What if the world you live in is not made of things, but of non-things? What if the solid and tangible objects that surround you are replaced by information and communication that have no shape or substance? This is the provocative question that Byung-Chul Han, a German philosopher of Korean origin, poses in his book Non-things: Upheaval in the Lifeworld.

In this book, Han explores how the digitalization of our society is transforming our relationship with reality. He argues that we are losing touch with the magic of things, which provide a stable environment for dwelling and give continuity to human life. Instead, we are immersed in an infosphere, a constantly expanding sphere of information and communication that displaces objects and obliterates any stillness and calmness in our lives.

Han develops a philosophy of the smartphone, a critique of artificial intelligence, and a reflection on the silence that is lost in the noise of information. He warns us of the dangers of infomania, a condition where we search for more information without gaining any real knowledge. He also questions the illusion of freedom that the infosphere seems to grant us, while creating new forms of control and alienation.

Non-things is a short but powerful essay that challenges us to rethink our relationship with technology and reality. It is a book for anyone who wants to understand the upheaval that the lifeworld is undergoing in the era of non-things.