Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a memoir by William Finnegan that chronicles his lifelong obsession with surfing. The book is an intellectual autobiography, social history, and literary exploration of surfing as a way of life. It follows Finnegan's journey from California and Hawaii to various parts of the world, detailing his experiences and reflections on surfing, identity, and morality.
In 'Made by Hand', Mark Frauenfelder shares his experiences and insights from exploring various DIY projects, reflecting on the meaning and value of creating things by hand in a modern world. The book offers a blend of personal anecdotes and practical advice, highlighting the rewards of self-sufficiency and hands-on creativity.
In '21 Lessons for the 21st Century', Yuval Noah Harari tackles the most pressing questions of our time. The book explores issues such as the crisis of liberal democracy, the rise of nationalism, the impact of technological advancements, the threat of terrorism, and the challenges posed by climate change and nuclear war. Harari presents these complex contemporary challenges clearly and accessibly, inviting readers to consider values, meaning, and personal engagement in a world filled with noise and uncertainty. He emphasizes the need for critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity in navigating the future and suggests that individuals must identify strongly with a global community to confront global problems effectively.
In 'Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow', Yuval Noah Harari examines the future of humanity, predicting that in the 21st century, humans will strive for happiness, immortality, and god-like powers. The book discusses how technological developments, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, will shape human society. Harari speculates on the possibilities of overcoming death, creating artificial life, and the potential risks and philosophical implications of these advancements. He also explores the impact of humanism, individualism, and transhumanism on our future and questions the continued dominance of humans in a world increasingly driven by data and algorithms.
In 'Irresistible,' Adam Alter delves into the world of behavioral addiction, tracing the historical understanding of addiction and its expansion beyond substance abuse to include behaviors such as gaming, social media, and smartphone use. Alter explains how technology companies deliberately design products to be irresistible, using techniques like 'Ludic Loops' and 'gamification' to keep users engaged. The book also discusses the potential for these addictive technologies to have both positive and negative effects on our well-being and provides insights into how we can mitigate their damaging impacts[2][4][5].
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
Video from today’s episode: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
CORE IDEAS: The Deep Life [4:55]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- Does time blocking work with ADHD? [33:39]
- How should I approach my PhD? [35:38]
- How can I meet other deep workers? [39:40]
- How can I improve Zoom meetings? [44:19]
- How do I shutdown while watching kids? [47:21]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- How do I balance my personal and professional life? [57:12]
- How do I pick a major if I can’t follow my passion? [59:27]
- Is there a place where I can find all of the ideas from this podcast? [1:04:45]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Headspace: Headspace.com/QUESTIONS
Blinkist: Blinkist.com/DEEP
Munk Pack: MunkPack.com - Enter code DEEP
JUST Egg
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
Deep Questions with Cal Newport 
