Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

By introducing philosophy for using technology that has already improved countless lives, the bestselling author of Deep Work offers an insightful and timely book.

We live in a world of digital minimalists. These are the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without checking their phones throughout. If they aren't busy reading or working on woodworking projects, they can enjoy a leisurely morning run. People can enjoy time with friends and family without feeling the need to document everything they do. They are aware of the news but don't feel overwhelmed by it. Due to their knowledge of activities that provide meaning and enjoyment, they do not experience "fear of missing out."

We now have a name for this quiet movement, and Newport makes a compelling argument for its importance in our tech-saturated world. We can't take back control of our technology lives with simple tips like turning off notifications or observing digital sabbaths, and attempts to unplug completely are complicated by family, friends, and work responsibilities. 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 thirty-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.