400: How to Reclaim Conversation, with Cal Newport

Cal Newport: Digital Minimalism

Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University who studies the theory of distributed systems. In addition to his academic work, he writes about the intersection of technology and culture. He’s the author of six books including Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World and Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.

The human brain is very sophisticated in how it navigates social dynamics using voice and visual cues. Digital interactions bypass the brain’s ability to see these cues.
Social media interactions might make you think you’re being social, but you can still lonely because your brain doesn’t count these interactions the same as person-to-person interactions.
Digital interactions are not bad, but they can crowd out more important real-world interactions.
Make sure tech is serving the things that are important in your life, rather than just using it as an escape from your life.
Small steps tend not to work when transitioning to digital minimalism. A better way is to take a 30-day break from consuming digital content and then rebuild your digital life from scratch.

Download my highlights from Digital Minimalism in PDF format (free membership required).

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