My Father Left Me Ireland is a poignant memoir that explores Michael Brendan Dougherty's complex relationship with his Irish heritage and his absent father. Raised by his mother in New Jersey, Dougherty grapples with the absence of his father and the cultural identity he inherited. The book delves into themes of identity, family, and the search for a sense of home, reflecting on both personal and national levels.
In 'The Ride of a Lifetime,' Robert Iger shares his experiences and the lessons he learned during his 15 years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The book covers his early career, his rise to the CEO position, and his strategic decisions that transformed Disney into a global media giant. Iger discusses key acquisitions like Pixar, Marvel, and 21st Century Fox, and emphasizes the importance of leadership principles such as optimism, courage, decisiveness, fairness, and integrity. He also reflects on his relationships with influential figures like Steve Jobs and George Lucas, and how emotional intelligence played a crucial role in his business dealings. The book provides insights into Iger's vision for Disney, which included a focus on high-quality branded content, embracing technology, and expanding globally.
This book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin focuses on the principle of 'Extreme Ownership,' where leaders take full responsibility for their actions and decisions. The authors use their experiences in the U.S. Navy SEALs to illustrate how this mindset can lead to success in any organization. The book covers various principles such as believing in the mission, checking ego, and leading by example. It emphasizes that leaders must own all failures, develop plans to overcome them, and ensure their teams are well-conditioned and aligned with the mission. The authors also stress the importance of humility, discipline, and effective communication in leadership[1][2][4].
In 'How to Become CEO', Jeffrey Fox provides a collection of practical rules and strategies designed to help individuals navigate the corporate ladder and position themselves for top executive roles. The book offers direct, pithy advice on developing leadership qualities such as vision, persistence, and integrity. It includes unconventional recommendations that challenge common workplace norms, making it a refreshing read for those seeking to climb the corporate ladder.
In 'The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin', Gordon S. Wood delves into the life of Benjamin Franklin, challenging the common perception of him as an emblematic American figure. The book explores Franklin's complex journey from being deeply rooted in British culture to becoming a key figure in the American Revolution. Wood examines Franklin's personal and political transformations, offering a nuanced view of his role in shaping American history.
Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen. The book provides a detailed methodology for managing tasks, projects, and information, emphasizing the importance of capturing all tasks and ideas, clarifying their meaning, organizing them into actionable lists, reviewing the system regularly, and engaging in the tasks. The GTD method is designed to reduce stress and increase productivity by externalizing tasks and using a trusted system to manage them. The book is divided into three parts, covering the overview of the system, its implementation, and the deeper benefits of integrating GTD into one's work and life[2][3][5].
In 'Principles: Life and Work', Ray Dalio shares the principles he has developed over his career that have helped him achieve success. The book is divided into three sections: the first section explains how Dalio's principles were formed from his personal and professional experiences; the second section outlines life principles, such as embracing reality, being radically open-minded, and understanding the importance of pain and reflection in personal growth; and the third section focuses on work principles, including the use of radical truth and radical transparency to transform an organization. Dalio advocates for systematizing decision-making into algorithms, learning from failures, and building a culture where it is okay to make mistakes but unacceptable not to learn from them.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
BOOK REPORT: The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin [1:30]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do I eliminate the hive mind from interaction with other departments? [13:36]
- How do I capture small tasks so I don't forget them? [23:23]
- How do I (Cal) feel about career counselors? [29:31]
- Are there professions for which time blocking doesn't work? [33:42]
- How do I organize my tasks without using task boards? [37:55]
- Should I build a radical setting to support the deep life? [39:50]
- How do I become the right person to write a book? [42:52]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Can a digital minimalist use a fitness tracker? [54:33]
- When should I switch from work to leisure? [56:27]
- How do I get back on track with a deep life after a hard pandemic? [59:24]
- What is my (Cal's) top piece of parenting advice? [1:02:04]
- Cal's Curmudgeon Corner: How do I find meaning beyond simply expressing myself? [1:05:01]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.
Deep Questions with Cal Newport 
