Embracing Dominion in an Age of AI (Phillip Johnston, Hope Church Greatham)

In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.

In 'Orthodoxy,' G.K. Chesterton presents a compelling defense of Christianity, arguing that it is the most rational and fulfilling worldview. The book is a personal and philosophical journey where Chesterton explains how he came to embrace traditional Christianity after exploring various heresies and philosophies. He compares Christianity with other worldviews, highlighting its unique ability to balance paradoxes and provide a coherent explanation of human nature and the world. Chesterton's writing is characterized by his wit, humor, and profound insights, making the book both intellectually stimulating and engagingly readable.