Cal Newport: Deep Work and Digital Minimalism
Trader's Library #105 · Habits, learning and the mind. Protecting attention and focus in a world of constant stimuli.
Author: Cal Newport · Original: Deep Work; Digital Minimalism; So Good They Can't Ignore You; Slow Productivity · Year: 2016 · Usefulness for traders: ★★★☆☆
What it's about
Four books by Newport: “Deep Work” (focused work without distraction), “Digital Minimalism” (limiting technology), “So Good They Can't Ignore You” (building rare skills) and “Slow Productivity”.
What it gives a trader
A trader at the screen is bombarded with stimuli: news, chats, social media, notifications. Newport teaches you to protect your attention, which translates into better decisions. “So Good They Can't Ignore You” reminds you that competence is built through years of deliberate practice.
Lessons for traders
- attention is a resource you have to protect
- distractions lower the quality of decisions (decision fatigue, Atlas of biases #51)
- rare skills require deliberate practice
What to watch out for
Written with knowledge workers in mind, not traders.
Discussion
The discussion takes place in Hetman Capital Club (in Polish). Join the discussion in the Club →
Navigation
← #104 Chess and Decisions: Kasparov and Kotov · Library index · #106 Money and Entrepreneurship: Stanley, DeMarco, Badziag →
Educational content, not investment advice. The book description is my own summary and assessment, not quotations. Edition details were checked in catalogues and bookshops, and where there was doubt I said so plainly.