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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Wow. This book is game changing.
I suppose if someone were to tell me my problems would be solved if I just focused, I'd agree but also kind of want to slap them at the same time. Cause duh. Of course they would. I'd be able to finish my work and feel fulfilled. But how do I *do* that?
Cal Newport outlines exactly how in this book. He goes into depth about things I have been considering for a few months now, such as social media presence and departure, the pros and cons of the internet for knowledge workers who need deep focus like me.
I'd like to enact many of the suggestions Newport recommends in the next week or two, and I'm planning on listening to this book again. In short: all writers need to read this book.
I suppose if someone were to tell me my problems would be solved if I just focused, I'd agree but also kind of want to slap them at the same time. Cause duh. Of course they would. I'd be able to finish my work and feel fulfilled. But how do I *do* that?
Cal Newport outlines exactly how in this book. He goes into depth about things I have been considering for a few months now, such as social media presence and departure, the pros and cons of the internet for knowledge workers who need deep focus like me.
I'd like to enact many of the suggestions Newport recommends in the next week or two, and I'm planning on listening to this book again. In short: all writers need to read this book.
The general idea is a good one as I'm trying to find ways to better focus at work. Setting aside concentrated time to only work is really good, especially if you're working on a side project or a 'fun' project at work (like my employer allows us to reserve up to 10 hours a week on a 'thought' project).
But some of his techniques, particularly locking myself in a cabin and not responding to emails for a day, are not applicable to white collar workers whose response time is part of their job requirements. It's easy for a writer to do, it's not so easy for a project manager or client manager to pull off.
But some of his techniques, particularly locking myself in a cabin and not responding to emails for a day, are not applicable to white collar workers whose response time is part of their job requirements. It's easy for a writer to do, it's not so easy for a project manager or client manager to pull off.
Interesting book with some useful tips to motivate us in our easily distracted lives. The most convincing tip I'm taking away is to block off my time when I'm trying to focus and not allowing myself to quickly glance at my phone/Twitter - structuring and planning every hour of a work day even if it needs rejigged every few hours.
The book was probably slightly too long and repetitive to warrant a higher rating, but worth reading nonetheless.
The book was probably slightly too long and repetitive to warrant a higher rating, but worth reading nonetheless.
Mostly, it made me feel sane about how difficult it is to focus in the current era. The rules weren't surprising, but it is nice to be reminded of them - and that the struggle is not mine alone.
Conceptually, at the core - great. I definitely need to carve out more time to focus deeply on meaningful work. But as a book, in execution, the examples were redundant and gave a tech bro-y vibe of needing to optimize everything.
Aside from churning academic papers nonstop or working in a sweatshop, you can't produce without connection.
I can't see any actual application for this at work, school, or even at home. You have to talk to people to know what you're doing because connecting with others feels good and satisfying.
But sure, cut back on social media and stop messing around and you'll get more stuff done *fake gasps because obviously*.
I can't see any actual application for this at work, school, or even at home. You have to talk to people to know what you're doing because connecting with others feels good and satisfying.
But sure, cut back on social media and stop messing around and you'll get more stuff done *fake gasps because obviously*.
What I liked:
It emphasizes how important it is to focus and work distraction free. That is kind of common knowledge but he uses real world examples that drive home the point.
What I did not like:
It feels often very preachy and arrogant. He states all throughout the book how great his achievements are and how he surprised himself how great he can be. Not super fun to read.
There is very little content if you look at the essence of it. The whole summary is: get rid of distractions, protect your time, train yourself to go deep. That's it. The message is great but you shouldn't need so many pages to convey it.
It emphasizes how important it is to focus and work distraction free. That is kind of common knowledge but he uses real world examples that drive home the point.
What I did not like:
It feels often very preachy and arrogant. He states all throughout the book how great his achievements are and how he surprised himself how great he can be. Not super fun to read.
There is very little content if you look at the essence of it. The whole summary is: get rid of distractions, protect your time, train yourself to go deep. That's it. The message is great but you shouldn't need so many pages to convey it.
Personal rating: 2
General rating: 3.5
This a useful introductory survey of insights from psychology that have implications for productivity, but the book lacks new insight or nuance. At its worst, Newport seems to ambiguously contradict himself: lightly arguing that attention, productivity, and knowledge are both limited and limitless. An additional problem is that many of the claims and insights aren't robust enough to know how deep these contradictions run (or whether they would even exist in the actual psych research). Typical qualifications about the limitations of research methodology are foregone; when qualification is provided, it comes by way of anecdote from intellectual icons or Newport himself (which hardly seems applicable to the intended readership).
That being said, Newport's tone is engaging and I found his gloss on the research to be inspiring. I'd tentatively recommend it be read alongside similar works or the primary research he references.
Before recommending this book, though, I'd recommend the "Learning How to Learn" course. It's free, much of the research overlaps, primary researchers talk about the limitations of their methodologies, and there are integrated quizzes which will help with memory retention.
General rating: 3.5
This a useful introductory survey of insights from psychology that have implications for productivity, but the book lacks new insight or nuance. At its worst, Newport seems to ambiguously contradict himself: lightly arguing that attention, productivity, and knowledge are both limited and limitless. An additional problem is that many of the claims and insights aren't robust enough to know how deep these contradictions run (or whether they would even exist in the actual psych research). Typical qualifications about the limitations of research methodology are foregone; when qualification is provided, it comes by way of anecdote from intellectual icons or Newport himself (which hardly seems applicable to the intended readership).
That being said, Newport's tone is engaging and I found his gloss on the research to be inspiring. I'd tentatively recommend it be read alongside similar works or the primary research he references.
Before recommending this book, though, I'd recommend the "Learning How to Learn" course. It's free, much of the research overlaps, primary researchers talk about the limitations of their methodologies, and there are integrated quizzes which will help with memory retention.
Eh. There were a few good nuggets buried in the book - mostly to just stay focused on a particular task at hand. But it took him nearly 2 hours of explaining my deep work matters before getting to any of the points. For me, it took far too long to get to the actual point. Maybe I don't do deep enough work to appreciate this book ;)