Deep Questions with Cal Newport Ep. 11: Work Resistance, Techno-Criticism, Tales from MIT, and the Depth-Destroying Power of Children | DEEP QUESTIONS
Discover tools for tackling work resistance and the joys of minimalism in productivity. Explore deep procrastination's emotional toll and learn how to balance responsibilities with well-being. Dive into the fascinating world of techno-criticism and the ethical implications of technology in our lives. Hear captivating tales from the competitive MIT Theory Group and navigate the challenges of parenting while maintaining focus on work. Get insights on managing reading habits and conquering social media distractions!
01:30:34
Low-Friction Capture
- Capture tasks, obligations, and ideas quickly with low-friction systems.
- Use plain text files or physical inboxes for a rapid collection process.
Face the Dragon
- Confront overwhelming task lists; don't avoid them.
- Quantify the impossible load and face the reality of your obligations.
Post-Quarantine Deep Life
- Establish new routines and rituals for working from home after quarantine.
- Accept the lower productivity bar and optimize your deep work habits accordingly.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Confronting Overwhelm: Navigating Deep Procrastination
03:58 • 10min
Conquering Deep Procrastination
13:45 • 6min
Mastering Productivity and Technology Use
19:55 • 14min
Exploring Techno-Criticism: Humanism vs. Activism
34:07 • 9min
Navigating the Reading Maze
43:31 • 19min
Balancing Work and Caregiving
01:02:06 • 28min
All Things Shining
Hubert L. Dreyfus
Sean Dorrance Kelly
In this critically acclaimed book, Dreyfus and Kelly argue that our search for meaning was once fulfilled by our responsiveness to forces greater than ourselves, such as gods or a single God. They contend that as we began to rely on our own independent will, we lost our skill for encountering the sacred.
Through a discussion of Western literature from Homer's Odyssey to Melville's Moby Dick, the authors show how we can rediscover the sacred and intense involvement with the world's wonder and beauty by re-reading our cultural classics.
Shop class as soulcraft
an inquiry into the value of work
Matthew Crawford
Matthew B. Crawford
In 'Shop Class as Soulcraft,' Matthew B. Crawford argues that the manual trades offer a unique form of intellectual and personal satisfaction.
He critiques modern society's emphasis on 'knowledge work' and the devaluation of manual labor, highlighting the cognitive demands and personal fulfillment that come from working with one's hands.
Crawford draws on his own experiences as a motorcycle mechanic and philosopher to illustrate the importance of craftsmanship, self-reliance, and the integration of thinking and doing in meaningful work.
The book challenges consumerist culture and advocates for a more humane economy that values and rewards meaningful labor.
So Good They Can't Ignore You
Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
Cal Newport
In this book, Cal Newport challenges the conventional wisdom that following one's passion is the key to career happiness.
Instead, he argues that passion often follows mastery and that developing valuable skills and expertise is essential for creating work you love.
Newport presents four rules: Don't follow your passion, Be so good they can't ignore you, Turn down a promotion, and Think small, act big.
He supports his arguments with case studies from various professionals who have found satisfaction in their careers through hard work and skill development.
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle
The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life.
The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life.
Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence.
The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life.
Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport
In 'Digital Minimalism', Cal Newport argues that we need to be more intentional about the technologies we allow into our lives.
He proposes a philosophy of digital minimalism, where individuals focus their online time on activities that strongly support their values and ignore the rest.
The book highlights the negative effects of behavioral addictions created by technology, such as solitude deprivation and the fleeting nature of social media satisfaction.
Newport suggests a 30-day 'digital declutter' process and other practices to help readers integrate digital minimalism into their lives, emphasizing the importance of optimizing technology use to support personal goals and values.
Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Greg McKeown
In 'Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,' Greg McKeown argues that by applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, individuals can regain control of their time and energy.
The book is divided into sections such as Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, providing practical advice on distinguishing the vital few from the trivial many and eliminating non-essential activities.
McKeown emphasizes the importance of clarity of focus, the ability to say 'no,' and living 'by design, not by default.
' This approach helps readers achieve more by doing less and making the highest possible contribution in their personal and professional lives.
You are not a gadget
A Manifesto
Jaron Lanier
Informed by Lanier’s experience and expertise as a computer scientist, *You Are Not a Gadget* discusses the technical and cultural problems that have unwittingly risen from programming choices—such as the nature of user identity—that were “locked-in” at the birth of digital media.
The book considers what a future based on current design philosophies will bring, with a focus on the proliferation of social networks, cloud-based data storage systems, and Web 2.
0 designs that elevate the “wisdom” of mobs and computer algorithms over individual intelligence and wisdom.
Lanier advocates for a more humanistic and humane future where individual creativity is celebrated over the collective efforts of the ‘hive mind’.
Getting Things Done
David Allen
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.
In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on work resistance, the state of techno-criticism, tales from the MIT theory group, and the depth-destroying power of children. I also play some question roulette and tackle the audio question of the day. (Hint: it’s about my reading habits.)
To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis).
Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:
* The organizational power of plain text files [1:18]
* Confronting an overwhelming number of obligations [4:00]
* Getting back on track after lockdown disrupted work habits [7:15]
* Dealing with resistance to work [9:39]
* Audio question of the day: managing a variety of different inputs [18:28]
* Avoiding social media on the phone browser [23:26]
* The need for a distraction-reducing phone operating system [26:06]
* Tracking birthdays without Facebook [28:32]
* My podcast habits [31:07]
* Humane tools and the state of techno-criticism [33:57]
* Question roulette: my book reading habits [43:46]
* Life inside the MIT Theory Group (bonus: cracking the superstar code) [48:47]
* The seeming impossibility of deep work with kids [1:02:42]
* Curing your spouse’s Facebook addiction [1:14:10]
* On the deep value of work [1:16:12]
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.