Ep. 197: Cal’s Writing Process, Lessons from Tim Ferriss, and the Power of Paper

A variant of SARS-CoV-2 that hit in January, potentially delaying the flu and cold season according to a theory mentioned by Jesse's sister.

The novel coronavirus, which Cal Newport notes gets a 'pass' for not having settled into a seasonal pattern yet.

A concept promoted by Cal Newport that Monica Cress applied, freeing her from Facebook.

A note-taking system that inspires a school of thought advocating for always taking notes on books, regardless of purpose, to fuel an 'external brain'.

A famous theorem solved by Andrew Wiles, whose story Cal Newport is using in his upcoming book.

Mentioned in the context of its 23 billion dollar IPO in 2004, representing the pre-Tim Ferriss tech boom culture of hard work.

Mentioned as having opened beyond university students and gaining 100 million followers in 2006, contributing to the tech boom culture.

Mentioned as having gone live in 2006, part of the hyper-connected tech culture of the time.

An e-commerce platform that Novo business checking seamlessly integrates with.

The imprint at Penguin Random House that publishes Cal Newport's books.

A coffee shop where Cal Newport often goes to write, sometimes getting breakfast there.

A company that produces supplements to increase NAD+ levels, including their flagship product Basis.

Mentioned as a common way people offset their carbon footprint, which Cal Newport does not want to buy.

A recommended VPN provider that encrypts internet connections, preserving privacy and security by hiding user activity from internet service providers.

A payment processing platform that Novo business checking seamlessly integrates with.

The brand of energy-efficient variable-speed infinity air conditioning unit Cal Newport is installing in his upstairs.

The television network that aired the show 'The Office', which featured a reference to 'The 4-Hour Workweek'.

A new sponsor focused on monthly subscriptions to offset carbon footprints by supporting climate projects like tree planting and CO2 removal.

Cal Newport's publisher, under which Portfolio is an imprint.

A fintech company offering 'powerfully simple business checking' with no minimum balances, transaction limits, or hidden fees, integrating with tools like Stripe and Shopify.

Launched by Steve Jobs in 2007, exemplifying the period of huge enthusiasm for the tech industry.

Elysium Health's product clinically proven to increase NAD+ levels by 40%, promoting healthy aging and reducing tiredness.

A physical planner designed by Cal Newport for time block planning, soon to be released in a new spiral-bound version.

A type of airplane used in a humorous analogy to describe the large emissions of Jesse's pickup truck.

The city where the Mascone Convention Center is located, where Steve Jobs launched the iPhone.

A place where Jesse's truck's emissions are humorously said to affect the local wildlife, while residents "clutch their pearls" and charge Teslas.

An example of a small town near the country where one might afford property and build a community, as part of lifestyle-centric career planning.

The area where Cal Newport lived and listened to 'The 4-Hour Workweek' on audio in 2007.

The region where influential tech bloggers interviewed Tim Ferriss, helping his book spread and gain market dominance before expanding to wider audiences.

A convention center in San Francisco where Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone.

Used in an example where a 'chair of the government department at Harvard' is assumed to know a lot about government, an assumption Cal Newport satirizes.

A note-taking software mentioned as an example of a platform used by adherents of the Zettelkasten school of thought.

A note-taking software mentioned as an example of a platform used by adherents of the Zettelkasten school of thought.

A productivity and note-taking software mentioned as an example of a platform used by adherents of the Zettelkasten school of thought.

An accounting software that Novo business checking seamlessly integrates with.

A Princeton professor who solved Fermat's Last Theorem, whose story Cal Newport wants to tell in his new book, exemplifying the principle of doing fewer things.

Author of 'Effortless', a book used as an example to demonstrate Cal Newport's corner marking note-taking method.

A writer mentioned as someone whose scripts sometimes portray a department chair as a sign of intellectual prowess, which Cal Newport finds inaccurate.

An English novelist whose story Cal Newport wants to tell in his new book, exemplifying the principle of doing fewer things.

Author of 'Fermat's Enigma', a book Cal Newport is using for research.

Host of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast and author of 'The 4-Hour Workweek', whom Cal Newport interviewed and later wrote a New Yorker article about.

Chair of Physics and Astronomy at San Jose State University, listener who called in asking for advice on her sabbatical.

An American author, used as an example of a novelist who would never be asked to run an HR department, unlike professors in academia.

Author of an excellent biography of Jane Austen that Cal Newport is using for research.

Co-founder of Apple, who launched the iPhone at the Mascone Convention Center, signifying the enthusiastic tech culture of the era.

A character from 'The Office' who referenced 'The 4-Hour Workweek' while trying to get a promotion, mistakenly embodying the opposite of the book's core message.

A friend of Cal Newport and Tim Ferriss who recommended 'The 4-Hour Workweek' to Newport in 2007.

An American author, used as an example of a writer who would never be asked to organize zoom meetings or set budgets, highlighting the unique administrative burden on academics.

An author on the same publishing imprint as Cal Newport, who has a four-book deal focused on cardinal virtues.

Jane Austen's sister, mentioned as helping Jane with chores, which Cal Newport uses as an example of reducing tasks to exemplify a principle in his book.

An early Christian monastic from Egypt (200-300 A.D.), whose life Cal Newport is researching for his book to illustrate the principle of reducing things to increase value.

A decongestant Cal Newport mentions taking for a cold.

Cal Newport's next forthcoming book, which will introduce principles like doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality.

Tim Ferriss's influential book, which Cal Newport wrote an article about, dissecting its unlikely breakout, subsequent dismissal, and radical message.

Another subsequent book by Tim Ferriss, grouped with 'The 4-Hour Body' as focusing on 'hacks and optimization'.

Greg McKeown's book, used as a visual aid to demonstrate Cal Newport's corner marking method for taking notes.

Cal Newport's book where he discusses the importance of producing a clear artifact during deep work sessions, interval training, and productive meditation to increase concentration capacity.

One of Cal Newport's previous books, which was part of a two-book deal with Penguin's Portfolio imprint.

A subsequent book by Tim Ferriss, which Cal notes was more specifically about optimization and 'hacks' rather than rethinking work itself.

Cal Newport's second forthcoming book, planned to be more journalistic and follow 'Slow Productivity'.

One of Cal Newport's previous books, which was part of a two-book deal with Penguin's Portfolio imprint.

Cal Newport's 2012 book, recommended to Amy for guiding career decisions based on building career capital rather than vague passions.

Simon Singh's book about Fermat's Last Theorem, used by Cal Newport for research on Andrew Wiles.

The podcast hosted by Tim Ferriss, on which Cal Newport was a guest as an interviewer.

Where 'The 4-Hour Workweek' appeared "continually" for seven years, demonstrating its popularity.

A hit NBC show where the character of Darryl Philbin referenced 'The 4-Hour Workweek', ironically in a context of working more.

Where Cal Newport was studying during the mid-2000s, observing the 'hardcore culture' of intensive work.

A city mentioned in 'The 4-Hour Workweek' as a place where one could live with low expenses due to a strong dollar.

The university where Andrew Wiles, who solved Fermat's Last Theorem, is a professor.

Used as an example of a university where being a department chair is often mistakenly perceived as an academic accomplishment in popular culture.

The university where Cal Newport is a computer science professor.

The university where Monica Cress is Chair of Physics and Astronomy.

A magazine Cal Newport writes for, where he is currently working on an article that overlaps with his book research.

A coenzyme found in every cell, responsible for energy creation and cell function regulation, which declines with age. Elysium Health Basis is a supplement to replenish it.