Ep. 199: Quieting an Ambitious Brain

99 snips

Jun 10, 2022

Discover how to make your family take your profession seriously while navigating the joys of parenthood. Unpack the art of mastering time management and the importance of finding deep work amidst home distractions. Explore the latest trends in technology, including the evolving landscape of social media and the implications of augmented reality. Reflect on how too much reading might dilute their impact and learn strategies for turning off an ambitious mind to regain productivity. Perfect for anyone seeking balance in their work and life!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Context Matters for Cognitive Work

Cal Newport wrote for five days on a book section while mildly sick, but the writing felt disjointed.
When he felt better, he rewrote the entire section in two sessions with improved clarity and confidence.

ANECDOTE

Finding the Book's Voice

Cal Newport's first chapter of "Slow Productivity" took a long time and several revisions.
He explains this is normal as it establishes the book's voice and sets the stage for faster subsequent writing.

ADVICE

Separate Workspace for Remote Work

Bethany, a music teacher, struggles with family not respecting her work-from-home job.
Cal Newport advises her to find a separate workspace outside her home to establish clear boundaries.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Blood in the Face

James Ridgeway

Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport

In 'Deep Work', Cal Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work—professional activities in a state of distraction-free concentration—is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. The book is divided into two parts: the first part explains why deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, while the second part presents four rules to transform your mind and habits to support this skill. These rules include 'Work Deeply', 'Embrace Boredom', 'Quit Social Media', and 'Drain the Shallows'. Newport provides actionable advice and examples from various successful individuals to help readers master the skill of deep work and achieve groundbreaking results.

Slow Productivity

The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout

Cal Newport

In this book, Cal Newport draws on the habits and mindsets of historical figures like Galileo, Isaac Newton, Jane Austen, and Georgia O’Keefe to propose a new approach to productivity. He argues against the modern culture of 'pseudo-productivity,' where busyness is mistaken for actual productivity. Instead, Newport advocates for 'slow productivity,' which involves doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. The book combines cultural criticism with practical advice to help readers transform their work habits and achieve more sustainable and meaningful accomplishments.

Jaws

Peter Benchley

Published in 1974, 'Jaws' tells the story of a great white shark that preys upon the fictional town of Amity, a small seaside resort on Long Island. The novel follows the efforts of Police Chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint as they try to stop the shark. The book explores themes of public safety versus economic survival, marital strife, and the primal fear of nature's brutality. Despite mixed critical reviews, the novel was a huge commercial success and led to a iconic film adaptation by Steven Spielberg[1][3][5].