Lauren Groff's novel 'Matrix' is a fictionalized biography of Marie de France, a 12th-century poet and mystic. The story follows Marie as she is sent to England to lead an impoverished abbey, where she uses her visions and determination to create a powerful and self-sufficient community of women. The novel delves into themes of female ambition, power, and creativity in a medieval world.
The Vaster Wilds is a historical novel that follows the story of a young servant girl who flees a colonial settlement in the wilderness. With only her wits and a few possessions, she must survive the unforgiving environment, encountering various challenges such as hunger, disease, and interactions with Native people. The novel is both a thrilling adventure and a penetrating fable that reflects on colonialism, the place of women in society, and the resilience needed to survive in a hostile world. Through vivid imagery and a compelling narrative, Groff tells the story of America in miniature, highlighting the girl's journey as a symbol of adaptation and survival in the face of overwhelming odds.
This book is an authorized biography that delves into the life of Elon Musk, from his tumultuous childhood in South Africa to his rise as a visionary entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Ashlee Vance captures Musk's journey through his various ventures, including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. The book examines Musk's unique personality, his insatiable drive, and his ability to thrive through hardship. It also explores the broader context of American innovation and the challenges of global competition, positioning Musk as a contemporary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs.
In *Florida*, Lauren Groff presents a collection of short stories that span characters, towns, decades, and even centuries, with Florida serving as the gravitational center. The stories navigate a world that is both domestic and wild, where the hazards of the natural world coexist with emotional and psychological threats. Groff's writing captures the essence of Florida's landscape, climate, history, and state of mind, often juxtaposing the beauty of the environment with the complexities and struggles of human life. The collection includes stories about a resourceful pair of abandoned sisters, a lonely boy grown up, a restless childless couple, and a recurring character—a steely and conflicted wife and mother. With her precise and affecting prose, Groff explores themes of loneliness, rage, family, and the human experience.
This book delves into the intricate and tragic events surrounding Patrice Lumumba's rise and fall as the first prime minister of the Congo. It details the CIA's role in his assassination, the coup led by Joseph Mobutu, and the broader geopolitical context of the Cold War. The narrative highlights Lumumba's charismatic leadership, his efforts to achieve equality and independence for the Congo, and the brutal circumstances of his death. The book also explores the long-term consequences of these events, including the decades-long dictatorship of Mobutu and the ongoing impact on the Congolese people.
This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
Knowledge workers increasingly describe themselves as exhausted and burnt out. Why is this happening? In this episode, Cal argues that some of the obvious answers aren’t enough to explain the phenomenon. The real answer is both less expected and perhaps more fixable than we expect.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
Deep Dive: Tiredness and the ability to produce work [8:18]
- How can I read more without falling asleep? [34:25]
- Is screen time before bed killing my sleep? [38:19]
- How can I still have fun while being productive? [44:20]
- Is discipline an identity or a tool? [50:21]
- How do I find my way back to the deep life? [56:39]
CASE STUDY: A magazine editor integrates projects into a deep life [1:02:00]
Final Segment: Lauren Groff’s slow productivity [1:35:06]
Links:
Authors for Voices of Color auction: Afvoc2023.givesmart.com
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/lauren-groff-vaster-wilds.html
https://www.thefp.com/p/why-i-traded-my-smartphone-for-an-ax
https://midland-school.org/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597809000399
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/lauren-groff-vaster-wilds.html
Thanks to our Sponsors:
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https://www.hensonshaving.com/cal
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
Deep Questions with Cal Newport 
