Eliminate Distraction: How To Take Back Control Of Your Focus | Cal Newport

Cal Newport talks about Rethinking Attention in Episode 298 of the Deep Questions podcast. Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity”at We think of information as something neutral; a spotlight that helps illuminate the reality of the outside world. Accordingly, more information is better than less. In this episode, Cal pushes back on this model, arguing that the form in which information arrives can strongly impact the understanding we extract. We must therefore be more intentional about what and how we pay attention. He then answers reader questions and surveys some unusual but entertaining stories about slowness. Download my FREE Deep Life Guide HERE: Listen to Episode Here: Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: Listen to Episode Here: Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at Cal’s monthly book directory: Thanks to our Sponsors: 0:00 Rethinking attention 31:04 What books should I read to help me develop a deep life? 35:01 Does writing by hand have benefits for your brain? 40:09 Should I get a brain scan to prove I have a low IQ? 44:00 Should I use ChatGPT for book recommendations? 45:59 How can I avoid wasting your gap year? 52:08 Is “Slow Productivity” related to “The Burnout Society” by Buying-Chui Han? 58:24 Utilizing the phone foyer method 1:07:22 Slow news Connect with Cal Newport: 🔴Visit Cal’s BLOG and website: 🔴Check out Cal’s books: 🔴Check out The Deep Life: About Cal Newport: Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal’s particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives. Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He’s also the creator of The Time-Block Planner. The videos are considered to be used under the “Fair Use Doctrine“ of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don’t use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies. #CalNewport #DeepWork #DeepLife #DeepQuestions #TimeblockPlanner #WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast