In a nutshell, the author covers his experiences of living without Internet for a month.
As an extra spin on the story, the author is blind (or nearly so), and consequently has been quite dependent on information and services available on or over the Internet, which makes the Internet-free month even more trying.
Was it good?
The book is quite good; especially the intimate first person narrative is quite credible, illuminating and entertaining.
The narrative does not follow a straight linear progression, but focuses on the most salient observations, feelings and occurrences, which woks rather beautifully.
However, I can't help wondering, how the narrative would have been different had the author not been blind - i.e. how a month without the Internet would be for me, for example.
The main take-away for me?
I think that there are two take-aways (or three, if you count my realization of how invaluable the Internet is especially for the disabled). First, the Internet has been institutionalized in the Western lifestyle to the degree, that its use is so pervasive in our daily lives that it is difficult if not impossible to really appreciate the myriad things which are "powered" by the Internet until it's not available.
And second, I really appreciated the author's commentary on how he was more "in touch" with people and his surroundings once the Internet with its numerous social media platforms and what not were not supplying a constant stream of distractions.
Who should read the book?
The book could be healthy reading for anyone using the Internet on a daily basis - and especially the "heavy users" among us are bound to find something to reflect upon in the book.
The book on Amazon.com: Off the Grid - Living Blind Without the Internet
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