48 pages • 1 hour read
Nicholas CarrThe Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Shallows by Nicholas Carr explores how the Internet impacts human cognition, learning, and societal development, drawing on personal experiences and academic research to show the cognitive overload and memory disruption caused by constant online engagement. Carr calls for critical examination of Internet use to combat its negative effects and maintain robust cognitive and emotional development.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows explores the Internet’s impact on cognition. Positive reviews praise its engaging prose and thought-provoking analysis on digital distraction. Critics argue it sometimes overstates technology's detrimental effects. Overall, Carr's work is lauded for highlighting an urgent cultural conversation.
Who Should Read The Shallows?
Readers fascinated by the intersection of technology and human cognition will find The Shallows by Nicholas Carr compelling. Comparable to Marshall McLuhan's Understanding Media and Sherry Turkle's Alone Together, this book appeals to those interested in how the Internet shapes our brains and impacts our attention.