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Ep. 378: The Lost Art of Long Thinking

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Ep. 378: The Lost Art of Long Thinking

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Nov 10
Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Nov 10
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

We often talk on this show about how digital devices undermine our ability to consume more complicated and meaningful ideas. But what about our ability to produce such ideas from scratch? In this episode, Cal identifies a key productive skill –  long think...

Highlights

In an age dominated by digital noise, the ability to think deeply and produce original ideas is fading. This episode explores how constant connectivity erodes our cognitive capacity for sustained thought and offers practical solutions to reclaim this vital skill, emphasizing intentional practices that foster creativity and clarity.
14:47
Long thinking helps escape tribalism by fostering clarity on complex issues
42:40
Uses physical notebooks for specific issues and reMarkable for ongoing projects
45:43
Read more of what excites you to strengthen reading circuits and reduce phone use for better focus.
56:57
Read at a pace that extracts the most value, annotate big-idea books, and take walks to integrate ideas.
59:01
A single-purpose notebook extends working memory and tracks the evolution of thought over time.
1:03:27
The deep life is about systematic living and amplifying what you value.
1:09:01
Do most of your thinking while walking
1:22:09
Debord's concept of the spectacle society explains modern social media dynamics

Chapters

Deep Dive: The Lost Art of Long Thinking
00:00
How does Cal organize his notebooks for his books and New Yorker articles?
42:40
How can an 18 year old student get better at reading?
45:42
How can I restart my creative writing if I don’t want to use a computer?
47:56
Is it important to write reflections on the books I read?
56:57
How often should I take reflection walks with single purpose notebooks?
59:00
CASE STUDY: Trying to live a Deep Life
1:00:47
CALL: Adventure Work
1:09:00
OCTOBER BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in October, 2025
1:11:57

Transcript

Cal Newport: We often talk about the ways that digital devices undermine our ability to consume complicated and meaningful information. If you spend too much time scrolling TikTok, you'll eventually start struggling to read Tolstoy. But what about our abil...