to another person and
how to work through situations where you don’t agree with someone within the safe and private
confines of the family home. This is the place where you can develop who you are, trusting that those
around you are supporting you and guiding you. The trend that is emerging in young people is a
decreased ability to engage in conversation and an increase in anxiety about talking to others. This
trend can be found also in friendships as social media allows people to craft and edit their perfect self,
profile and posts. Turkle’s research shows that people prefer to communicate via text or email and are
increasingly loathe to have face-to-face conversations. The people Turkle interviewed explained that
digital communication gave them greater control over what they want to say and that face-to-face
communication can be messy, unpredictable and sometimes boring. Turkle found that when people
are in the same room with each other, they are often either engaged on their phones or talking with
each other about what is on their phones. Their devices are never out of reach and their users are
unable to fully disconnect and be present with each other. Courting and romantic relationships also
suffer from too much connectivity as communication between two people who wish to date seems
more real and comfortable online than in person. Rules for dating in this age of connectivity run
counter to the reality of having a constant online presence. While one might feel compelled to text or
email a friend back right away, in dating, it is understood that a certain amount of time must lapse
before responding to avoid looking too needy. What Turkle found in her research was that instead of
feeling more in control of a situation because of the ability to edit and revise before sending, people
described the misunderstandings and crossed signals that emerged instead. The written electronic
word misses important physical and emotional cues that are present in person.
Thoreau’s third chair refers to society and Turkle uses this metaphor to describe the loss of
conversation within education and work. In addition to the perceived increase in control that devices
give us in our relationships, Turkle found that multitasking also gives students and professionals a
false sense of productivity. Psychological research shows that “multitasking gives us a neurochemical
high so we think we are doing better and better when actually we are doing worse and worse”. Turkle
explains that when multitasking our performance falls as we move from one task to the next and we
are unable to fully engage with any of the tasks we attempt. An additional downside to our constant
online presence is the concept of “hyper attention” which allows people to tune in to a lecture,
business meeting, or conversation only when they are interested and then they turn their attention
back to their screens when they are not interested. This method of being present results in shallow,
fractured understanding and limited engagement and is detrimental to our learning and workplaces.
While many supporters of a digital life argue that we can always look something up on Google if we
need facts, figures or dates, Turkle argues that without building our own understanding without the
aid of technology, the information we find on the internet will make little sense as we do lack a context
in which to place it. Turkle adds a fourth chair to the discussion referring to privacy and artificial
intelligence and our lack of understanding or interest in its pervasiveness in our lives.
conversation within education and work. In addition to the perceived increase in control that devices
give us in our relationships, Turkle found that multitasking also gives students and professionals a
false sense of productivity. Psychological research shows that “multitasking gives us a neurochemical
high so we think we are doing better and better when actually we are doing worse and worse”. Turkle
explains that when multitasking our performance falls as we move from one task to the next and we
are unable to fully engage with any of the tasks we attempt. An additional downside to our constant
online presence is the concept of “hyper attention” which allows people to tune in to a lecture,
business meeting, or conversation only when they are interested and then they turn their attention
back to their screens when they are not interested. This method of being present results in shallow,
fractured understanding and limited engagement and is detrimental to our learning and workplaces.
While many supporters of a digital life argue that we can always look something up on Google if we
need facts, figures or dates, Turkle argues that without building our own understanding without the
aid of technology, the information we find on the internet will make little sense as we do lack a context
in which to place it. Turkle adds a fourth chair to the discussion referring to privacy and artificial
intelligence and our lack of understanding or interest in its pervasiveness in our lives.
Sherry Turkle is a professor of sociology and technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Her book draws on thirty years worth of research on people’s relationships with technology. The
strength of her argument lies in the depth of her evidence collected over the course of her career.
While her previous book, Alone Together, was a doomsday report on our shift away from each other
toward our bright screens, Reclaiming Conversation, is a call to action that includes twelve
suggestions for balancing our screen time with face-to-face conversation to reclaim our creativity,
our relationships, and our ability to be alone without feeling lonely. Among these, Turkle suggests
we slow down our pace of interaction, create spaces and times that are device free, learn how to talk
to people whose opinions differ from ours, and learn to unitask rather than multitask. Her optimism
that we can emerge from our digital fog lies in the young people she interviewed who are tired of
competing with devices for the attention of their parents and their friends.
Her book draws on thirty years worth of research on people’s relationships with technology. The
strength of her argument lies in the depth of her evidence collected over the course of her career.
While her previous book, Alone Together, was a doomsday report on our shift away from each other
toward our bright screens, Reclaiming Conversation, is a call to action that includes twelve
suggestions for balancing our screen time with face-to-face conversation to reclaim our creativity,
our relationships, and our ability to be alone without feeling lonely. Among these, Turkle suggests
we slow down our pace of interaction, create spaces and times that are device free, learn how to talk
to people whose opinions differ from ours, and learn to unitask rather than multitask. Her optimism
that we can emerge from our digital fog lies in the young people she interviewed who are tired of
competing with devices for the attention of their parents and their friends.
At the same time, Turkle’s recommendations are quite idealistic. Our phones and devices have
become extensions of our bodies. The ability to communicate with friends and family around the
world inexpensively and in real time is a major benefit of our digital connectedness. Knowing that
others expect you to respond immediately makes it difficult to put your devices away and completely
disconnect. The author herself admitted in a 2013 TED talk that she, too, sleeps with the phone by
her side. In addition, Reclaiming Conversation, reads, at times, like a recycled version of her previous
book, Alone Together. Many of the case studies are repeated from one book to the other.
Furthermore, the arguments that she makes about the invasion of digital devices in our lives mirrors
previous arguments about the inventions of the automobile, the telephone and the television. With
each invention, doomsday predictions were made about the negative effects these new machines
would have on our lives. In each case, we learned to use these machines to our advantage and then
move on to the next invention. Could it be that our devices will one day be viewed as a valuable
invention that helped our lives become more productive or rich?
become extensions of our bodies. The ability to communicate with friends and family around the
world inexpensively and in real time is a major benefit of our digital connectedness. Knowing that
others expect you to respond immediately makes it difficult to put your devices away and completely
disconnect. The author herself admitted in a 2013 TED talk that she, too, sleeps with the phone by
her side. In addition, Reclaiming Conversation, reads, at times, like a recycled version of her previous
book, Alone Together. Many of the case studies are repeated from one book to the other.
Furthermore, the arguments that she makes about the invasion of digital devices in our lives mirrors
previous arguments about the inventions of the automobile, the telephone and the television. With
each invention, doomsday predictions were made about the negative effects these new machines
would have on our lives. In each case, we learned to use these machines to our advantage and then
move on to the next invention. Could it be that our devices will one day be viewed as a valuable
invention that helped our lives become more productive or rich?
Sherry Turkle recognizes that technology is a vital part of our lives and that it is impossible to
completely disconnect. Yet she raises important points about the deterioration of conversation,
relationships, and productivity due to our dependence on our devices. Anyone with a smart phone
or computer can see themselves illustrated in Reclaiming Conversation. It is worth reading this book
to reflect on our own relationship with our devices, with our family and friends and with how we use
our phones and computers at school and at work. And, if we act upon any of Turkle’s suggestions,
we may find that our interactions with people may ultimately be more fulfilling than our interactions
with our devices.
completely disconnect. Yet she raises important points about the deterioration of conversation,
relationships, and productivity due to our dependence on our devices. Anyone with a smart phone
or computer can see themselves illustrated in Reclaiming Conversation. It is worth reading this book
to reflect on our own relationship with our devices, with our family and friends and with how we use
our phones and computers at school and at work. And, if we act upon any of Turkle’s suggestions,
we may find that our interactions with people may ultimately be more fulfilling than our interactions
with our devices.
References:
Besse, J,. Hong Kong Review of Books, August 2, 2018,
https://hkrbooks.com/2018/08/02/reclaiming-conversation-the-power-of-talk-in-a-digital-age/
https://hkrbooks.com/2018/08/02/reclaiming-conversation-the-power-of-talk-in-a-digital-age/
Doughty, H., College Quarterly, Fall 2015, Volume 18, Number 4,
http://collegequarterly.ca/2015-vol18-num04-fall/doughty.html
http://collegequarterly.ca/2015-vol18-num04-fall/doughty.html
Franzen, J. New York Times, September 28, 2015,
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/books/review/jonathan-franzen-reviews-sherry-turkle-reclaiming-conversation.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/books/review/jonathan-franzen-reviews-sherry-turkle-reclaiming-conversation.html
Hopkins, R. April 17, 2017,
https://www.robhopkins.net/2017/04/17/book-review-reclaiming-conversation-the-power-of-talk-in-a-digital-age-by-sherry-turkle/#comments
https://www.robhopkins.net/2017/04/17/book-review-reclaiming-conversation-the-power-of-talk-in-a-digital-age-by-sherry-turkle/#comments
Iaciofano, C, WBUR, October 8, 2015,
https://www.wbur.org/artery/2015/10/08/sherry-turkle-reclaiming-conversation
https://www.wbur.org/artery/2015/10/08/sherry-turkle-reclaiming-conversation
Washburn, M, The Boston Globe, October 10, 2015,
https://www2.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2015/10/10/book-review-reclaiming-conversation-the-power-talk-digital-age-sherry-turkle/muXgP1rWCf5JIWNettgZDM/story.html
https://www2.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2015/10/10/book-review-reclaiming-conversation-the-power-talk-digital-age-sherry-turkle/muXgP1rWCf5JIWNettgZDM/story.html
Wunsch, A.D., Technology and Society, IEEE.org, June 28, 2017,
https://technologyandsociety.org/reclaiming-conversation/
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