Breaking Free from the Overwhelm: A Review of “Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!”

Welcome to Cultivate Communication’s Book Review series, where we explore books that offer valuable insights into connection, communication, and growth—whether for individuals, organizations, or businesses.

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As someone who spends a great deal of time exploring the art of connection and communication, it’s no surprise that this extends beyond my professional life into my personal world as well. I’m constantly engaging with people, fostering relationships, and staying connected.

At the same time, I’ve spent years reading articles and books, listening to podcasts, and watching videos—all centered around the importance of disconnecting. The idea of stepping back from constant connectivity always made sense in theory, but actually putting it into practice? That was another story.

I struggled with the fear of missing an important message or a time-sensitive alert. Even though these fears were small, they convinced me that I needed to stay as connected as possible. But over time, I began to realize just how overwhelming that level of connectivity had become. That’s when I made a conscious effort to implement habits that would help me create a less overwhelming, more intentional way of living.

I started with the basics—turning off notifications, keeping my phone on silent, and using the Do Not Disturb feature. It helped, but I quickly realized that these were only surface-level solutions. The truth is, we’re connected in more ways than we even recognize, tied to an endless stream of information, expectations, and digital noise.

In his book, Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!, Julio Vincent Gambuto does an incredible job at opening the eyes of readers to just how connected we are, and how much digital noise we are exposed to. His book does a great job at not only explaining this, but also at providing tips and information on how we can silence some (and for super courageous people, all) digital noise.

What Did I Learn?

Gambuto begins his book by unpacking how we’ve become a society subscribed to so much—and not just in the form of those daily Nike emails. He does an excellent job illustrating the many ways we’re constantly subscribed, from social media and overflowing inboxes to our actual product and service subscriptions, and even the relationships we maintain. With so much vying for our attention, it’s no surprise that burnout has become the norm—some might even argue that many of us live in a perpetual state of it.

He delves into the roots of consumerism and introduces the concept of “click-up economics,” explaining how the digital age has trapped us in an endless loop of connection, convincing us to subscribe to far more than we truly need.

Gambuto doesn’t just expose the problem—he offers solutions. He lays out practical ways to unsubscribe from the excess in our lives, whether digital, mental, or emotional. But fair warning: his suggested habits and practices are bold, even extreme. Yet, he acknowledges this and reassures readers that any step toward reducing the noise—no matter how small—can positively impact our overall well-being.

The Communication Impact: Why This Matters

The concept of “click-up economics” that Gambuto explores throughout the book relies heavily on communication—because, at its core, it’s just another tool.

I talk about this often: we’re surrounded by an endless array of tools and resources designed to help us connect and communicate. But simply having access to these tools doesn’t automatically make us great communicators. In fact, we’ve become so accustomed to constant connection that we may not even remember what it feels like to *not* take advantage of these tools.

Of course, not everyone struggles with this. Some people are incredibly skilled at unplugging at the end of the day or living a life with intentional, filtered communication. But in a world where nearly everything we do involves some form of technology or digital interaction, we rarely stop to consider what it truly means to disconnect—or, as Gambuto puts it, to “unsubscribe” from parts of modern society.

I love tools that enhance communication. But I also recognize—and strongly advocate—that mindful communication isn’t possible if we’re constantly overwhelmed and burned out. This book offers a compelling perspective on just how much digital noise is affecting us.

Gambuto unpacks these ideas with both insight and humor, making the topic not just thought-provoking but genuinely entertaining. Even if you don’t fully embrace all of his suggestions, the perspective he offers is one worth considering.

With Joy,

Emily