In this book, Rory Sutherland explores the art and science of creating magic in brands, business, and life. He combines scientific research with entertaining stories and case studies from his career, including campaigns for AmEx and Microsoft. Sutherland emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior, highlighting how decisions are often influenced by subtle external signals rather than objective qualities. The book challenges traditional marketing strategies by advocating for a more holistic and creative approach, using techniques such as storytelling, social proof, and framing to influence consumer decisions. It also explores how these principles can be applied to various social aims beyond just selling products.
In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].
In 'Indistractable', Nir Eyal delves into the root causes of distraction, arguing that it starts from within and is driven by the desire to escape discomfort. The book offers a four-step, research-backed model to help readers master internal triggers, manage time effectively, hack back external triggers, and prevent distractions with pacts. Eyal also discusses how distraction affects various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and parenting, and provides novel techniques to overcome these challenges and live a more focused life.
In 'Play Anything', Ian Bogost challenges the common view that playing games is merely an escape from life's challenges. Instead, he posits that play is a fundamental way to engage with the world by imposing boundaries and constraints, which can turn mundane activities into enjoyable and creative experiences. The book explores how play can be applied to various aspects of life, from games to everyday tasks, and argues that this approach can enhance creativity, well-being, and our overall appreciation for the world around us. Bogost draws on a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, metaphysics, aesthetics, and psychology, to support his theory of play as a transformative force in modern life[4][5][6].
In 'Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,' James Nestor delves into the history and science of breathing, revealing how modern humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly. The book takes readers on a global journey to ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, and other unusual locations to uncover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, and Tummo. Nestor collaborates with pulmonary experts to test long-held beliefs about breathing and presents evidence that slight adjustments in breathing can significantly improve athletic performance, rejuvenate internal organs, and alleviate various health issues such as snoring, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.
Sponsored by YNAB - visit http://www.ynab.com/abdaal
I’ve built a brand new community for like-minded people called Productivity Lab. We’ll have online classes, workshops, and coaching to help you double your productivity. You can find out more 👉 here
If you want to start or grow a channel, check out my Part-Time YouTuber Academy 👉 here
📚 Check Out My New York Times Bestselling Book Feel-Good Productivity! 👉 https://go.feelgoodproductivity.com/ podcast
📧 Sign up for LifeNotes - my weekly newsletter where I share actionable productivity tips, practical life advice, and high-quality insights from across the web directly to your inbox. 👉 https://go.aliabdaal.com/lifenotes/podcast
In today’s episode, I sit down with Nir Eyal to explore the nature of distraction and the journey to becoming "indistractable". We dive into understanding internal triggers, mastering them through practical techniques, and using commitment pacts to stay focused. Nir introduces concepts like the distraction notebook, the difference between traction and distraction, and how to align actions with personal goals. We also discuss managing external triggers, minimising tech and family distractions, and the idea of temptation bundling to combine rewards with tasks. Finally, we touch on the overdiagnosis of ADHD and the importance of following your curiosity.
Enjoy 🙂
(00:00) Understanding Distraction and the Human Condition
(02:48) The Journey to Becoming Indistractable
(06:06) The Role of Internal Triggers in Distraction
(08:55) Mastering Internal Triggers: Techniques and Strategies
(12:11) The Power of Commitment Pacts
(15:04) Challenging the Concept of Willpower
(17:51) The Distraction Notebook: Tracking Your Triggers
(30:21) Understanding Distractions and Taking Action
(36:58) The Concept of Traction vs. Distraction
(47:39) Aligning Your Schedule with Your Values
(53:48) Managing External Triggers and Productivity
(01:00:33) Managing External Triggers
(01:02:56) Hacking Distractions from Family
(01:06:39) Understanding Temptation Bundling
(01:08:35) The Power of Identity Packs
(01:12:56) Over-diagnosis of ADHD
(01:18:06) Finding Time for Writing
(01:24:03) Embracing Curiosity in Writing
🔗 CONNECT WITH NIR
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 X ( Twitter )
💻 Website
👥 Linkedin
🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 X ( Twitter )
📸 Instagram
💻 Website
👥 Linkedin
📄SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT
Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/
🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST
Deep Dive is the podcast that delves into the minds of entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people to uncover the philosophies, strategies and tools that help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives.
Want to start your own podcast? We use Transistor! https://go.aliabdaal.com/transistor
🎧 LISTEN FOR FREE
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
RSS
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :) https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/deep-dive-with-ali-abdaal/
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also Tweet @AliAbdaal with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you've learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from 😜
Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal 
