Deep Work

good point- didnt need 70000 words to explain it!

i was waiting for the explanation on HOW to do deep work... didnt really come? the entire book is about justifying the importance of deep work so if you are unsure why its important this is a good explanation

Not what you are looking for...

It has a seductive title. Everyone wants to learn how to work harder and for longer but trust me - this will not help you. I've listened to many similar audiobooks but this is based on the most loosely referenced information that will supposedly help you to improve your concentration. Nearly all of it is common sense and some of it is simply outlandish: "Memorise a deck of cards" "Store information as variables in your brain"??? Hmmmmm

Well worth the investment!

This book has really challenged my view of effective work in our current environment. I have realised why I'm not achieving as much meaningful work and what I can do about this. A really timely read for all knowledge workers.

Just what I needed

Great book. The suggestions regarding the blocking out of distractions to deep thinking are excellent.

Great contemporary logic for old-fashioned hard work

I like the logical structure while maintaining an easy context for wholistic understanding.
A good listen/read for anyone waning to achieve great things by being smart (use your brain to think strong thoughts)

Great but lots of unnecessary info

The practical content is very useful and I will definitely apply it, however there was so much unnecessary story telling about the details of people's lives that I just didn't care about. Honestly the summary would have been a better choice. Save your time.

For those who like their own space.

Any additional comments?

Deep Work is a well read book, with some interesting points that I will try and implement into my own work habits.I did find, however, that the author is very "introverted" in his approach, and he clearly doesn't identify with the needs of extroverts. Monastic approaches to work, where a person locks themself away to think - posting notes basically saying 'get over it' to possible distractions - are seen as 'ideal situations'. He considers social media as having 'minor benefits' - when I propose that most of the world disagrees. Connection and relationships are extremely important to people, which is why so many people feel compelled to Facetime instead of write their thesis. While the author may consider 2 weeks locked in a room a meditative experience, he should also recognise that solitary confinement is actually used as a form of torture.I did like his use of scheduling, memorising and training techniques to train the brain to like solitude and hard work - but I think I will need to find a more extroverted approach to deep work, because there is little hope of me retreating to my bat cave any time soon.

Highly Informative

After listening to the book in the space of a week, I would recommend this to anyone seeking a way to spend their time at work or at home in a more balanced manner. This book outlines several methods used for being able to work in a concentrated manner for sectioned amounts of time without distraction, but also by reducing the amount of free time that is spent procrastinating in between these long projects, so that the work output is faster and of a higher quality overall, without sacrificing too much leisure time.

Dull beyond words

What would have made Deep Work better?

Less repetition of the obvious

What was most disappointing about Cal Newport’s story?

It's all about Cal. More examples of how his suggested methods of focus actually worked for other people outside of his industry would have won me over

Would you be willing to try another one of Jeff Bottoms’s performances?

Yes

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Deep Work?

50% of the book would go. I would cut in more fact, show relevance to others outside of academia, and take out the remminicances

Any additional comments?

Save yourselves $14

Good book.

Good book. A bit too pedantic but overall a good read. It goes into too much details sometime that you loose interest but overall good narrative and practical strategies that can be implemented.