Cal NewportCal Newport

Cal Newport

Author and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University.

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, and the author of six books, including Deep Work, a book which argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the modern workplace, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, a book which debunks the long-held belief that “follow your passion” is good advice, and most recently, the New York Times Bestselling Digital Minimalism which argues that we’d benefit by radically reducing the time we spend online by focusing on a small number of digital activities that support our deepest values. He has also written three popular books of unconventional advice for students. His ideas and writing are frequently featured in major publications and on TV and radio.

Philosopher's Notes on Cal Newport's Books

So Good They Can't Ignore You
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So Good They Can't Ignore You

by Cal Newport

Cal Newport decodes the pattern of finding work that inspires us and tells us, as per the sub-title, “Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love.” The title of the book comes from comedian Steve Martin’s advice to aspiring entertainers to “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

Digital Minimalism
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Digital Minimalism

by Cal Newport

Cal Newport is one of my favorite thinkers. He got his Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT and is now a Professor at Georgetown. He’s also a bestselling author of a number of books. Given the fact that the fastest way to Optimize your life is to STOP doing things that are sub-optimal AND the fact that (for nearly all of us) our use of technology is the #1 thing that “Needs work!,” it’s SUPER important for us to figure out how to best use all the technology available to us WITHOUT becoming lost in a tsunami of inputs. Enter: Our new philosophy of technology use: Digital Minimalism. Enter: My SUPER strong recommendation of the book and my ALL IN commitment to helping create a movement around the ideas in the book. As you know, I rarely say a book is a must read but this book is as close as it gets. Big Ideas we explore include the fact that your soul is engaged in a lopsided arms race, a definition + overview of digital minimalism, the importance of spending time alone (and the consequences of *not* spending adequate time alone), reclaiming leisure (get active!) and joining the Attention Resistance. Here's to Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World!

Deep Work
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Deep Work

by Cal Newport

Deep Work. It’s the key to how you get So Good They Can’t Ignore You—which, of course, is the title of another one of Cal’s great books. Big Ideas include Deep Work vs. Shallow Work, how to give your neurons a workout, cleaning up attention residue, the four rules of deep work, finding the routine that works for you and learning how to shut down completely.

How to Become a Straight-A Student
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How to Become a Straight-A Student

by Cal Newport

Cal Newport is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth who went on to MIT for his Ph.D. and is now a Professor at Georgetown. In this book, Cal shares the top ideas he gleaned from interviews with non-grind Phi Beta Kappa members at elite schools across the country. They had to perform well AND they had to achieve those results without grinding away. Their practices, although discovered independently, reflect the same wisdom shared in the science books. It’s great to see the overlap. Big Ideas: pseudo-work vs. real work (and a secret formula), conquering procrastination, when/where/how long should you study?, #1 way to learn (and #1 trap), the importance of spacing out your work and the power to choose your future via excellent grades.

Quotes by Cal Newport