Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality by Standford University psychiatrist Elias Aboujaoude. A New York Times editor's choice

This book is not directly related to the main topics discussed in my blog (materialism, spiritualism, religion, pseudoskepticism, psi research, philosophy, etc.), but I think it's a very important scientific book.

We're in a time in which virtual means of communication, mainly the internet, are very important (perhaps, even essential) for all of us. The existence of technical devices that enable us to talk, write, learn, interact and in general communicate to each other very easily has produced a change in the way that we see and understand personal relationships, specially in children who have grown wholly in this "virtual" context of internet, facebook, twitter, myspace, blackberries, etc. and know of almost no other social reality.

This phenomenon deserves close attention and scholarly study, specially from the point of view of the effects that such social phenomenon produces in the personality, psychology and behaviour of the people who are part of it (i.e. almost every one of us).

And this is what this book is all about. The author, Elias Aboujaoude, is a scientist, researcher and psychiatrist from the Standford University, who has focused his studies and investigations on disoders like obsessive compulsive disorder and behavioral addictions, including the addictions related to Internet use.

Scientists and philosophers interested in the social phenomenon of internet, and curious general readers interested in the social and psychological effects and consequences should read and study this book.

Highly recommended.

Visit Dr.Aboujaoude's website.