Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by nealforreal
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
3.0
I've already gone through a few phases in my life where I reevaluate the apps and technology that I use and trying to just the ones that bring me the most use or joy. This book provides some useful methods on how to review the time you spend with technology to either cut out services or better manage the relationship you have with them, depending on how essential they are. I do wonder if most people who pick up this book are like me and have already taken steps before to curb their use of technology whereas the severely addicted who can't sit through a movie or a dinner without going through their phone would never give material like this the time of day.
Cal has never been one to sign up for social media but luckily he had quite a lot of his readers volunteer to attempt his 30 day detox where they cut out (or at least cut back on) optional technology. Reading their experiences makes it more relatable than reading an entire book on digital minimalism written by someone who has never struggled with it.
I've already deleted almost all social media, the latest and hardest being Reddit but the biggest mental hurdle for me attempting this 30 day detox is YouTube. I really feel like an addict as I can't even begin to fathom how I wouldn't watch YouTube for a week, let alone 30 days. Luckily this book offers advice on how to plan for the detox as well as how to fill that newly opened time - with a lot of examples that did not appeal to me at all but your mileage may vary.
My favorite part of the book that resonated with me the most was on solitude, and how many of us have become deprived of it. The shocking realization I had was that I'm already someone who keeps to myself a lot and spends quite a lot of time alone yet something I barely practice is true solitude. Always listening to podcasts, YouTube, reading other's comments and articles on the internet doesn't leave my mind much of time for reflection. Before the iPod I went on walks and did chores without having to listen to something.
3/5
This book will make you more mindful of when you're picking up your phone to reflexively open an app. Why am I doing this? How much time is this taking from my life? How much am I benefitting from using this? It will remind you that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are all competing to rob you of your time and make money off your attention. At times the book's order was counterintuitive and confusing, some quotes or anecdotes from historical or literary figures could be pretentious, but altogether this book gave me more tools to ensure my relationship with technology is healthier.
Now here's some lyrics from Open Mike Eagle's "Check to Check" because this song is a BOP but when I'm only reading the lyrics it makes me extremely anxious
Living from check to check, I keep checking
Incoming call, directly reject it
If you want to talk, suggest you leave message
I check, check, check like every three seconds
I'm recording right now and I'm checking between takes
Every notification that my phone machine makes
I put it down whenever, but it's never a clean break
I should get a heavy phone and pretend it's a free weight
I'm checking at red lights like school nurse check for head lice
Like sound men check for dead mics
Just like I'm merging, checking the left lane
I'm trying to get home so I can check if my check came
Cal has never been one to sign up for social media but luckily he had quite a lot of his readers volunteer to attempt his 30 day detox where they cut out (or at least cut back on) optional technology. Reading their experiences makes it more relatable than reading an entire book on digital minimalism written by someone who has never struggled with it.
I've already deleted almost all social media, the latest and hardest being Reddit but the biggest mental hurdle for me attempting this 30 day detox is YouTube. I really feel like an addict as I can't even begin to fathom how I wouldn't watch YouTube for a week, let alone 30 days. Luckily this book offers advice on how to plan for the detox as well as how to fill that newly opened time - with a lot of examples that did not appeal to me at all but your mileage may vary.
My favorite part of the book that resonated with me the most was on solitude, and how many of us have become deprived of it. The shocking realization I had was that I'm already someone who keeps to myself a lot and spends quite a lot of time alone yet something I barely practice is true solitude. Always listening to podcasts, YouTube, reading other's comments and articles on the internet doesn't leave my mind much of time for reflection. Before the iPod I went on walks and did chores without having to listen to something.
3/5
This book will make you more mindful of when you're picking up your phone to reflexively open an app. Why am I doing this? How much time is this taking from my life? How much am I benefitting from using this? It will remind you that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are all competing to rob you of your time and make money off your attention. At times the book's order was counterintuitive and confusing, some quotes or anecdotes from historical or literary figures could be pretentious, but altogether this book gave me more tools to ensure my relationship with technology is healthier.
Now here's some lyrics from Open Mike Eagle's "Check to Check" because this song is a BOP but when I'm only reading the lyrics it makes me extremely anxious
Living from check to check, I keep checking
Incoming call, directly reject it
If you want to talk, suggest you leave message
I check, check, check like every three seconds
I'm recording right now and I'm checking between takes
Every notification that my phone machine makes
I put it down whenever, but it's never a clean break
I should get a heavy phone and pretend it's a free weight
I'm checking at red lights like school nurse check for head lice
Like sound men check for dead mics
Just like I'm merging, checking the left lane
I'm trying to get home so I can check if my check came