Digital Minimalism (Cal Newport)

Question 1

What is the “default network” of the brain, and what does it do?

Answer 1

The default network is connected to SOCIAL COGNITION. That part of the brain that activates when we are not doing anything else; a background hum of activity about other people, yourself, or both. (132-133) [Also consider: “the voice” that Michael Singer describes in The Surrender Experiment.]

Question 2

Why does the default network make us so interested in the social world?

Answer 2

Our brains automatically practice social thinking during any moments of cognitive downtime, and it’s this practrice that helps us become really interested in the social world (133)

Question 3

What’s the key issue about using social media that’s disruptive to our social health, found by the NPR studies?

Answer 3

Using social media takes people away from real-world socializing that’s massively more valuable. (141)

Question 4

What is the business model for social media companies?

Answer 4

Consume as much of your time and attention as possible

Question 5

What are the three principles of “digital minimalism?”

Answer 5

1. Clutter is costly
2. Optimization is important
3. Intentionality is satisfying
   (35-36)

Question 6

What are Henry David Thoreau’s “new economics,” as Frederic Gros described it?

Answer 6

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call liofe which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” (39) Also see: p43.

Question 7

What is fundamental to human flourishing with regards to intentionality?

Answer 7

A sense of MEANING comes from acting with intention (56)

Question 8

What are you doing with your attention when on social media?

Answer 8

You are “outsourcing your autonomy to a social media conglomerate,” which is the opposite of freedom (57-58)

Question 9

What are the 3 questions of the minimalist technology screen?

Answer 9

To allow a technology into your life, it must:

1. Serve something you deeply value
2. Be the BEST way to use technology to serve the value
3. Have a role in your life that is constrained with standard operating procedure that specifies WHEN and HOW you use it. (77)

Question 10

What are the three main benefits of solitude, according to Michael Harris’ book titled “Solitude?”

Answer 10

1. New ideas
2. Understanding of the self, and
3. Closeness to others (97-98)

Question 11

What radical change did the iPod introduce?

Answer 11

The ability to CONTINUOUSLY be distracted from your own mind (100) [Although radio, on long roadtrips, came close, right?]

Question 12

According to Cal Newport, what are four things solitude enables?

Answer 12

Ability to,…

1. Clarify hard problems
2. Regulate your emotions
3. Build moral courage, and
4. Strengthen relationships (104)

Question 13

According to generational expert Jean Twenge, what happened in 2012?

Answer 13

A massive increase in teen depression and anxiety (106)

Question 14

Name a few historical figures who took long walks

Answer 14

Friedrich Nietzsche, Arthur Rimbaud, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Wendell Berry, Henry David Thoreau (118) [Also: Cal Newport, James Joyce…many others]