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Digital Minimalism
- Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
- Narrated by: Will Damron, Cal Newport
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
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Digital Minimalism
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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.
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What the critics say
"What a timely and useful book! It's neither hysterical nor complacent - a workable guide to being thoughtful about digital media. It's already made me rethink some of my media use in a considered way. " (Naomi Alderman, New York Times best-selling author of The Power)
“This book is an urgent call to action for anyone serious about being in command of their own life.” (Ryan Holiday, author of The Obstacle Is the Way)
“I hope that everyone who owns a mobile phone and has been wondering where their time goes gets a chance to absorb the ideas in this book. It’s amazing how the same strategy can work for both financial success and mental well-being: Put more energy into what makes you happy, and ruthlessly strip away the things that don’t.” (Peter Adeney, aka Mr. Money Mustache)
What listeners say about Digital Minimalism
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carson
- 2019-04-01
Important ideas!!
My view of social media has changed because of this book. I was in denial about how I use social media, anyone saying they “limit screen time” sounded like a total square to me. I only just realized they were getting at using screens for USEFUL things, not watching advertising and getting lost in a maze of attractive shiny things for a big corporation’s gain. It’s so sly how it gets into your life but social media and the smartphone can really waste your life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Canadian Reader
- 2019-08-16
Transformational, Five Stars!
Here's a good way to decide if you should read this book:
Do you keep your phone in your pocket?
Do you have social media?
Do you often spend time online that could be spent with real people?
If you answered yes to ANY of the above questions you should totally go read the book.
After hearing the reference to this book in a sermon, I decided to give it a listen. Cal introduces technology from a truly minimalist point of only adding in what's useful. He does so in a way of pulling out everything and only adding back in what is truly useful. This book has changed the way that I view my relationships and manage my time. It is a must read for anyone growing up in the iGeneration.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- All Star Ent
- 2021-02-17
Needed Now More Than Ever.
The concepts and practices in this book are on point, straight forward and somewhat complicated at the same time. I find myself craving and wanting to follow the digital minimalist practices to the T however the biggest part is focusing my attention to my interests outside of using my phone and technology on a whole. I am learning and growing each day. Thank you for this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Oliver O'Shea
- 2022-05-04
So much better than I expected.
Seriously so good! Everybody with social media account should check this book out. Great narration too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- 2023-12-02
decent!!!
This isn’t the most stimulating of topics in my opinion but this book kept my interest and included practical tips on how to reduce our time spent on technology (mostly smart phones). worth the listen!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2019-02-25
Nice Research done by the author.
Loved it. Well every one who don't think they can't live without their digital screens should try listening it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Xopowo
- 2020-04-08
Pretty good, well researched
Three great insights from this book:
1. Create (good) habits. Say practice piano every day or go to the gym once a week. You can break that habit once, for any reason. But break it twice in a row means you have created a new habit. A powerful idea that's easy to remember.
2. Related to No.1: You don't have to do an hour of your new habit every day. Just doing it for at least 5 minutes is better than skipping it, because skipping means you have created a new habit.
3. The reference to the Amish shows some serious research, just as in the book What Technology Wants. The Amish famously avoid new technology until they have determined it won't hurt their values. Their patriarchal council isn't perfect, but it exists for a clear purpose, and they have the concept of Rumspringa which allows teenagers to leave the community for a year to experience the rest of the world before they must decide to return to Amish values or stay. 80% return. My own "modern" family was not open minded like this. The Amish system shows a degree of confidence in its values, and ultimately lets the child decide for himerself.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katlyn Z.
- 2019-05-04
Essential.
I knew everything Cal had to say before I heard one word. But my knowledge was stuck behind what is socially acceptable and expected. With the weight of complacency pressing down on my intuition I needed to hear Cal say it, I am addicted to my phone, et al., and then elaborate for six hours.
What Cal is advocating for can be taken as a guide to self preservation in the digital age. Cal refers often to the ways in which the digital-sphere has reduced and redacted our autonomy. Here he opens up the doors and pulls back the curtains, have a look, are you comfortable with all that you have not consented to? Cal suggests we act with intentionality and resistance. Im going in 100.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rebecca
- 2020-04-26
Where’s Cal?
I much prefer books narrated by their authors. It just seems weird to me when they are not.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Meaghan Pugsley
- 2019-08-16
Life changing
This book has changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic but it has freed me from my phone. I now have both hands free which means I have been hugging my children more. Which is heartbreaking and wonderful all rolled into one.
Can’t recommend it enough.
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