Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

by Cal Newport - So Good They Can't Ignore You

"Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport - BOOK SUMMARY

Two types of work...

Shallow Work

Only requires little time and focus. Eg. Answering emails

• Low value
• Commodatized
• Most people can do it.

Deep-work

When you lock yourself in a room for 5 hours without distractions.

• Creates value
• Improves skill.

Bill Gates had "think weeks" - where he isolated himself to read and think.

The more you do shallow work, the less you can do deep work. Our attention is fragmented thanks to a lot of things. We think busy is productive.

Actively train our-self to put focused, UN-interupted work at the core of what we do. Options...

• Disconnect for a week once or twice a year
• Limiting access to social media
• Allocating a window to do deep work