Thursday, July 29, 2010

Check It Out


The Tyranny of E-mail: The Four-thousand-year Journey to your Inbox
By John Freeman
HE 7551 F74 2009

Concerned with information overload and the time-consuming work of keeping up with one’s inbox, award winning writer and book critic John Freeman takes a look at the history of communication. From a clay tablet—the earliest known letter—and the communication systems of early civilizations to the development of the United States Postal Service and the modern day e-mail, society has become increasingly focused on time and speed, causing people to become workaholics and increasingly isolated from each other. The author calls for readers to take their lives back from their inboxes by outlining several ways one can become more productive and efficient with their e-mail, including checking e-mail less, during specific times of the day, and using other forms of communication.

While the historical background and the effects of e-mail on modern life are selective and he does not address both sides of the issue, Freeman is able to effectively get his point across in a very concise manner. His recommendations for e-mail use will be helpful to anyone looking to become more efficient with their inboxes.

Check out The Tyranny of E-mail: The Four-thousand-year Journey to your Inbox, available now in the library.

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