Digital Minimalism

Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

By: Cal Newport

Narrated by: Will Damron, Cal Newport

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today best seller

"Newport is making a bid to be the Marie Kondo of technology: someone with an actual plan for helping you realize the digital pursuits that do, and don't, bring value to your life." (Ezra Klein, Vox)

Minimalism is the art of knowing how much is just enough. Digital minimalism applies this idea to our personal technology. It's the key to living a focused life in an increasingly noisy world.

In this timely and enlightening book, the best-selling author of Deep Work introduces a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives.

Digital minimalists are all around us. They're the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones. They can get lost in a good book, a woodworking project, or a leisurely morning run. They can have fun with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They stay informed about the news of the day, but don't feel overwhelmed by it. They don't experience "fear of missing out" because they already know which activities provide them meaning and satisfaction.

Now, Newport gives us a name for this quiet movement and makes a persuasive case for its urgency in our tech-saturated world. Common sense tips, like turning off notifications, or occasional rituals, like observing a digital sabbath, don't go far enough in helping us take back control of our technological lives, and attempts to unplug completely are complicated by the demands of family, friends, and work. What we need instead is a thoughtful method to decide what tools to use, for what purposes, and under what conditions.

Drawing on a diverse array of real-life examples, from Amish farmers to harried parents to Silicon Valley programmers, Newport identifies the common practices of digital minimalists and the ideas that underpin them. He shows how digital minimalists are rethinking their relationship to social media, rediscovering the pleasures of the offline world, and reconnecting with their inner selves through regular periods of solitude. He then shares strategies for integrating these practices into your life, starting with a 30-day "digital declutter" process that has already helped thousands feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad. The key is using it to support your goals and values, rather than letting it use you. This book shows the way.

©2019 Cal Newport (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism is the best book I’ve read in some time about our fraught relationship with technology.... If you’re looking for a blueprint to guide you as you liberate yourself from the shackles of email, social networks, smartphones, and screens, let this book be your guide." (Adam Alter, author of Irresistible)

“I challenge you not to devour this wonderful book in one sitting. I certainly did, and I started applying Cal’s ideas to my own life immediately.” (Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism)

“You’re not the user, you’re the product. Hang up, log off, and tune in to a different way to be in the world. Bravo, Cal. Smart advice for good people.” (Seth Godin, author of This Is Marketing)

Will give you the push to let go...

I was already on my way to detaching from clickbait apps but this gave me the push to shutdown my IG which was a huge time suck for me and to put in the time and effort to develop and enjoy more high quality leisure activities. At first I felt so lost not clicking on phone to check Insta at every bored moment so checked my stock accounts a lot but now feel settled in to life without it. Much more relaxing and when I’m out walking or cooking a great meal I don’t need to take a photo to “share”. It’s allowed me to be more present in moment. Cal takes complex themes and makes them simple and gives practical tips on how to follow through and reasons for doing so. Highly recommend listening.

Really Interesting Perspective

If you are questioning your digital use listen to this book. It is quite fascinating how we got here and he offers a way to cope rather dismiss the value of digitization rather than being a zombie.

Fascinating and timely book!

Read this book and gain control over that smart phone - turn it back into a tool you control and use instead of allowig it to control and use you.

Required Reading

This book makes you rethink you relationship with technology. Technology takes up so much of our time and the question why and for what. This concise and well written book makes you reflect on what is the real point to these devices.

Life changing.

As a teenager who understands that in the past, I have wasted many days (that led up to weeks and months) of my life on my phone. On my days off, I used to just sit in my room all day and watch YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc., and would scroll mindlessly through my social media feed. I even knew at the time that I was wasting my time on my phone but didn’t feel like changing because it would be too much work, too much change. And that’s partly true. It is a continuous effort and it’s a lot of work because it’s strange and difficult at first, but it get easier.
I live in a small town (population: ~750) with little to nothing to do and the biggest town near me in 40 miles away and is still a small town (population: ~8000). I used to think that I would be bored all day if I were to minimize my time on my phone, but that’s not true. Before I minimized my phone usage, my room was a mess and would continue to get messier, my laundry would pull up and I would only do what was necessary to get by, my closet was cluttered, the amount of clothes I had kept growing (because I never went through to see what I didn’t like or what didn’t fit), my dresser was disorganized, my life was disorganized (and I knew all this was happening, I just didn’t feel like taking care of it. I had better things to do; I had my phone). I’m only on the beginning of my journey of minimizing my phone usage, but I can already tell a mood change. I don’t feel down in the dumps anymore. It’s amazing. Not only have I started getting my stuff together (laundry, organizing, decluttering, etc.), but I also painted my whole room (walls, ceiling, doors, window- the works) and have taken care of things long overdue. I even notice a difference in the things I eat because I can actually think about what I truly want to eat, not just what’s easiest or fasted so I can get back to my phone. I find myself purchasing things with more thought and less impulse, and more improvements all around in my life because I don’t have interruptions coming from my phone. No joke! This book is a life changer. It was amazing and I highly recommend!

Life Changing (probably)

Book:
Excellent, well written. Layout was logical and helpful, topics and points were thoughtful and useful. I fully expect this book to change the way I interact with technology. There are even physical and spiritual ramifications that are brought to light, though perhaps unintentionally by the author.

Audio:
Clear and engaging.

A nice guidance

It's a nice guidance for someone want to cut social media. I highly recommend this book for knowledge job people

Completes the Newport Trifecta

I looked forward to Digital Minimalism as I grew to be a huge fan of CN’s work through two of his earlier books. When he authors another, I will be one of the first in line!

Another great book by Cal

The latest addition to Deep Work. Many of the same ideas as the first book but I left feeling more able and inclined to go sans digital.

A must read if you are stepping into. D Minimalism

Loved it. Helps you good in the transition to digital minimalism.
Well explained.
Highly Recommend