Deep Work

Concentration without interruption has become scarce, and Cal Newport's argument is that scarcity has made it valuable. Deep Work separates cognitively demanding focused effort from the shallow, reactive tasks that fill most working days, then makes the case that the first produces nearly everything of lasting worth. The opening half builds the argument using examples from academia, business and the arts. The second half sets out rules for restructuring a working week around sustained attention, covering scheduling, tolerance for boredom, social media and the discipline of stopping at a fixed hour. Little Brown publishes this edition. The short version: • A clear line drawn between focused and reactive work • Four rules laid out for rebuilding a working week • Case studies from academic, creative and commercial settings • Concrete tactics for scheduling, boredom and online habits Students, researchers, writers and knowledge workers who suspect their attention is being spent badly will find Cal Newport's book useful, and the Little Brown edition is available at Boipoka.