A World Without Email (Cal Newport)

 Verdict: Defer until March 2027, after I read Deep Work.

My take: I found the sample interesting and engaging. The psychology of task switching and our expectation of near-instant replies is easy to guess, but I didn't expect how constantly we switch tasks, or how few stretches of uninterrupted time most workdays hold. I enjoy the science-based style, though the book might boil down to a few core ideas. Since Newport's earlier book, Deep Work, covers related ground, I'll read it first and decide by March 2027 whether to buy this one or skip it, based on what I took from it.

What others say:

  • Agree: A Goodreads reader said it could have been an article, and one blogger called it a refresher on the thesis of Deep Work with new stories attached.
  • Disagree: Joshua Kim expected something obvious, found it surprisingly awesome, and changed how he works. His complaint: it largely ignores status and power, since many people can't block off focus time.
  • Worth knowing: One Gospel Coalition review found the first half's diagnosis stronger than the second half's prescriptions, so a sample may show the book at its best.

Bottom line: Engaging and science-based; the question is whether it adds enough beyond Deep Work.

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