#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge

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Cal Newport (calnewport.com) is an
associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University
who previously earned his PhD from MIT. His scholarship focuses
on the theory of distributed systems, while his general-audience
writing explores intersections of culture and technology.


Cal is the author of seven books, including, most
recently, Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and A
World Without Email. He is also a contributing writer
for The New Yorker and the host of
the Deep Questions podcast.


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The one lesson from comedian, actor, author, and mean banjoist
Steve Martin that hit Cal “like a lightning bolt.” [05:40]


What does it mean to be living “the deep life?” [08:17]


The story of Cal’s Study Hacks blog, why he needed to write his
first three books, the unique way he went about securing his
first book deal as an unproven 20-year-old, and how he signed
with the agent who’s been with him for the past 20 years. [11:20]


What was Cal’s focus in high school and college? [24:03]


How did Cal consciously set out to sharpen his writing skills in
college, and what part have humor and mathematics played in their
evolution? [26:14]


What advice does Cal have for someone who wants to hone their
funny bone for humor writing? [31:14]


Fresh thoughts on slow productivity. [40:47]


There’s no way to know if someone like Isaac Newton would have
achieved greatness had he lived in the present day — when slow
productivity isn’t the social default. But are there any
contemporary examples of people who have mastered slow
productivity in spite of 21st-century distractions? [46:36]


These days, Cal is well-known for eschewing the temptations of
social media. But why did he initially refuse to sign up for
Facebook when it was the shiny new thing everyone was talking
about? [53:11]


Documents and disciplines Cal and I find instrumental in crafting
the lives we desire. [58:41]


How Cal integrates seasonality into his routine for ample periods
of downtime, where he roams to recharge and reset, and his pen of
choice for taking notes both literary and mathematical. [1:06:11]


Why Cal and I are big fans of Scrivener software for writing.
[1:13:37]


How Cal uses Trello to organize tasks under the different hats he
wears throughout the day. [1:17:17]


Books in the “anti-productivity” category Cal thinks might be
worth your while. [1:21:34]


Who was John Newport? [1:28:18]


Who Paul Tillich was, an explanation of the confusing term
“Christian apologist,” and understanding why Cal describes
himself as a concentration apologist. [1:30:53]


How does Cal focus on contemplation and matters of the soul? Why
does he believe someone who’s quick to dismiss a philosophy or
religion without trying to understand its most basic foundation
does themselves a disservice? What are his thoughts on the takes
Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson have on moral frameworks, and what
need is satisfied by such contemplations? [1:33:06]


Considering the spiritual as an exercise of meticulous craft and
creation, and understanding that some materials serve the purpose
better than others. [1:41:09]


With so many options from which to choose, how might someone who
has had either bad experiences with religion, no experience with
religion, or no interest in religion explore spirituality? Are we
programmed to seek out religion? [1:45:44]


Can you make it through Cal’s 30-day digital minimalism
declutter? Here’s how to set the rules that are right for you and
give it a whirl. [1:54:13]


What shutdown ritual does Cal use at the end of his workday?
[2:03:06]


Parting thoughts. [2:05:07]


*


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