Technology is constantly evolving to be more addicting. Irresistible tracks the rise of behavioral addictions and explains why so many of today’s products are impossible to resist. 

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The people producing tech products were following the cardinal rule of drug dealing: never get high on your own supply. 

• “It’s very easy to hide behavioral addictions—much more so than for substance abuse. This makes them dangerous, because they go unnoticed for years.”

• Researchers of coined the term “nomophobia” to describe the fear of being without mobile phone contact. 

• Phones are disruptive by their mere existence, even when they aren’t in active use. They’re distracting because they remind us of the world beyond immediate conversation, and the only solution is to remove them completely.

• In 10 years, World of Warcraft has grossed more than $10 billion dollars, and attracted more than 100 million subscribers. If they formed a nation, it would be the 12th biggest on earth. 

• “Texting is the worst possible training ground for anyone aspiring to a mature, loving, sensitive relationship.”

• Do not charge your phone by your bed. 

• “There are two kinds of people. People who generate lots of ideas, and people who can execute those ideas.”

• Suppose you were trying to avoid using Facebook. Each time you’re tempted, you could either tell yourself “I can’t use Facebook,“ or you can tell yourself “I don’t use Facebook.”

 “I can’t” is disempowering and gives control to an unnamed outside agent.

 “I don’t” is an empowering declaration that this isn’t something you do. 

• Addiction originally meant a different kind of strong connection: in ancient Rome, being addicted meant you had just been sentenced to slavery.