Author Quit Smartphone Use and Published Book
After trading her smartphone for a 2002-era Nokia, August Lamm has shared her experience in a new book.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Home Organization
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August Lamm, a 31-year-old former influencer, transitioned to a simple 2002-era Nokia cellphone to escape the stress of social media. This shift inspired her to document the move in a new book released by Vintage.
Why it matters
The book explores Lamm's pursuit of mental clarity after experiencing panic attacks linked to maintaining algorithmic rankings. Her journey highlights a growing counter-cultural interest in rejecting constant digital connectivity.
Lamm purchased a home in upstate New York for $320,000, using $100,000 from her book advance as a down payment. This followed the sale of 20,000 copies of her original zine, titled 'You Don't Need a Smartphone', which retailed for $10.
The players
August Lamm
She is a 31-year-old author and founder of the Center for Archaic Networks who advocates for life without smartphones.
Hilary Redmon
She is an editor who discovered Lamm's work in 2025 and facilitated the book's transition to a major publisher.
Vintage
This is the publishing house that released the expanded version of Lamm's book in October 2026.
The details
Lamm, who previously commanded 200,000 social media followers, now manages her life without a smartphone, including checking email only once weekly at a public library. She has founded the Center for Archaic Networks and plans to host residencies at her new home where guests will lock their devices in a safe.
Timeline
In 2022, Lamm traded her smartphone for a 2002-era Nokia cellphone and faced a three-month Instagram lockout.
In 2024, Lamm's father passed away.
In 2025, editor Hilary Redmon first learned of Lamm's work.
In October 2026, Vintage published the expanded version of Lamm's book.
Culture Shift
This move mirrors the broader digital minimalism movement that prioritizes intentional tech usage over constant connectivity. It signals a growing desire among younger demographics to reclaim focus by rejecting the addictive design of modern social media algorithms.
Readers looking to adopt similar habits may find that offloading digital tasks requires significantly more manual planning, such as visiting public libraries for internet access. The cost of such lifestyle changes varies, though Lamm's transition emphasizes a move toward owning property in quieter areas.
The takeaway
Lamm's journey shows that reducing digital dependency can lead to major lifestyle changes, including relocating and changing how one handles daily chores. Implementation of these habits often requires finding physical alternatives for tasks like navigation and communication.
Further reading
For more on managing a tech-free living space, visit our Home Organization section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
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Would you consider intentionally limiting or stopping your own use of a smartphone?
