The New York Times Book Review - Molly Young
As a presence on the page, Newport is exceptional in the realm of self-help authors. He is not an obvious maniac. His writing isn't befouled by stylistic abuses. He has not granted himself a job title featuring the word "guru" or "maven." Partly for these reasons and partly because his diagnoses rang true, I bought in to Deep Work. Six pages in, I powered down my laptop. Twenty pages in, I left the house to buy an alarm clock so that I wouldn't have an excuse to sleep next to my phone. A hundred pages in, I asked my brother to change my Twitter password so that I could no longer log in to my account.
Publishers Weekly
11/09/2015
In this strong self-help book, Newport (So Good They Can’t Ignore You) declares that the habits of modern professionals—checking email at all hours, rushing from meeting to meeting, and valuing multitasking above all else—only stand in the way of truly valuable work. According to him, everyone should practice deep work: “professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit.” Newport calls on psychology and neuroscience, as well as common sense, to back up his recommendations. As to why people don’t already work this way, he implicates a cultural narrative that stresses activity over concentration and that encourages workers to follow the path of least resistance. Newport encourages readers to take breaks from technology, recharge with downtime, leave social media, and reply to emails more purposefully. It’s tempting to blow off the message as the complaints of an admitted non-technophile, but Newport’s disarming self-awareness—“Deep work is not some nostalgic affectation of writers and early-20th-century philosophers”—and emphasis on a meaningful work practice that’s “rich with productivity and meaning” makes for an excellent lesson in focusing on quality rather than quantity at work. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"As a presence on the page, Newport is exceptional in the realm of self-help authors."—New York Times Book Review
"DEEP WORK accomplishes two considerable tasks: One is putting out a wealth of concrete practices for the ambitious, without relying on gauzy clichés. The second is that Mr. Newport resists the corporate groupthink of constant connectivity without seeming like a curmudgeon."—Wall Street Journal
"As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today."—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and When
"DEEP WORK makes a compelling case for cultivating intense focus, and offers immediately actionable steps for infusing more of it into our lives."—Adam M. Grant, author of Originals and Think Again
"Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. We don't need more clicks, more cats, and more emojis. We need brave work, work that happens when we refuse to avert our eyes."—Seth Godin, author of This is Marketing and The Practice
"Cal Newport offers the most well-informed and astute collection of practical advice I have seen for reclaiming one's mental powers."—Matthew B. Crawford, author of The World Beyond Your Head and Why We Drive
"Just when you think you already know this stuff, DEEP WORK hits you with surprisingly unique and useful insights. Rule #3 alone, with its discussion of the 'Any-Benefit' mind-set, is worth the price of this book."—Derek Sivers, founder, Sivers.org
"Here lies a playbook for professionals of all stripes to achieve true differentiation in a crowded talent marketplace. Cal Newport's latest shows why he is one of the most provocative thinkers on the future of work."—Ben Casnocha, co-author of The Start-Up Of You
"Deep work is the killer app of the knowledge economy: it is only by concentrating intensely that you can master a difficult discipline or solve a demanding problem."—The Economist
"This is a deep, not shallow, book which can enrich your life."—The Globe and Mail
"In this strong self-help book, Newport declares that the habits of modern professionals-checking email at all hours, rushing from meeting to meeting, and valuing multitasking above all else-only stand in the way of truly valuable work."—Publisher's Weekly
"[A] worthwhile distraction."—ValueWalk
"A wonderfully entangled, intertwined, and erudite series of strategies, philosophies, disciplines, and techniques to sharpen your focus and dive deep into your work."—800-CEO-READ
"DEEP WORK is now one of my all-time favorite books, and I'm not joking when I say it was a life-changing read for me. I think it can be for you too."—Brett McKay, author of The Art of Manliness
"What emerges most powerfully is the sense that it's wrong to think of deep work as one more thing you've got to try to cram into your schedule. Truly committing to it, Newport suggests, transforms the rest of your time - so you'll crank through shallow work faster, be more present in your home life, and eliminate time wasted switching between tasks. Depth, in short, isn't at odds with a full life - it facilitates it. I'm persuaded."—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian
FEBRUARY 2016 - AudioFile
The friendly urgency in Jeff Bottoms’s narration is perfect for this multilayered advice on managing distractions and improving personal productivity. With diction that sounds both classy and conversational, he communicates like a helpful friend, which keeps this author’s outsized intellect from sounding overbearing. A lot of the advice is certainly available from other management and mental health authors—suggestions such as minimizing distractions or working in blocks of uninterrupted time. But Newport’s ideas sound more pointed because he places his recommendations within the context of the growing cultural pressure to multitask constantly and be connected to everyone. With fascinating studies and personal vignettes illustrating his points, this is a fast-moving and useful lesson for anyone who is struggling to get more done in any complex work setting. T.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
