Human experiences are disappearing. The Extinction of Experience is a philosophical defence of what makes us human – and a powerful call to reclaim ourselves in a digital world.

'Fascinating and timely' OLIVER BURKEMAN
'An extremely important book' JONATHAN HAIDT
'Essential reading in a dislocated world' KATHERINE MAY

*A GUARDIAN BOOK TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025*

Social media, gaming and dating apps have usurped in-person interaction; handwriting is no longer prioritised in schools; and emotion is sooner expressed through likes and emojis than face-to-face conversations. With headphones in and eyes trained on our phones, even boredom has been obliterated. But, as Christine Rosen expertly shows, when we embrace this mediated life and conform to the demands of the machine, we risk becoming more machine-like ourselves.

There is another way. For too long we’ve accepted the idea that change always means better. But rapidly developing technology isn’t neutral – it’s ambivalent, and capable of enormous harm. To improve our well-being, help future generations flourish and recover our shared humanity, we must become more mindful users of technology and more discerning of how it uses us.

From TikTok challenges and algorithms to surveillance devices and conspiracy culture, The Extinction of Experience reveals the human crisis of our digital age – and urges us to return to the real world, while we still can.

'Christine Rosen is one of America's best writers and thinkers' WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"Urges us to reclaim the real-world experiences that make life worth living" - Guardian, *Books to Look Forward to in 2025*

"This book is not a Luddite manifesto ... The question becomes: how do we restore a healthier status quo? ... Rosen gives a razor-sharp analysis of this modern malady, capturing with style how convenience and efficiency have become the enemies of the good life" - The Times

"Engaging and snappy ... A well-evidenced and well-principled defence of human experience ... Where Rosen succeeds emphatically is in explaining the serious issues without simply blaming anyone - a radical act in these matters" - Telegraph

"[Rosen] is one of America's best writers and thinkers" - Washington Examiner

"Important ... an urgent interrogation of our increasing reliance on digitally mediated experience" - Lit Hub

"A useful prod to conscience [and] a thoughtful and timely reminder that it's not too late to retrieve what we miss" - Wall Street Journal

"Rosen’s book is a meditation on what it means to be a fulfilled human being in a world defined by technology. She does a very good job of drawing our attention to the experiences we’re losing and making the case that we should resist these losses" - Vox

"A roving investigation of the threat technology poses to our social and cultural norms ... But don't mistake this book for a hand-wringing polemic against change; rather, with each disappearing ritual, Rosen highlights the deeper loss to the human psyche ... The Extinction of Experience is a compelling reminder that 'go touch grass' is more than just an internet punchline - in fact, it's a human imperative" - Esquire

"Engaging and impeccably researched, this book serves as an important reminder that survival during this time of accelerated global change will depend on humanity’s willingness to impose intelligent, self-preserving limitations. Timely, well-informed reading" - Kirkus

"A civilised and scholarly writer" - Guardian

"A compendium of engrossingly dystopian cautionary tales" - Washington Post

"Feisty … Fascinating … One of the pleasures of this book is learning what an engagingly intrepid researcher Rosen is … The Extinction of Experience is an essential book for our time" - Commentary Magazine