VNC Book Club by Nicholas Santosus

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Meeting 1 Date:
Pages / Section:

Meeting 2 Date:
Pages / Section:

Meeting 3 Date:
Pages / Section:

Meeting 4 Date:
Pages / Section:

NOTES

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Section/Pages: Chapter 1-2

Members Present: Everyone

Discussion Highlights:
-The effect of technology on socialization
-Substance vs Technological addiction
-Technologies positive uses
-How technology has become more addictive since the book was written

Agenda Topic 1

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

“His goal was a non addictive replacement for morphine to relieve chronic pain.”

He turned to heroine

Agenda Topic 2

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

“A hemisphere away, the Samarians were learning to prepare opium, which pleased them so much that they etched instructions on small clay tablets.”

Agenda Topic 3

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

“It's impossible to pinpoint the first human addict, but records suggest he or she lived more than thirteen thousand years ago.

The world was a very different place then.”

MEETING REFLECTION

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

1. We all brought one interesting point to the table
2. Everyone did a good job keeping up with the book
3. However, we still got off focus often and did not discuss as much as we could have

NOTES

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Section/Pages: Chapters 3-7
Members Present: Everyone

Discussion Highlights:
-Scientific studies make argument more effective
-Book disproves many beliefs about addiction
-Personal testimony was used effectively
-Many of the examples given were relatable
-These chapters were engaging and compelling

Agenda Topic 1

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

“But at Olds’ urging, they realized that there was nothing wrong with Rat No. 34. He wasn’t an addict by nature. He was just an unfortunate rat that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Like drugs or alcohol, stereotypies offered just one more route to soothe a tormented psyche.”

Nathaniel Thomas

Agenda Topic 2

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Vincent DiPierro

Quote 1: "The genius of Jim Olds was that he was open-minded enough and crazy enough to think that the animal liked being shocked" (Alter 54-55).

Quote 2: Repetition of "pleasure center" throughout the novel.

Agenda Topic 3

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Vincent Tabone

“Many Casinos use luck ambassadors they sense that you’re reaching your pain point the moment when you’re about to leave the casino they give you a Bonus.” Pg 134-135

“The Game Candy Crush Saga is a prime example.At its peak in 2013 the game generated more than 600,000 in revenue per day.” Pg 137

MEETING REFLECTION

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

1. We all found two unique quotes that gave everyone a new perspective on the novel.
2. We had a very thoughtful and informative conversation on the impacts of addiction on people’s life.
3. Everyone seems to like the book, but it feels like reading a history textbook.

NOTES

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Section/Pages: Chapters 8-12
Members Present: Everyone

Discussion Highlights:
-We are drawn to any idea of “winning”, even if the reward is false
-Addicting people is a science
-Addiction is not just cocaine heroin and other substances it’s behavioral such as gambling and internet addiction
-Location and habits are some of the most important things to addiction

Agenda Topic 1

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Nathaniel Thomas

I have mixed feelings about the book. While it was entertaining and informative, I feel like it didn’t live up to what it promised: the book was more of a history of addiction than an examination of how companies use addiction to get us to buy their products. However, I still enjoyed reading it.

Agenda Topic 2

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

I felt that the book was a history book more than a book I would read for fun. I did like all the interesting facts and diagrams in the book. I learned a lot about addiction which I would not have known before and discovered facts on how to prevent myself from getting addicted to technology. The book also opened my eyes to more addiction than just drugs which is what many people first think of when they think of addiction. It opened my eyes to technological addiction and how people can get addicted to simple games you can find on a web browser. Overall the book was fine but read more like a history book. I probably wouldn’t recommend it any of my friends but if someone is struggling with any form of addiction they definitely should read Irresistible.

Nicholas Santosus

Agenda Topic 3

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Vincent DiPierro

I personally enjoyed the book. Reading this book gave me a lot of emotions that made me reassess the way I rely on technology in my daily life. I've realized how hours in every single day are spent looking at my phone screen. As I ride the train home, I look around and see every single person looking down at their phones. Honestly, it's a bit sad. I would definitely recommend reading this book to friends.

MEETING REFLECTION

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

1. Vincent Tabone and Nate Thomas found the book very interesting and engaging.

2. The idea that the book is false advertising was brought up because the book lacked discussion about how companies used addiction to buy there products.

3. We came to the conclusion the book is more like a history book of addiction.

NOTES

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Section/Pages: Prologue - Chapter 1

Members Present: Everyone

Discussion Highlights:

- Interesting book
-Much of it is outdated
-The Prologue talks about how tech giants avoid usage
-The Chapter talks on addictions and the history of cocaine

Agenda Topic 1

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Will the book become more about the major technology companies or more about the users of technology?

Agenda Topic 2

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

What will be a major theme of the story?

Agenda Topic 3

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

So far the book is interesting will it stay interesting or get boring?

MEETING REFLECTION

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

1. We all got a chance to share our thoughts
2. The group could have done a better job staying on focus
3. Great job reading, writing, reflecting

RULE 1

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

RULE 2

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

RULE 3

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

MEMBERS

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Name: Vincent Tabone

Email: 25385VT@chaminade-hs.org

Name: Nicholas Santosus

Email: 25348ns@chaminade-hs.org

Name: Nathaniel Thomas

Email: 25391nt@chaminade-hs.org

Name: Vincent DiPierro

Email: 25103vd@chaminade-hs.org

BOOK TITLE/AUTHOR

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Irresistible by Adam Alter

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

EXIT SLIP

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

https://forms.gle/cCJbHs6scjgEERui7

BOOK CLUB PROMPTS

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:25:22 UTC

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

25348ns — 2024-01-08 14:31:00 UTC

Agenda Topic 4

25348ns — 2024-02-05 14:34:55 UTC

“The APA also made clear that merely depending on a substance or behavior wasn’t enough to warrant a diagnosis of addiction.”

“Once people want a drug, it’s nearly permanent — it lasts at least a year in most people, and may last almost a whole lifetime.”

Nicholas Santosus

Nathaniel Thomas - Journal Entry #1

25391nt — 2024-03-08 13:44:46 UTC

Nathaniel Thomas - Journal Entry #2

25391nt — 2024-03-08 13:45:49 UTC

Journal Entry #1 - Nicholas Santosus

25348ns — 2024-03-08 13:48:08 UTC

Nicholas Santosus - Journal Entry #2

25348ns — 2024-03-08 13:49:06 UTC

Journal Entry #1 - Vincent Tabone

25385vt — 2024-03-08 13:57:46 UTC

Nathaniel Thomas - Journal Entry #3

25391nt — 2024-03-08 13:59:36 UTC

Journal Entry #3 - Nicholas Santosus

25348ns — 2024-03-08 14:06:48 UTC

Journal Entry #1 - Vincent DiPierro

25103vd — 2024-03-08 14:06:55 UTC

Journal Entry #2 - Vincent DiPierro

25103vd — 2024-03-08 14:07:23 UTC

Journal Entry #3 - Vincent DiPierro

25103vd — 2024-03-08 14:07:52 UTC

Vincent Tabone

25385vt — 2024-03-08 14:11:30 UTC

25385vt — 2024-03-08 14:26:45 UTC