In the book, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brain, Nicholas Carr explains how the Internet has changed our ability to concentrate and retain knowledge. He does this by explaining the history of technology and the neurological changes caused by modifications in technology. Since the beginning of society, it has been recognized that human behavior is continuously being modified due to the introduction of new intellectual technologies. As a result, our mind changes the way we think through physical adaptions to the brain. Although this has hurt strong knowledgeable features humans have developed over time, there are still many benefits to the invention of the Internet. Thus, Carr argues that society must have a balance between the use of new and old technologies in order to create a strong mind capable of both finding and retaining knowledge.
Throughout the novel, Carr develops a strong case supporting the need for change in technological use. Carr notes how the introduction of technology has strongly affected himself and even caused it to be very difficult to write the book at first. Only by giving up technology, was Carr able to “feel generally calmer and more in control of [his] thoughts- less like a lab rate and more like, well, a human being. [His] brain could breath again,” (Carr, 2011, pg. 199). While many people today are very attached to their cellphones or computers, Carr’s Pulitzer Prize finalist book encourages society to think about modifying their Internet use in order to improve their mind. Through references to recognizable authors, philosophers and researchers, Carr builds a strong argument that will cause readers to think about their personal use of technology and promote a better lifestyle for the future.
