Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Cal Newport

Language: English

Publisher: Penguin

Published: Feb 4, 2019

My Rating: 5
Date read: Feb 22, 2020

Description:

New York Times Bestseller

'Digital Minimalism is the Marie Kondo of mobile phones' Evening Standard 'An eloquent, powerful and enjoyably practical guide to cutting back on screen time' The Times 'An urgent call to action for anyone serious about being in command of their own life' Ryan Holiday, author of The Obstacle is the Way 'Cal's call for meaningful and engaged interactions is just what the world needs right now' Daniel Levitin, author of The Organised Mind

How can we focus in a world full of digital distractions? How can we make more time for real-life interactions? The urge to pick up our phones every few minutes has become a nervous twitch that shatters our time into shards too small to be present. Our addiction to tech leaves us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this timely book, professor Cal Newport shows us how to pair back digital distractions and live better with less technology. Introducing us to digital minimalists -- the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones or obsessively document everything they eat -- Newport reveals how to live more intentionally in our tech-saturated world. By following a thirty-day 'digital declutter' process, you'll learn to: · Rethink your relationship with social media
· Prioritize 'high bandwidth' conversations over low quality text chains
· Rediscover the pleasures of the offline world Take back control from your devices and become a digital minimalist. **

Review

“Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism is the best book I’ve read in some time about our fraught relationship with technology... If you’re looking for a blueprint to guide you as you liberate yourself from the shackles of email, social networks, smartphones, and screens, let this book be your guide." —Adam Alter, author of Irresistible

“I challenge you not to devour this wonderful book in one sitting. I certainly did, and I started applying Cal’s ideas to my own life immediately.” —Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism


“You’re not the user, you’re the product. Hang up, log off, and tune in to a different way to be in the world. Bravo, Cal. Smart advice for good people.” 
—Seth Godin, author of This is Marketing
 
“This book is an urgent call to action for anyone serious about being in command of their own life.”  –Ryan Holiday, author of The Obstacle is the Way


“Cal Newport has discovered a cure for the techno-exhaustion that plagues our always-on, digitally caffeinated culture.” —Joshua Fields Millburn, The Minimalists

“I hope that everyone who owns a mobile phone and has been wondering where their time goes gets a chance to absorb the ideas in this book. It’s amazing how the same strategy can work for both financial success and mental well-being: Put more energy into what makes you happy, and ruthlessly strip away the things that don’t.” —Peter Adeney, aka Mr. Money Mustache

“Cal’s call for meaningful and engaged interactions is just what the world needs right now.” *—Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind

"What a timely and useful book! It's neither hysterical nor complacent - a workable guide to being thoughtful about digital media. It's already made me rethink some of my media use in a considered way. "  —Naomi Alderman, New York Times* bestselling author of  * The Power*

“Digital Minimalism is a welcome invitation to reconsider how we want to use our screens rather than letting the screens (and the billionaires behind them) make the call.” –KJ Dell'Antonia, author of How to be a Happier Parent

"Simple, insightful, and actionable, this philosophy provides a sorely needed framework for thriving in the digital age. It will transform many lives for the better, including my own."  —Ryder Carroll, New York Times bestselling author of  *The Bullet Journal Method*

About the Author

Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of six books, including Deep Work and So Good They Can't Ignore You. You won't find him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, but you can often find him at home with his family in Washington, DC, or writing essays for his popular website calnewport.com.