The Big Disconnect by Catherine Steiner-Adair Summary
Overview of The Big Disconnect
In "The Big Disconnect," clinical psychologist Steiner-Adair reveals how technology erodes childhood and family bonds. This Wall Street Journal Best Pick exposes a startling truth: by age 11, most kids expertly hide their online lives. Parents, put down your phone - your example matters more than you think.
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Key takeaways
The Digital Takeover of Family Life
When was the last time you saw a family dinner without phones present? In homes across America, a profound shift has occurred: parents stare at screens while children vie for attention, toddlers swipe before they can speak, and teens text rather than talk face-to-face. Drawing from interviews with over 1,000 children, 500 parents, and 500 teachers, Catherine Steiner-Adair reveals the hidden costs of our digital dependence. When children today draw pictures of their families, they depict parents with phones attached to their ears, siblings with earbuds, and often one child-isolated-without devices. In therapy sessions, children create heartbreaking representations of disconnection, like the eight-year-old who depicted herself as "a lone little figure off to the side with no gadgets" while family members were "all happily plugged in." These aren't isolated incidents but symptoms of what's becoming the norm in family life across socioeconomic boundaries. The family has transformed from a cohesive unit into what might be called a "docking station"-a place where family members briefly connect to refuel before returning to their separate digital orbits.
When Parents Choose Screens Over Children
Babies Need Faces, Not Screens
The Vanishing World of Creative Play
Childhood Under Siege: Too Much, Too Soon
The Multitasking Myth and Teen Turbulence
Building the Sustainable Family in a Digital World
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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