The Small Stuff
How to Lead a More Gratifying Life
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jul 7, 2026
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
From popular The Atlantic columnist Ian Bogost, a lively reflection on how we’ve become disconnected from the physical world—and how to reclaim gratification in our day-to-day lives.
In an era dominated by convenience and efficiency, one would think that life would be simpler, easier, and most importantly, happier. After all, shouldn’t all the time saved with machines and technology leave us with more time for ourselves? The Atlantic columnist Ian Bogost thinks not. From digital tickets to automated faucets, he argues that the simple pleasures of daily life have been stripped away, replaced by sleek, but soulless, design.
Through engaging anecdotes and sharp analysis, Bogost uncovers how modern conveniences not only fail to deliver on their promises but also rob us of small, satisfying tasks and moments that keep us grounded and human. He challenges us to rethink our daily interactions with the material world and illuminates how the loss of these tangible interactions has contributed to widespread feelings of disconnection and dissatisfaction.
But all hope is not lost. Bogost guides us to identify and appreciate the overlooked joys hidden in everyday life. By reforming how we approach ordinary tasks, we can rediscover the gratification embedded in the tactile world around us.
Humorous, thought-provoking, and practical, The Small Stuff reveals that finding joy isn’t about achieving monumental happiness or prolonged satisfaction. It’s about doing small things, deliberately and with attention, to unlock the basic pleasures that flavor our daily lives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Atlantic columnist Bogost (Play Anything) makes a convincing case for reclaiming "the lost joy of everyday interactions" with the sensory world. According to the author, the gratification of interacting with the physical world has declined as technology has "dematerialized" society, reducing opportunities to use physical tickets, operate a stick shift, and more. This has coincided with the rise of behavioral science-supported ideas that happiness rests on big-picture goals and long-term satisfaction, and that sensory pleasures are distracting. Such arguments are flawed, Bogot contends, because they assume sensory gratification gets in the way of seeking big-picture happiness, and because they frame happiness as a matter of optimizing one's life. In reality, happiness is more nuanced and rests in part on the joys of engaging "with the rich, dense" physical world and inhabiting the small, seemingly unremarkable moments that comprise most of life. The author's suggested solutions, which consist mostly of actively tuning into one's senses or taking up a physical hobby like knitting, aren't novel, but he persuasively highlights what's lost when people drift away from "the equipment that runs their daily lives." Readers will want to stop and smell the roses.
