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selenajournal's review against another edition
1.0
There are some really valuable things here. And some really weird things here that don't stand up on their own after some thought and consideration.
frenchpb's review against another edition
4.0
Quick and easy read overall. Deep Work is organized in two parts. Part One: The Idea includes three chapters: Chapter 1-Deep Work is Valuable; Chapter 2-Deep Work is Rare; and, Chapter 3-Deep Work is Meaningful. Part One explicates on the value and meaningfulness of deep work, using examples from well-known people across various fields and Newport’s own personal experiences to illustrate deep work’s benefits to individuals and its broader utility within industry and society. The author also supports these examples with neurological, psychological, and philosophical framing content to undergird his argument. In Part Two: The Rules Newport presents four rules of deep work: Rule #1 Work Deeply; Rule #2 Embrace Boredom; Rule #3 Quit Social Media; and, Rule #4 Drain the Shallows. The rules outline strategies on concentration, focus, reduced distractions, and structured time in manners conducive to deep work.
Newport uses multiple examples across numerous industries and professions to illustrate the wide applicability of the rules. Stylistically, the author’s writing is accessible and easy to understand, avoiding jargon and complexity. The main ideas are simple, explicit, and direct. The four rules he presents are tangible and are designed to teach the reader how to concentrate, focus, reduce distractions, and structure time in manners conducive to deep work.
While the book has a broad reach, there are limits to who and in what field one can apply these strategies.
1. Those individuals with flexibility and more control over their time professionally and personally will benefit from this book. Those in roles that require much engagement and constant availability may find some of these tips unreasonable or unrealistic.
2. Newport prioritizes an individual deep work approach. The author mentions collaboration briefly within the context broader balance of isolation, yet cautions the reader on only using collaboration when appropriate.
3. Deep work also seems to apply to the best work that requires cognitive or intellectual capability; he labels such work ‘knowledge work’. Those in other positions that focus more on efficiency and productivity over creation and cognitive ability may not find this book useful.
4. Newport briefly mentions the downsides of too much deep work in two examples (e.g. cognitive exhaustion) but does not examine any downsides or consequences to too much deep work.
5. Finally, the majority of individuals Newport invokes to illustrate deep work are men, and thus may unconsciously signal to the reader that only men have deep work capability.
While I don't agree with every principle/approach in this book (nor do I think it is realistic for everyone), the main takeaway from Newport is by strategically prioritizing one's time and reducing distractions, individuals can develop skills to produce deep work.
Newport uses multiple examples across numerous industries and professions to illustrate the wide applicability of the rules. Stylistically, the author’s writing is accessible and easy to understand, avoiding jargon and complexity. The main ideas are simple, explicit, and direct. The four rules he presents are tangible and are designed to teach the reader how to concentrate, focus, reduce distractions, and structure time in manners conducive to deep work.
While the book has a broad reach, there are limits to who and in what field one can apply these strategies.
1. Those individuals with flexibility and more control over their time professionally and personally will benefit from this book. Those in roles that require much engagement and constant availability may find some of these tips unreasonable or unrealistic.
2. Newport prioritizes an individual deep work approach. The author mentions collaboration briefly within the context broader balance of isolation, yet cautions the reader on only using collaboration when appropriate.
3. Deep work also seems to apply to the best work that requires cognitive or intellectual capability; he labels such work ‘knowledge work’. Those in other positions that focus more on efficiency and productivity over creation and cognitive ability may not find this book useful.
4. Newport briefly mentions the downsides of too much deep work in two examples (e.g. cognitive exhaustion) but does not examine any downsides or consequences to too much deep work.
5. Finally, the majority of individuals Newport invokes to illustrate deep work are men, and thus may unconsciously signal to the reader that only men have deep work capability.
While I don't agree with every principle/approach in this book (nor do I think it is realistic for everyone), the main takeaway from Newport is by strategically prioritizing one's time and reducing distractions, individuals can develop skills to produce deep work.
mindthebook's review against another edition
3.0
Det är McFreud-säsong och jag plockar upp den här. För ett år sedan valde jag Atomic Habits. Prickar av sjutton miljarder självhjälpsmarkörer*, men grundbudskapet är lite viktigt, så jag läser vidare. Boken är mirakulöst nog 100% Steve Jobs-befriad. Är Newport möjligen Apple-hatare/skeptiker.
När jag skaffade den här tänkte jag att den skulle innehålla något nytänkande, men det är mest "sluta med email och Twitter". Det senare har nu imploderat. X-ploderat! Att faktorer som att dra sig tillbaka och tidsblocka ökar förmågan att fokusera är väldigt självklara saker.
Vidare lever vi nu i en post-pandemisk värld och det är mer aktuellt att utvärdera effekterna av WFH, The Great Resignation och quiet quitting.
* Pengar, prestation och potential. Silicon Valley-skrönor. Gladwell & Ericsson. Thoreau. Flow. Seinfelds krysskalender.
När jag skaffade den här tänkte jag att den skulle innehålla något nytänkande, men det är mest "sluta med email och Twitter". Det senare har nu imploderat. X-ploderat! Att faktorer som att dra sig tillbaka och tidsblocka ökar förmågan att fokusera är väldigt självklara saker.
Vidare lever vi nu i en post-pandemisk värld och det är mer aktuellt att utvärdera effekterna av WFH, The Great Resignation och quiet quitting.
* Pengar, prestation och potential. Silicon Valley-skrönor. Gladwell & Ericsson. Thoreau. Flow. Seinfelds krysskalender.
reubenisanchez's review against another edition
5.0
It's a surprisingly excellent book.
I expected it to be full of workaholicism, but it almost provides the opposite. A desire to do work in a deep way that throws aside shallow tasks (think status meetings and answering emails) and compels you to make space (not find) for work that is meaningful for yourself and your career. In a sense, it's a book on taking control back of your work day that is likely drenched in tasks that hardly mean anything to you and the company.
I'm glad I read it instead of the summaries written by many others on the internet, many of those people writing them ARE workaholics who summarize the book in a min-max style (think Elon Musk worshippers, 60hr workweek crazies). Instead what I read was an intentional approach to work that is ultimately pointing towards a richer life.
I expected it to be full of workaholicism, but it almost provides the opposite. A desire to do work in a deep way that throws aside shallow tasks (think status meetings and answering emails) and compels you to make space (not find) for work that is meaningful for yourself and your career. In a sense, it's a book on taking control back of your work day that is likely drenched in tasks that hardly mean anything to you and the company.
I'm glad I read it instead of the summaries written by many others on the internet, many of those people writing them ARE workaholics who summarize the book in a min-max style (think Elon Musk worshippers, 60hr workweek crazies). Instead what I read was an intentional approach to work that is ultimately pointing towards a richer life.
nitolson's review against another edition
5.0
An extremely compelling case for the modern knowledge worker, creative type, or anyone aspiring to depth and meaning to ditch many of the current social conventions surrounding lifestyle and the workplace in favor of a more fulfilling life. One definitely may want to take notes while reading.