I have fond memories of listening to The Moth podcast when I lived in China. It was like a window back into the states.
This book was just okay, not sI have fond memories of listening to The Moth podcast when I lived in China. It was like a window back into the states.
This book was just okay, not sure what I was expecting, but it felt kind of all over the place. At times a bit repetitive, but probably good if you're trying to put together a story you want to tell in front of a live audience?
They used so many snippets of past Moth stories, but never the whole thing which just felt a bit frustrating and incomplete. ...more
99 examples of cognitive biases/simple errors we all make in our day-to-day thinking — super short chapters and pretty interesting.
Metacognition (thi99 examples of cognitive biases/simple errors we all make in our day-to-day thinking — super short chapters and pretty interesting.
Metacognition (thinking about how we think) is great for awareness and helping us be more alert in conversations and interactions with others so we don’t fall into common misconceptions and prejudices.
Not all new material and some are very similar, yet worth being reminded with theory backed examples of typical thinking fallacies.
“The human brain seeks patterns and rules. In fact, it takes it one step further: If it finds no familiar patterns, it simply invents some.”
“Verbal expression is the mirror of the mind. Clear thoughts become clear statements, whereas ambiguous ideas transform into vacant ramblings.”...more
Not your typical time management book and a great reminder to seek out wonder and prioritize what you can while embracing your finitude. Less FOMO, moNot your typical time management book and a great reminder to seek out wonder and prioritize what you can while embracing your finitude. Less FOMO, more JOMO.
I definitely plan to revisit this one again soon.
“The real measure of any time management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things.”
“Because the attention economy is designed to prioritize whatever’s most compelling—instead of whatever’s most true, or most useful—it systematically distorts the picture of the world we carry in our heads at all times.”...more
Love, love McKeown — Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less was one of my favorite books of 2018. This book is almost as good, and he presents Love, love McKeown — Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less was one of my favorite books of 2018. This book is almost as good, and he presents an interesting thought in the age of glorified busyness: life doesn't have to be so hard.
Simplicity is key.
Reframe the outlook/question from "Why is this so hard?" to "How can this be easier?"...more
A world without email is not practical, and Newport admits this. Still, this book is an interesting look at how we don't have to be slaves to connectiA world without email is not practical, and Newport admits this. Still, this book is an interesting look at how we don't have to be slaves to connection and communication, there are better ways and processes we can apply.
Not quite as good as *Deep Work* or *Digital Minimalism* yet still interesting. He introduces a framework he calls "attention capital theory" that argues for "creating workflows built around processes specifically designed to help us get the most out of our human brains while minimizing unnecessary miseries."
“Constant communication is not something that gets in the way of real work; it has instead become totally intertwined in how this work actually gets done—preventing easy efforts to reduce distractions through better habits or short-lived management stunts like email-free Fridays. Real improvement, it became clear, would require fundamental change to how we organize our professional efforts. It also became clear that these changes can’t come too soon: whereas email overload emerged as a fashionable annoyance in the early 2000s, it has recently advanced into a much more serious problem, reaching a saturation point for many in which their actual productive output gets squeezed into the early morning, or evenings and weekends, while their workdays devolve into Sisyphean battles against their inboxes—a uniquely misery-inducing approach to getting things done.”...more
Such a great book and great timing too. This was my 11th Godin read and I remain a big fan.
“Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Such a great book and great timing too. This was my 11th Godin read and I remain a big fan.
“Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Creative, because you’re not a cog in the system. You’re a creator, a problem solver, a generous leader who is making things better by producing a new way forward. Work, because it’s not a hobby. You might not get paid for it, not today, but you approach it as a professional. The muse is not the point, excuses are avoided, and the work is why you are here.”
“In fact, determination is precisely what’s needed to write poetry or create art. Determination of the will opens the door for us to trust ourselves enough to actually find the words.”
“Creativity is a choice, it’s not a bolt of lightning from somewhere else.”...more
“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE
Great quick read, especially if you l“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE
Great quick read, especially if you like these kinds of books. Reminded me of James Clear's Atomic Habits, but snappier, and less focused on process—more on the why.
Very quotable, can see myself revisiting this one.
“If you want to have more, you have to become more. Success is not something you pursue. What you pursue will elude you; it can be like trying to chase butterflies. Success is something you attract by the person you become.”
“There is a point in every race when a rider encounters his real opponent and understands that it's himself. In my most painful moments on the bike, I am at my most curious, and I wonder each and every time how I will respond. Will I discover my innermost weakness, or will I seek out my innermost strength?" — Lance Armstrong...more
I'm probably not the intended audience: I don't play a musical instrument and I'm only marginally familiar with Questlove.
That being said, I'm glad I I'm probably not the intended audience: I don't play a musical instrument and I'm only marginally familiar with Questlove.
That being said, I'm glad I gave this a chance. It had some decent tips for living a creative life, and was interesting from an outsider's perspective.
“There's species-wide programming and then there's individuality. The overlap between those two opens up a space for creativity. Live in that space. I'm here too. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.”...more
It also helped assuage my psyche regarding an underutilized MA in China Studies ...
“The challenge we all facOne of my favorite reads of December 2019.
It also helped assuage my psyche regarding an underutilized MA in China Studies ...
“The challenge we all face is how to maintain the benefits of breadth, diverse experience, interdisciplinary thinking, and delayed concentration in a world that increasingly incentivizes, even demands, hyperspecialization. While it is undoubtedly true that there are areas that require individuals with…precocity and clarity of purpose, as complexity increases—as technology spins the world into vaster webs of interconnected systems in which each individual only sees a small part—we also need more…people who start broad and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives while they progress. People with range.”
“You have people walking around with all the knowledge of humanity on their phone, but they have no idea how to integrate it. We don’t train people in thinking or reasoning.”...more
My 8th Seth Godin book, and I like him more with each book!
Excellent stuff here, reminded me of Steven Pressfield's Do the Work and The War of Art. VMy 8th Seth Godin book, and I like him more with each book!
Excellent stuff here, reminded me of Steven Pressfield's Do the Work and The War of Art. Very encouraging for getting over yourself and putting your work "out there."
“It’s what we wrestle with every single day. The intersection of comfort, danger, and safety. The balancing act between vulnerability and shame. The opportunity (or the risk) to do art. The willingness to take responsibility for caring enough to make a difference and to have a point of view.”
Lots of highlights in this one, would revisit for a pick-me-up. Quick and impactful. ...more
Deleted Facebook and Facebook messenger off my phone thanks to this book!
Hard not to feel guilty over phone use after reading, probably because I knowDeleted Facebook and Facebook messenger off my phone thanks to this book!
Hard not to feel guilty over phone use after reading, probably because I know I waste too much time on it.
Would read this one again to help ingrain the importance of living the minimally digital life.
“The tycoons of social media have to stop pretending that they’re friendly nerd gods building a better world and admit they’re just tobacco farmers in T-shirts selling an addictive product to children. Because, let’s face it, checking your 'likes' is the new smoking.”
***UPDATE***
It's been almost 2 months since I deleted FB and FB Messenger off my phone. Still loving it, and checking it less and less in general.
This book has remained top of mind since I read it, and keeps popping up in my life. If you're interested in a good discussion around Newport's books and ideas, Rich Roll interviewed Cal on his podcast and its an excellent episode.
"No longer need anyone ever be bored. Alone with one’s thoughts. Or simply present with one’s self.
The result is a global epidemic of distraction. A fomenting of loneliness and isolation. And a degradation of our humanity.
The solution isn’t Ludditism. Instead it’s agency. We need not be victims of technology. We have the power to liberate ourselves from the tether of digital dependency. And the freedom it creates isn’t just the salve to what ails us, it’s the gateway to that which we seek most. Meaning. True human connection. And a reconnection with our innate humanity.
Indeed, there is no substitute for real relationships. Boredom is useful. And focus is the new superpower." (RRP Episode 447)
Newport is the Marie Kondo of digital tidiness.
Solitude is essential for creating new ideas, solitude as in the freedom from input from other minds.
"Many people mistakenly associate [solitude] with physical separation—requiring, perhaps, that you hike to a remote cabin miles from another human being. This flawed definition introduces a standard of isolation that can be impractical for most to satisfy on any sort of regular basis. As Kethledge and Erwin explain, however, solitude is about what’s happening in your brain, not the environment around you. Accordingly, they define it to be a subjective state in which your mind is free from input from other minds." — Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism
Newport doesn't have to convince me, I'm a big fan of my personal time. Cal's call to Spend More Time Alone makes me think of Virginia Wolf's A Room of One's Own.
Really, I'll accept any theories that justify my proclivity for reading ... alone.
Godin is the man! My 8th Godin book, this one was surprisingly good, and as always, right on point.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in careeGodin is the man! My 8th Godin book, this one was surprisingly good, and as always, right on point.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in career development. This one might get a second round, excellent reminders.
“The only purpose of starting is to finish, and while the projects we do are never really finished, they must ship. Shipping means hitting the publish button on your blog, showing a presentation to the sales team, answering the phone, selling the muffins, sending out your references. Shipping is the collision between your work and the outside world.”...more
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