Digital Exhaustion - by Paul Leonardi (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book examines the effects of digital technology on attention, productivity, and emotional well-being, offering practical strategies for healthier technology use. Drawing on research in communication and organizational behavior, Paul Leonardi presents methods to reduce digital fatigue while remaining engaged in professional and personal life. The author discusses habits, tools, and decision-making practices that promote balance and more intentional interaction with devices."--

Book Synopsis

NAMED A BEST MANAGEMENT BOOK OF 2025 BY THE GLOBE AND MAIL

A revelatory examination of why you're feeling so worn out--and practical daily strategies to change your relationship with your devices.

Unplugging is not a long-term solution for the stress caused by technology. If you want to keep your job, participate in society, and maintain meaningful relationships, you can't escape your many apps and devices.

Paul Leonardi maps out an achievable path to reducing your digital exhaustion, drawing on extensive research to show how real people can use technology in healthy ways. These are realistic approaches that won't fragment your attention and deplete your cognitive and emotional reserves. Many of the changes are simple yet surprisingly effective, like waiting longer to respond, making sure you're using the right tool for your task, and being more conscious of the time and energy we allocate to our devices. He also explains the emotional traps that lead us into dysfunctional relationships with our technology, and how to escape them.

With Leonardi as your guide, you can build stronger connections, be more creative and productive, and create the mental space to reclaim your energy and your life.

Review Quotes

"An invitation to think more deeply about the ways in which we interact with our devices. . . . Helpful for managers, parents, and those thinking about how to manage their digital lives." --Kirkus Reviews

"Helpful...a nuanced perspective of technology use that acknowledges the demands of modern life while providing practical tools for reducing fatigue. Readers will be inspired to reassess their relationship with screens." --Publishers Weekly

"Paul Leonardi makes a compelling case that digital exhaustion is a scourge that we can no longer ignore. Fortunately, he also provides a practical game plan for pushing back. It's time to reclaim our lives!" --Cal Newport, bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

"Digital Exhaustion is a must-read book for our times. Cogent. Compelling. Hopeful. Full of practical tips informed by science on how digital media can enrich our lives, as well as how to avoid the real harms. Parents will get valuable information on how to raise healthy kids in the twenty-first century." --Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation

"This superb book develops a compelling, research-backed argument for the emotional and physical toll our overload of digital tools is taking on all of us--and offers a healthier path forward." --Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School, and author of Right Kind of Wrong

"In this wise and practical book, Paul Leonardi shares strategies for becoming smart managers of our digital lives. From paring down my apps to limiting the carpool texts, I came away with several new ideas for reclaiming my time and energy." -- Laura Vanderkam, author of Tranquility by Tuesday and 168 Hours

"This gem is packed with research-based antidotes that will help us do better work, keep our sanity, and give the people we care about and love the attention they deserve." --Robert I. Sutton, Stanford Professor Emeritus and author of The No Asshole Rule

About the Author

Paul Leonardi, PhD, is the award-winning Duca Family Professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a frequent consultant and speaker to a wide range of tech and non-tech companies like Google, Microsoft, YouTube, GM, McKinsey, and Fidelity, helping them to take advantage of new technologies while defeating digital exhaustion. He is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review and coauthor of The Digital Mindset.