Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
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4.5 • 663 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
From a New York Times bestselling author, learn to master one of our economy’s rarest skills–the ability to focus–and achieve groundbreaking results.
Deep work is the power to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time–a superpower in our increasingly competitive economy. In Deep Work, author and professor Cal Newport presents four rules for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill:
1. Work Deeply
2. Embrace Boredom
3. Quit Social Media
4. Drain the Shallows
A mix of cultural criticism and actionable advice, Deep Work uses examples from Carl Jung to social media pioneers to demonstrate how great thinkers have focused their minds in a nonstop world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this strong self-help book, Newport (So Good They Can't Ignore You) declares that the habits of modern professionals checking email at all hours, rushing from meeting to meeting, and valuing multitasking above all else only stand in the way of truly valuable work. According to him, everyone should practice deep work: "professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit." Newport calls on psychology and neuroscience, as well as common sense, to back up his recommendations. As to why people don't already work this way, he implicates a cultural narrative that stresses activity over concentration and that encourages workers to follow the path of least resistance. Newport encourages readers to take breaks from technology, recharge with downtime, leave social media, and reply to emails more purposefully. It's tempting to blow off the message as the complaints of an admitted non-technophile, but Newport's disarming self-awareness "Deep work is not some nostalgic affectation of writers and early-20th-century philosophers" and emphasis on a meaningful work practice that's "rich with productivity and meaning" makes for an excellent lesson in focusing on quality rather than quantity at work.
Customer Reviews
Read it !! It’s worth it
This book goes from inspiring to very practical. It’s a well written insight to a new way of thinking about productivity. Anyone interested in doing meaningful or fullfilling work should at the very minimun read the sample. It’s a great read and definitely worth your money !!
Excellent book!
A good way to commit a sizable time each day to doing something meaningful and producing usable content.
Slightly underwhelming but motivating
The overall ideas and writing of the book are good. I did feel that did not offer much in the way of new approaches. The stories that went along with the strategy were entertaining and helped tie things together.