I read Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport over the weekend, and it exceeded my expectations. I was a little worried it would just be a re-hashing of his previous book Deep Work, through a slightly different lens, but itās not that at all. Cal brings in lots of psychology, and provides practical (and pragmatic) recommendations for cultivating a better relationship with technology.
He also draws heavily from the experience of about 1,600 people who undertook a 30-day ātechnology declutterā during the research phase for the book. Cal uses their stories to share what worked for them, what didnāt work, and ways to address some of the most common pitfalls of trying to become a digital minimalist.
I wonāt lie, this book is scary. Itās making me rethink every single online service I use, and I realize that Iām going to give up a lot of it. But I also somehow feel lighter and freer, having come to those conclusions.
Cal isnāt dogmatic in his approach in this book. He lays out the evidence for why the intermittent positive reinforcement and drive for social approval that are built into social media is detrimental to our mental health and relationships. He gives practical advice on how to choose and use the tools that will provide benefit to you. But then he also tells you to use the principles behind what heās saying, but do what works for you. I really appreciate that.
Below are some of the quotes that I wanted to remember.
