Episode
#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
2:11:57
Published: Wed Feb 02 2022
Description
Brought to you by Magic Spoon delicious low-carb cereal, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement. 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.Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Magic Spoon cereal! Magic Spoon is a low-carb, high-protein, and zero sugar cereal that tastes just like your favorite sugary cereal. Each serving has 13–14g of protein, 4g of net carbs, and 0g of sugar. It’s also gluten free, grain free, soy free, and keto friendly. And it’s delicious! It comes in your favorite, traditional cereal flavors like Cocoa, Frosted, Peanut Butter, and Blueberry.Magic Spoon cereal has received a lot of attention since their launch. Time magazine included it in their list of Best Inventions of 2019, and Forbes called it “the future of cereal.” My listeners—that’s you—get $5 off and a 100% happiness guarantee when you visit MagicSpoon.com/Tim and use code TIM. And some great news for Canadian listeners: Magic Spoon now also ships to Canada!*This episode is also brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout. *This episode is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.*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]*For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Balaji Srinivasan, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Michio Kaku, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Learn about two popular tools that enhance sleep, 8Sleep which reduces sleep interruptions and helps users fall asleep faster, and Magic Spoon which offers low-carb, high-protein cereals.
00:00 - 04:12 (04:12)
Summary
Learn about two popular tools that enhance sleep, 8Sleep which reduces sleep interruptions and helps users fall asleep faster, and Magic Spoon which offers low-carb, high-protein cereals.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
On this episode, Cal Newport discusses the concept of the "deep life" and building a life of resilience and meaning, rather than chasing short-term pleasures.
04:12 - 11:34 (07:21)
Summary
On this episode, Cal Newport discusses the concept of the "deep life" and building a life of resilience and meaning, rather than chasing short-term pleasures.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the speaker proposes the idea of writing a book for college students, similar to a business book, that provides advice on how to do well in college.
11:34 - 16:20 (04:46)
Summary
In this episode, the speaker proposes the idea of writing a book for college students, similar to a business book, that provides advice on how to do well in college. The book would aim to address common college problems and offer strategies for success.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares his experience of writing and publishing his first book, including how he found an agent and wrote sample articles for his book proposal.
16:20 - 21:32 (05:11)
Summary
The speaker shares his experience of writing and publishing his first book, including how he found an agent and wrote sample articles for his book proposal.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast discusses the story of how an author started his writing career by creating a book that was easy to write and read, and the importance of prioritizing self-capabilities when doing something one has never done before.
21:32 - 26:14 (04:41)
Summary
This podcast discusses the story of how an author started his writing career by creating a book that was easy to write and read, and the importance of prioritizing self-capabilities when doing something one has never done before.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Humor writing improves one's writing skills as it requires attention to timing, pacing, and the music of language.
26:15 - 35:27 (09:12)
Summary
Humor writing improves one's writing skills as it requires attention to timing, pacing, and the music of language. It also evolved as a part of culture in Ivy League schools, where it helped writers get better with skills like acceptance, rejection and editing.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how Simon Rich's work is a metaphor for the stress and anxiety parents feel during COVID-19, as they try to maintain a sense of normalcy while dealing with their fears.
35:27 - 39:06 (03:39)
Summary
The speaker discusses how Simon Rich's work is a metaphor for the stress and anxiety parents feel during COVID-19, as they try to maintain a sense of normalcy while dealing with their fears. Rich's ability to weave absurdity into his work without losing its dryness is highlighted.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest speaker mentions developing thoughts and potential ideas for a book on slow productivity.
39:06 - 43:56 (04:49)
Summary
The guest speaker mentions developing thoughts and potential ideas for a book on slow productivity. They discuss the consequences of taking too much work at one time, in a world where productivity is seen as a virtue.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The epidemic of busyness is causing issues due to a mismatch with our brain, and slow productivity might be the way out of it, as it diverts the sustained application of energy and attention needed to actually do things of higher value, such as producing a good book in the next two years.
43:56 - 49:04 (05:08)
Summary
The epidemic of busyness is causing issues due to a mismatch with our brain, and slow productivity might be the way out of it, as it diverts the sustained application of energy and attention needed to actually do things of higher value, such as producing a good book in the next two years.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the idea of living without social media and instead focusing on creating something valuable, like a book or other work.
49:04 - 53:10 (04:05)
Summary
The speaker discusses the idea of living without social media and instead focusing on creating something valuable, like a book or other work. He also mentions an author that he knows who is very productive due to his lack of interaction with the internet.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses their experience with attempting to write a book on saying "no" and how they ultimately decided to cancel the project.
53:10 - 56:48 (03:37)
Summary
The speaker discusses their experience with attempting to write a book on saying "no" and how they ultimately decided to cancel the project. They also reference Cal Newport's insight into the popularity of Facebook and his ability to predict future trends in technology.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The key to staying on track with your larger vision is to align your weekly plan with your quarterly plan, which in turn should be aligned with your values.
56:48 - 1:00:25 (03:36)
Summary
The key to staying on track with your larger vision is to align your weekly plan with your quarterly plan, which in turn should be aligned with your values. This ensures consistency and keeps you on track towards your goals.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, the speaker emphasizes the importance of committing to discipline and prioritizing seasonality on all scales in order to create a deep and fulfilling life.
1:00:25 - 1:07:12 (06:47)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker emphasizes the importance of committing to discipline and prioritizing seasonality on all scales in order to create a deep and fulfilling life.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares his personal experience of taking one full day off per week with no meetings, phone calls or other engagements, as well as the value of taking half a day off for personal adventures or outdoor activities.
1:07:12 - 1:12:53 (05:40)
Summary
The speaker shares his personal experience of taking one full day off per week with no meetings, phone calls or other engagements, as well as the value of taking half a day off for personal adventures or outdoor activities.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss discusses the importance of structuring writing ideas and how it can lead to more productive writing sessions.
1:12:53 - 1:20:12 (07:18)
Summary
Tim Ferriss discusses the importance of structuring writing ideas and how it can lead to more productive writing sessions. He explains the challenges of using a computer for organization and often relies on a notebook to brainstorm and outline ideas.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Anne Helen Petersen recommends Oliver Burkeman's new book, '4,000 Hours,' as a standout among the many books on productivity published in recent years.
1:20:12 - 1:25:06 (04:53)
Summary
Anne Helen Petersen recommends Oliver Burkeman's new book, '4,000 Hours,' as a standout among the many books on productivity published in recent years.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The interviewer describes the four domains of life that affect our happiness and well-being: physical and intellectual domains, emotional domain, relational domain, and spiritual domain.
1:25:06 - 1:29:49 (04:43)
Summary
The interviewer describes the four domains of life that affect our happiness and well-being: physical and intellectual domains, emotional domain, relational domain, and spiritual domain. She emphasizes that we need to take time for contemplation and face the hard stuff to make the good stuff better.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The alignment of our moral intuitions with positive behavior and away from negative ones is an idea evolved through experience and argument that can be structured into a moral philosophy or theology to better understand how to live one's life accordingly.
1:29:49 - 1:37:42 (07:52)
Summary
The alignment of our moral intuitions with positive behavior and away from negative ones is an idea evolved through experience and argument that can be structured into a moral philosophy or theology to better understand how to live one's life accordingly.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The book 'All Things Shining' explores the idea that craftsmanship and rediscovering sacredness through intuitions and archetypes can provide solutions in a secular world.
1:37:42 - 1:44:14 (06:32)
Summary
The book 'All Things Shining' explores the idea that craftsmanship and rediscovering sacredness through intuitions and archetypes can provide solutions in a secular world. The authors delve into philosophy and theology as technologies to help us understand and navigate our world.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses how religion is an almost universal instinct of humankind, an evolved instinct of human beings, and how it's evident through history that religion is a commitment to action with insight to follow through the actions that are practised, crafted and instinctual in the way our brains function.
1:44:14 - 1:50:29 (06:15)
Summary
The podcast discusses how religion is an almost universal instinct of humankind, an evolved instinct of human beings, and how it's evident through history that religion is a commitment to action with insight to follow through the actions that are practised, crafted and instinctual in the way our brains function.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of acting into a new way of thinking may be easier than thinking your way into a new way of acting.
1:50:29 - 1:58:12 (07:42)
Summary
The concept of acting into a new way of thinking may be easier than thinking your way into a new way of acting. By committing to a community or belief system, we can begin to adopt new elements of character and behavior.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The secret to regulating technology use lies not in abstaining from it completely, but instead in developing an intentional approach that allows for reflection and experimentation while still setting boundaries.
1:58:12 - 2:01:46 (03:34)
Summary
The secret to regulating technology use lies not in abstaining from it completely, but instead in developing an intentional approach that allows for reflection and experimentation while still setting boundaries. By using a "fence" approach, people can continue to use technologies that are necessary, but restrict use of those that are problematic.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The shutdown ritual is a process of closing all open loops at the end of the workday, so that you can maximize the benefits of the rest and recovery that comes with leaving work behind.
2:01:46 - 2:07:29 (05:43)
Summary
The shutdown ritual is a process of closing all open loops at the end of the workday, so that you can maximize the benefits of the rest and recovery that comes with leaving work behind. It includes completing all tasks, organizing thoughts, and preparing for the next day.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In a Tim Ferriss podcast ad, he promotes Magic Spoon Cereal, a healthier alternative to traditional cereal, and mentions two new limited edition flavors.
2:07:30 - 2:10:52 (03:22)
Summary
In a Tim Ferriss podcast ad, he promotes Magic Spoon Cereal, a healthier alternative to traditional cereal, and mentions two new limited edition flavors. To try it out, listeners can go to magicspoon.com/tim.
Episode#568: Cal Newport — The Eternal Pursuit of Craftsmanship, the Deep Life, Slow Productivity, and a 30-Day Digital Minimalism Challenge
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The Aidsleep Pod Pro Cover is designed to help people sleep better by offering bespoke temperatures for both partners.
2:10:52 - 2:11:47 (00:55)
Summary
The Aidsleep Pod Pro Cover is designed to help people sleep better by offering bespoke temperatures for both partners. It has been reported to help users fall asleep up to 32% faster, reduce sleep interruptions by up to 40%, and offer a more restful sleep overall. However, there is an advertisement for the product at the end of the transcript.