End Of Absence

von Michael Harris

Only one generation in history (ours) will experience life both with and without the Internet. For everyone who follows us, online life will simply be the air they breathe. Today, we revel in ubiquitous information and constant connection, rarely stopping to consider the implications for our logged-on lives.Michael Harris chronicles this massive shift, exploring what weve gainedand lostin the bargain. In this eloquent and thought-provoking book, Harris argues that our greatest loss has been that of absence itselfof silence, wonder and solitude. Its a surprisingly precious commodity, and one we have less of every year. Drawing on a vast trove of research and scores of interviews with global experts, Harris explores this loss of lack in chapters devoted to every corner of our lives, from sex and commerce to memory and attention span. The books message is urgent: once weve lost the gift of absence, we may never remember its value.