Drowning in Screen Time: A Lifeline for Adults, Parents, Teachers, and Ministers Who Want to Reclaim Their Real Lives

by David Murrow

Overview

ARE YOU DROWNING IN SCREEN TIME?

Between Zoom meetings, online classes, social media, gaming, and binge-watching TV series, humans now spend most of their free time submerged in screen life—and that’s taking a toll on real life.

The good news: there is a way back. Bestselling author David Murrow’s new book is a rescue plan for parents, adults, teachers, and ministers who want to help others (or themselves) achieve screen-life/real-life balance.

Built around five simple parables, Drowning in Screen Time shows you:

• What screens are doing to your family and relationships

• Why screen content is so addictive

• How to find freedom and confidence in real life

Drowning in Screen Time is full of positive, practical ideas that can help you keep your digital head above water.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684510870
Publisher:	Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date:	12/29/2020
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

DAVID MURROW has spent four decades working in the screen-addiction business. His work has aired on NBC, ABC, CBS, Discovery, HGTV, and many other channels. Murrow’s first book, the inspirational bestseller Why Men Hate Going to Church, was featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Fox News, and more. A graduate of Baylor University, he lives in Alaska with his wife, Gina.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction Read Me First xv

Section I The Five Parables

1.1 The Parable of Max and the Sea 3

1.2 The Parable of the Fishbowl 7

1.3 The Parable of the Matrix 13

1.4 The Parable of David and the Wolf 17

1.5 The Parable of the Kingdom 23

1.6 A Recap of the Five Parables 31

Section II I Want to Understand the Effects of Screen Use, Both Good and Bad

2.1 Nine Hours a Day. Really? 35

2.2 Why Screens Are Irresistible 45

2.3 Phenomenal Cosmic Powers 53

2.4 How Screens Are Conquering Youthful Rebellion 59

2.5 Sleepier, Fatter, and Sicker: What Screens Are Doing to Our Bodies 65

2.6 What Screens Are Doing to Our Brains 75

2.7 Screens - Anxiety Machines 85

2.8 How Screens Divide Us into Warring Tribes 99

2.9 How Screens Are Changing Communication 111

2.10 Swipe Left: How Screens Are Weakening Relationships 117

2.11 Pornography: The Ultimate Unsafe Sex 127

2.12 Predators' Playground 137

Section III I'm Ready to Get My Screen Use under Control

3.1 The Parable of the Four Brothers 147

3.2 Be Like Mike: How to Stay Afloat 151

3.3 How Excessive Eddie Cut Back 157

3.4 Dishonorable Dan and the Poisons of the Screen World 169

3.5 How Albert, Dan, and Eddie Can Find Freedom 181

Section IV I Want to Help Others with Their Screen Use

4.1 I'm a Parent Who Wants to Help My Kids 195

4.2 I Want to Help a Friend or Spouse 209

4.3 I'm a Teacher Who Wants to Help My Students 215

4.4 I'm a Minister Who Wants to Help My Flock 223

Conclusion How to Master Real Life 233

Notes 235

Editorial Reviews

"Drowning in Screen Time shows us why modern life leaves us frantically treading water and gasping for air. This book is the life preserver we've desperately needed!"

—TIERCE, GREEN, director of the Authentic Manhood Initiative and co-presenter of 33 The Series

"Drowning in Screen Time shows us why modern life leaves us frantically treading water and gasping for air. This book is the life preserver we've desperately needed!"

—TIERCE, GREEN, director of the Authentic Manhood Initiative and co-presenter of 33 The Series

“David Murrow has a gift for addressing current issues that matter and offering solutions that work. He’s done it again with Drowning in Screen Time. This book will leave you informed, alarmed, and inspired to take immediate action.”

—RICHARD BLACKABY, co-author of Experiencing God and Spiritual Leadership

“David Murrow has a gift for addressing current issues that matter and offering solutions that work. He’s done it again with Drowning in Screen Time. This book will leave you informed, alarmed, and inspired to take immediate action.”

—RICHARD BLACKABY, co-author of Experiencing God and Spiritual Leadership

“What if you could wave a magic wand and find an extra twelve hours per week? David Murrow can show you how. Dave was drowning in screen time, got rescued, and recovered an astonishing twelve hours per week. He’s become one of America’s leading experts on one of the most compelling problems facing this generation and wrote a book!

“Drowning in Screen Time is a spectacular tour de force that blends parables, data, case studies, stunning personal vulnerability, and so many practical suggestions that there’s something here for everyone—parent, teacher, pastor, counselor, gamer, addict, worker—you name it. I highly recommend this book, and if you’re a parent, it’s must-reading.”

—PATRICK MORLEY, PH.D., author of the bestselling book Man in the Mirror with four million copies in print

“What if you could wave a magic wand and find an extra twelve hours per week? David Murrow can show you how. Dave was drowning in screen time, got rescued, and recovered an astonishing twelve hours per week. He’s become one of America’s leading experts on one of the most compelling problems facing this generation and wrote a book!

“Drowning in Screen Time is a spectacular tour de force that blends parables, data, case studies, stunning personal vulnerability, and so many practical suggestions that there’s something here for everyone—parent, teacher, pastor, counselor, gamer, addict, worker—you name it. I highly recommend this book, and if you’re a parent, it’s must-reading.”

—PATRICK MORLEY, PH.D., author of the bestselling book Man in the Mirror with four million copies in print

“David Murrow digs deep and pulls back the covers to reveal what’s really happening when we get lost in our screens. This book is an urgent and needed wake-up call for all who value the soul and deep relationships.”

—KENNY LUCK, ECPA Platinum Award–winning author, founder of Every Man Ministries, and author of Dangerous Good: The Coming Revolution of Men Who Care

“David Murrow digs deep and pulls back the covers to reveal what’s really happening when we get lost in our screens. This book is an urgent and needed wake-up call for all who value the soul and deep relationships.”

—KENNY LUCK, ECPA Platinum Award–winning author, founder of Every Man Ministries, and author of Dangerous Good: The Coming Revolution of Men Who Care

“If you have teenagers, they have cell phones and computers. If they have cell phones and computers, they are addicted. If they are addicted, you want to help them, and David Murrow has written just the book we need just when we needed it!”

—BRAD STINE, stand-up comedian known as “God’s Comic”

“If you have teenagers, they have cell phones and computers. If they have cell phones and computers, they are addicted. If they are addicted, you want to help them, and David Murrow has written just the book we need just when we needed it!”

—BRAD STINE, stand-up comedian known as “God’s Comic”

“I have not met one parent, youth leader, or teacher who doesn’t think screen time is one of the major issues of our day. We must figure out how to create a media-safe home. David Murrow has written a well-researched and important book to help us make better decisions and teach our children to do the same.”

—JIM BURNS, PH.D., president of HomeWord and author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out

“I have not met one parent, youth leader, or teacher who doesn’t think screen time is one of the major issues of our day. We must figure out how to create a media-safe home. David Murrow has written a well-researched and important book to help us make better decisions and teach our children to do the same.”

—JIM BURNS, PH.D., president of HomeWord and author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out

From the Publisher