Deep Work by Cal Newport is a fantastic business read. Although published in 2016, the references to distractions and instant gratification could not be more relevant in a world like today’s. Deep Work dives into research studies of the ineffectiveness of multi-tasking along with the effectiveness of isolation during work blocks. Newport also touches on the negative effect of instant messaging softwares in the workplace with different household name business models as examples. This book is great if you are trying to truly maximize your time, without adding more hours to the day.

Favorite Quotes:

“If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive—no matter how skilled or talented you are.”

“Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love—is the sum of what you focus on.”

“Two Core Abilities for Thriving in the New Economy 1. The ability to quickly master hard things. 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.”

“Less mental clutter means more mental resources available for deep thinking.”

“To produce at your peak level you need to work for extended periods with full concentration on a single task free from distraction. Put another way, the type of work that optimizes your performance is deep work.”

“To remain valuable in our economy, therefore, you must master the art of quickly learning complicated things. This task requires deep work. If you don’t cultivate this ability, you’re likely to fall behind as technology advances.”

“Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets … it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done.”

“When you work, work hard. When you’re done, be done.”

“First, distraction remains a destroyer of depth.”