Chris Stedman (Faitheist) has put a significant amount of thought into what it means to be "extremely online" for his inquisitive and ruminative second book, IRL: Finding Our Real Selves in a Digital World. More than a development in technology, the Internet has brought a seismic shift in culture, producing a distinctive culture all its own, predominantly through social media. It takes curiosity, tenacity and a certain off-the-wall sense of humor to engage meaningfully in these online spaces, so there is no better guide for readers than Stedman, who is a viral Twitter personality, professor of religion and philosophy, and creator of the critically acclaimed podcast Unread.
The beating heart of IRL is the search for holistic connection and identity in an online world that tends to reward fractured and siloed selves (through personal branding) and discourage vulnerability (through social media dogpiles)--among other slippery variables like instant nostalgia: "We can begin to view our lives nostalgically as they unfold... remembering things as better than they were even moments after they happen."
Stedmen brings hope, compassion and understanding to the human side of the Internet, along with a wealth of research, including studies performed by social scientists, and analysis from prominent cultural critics focused on the field, like Jia Tolentino, author of Trick Mirror. This paperback edition of IRL includes a new introduction, drawing into consideration how the coronavirus pandemic has driven many more personal interactions into the online world. For readers wondering how to balance life online and off, IRL provides amiable and invaluable insight. --Dave Wheeler, associate editor, Shelf Awareness