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Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching Hardcover – March 2, 2017

by Adam Alter (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 505 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions
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Why do we spend so much time on our phones? What makes online messaging, social media, the next episode or level so hard to resist?

In recent years, media and technology have perfected the lucrative art of gaining and holding our attention. This extraordinary feat has changed the behaviour of billions of people. In fact, by normal medical standards many of us are in the grip of addictions.

Blending fascinating stories with ingenious science, this book goes on a journey to the heart of human nature to understand how and why we all got hooked. Overturning assumptions about the cause and nature of addiction, this book equips us with the tools and understanding we need to navigate our irresistible new world.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bodley Head Adults
  4. Publication date
    March 2, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    6.38 x 1.69 x 9.45 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1847923577
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1847923578
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bodley Head Adults (March 2, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1847923577
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847923578
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 1.69 x 9.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 505 ratings

About the author

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Adam Alter

Adam Alter

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Adam Alter is a Professor of Marketing and Psychology at New York University’s Stern School of Business, and the New York Times bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink, a book about the forces that shape how we think, feel, and behave, and Irresistible, a book about the rise of tech addiction and what we should do about it.

Alter was recently included in the Poets and Quants “40 Most Outstanding Business School Professors under 40 in the World,” and has written for the New York Times, New Yorker, Wired, Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among other publications. He has shared his ideas at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and with dozens of companies around the world.

Alter received his Bachelor of Science (Honors Class 1, University Medal) in Psychology from the University of New South Wales and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University, where he held the Charlotte Elizabeth Procter Honorific Dissertation Fellowship and a Fellowship in the Woodrow Wilson Society of Scholars.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
505 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book quite a lot.
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Elena Urbanova
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting in general
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
I learned some interesting things, but some (minority) examples felt a little bent to support a point. And some conclusions were drawn without enough evidence. In the end I think author tried to look at the topic objectively. Hence the four.
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Werner
4.0 out of 5 stars Really great book. A must read.
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2019
Insightful with an easy writing style. Highly recommended for young and old, addicts and those who think they are not.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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GD
5.0 out of 5 stars Why people get addicted to apps and games....Hint: because they can't help it
Reviewed in India on June 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
The book gives clear guidelines on how one become addicted to experience or things. He gives us inside view of gambling and gaming industry and how they make consumers get hooked. There are proven techniques that they use to hook the users. This book not only tells you those tricks but also explains why those tricks work...without fail. The secret is all in the human psyche. The users just cannot help but get hooked. Over the last 100 years or so behavioral psychologists have unearthed many such weaknesses of the human mind. Those research backed findings are being (mis)used by many consumer facing industries. One example is mobile and web apps. Alter describes how these apps use or misuse the research findings on the frailties of human mind to further their agenda. He starts the book with an example of Steve Jobs, telling us that he did not allow his own kids to use his products. He knew how addictive they can be.
The best part of the book is a chapter on Gamification. How you can use some of the tricks used by the game designers to improve your won motivation in personal life. Things like frequent rewards, progress chart, slight stretch goals, social aspects etc can be used very effectively to motivate people in the work or personal environment. Note that these are really powerful research based psychological tricks. You will agree if you note the fact that the gamers spend hours after hours playing the game, not to earn any money or external rewards, but for the sake of playing the game. The "activity itself is the Reward" in this system. They derive their purpose and satisfaction from doing what the Game designer wants them to do for hours.
The book was very educational for me. Highly recommended for Parents, students, product and game designers and also corporate HR and managers.
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible
Reviewed in Spain on September 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
An irresistible book about an issue that is quite important nowadays. I've learned a lot to fight my mobile dependence.
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Peter Gearin
5.0 out of 5 stars A seriously good and important read
Reviewed in Australia on March 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
Wow ... this is a seriously good book, and not just for those of us who think we spend far too long enjoying our lives vicariously. Alter uses dozens of examples to bring to life a terrific amount of research and investigation. It's also a good read, too ... he's managed to keep his inner academic in check. It's a must read for anyone concerned about where tech is taking us.
One person found this helpful
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Suman
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book.
Reviewed in India on October 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
Gifted to a friend. A good read and well written.
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S.C. Potter
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
The publication of this book was timely as far as I was concerned, as I’d just come to the conclusion (after a lengthy time of denial) that the time I spent on the computer was causing me noticeable symptoms of anxiety. It had reached the stage that the majority of times I sat in front of the screen my pulse would skyrocket and my chest tighten. It was also making me tired, irritable, and low in spirits. The problem didn’t arise when I was doing something creative and productive offline, but when sitting there wasting my time googling, “window” shopping, and social networking, or checking my phone for emails and messages. Even blogging, which I previously enjoyed and was in some ways creative, was becoming burdensome.

So there you are. I knew I had a problem, and wanted to do something about it. Life was passing me by. Thus, a book with the sub-title “Why you are addicted to technology and how to set yourself free” seemed just the ticket. The book is possibly not for someone who is still in denial; that subtitle will be bound to set the hackles rising and shout “preachy” if that is the case.

Primarily the book is about addiction of all kinds and explores it from countless angles, with scientific studies to back it up, although pitched at a level that the average person will understand. I know it kept my attention (even my fascination at times) and I’m not the greatest one for staying awake when attempting to read non-fiction books in the evening!

In particular, it was interesting to discover that the designers of the things we become addicted to, have purposely made them addictive, whether it’s certain online computer games, the post-play facility on Netflix, slot machines, or the “like” facility on social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram.

On a personal front, having read this book, I realised that my addiction was only slight compared to a great number of other peoples’ addiction. Maybe my threshold for technology-induced symptoms of stress is low, but I don’t think so. I agree with Adam Alter that technology is here to stay and not all of it is bad, but that we should be mindful of its negative effects, as should its designers and manufacturers who should see it as their responsibility to engineer future products with less addictive potential and for the betterment of people’s wellbeing.

So what have I done about my own problem, based on what Adam Alter has to say? I switch off my computer between 1700-0800 hours daily and have one computer-free day at weekends. I’ve turned off email notifications on my mobile phone and only check for emails twice a day. I’ve removed all social networking sites from my phone. As a consequence I’m calmer, happier, and more energized, and have regained my creative drive, plus becoming more sociable. What more could I ask?

Thank you, Adam Alter, for confirming what needed changing in my life.
20 people found this helpful
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