Manoush Zomorodi's new book "Body Electric" examines how constant technology use damages human health. The NPR reporter and podcast host collaborated with Columbia University Medical Center to investigate the physical toll of digital devices, from sleep disruption to posture problems to neurological effects.
The project builds on Zomorodi's earlier work "Bored and Brilliant," which explored technology's impact on attention and creativity. "Body Electric" takes a deeper dive into measurable health consequences. Zomorodi moved beyond behavioral concerns to document what happens inside the body when people remain perpetually connected. The research identifies specific mechanisms: blue light suppressing melatonin production, sustained screen time straining eyes and neck muscles, constant notifications triggering stress hormones, and reduced physical activity linked to sedentary device use.
The collaboration between NPR's journalism resources and Columbia's medical expertise grounds the book in peer-reviewed science rather than speculation. Zomorodi interviewed researchers studying technology's physiological effects and people experiencing these impacts firsthand. The book balances alarm with pragmatism, acknowledging technology's genuine benefits while documenting harms most people ignore.
Zomorodi's approach differs from typical tech criticism. She doesn't argue for abandoning devices. Instead, she maps how to coexist with technology while protecting physical health. The book addresses sleep hygiene in the age of smartphones, ergonomics for remote workers, and strategies for reducing notification-driven stress responses.
This work arrives as health systems increasingly document tech-related problems. Orthopedists report rising cases of "text neck." Sleep specialists see more patients whose insomnia traces directly to evening screen use. Ophthalmologists document eye strain epidemics among young people. Zomorodi transforms these scattered clinical observations into a coherent narrative about technology's bodily costs.
"Body Electric" targets readers who've felt tech