Cal has been writing professionally about issues related to personal productivity for two decades. In today’s episode, he provides a short history of what he’s observed during this period about out constantly shifting relationship with this topic, from the quiet optimism of the 1990s, to the techno-mania of the early 2000s, to the whiplash shift from anti-distraction to anti-work sentiments in the 2010s. He ends with a summary of where we are today and what he currently thinks matters in thinking about getting things done. During the Q&A session, Cal is joined by special guest host Scott Young (whose new book is GET BETTER AT ANYTHING) to help answer your questions. We conclude with a list of the books Cal read in April.
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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: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
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DEEP DIVE:
– The 20 year history with personal productivity [4:18]
Books Discussed in Deep Dive:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
How To Become CEO
Getting Things Done
The Four Hour Work Week
Essentialism
How To Do Nothing
QUESTIONS:
– How does Cal organize his files as a technical researcher? [1:04:55]
– How slow is too slow? [1:18:48]
– Does “Monk Mode” actually work? [1:27:25]
– How do I adapt my organizational systems to do more complicated work? [1:36:07]
– What are the most underrated habits for living a great life? [1:49:46]
CASE STUDY:
– Unconventional slow productivity [1:55:56]
APRIL BOOKS:
– The 5 Books Cal Read in April 2024 [2:04:51]
An Empire of Their Own by Neal Gabler
Co-intelligence by Ethan Mollick
Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan
The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb
To Heal a Fractured World by Jonathan Sacks
YOUTUBE TITLE:
– Productivity Fatigue: Is Striving To “Get Things Done” Causing Burnout? | Cal Newport
LINKS:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Order a signed copy of “Slow Productivity” here: https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
slow-watches.com/
penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318747/help-wanted-one-rooster-by-julie-falatko-illustrated-by-andrea-stegmaier/
https://www.moehrbetter.com/gtd-advanced-workflow-diagram.html
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
