100 Things We've Lost to the Internet

With the rapid advancement of technology and the widespread use of the internet, our lives have undoubtedly changed. While the digital age has brought us countless conveniences and endless possibilities, it has also led to the loss of various things that were once an integral part of our daily lives. In this article, we will explore 100 things that have become obsolete or less relevant due to the dominance of the internet.

1. Phone Books

Gone are the days when we would reach for a hefty phone book to find a phone number or address. With search engines and online directories at our fingertips, finding contact information has never been easier.

100 Things We've Lost to the Internet

by Pamela Paul (Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8708 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	234 pages

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2. Encyclopedias

Long gone are the days when we had to rely on a hefty set of encyclopedias for research. With Wikipedia and other online sources, we now have instant access to vast amounts of information on any topic.

100. Privacy

Arguably one of the most significant losses due to the internet is privacy. With the constant presence of social media and online surveillance, our personal lives have become more exposed than ever before. It is essential to maintain a cautious approach and be mindful of the information we share online.

The internet has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we live, work, and connect. While it has brought us countless benefits, it's important to acknowledge the things we've lost along the way. From traditional forms of communication to privacy concerns, the impact of the internet on our lives is profound.

However, it's crucial to embrace the opportunities that the digital age has presented to us while making conscious decisions about our online presence.

100 Things We've Lost to the Internet

by Pamela Paul (Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8708 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	234 pages

FREE

The acclaimed editor of The New York Times Book Review takes readers on a nostalgic tour of the pre-Internet age, offering powerful insights into both the profound and the seemingly trivial things we've lost.

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS • “A deft blend of nostalgia, humor and devastating insights.”—People

Remember all those ingrained habits, cherished ideas, beloved objects, and stubborn preferences from the pre-Internet age? They’re gone.

To some of those things we can say good riddance. But many we miss terribly. Whatever our emotional response to this departed realm, we are faced with the fact that nearly every aspect of modern life now takes place in filtered, isolated corners of cyberspace—a space that has slowly subsumed our physical habitats, replacing or transforming the office, our local library, a favorite bar, the movie theater, and the coffee shop where people met one another’s gaze from across the room. Even as we’ve gained the ability to gather without leaving our house, many of the fundamentally human experiences that have sustained us have disappeared.

In one hundred glimpses of that pre-Internet world, Pamela Paul, editor of The New York Times Book Review, presents a captivating record, enlivened with illustrations, of the world before cyberspace—from voicemails to blind dates to punctuation to civility. There are the small losses: postcards, the blessings of an adolescence largely spared of documentation, the Rolodex, and the genuine surprises at high school reunions. But there are larger repercussions, too: weaker memories, the inability to entertain oneself, and the utter demolition of privacy.

100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet is at once an evocative swan song for a disappearing era and, perhaps, a guide to reclaiming just a little bit more of the world IRL.