Schmalle (author of The Body Activated Learning Handbook) is on a welcome mission: demonstrating to parents practical steps to raise their children in ways that make them less addicted to screens and less reliant on artificial intelligence. That said, Uniquely Human is hardly just a screed against the pervasiveness of technology in daily life. Schmalle, an occupational therapist by profession, offers fresh, practical guidance in the form of five “pillars” of action parents can take in order to help their kids—and also themselves—cultivate the essential human qualities that not even the most advanced future AI model can replicate or replace.
Schmalle's perspective on the effects of technology on children today is persuasive, and her solutions—which emphasize connection, “multisensory learning tools,” “‘situational awareness’ when it comes to internet safety,” and more—are clear-eyed and thought-provoking. A warmly personable writer, Schmalle makes her case and lays out clear goals and methods with infectious passion and evident expertise. She draws on a wide range of personal and professional experiences, serious research, and case studies; Schmalle, a single mother, shares heartening insights from raising her own daughter and makes a compelling case for modeling healthy habits and communication. The book also includes an accompanying “family playbook,” available for free download on Schmalle's website.
Though it's directly targeted at parents, even readers without kids will find this an enlightening read about a society-wide shift whose ramifications remain uncertain. The increasing prominence of AI in daily life has only amplified concerns about technology’s dominance—an anxiety present since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007. Schmalle's sobering look at how our tech-driven world is shaping a new generation of children is packed with enough detail and insight to make even non-parents reconsider the modern impulse to reach for a smartphone whenever boredom strikes.
Takeaway: Insightful guide to preparing children for a world of screens and AI.
Comparable Titles: Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price’s The Amazing Generation, Anna Lembke’s Dopamine Nation.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
