Books to Help You Unplug
Continuing our celebration around the Global Day of Unplugging, the team at New Canaan Unplugged is sharing a few of our favorite book recommendations. Each book provides its own perspective on resetting boundaries with technology and provides inspiration and recommendations on how to do it. We hope you consider adding one or two of these to your reading list this weekend!
And don't forget to join us in the Annual Global Day of Unplugging on March 6-7, 2026. This is a worldwide, 24-hour digital pause where people power down devices and power up real-life connection. You can unplug for one hour or the full 24, solo or with others, quietly or out loud! However you do it, just do it with other people and without technology. To learn more about this annual event, click HERE to visit the website and read about the mission behind the event.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Filled with graphs, research and detailed evidence, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt argues that the rise in youth mental illness is due to the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one. This change, driven by smartphones and social media, has ultimately lead to a "great rewiring" of children's development. Haidt diagnoses the “collective action problems” that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free; no smartphones before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, and more real-world play/responsibility.
10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World by Jean M. Twenge
A must read for any parents who are wondering how to balance technology while raising kids today. Psychologist Jean M. Twenge provides evidence-based, actionable guidelines to help parents manage technology's impact on children. The rules focus on delaying social media until age 16, keeping phones out of bedrooms, starting with basic phones, and fostering real-world independence. The book is based on her research as well as her own experience with raising three teenagers.
* UPCOMING EVENT * New Canaan Unplugged will be hosting a book discussion about 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World on Friday March 27 at 9:30am. Please join us at Le Pain Quotidien at 81 Elm Street in New Canaan for an open and lively chat about the book and real life stories of managing devices while raising kids.
Being Seen by Selena Bartlett
Neuroscientist Selena Bartlett offers a science-backed guide for parents on how to connect with their children in the digital world. Being Seen argues that children are often "being seen" more by screens than by their parents, which impacts their mental well-being. It goes beyond just screen time limits to explore the neuroscience of connection and uses brain science to explain the impact of the digital age on children. The book also offers practical advice on making children feel truly seen and supported while providing tools for parents to be the supportive figures their children need.
The Siren's Call by Chris Hayes
The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource by Chris Hayes (released January 2026) is a, 336-page examination of how "attention capitalism" and social media have commodified human focus, altering politics and society. Hayes argues that Big Tech exploits our neurological, social, and evolutionary impulses, turning our mental focus into an extracted resource for profit.
How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price
Catherine Price offers a practical guide for creating a healthier relationship with your smartphone through a 30-day digital detox. The book and its recommendations are centered around breaking addictive habits, improving focus, and reclaiming your time. The plan involves a gradual process of identifying goals, changing phone settings and habits, and ultimately establishing a more intentional and balanced relationship with technology. She recently published a revised edition which includes updated advice on social media and AI. Additionally, through her website, Catherine Price also offers a guided 30 day phone break up challenge ($39.99) for those who might be looking for a more tailored approach. Click HERE to view the details about the course.
The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price
Co-Authored by Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation) and Catherine Price (How to break up with your Phone) this book is aimed at kids and tweens to help them navigate the challenges of smartphones and social media. With a mix of prose, a graphic novel, and interactive elements, it encourages kids to lead a life with less screen time and more real-world experiences, framing it as a rebellion against tech companies that profit from keeping kids online.
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Cal Newport, a Computer Science professor at Georgetown University, is one of the leading voices at the intersection of technology, work and productivity. His latest book, Slow Productivity, published in 2024, is a must read for anyone looking to reorient their relationship to work and how we accomplish it. His basic premise: Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality. The message and meaning are valuable for anyone looking to put their phone down and do more.
Click HERE to view a helpful video introduction to the book and its themes.
We hope you enjoy these book recommendations that offer ideas and inspiration for resetting your relationship with technology. Any one of them would be a great read during this weekend's celebration of the Annual Global Day of Unplugging but they are also terrific any time of year. We look forward to celebrating a 24-hour digital pause with everyone this Friday into Saturday, March 6-7, 2026! To learn more about this annual event, click HERE to visit the website and read about the mission behind the event.
Help New Canaan Unplug
If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.
New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.
