The Small Stuff

Name: The Small Stuff
Price: 49.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9780241703465

The Sensory Enchantment of Everyday Life

Ian Bogost

$49.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Allen Lane
06 October 2026

Ethical issues: scientific & technological developments; Social theory; Technology: general issues; Coping with illness; Popular psychology

A lively and witty guide to reclaiming connection with our physical world

In an era dominated by convenience and efficiency, you'd think life would be easier and, most importantly, happier. Shouldn't all the time saved by technology leave us with more for ourselves? The Atlantic columnist, game designer and philosopher Ian Bogost thinks not. From digital tickets to automated taps, he argues that the simple, tactile pleasures of daily life have been replaced by sleek but soulless design.

Through engaging anecdotes and sharp analysis of our dematerialized lives, Bogost uncovers how modern conveniences not only fail to deliver on their promises but also rob us of moments that keep us grounded and human. The Small Stuff is not a nostalgic trip through the analogue world of a bygone era but instead reframes our view of the material world from merely utilitarian into a site of joy and gratification. Finding happiness, Bogost shows us, doesn't require complete self-transformation, but simply noticing the sensory pleasures all around us.

Humorous, thought-provoking and practical, The Small Stuff is a manifesto for re-enchanting us with the world, by observing and enjoying the small moments that make up our lives.

By: Ian Bogost
Imprint: Allen Lane
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 222mm, Width: 138mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 400g
ISBN: 9780241703465
ISBN 10: 0241703468
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 06 October 2026
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Ian Bogost is a contributing writer at the Atlantic. He is the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where he is also a professor of computer science and engineering, film and media studies, and art and design. Bogost is the author of ten books, including Play Anything. Bogost is also an award-winning game designer whose work has been played by millions of people and has been held in collections internationally, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Reviews for The Small Stuff: The Sensory Enchantment of Everyday Life

A clarion call to rediscover the quiet joys woven into everyday routines. . . . This wonderful book reminds us that happiness isn’t out of reach. Rather, it’s right under our fingertips -- Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of <i> Supercommunicators </i> and <i> The Power of Habit </i> I loved this profound, witty, and quietly revolutionary book. Ian Bogost makes the liberating case that the material world is teeming with unexpected opportunities for life-enhancing sensory pleasure – and that all we need to do is to allow ourselves to experience them -- Oliver Burkeman