The Extinction of Experience

We embraced the mediated life—from Facetune and Venmo to meme culture and the Metaverse—because these technologies offer novelty and convenience. But they also transform our sense of self and warp the boundaries between virtual and real. What are the costs? Who are we in a disembodied world? In The Extinction of Experience, Christine Rosen investigates the cultural and emotional shifts that accompany our embrace of technology. In warm, philosophical prose, Rosen reveals key human experiences at risk of going extinct, including face-to-face communication, sense of place, authentic emotion, and even boredom. Considering cultural trends, like TikTok challenges and mukbang, and politically unsettling phenomena, like sociometric trackers and online conspiracy culture, Rosen exposes an unprecedented shift in the human condition, one that habituates us to alienation and control. To recover our humanity and come back to the real world, we must reclaim serendipity, community, patience, and risk.

We embraced the mediated life—from Facetune and Venmo to meme culture and the Metaverse—because these technologies offer novelty and convenience. But they also transform our sense of self and warp the boundaries between virtual and real. What are the costs? Who are we in a disembodied world? In The Extinction of Experience, Christine Rosen investigates the cultural and emotional shifts that accompany our embrace of technology. In warm, philosophical prose, Rosen reveals key human experiences at risk of going extinct, including face-to-face communication, sense of place, authentic emotion, and even boredom. Considering cultural trends, like TikTok challenges and mukbang, and politically unsettling phenomena, like sociometric trackers and online conspiracy culture, Rosen exposes an unprecedented shift in the human condition, one that habituates us to alienation and control. To recover our humanity and come back to the real world, we must reclaim serendipity, community, patience, and risk.

The Extinction of Experience reveals the true cost of our digital age – and shows us how to return to the real world, while we still can. ‘A passionate case for the human experiences which are central to a truly vibrant and meaningful existence’ OLIVER BURKEMAN 'Christine Rosen finds the words I've longer for ... an extremely important book' JONATHAN HAIDT Human experiences are disappearing. Community is now found online; schools prioritise typing; and with headphones in and eyes glued to our phones, we’ve even obliterated boredom. Convenient and entertaining, certainly, but with each technological embrace we risk becoming more machine-like ourselves. In this insightful reckoning with modern life and its acutely modern malady, Christine Rosen leads us toward a healthier, wiser and more humane way. 'Illuminating ... well-argued and well-principled' TELEGRAPH , BEST BOOK OF 2025 'Essential reading in a dislocated world' KATHERINE MAY 'Razor-sharp' THE TIMES 'Christine Rosen is one of America's best writers and thinkers' WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Extinction of Experience reveals the true cost of our digital age – and shows us how to return to the real world, while we still can. ‘A passionate case for the human experiences which are central to a truly vibrant and meaningful existence’ OLIVER BURKEMAN 'Christine Rosen finds the words I've longer for ... an extremely important book' JONATHAN HAIDT Human experiences are disappearing. Community is now found online; schools prioritise typing; and with headphones in and eyes glued to our phones, we’ve even obliterated boredom. Convenient and entertaining, certainly, but with each technological embrace we risk becoming more machine-like ourselves. In this insightful reckoning with modern life and its acutely modern malady, Christine Rosen leads us toward a healthier, wiser and more humane way. 'Illuminating ... well-argued and well-principled' TELEGRAPH , BEST BOOK OF 2025 'Essential reading in a dislocated world' KATHERINE MAY 'Razor-sharp' THE TIMES 'Christine Rosen is one of America's best writers and thinkers' WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Human experiences are disappearing. The Extinction of Experience is a philosophical defence of what makes us human – and a powerful call to reclaim ourselves in a digital world. 'Fascinating and timely' OLIVER BURKEMAN 'An extremely important book' JONATHAN HAIDT 'Essential reading' KATHERINE MAY * A TELEGRAPH BEST BOOK OF 2025 * A GUARDIAN BOOK TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025 * Social media, gaming and dating apps have usurped in-person interaction; handwriting is no longer prioritised in schools; and emotion is sooner expressed through likes and emojis than face-to-face conversations. With headphones in and eyes trained on our phones, even boredom has been obliterated. But, as Christine Rosen expertly shows, when we embrace this mediated life and conform to the demands of the machine, we risk becoming more machine-like ourselves. There is another way. For too long we’ve accepted the idea that change always means better. But rapidly developing technology isn’t neutral – it’s ambivalent, and capable of enormous harm. To improve our well-being, help future generations flourish and recover our shared humanity, we must become more mindful users of technology and more discerning of how it uses us. From TikTok challenges and algorithms to surveillance devices and conspiracy culture, The Extinction of Experience reveals the human crisis of our digital age – and urges us to return to the real world, while we still can. 'Christine Rosen is one of America's best writers and thinkers' WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Human experiences are disappearing. The Extinction of Experience is a philosophical defence of what makes us human – and a powerful call to reclaim ourselves in a digital world. 'Fascinating and timely' OLIVER BURKEMAN 'An extremely important book' JONATHAN HAIDT 'Essential reading' KATHERINE MAY * A TELEGRAPH BEST BOOK OF 2025 * A GUARDIAN BOOK TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025 * Social media, gaming and dating apps have usurped in-person interaction; handwriting is no longer prioritised in schools; and emotion is sooner expressed through likes and emojis than face-to-face conversations. With headphones in and eyes trained on our phones, even boredom has been obliterated. But, as Christine Rosen expertly shows, when we embrace this mediated life and conform to the demands of the machine, we risk becoming more machine-like ourselves. There is another way. For too long we’ve accepted the idea that change always means better. But rapidly developing technology isn’t neutral – it’s ambivalent, and capable of enormous harm. To improve our well-being, help future generations flourish and recover our shared humanity, we must become more mindful users of technology and more discerning of how it uses us. From TikTok challenges and algorithms to surveillance devices and conspiracy culture, The Extinction of Experience reveals the human crisis of our digital age – and urges us to return to the real world, while we still can. 'Christine Rosen is one of America's best writers and thinkers' WASHINGTON EXAMINER