Technology is Not the Problem

By Timandra Harkness

Technology is Not the Problem: Harkness offers a thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with technology, prompting readers to reflect on the societal and psychological dilemmas it presents. Rather than focusing solely on the technology itself, the book emphasises how we, both as individuals and as a society, choose to implement and regulate it. Through a compelling narrative, Harkness takes readers on a journey through time, illustrating how the use of technology to influence and persuade has evolved, shaping societal challenges we face today.

The book is structured into interdisciplinary chapters, delving into themes such as philosophy, ethics, pilgrimage, consumerism, and politics. These chapters weave together the proliferation of technology and the corresponding shifts in society. Harkness suggests throughout that it is our relationship with technology, and how we choose to let it shape us, that often poses the real problem.

Harkness presents complex topics in an engaging and accessible way, offering personal insights into her own relationship with technology through humour and openness. This makes the book an easy yet fascinating read, offering valuable perspectives on the psychological, ethical, and social implications of the digital age, as well as our desire for individual identity and affirmation within social groups.

A must read for anyone interested in the ethical and social ramifications of digital advancements, Harkness encourages readers to reject a micro-segmented, algorithm-driven world and instead take control of their own identifies, resisting the influence of AI and data science.

WO1 (YofS) David Chadwick

Published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, 384 pages

ISBN 978-0008494612