How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780399581120
Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Overview
How to Break Up with Your Phone is award-winning science journalist Catherine Price's practical, research-backed guide to resetting an unhealthy relationship with smartphones. Rather than demanding readers quit their devices entirely, Price offers a structured 30-day plan built on behavioral science, helping readers notice compulsive habits, redesign their environment, and rebuild a healthier daily rhythm. The tone is encouraging and non-judgmental, making the program approachable for anyone who feels tethered to notifications, endless scrolling, or the anxious pull of checking their screen. It's a clear-eyed, actionable roadmap back to focus, presence, and real life.

About the Book
Structured as a step-by-step 30-day program, How to Break Up with Your Phone walks readers through two distinct phases: the 'Breakup,' a focused two-week reset to interrupt automatic phone habits, and the 'Makeup,' where readers thoughtfully rebuild a sustainable relationship with technology on their own terms. Catherine Price draws on psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics to explain why phones are engineered to be so hard to put down, then translates that research into concrete daily exercises rather than abstract theory. Readers are guided to track their actual usage, identify the emotional triggers behind reflexive checking, and experiment with small environmental changes—like moving apps off the home screen, turning off non-essential notifications, and creating phone-free zones at mealtimes or before bed. Journaling prompts and simple checklists appear throughout, encouraging honest reflection rather than rigid rules. Price is careful to acknowledge that smartphones aren't inherently bad; the goal isn't total abstinence but intentional, conscious use that leaves room for concentration, creativity, and connection with the people actually in the room. By the end of the program, readers have assembled a personalized toolkit of habits and boundaries designed to outlast the 30 days. The book is grounded enough to satisfy skeptics who want evidence, yet warm enough to feel like a supportive coach rather than a scold. It's especially useful for anyone who has tried and failed to cut back on screen time before, since it treats overuse as a design problem to solve rather than a personal failing.

Key Benefits

• Clear, structured 30-day plan broken into manageable daily steps
• Grounded in behavioral science and psychology rather than willpower alone
• Practical strategies for notifications, home screen layout, and phone-free zones
• Encouraging, non-judgmental tone suited to readers who've tried before
• Journaling prompts and checklists that build lasting, personalized habits
• Balances real digital wellbeing with the genuine usefulness of a smartphone

About the Author
Catherine Price is an award-winning journalist and speaker whose writing on science and health has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Popular Science, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She has spoken about attention and technology at TED and works with organizations, schools, and companies to help people build healthier relationships with their devices. Drawing on both rigorous research and her own experience overcoming phone dependency, Price brings a rare combination of scientific credibility and genuine empathy to the subject, making her guidance feel both trustworthy and achievable for everyday readers.

Why You'll Love This Book
Whether you're seeking a New Year's reset, a thoughtful gift for a screen-weary friend, or a summer reading pick that actually changes daily habits, this guide delivers real, lasting results you can feel within days. It's an ideal gift for graduation, birthdays, the holiday season, or anyone ready to start a genuine digital detox journey.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.