Key Moments
The Books I Read in February | 2022
Deep Questions with Cal NewportKey Moments
Cal Newport reviews 5 books from February 2022, including "Living with a SEAL" and "Cathedral of the Wild."
Key Insights
Maintaining a personal library facilitates serendipitous reading choices.
The "Living with a SEAL" book represents a genre of ultra-accessible non-fiction with short chapters.
Susan Casey's "Voices in the Ocean" explores dolphin research and trade, though it lacked personal narrative detail.
Boyd Varty's memoir, "Cathedral of the Wild," offers a compelling narrative of survival and conservation in South Africa.
Jacob Ward's "The Loop" examines the potential feedback loops between AI and human cognitive biases.
The discussion highlights the appeal of authors like Neal Stephenson who blend technical detail with character depth.
INTRODUCTION TO THE MONTHLY READING REVIEW
Cal Newport begins his March 2022 podcast by adhering to his tradition of reviewing the books he read in the preceding month. February 2022 was an unusual reading period for him, characterized by a seemingly random selection of books. He aims to read five books each month, counting them in the month they are completed, a method he uses to manage symmetry in his reading goals.
LIVING WITH A SEAL: ACCESSIBLE NON-FICTION EXPLORED
The first book discussed is "Living with a SEAL" by Jesse Itzler. Newport found this book in a little free library and read it quickly. The memoir details Itzler hiring David Goggins to live with him for a month, subjecting him to intense workouts. Newport notes the book's ultra-accessible non-fiction style, featuring short chapters and a fast pace. He identifies this as a distinct genre of compulsively readable non-fiction that differs from the more in-depth works he typically engages with.
VOICES IN THE OCEAN: DOLPHINS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Next, Newport reviews Susan Casey's "Voices in the Ocean," a book about dolphins. Casey, known for her previous works on great white sharks and big wave surfing, uses adventure narrative as a spine for her topics. In this book, she travels to various locations, including the Solomon Islands and a Japanese city featured in "The Cove," to explore dolphin captivity and trade. Newport expresses a slight disappointment that the book didn't delve deeper into Casey's personal transition from a high-pressure magazine editor role to a more ocean-focused life.
OF MICE AND MEN: A CLASSIC REVISITED AND THE VALUE OF LIBRARIES
Newport shares his spontaneous decision to reread John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" from his personal library. This experience reinforces his belief in the importance of maintaining a physical library, emphasizing that serendipitously pulling books off shelves is a key part of his reading process. He describes Steinbeck's style as old-fashioned but effective, characterized by strong characterization through dialogue and action, free from the formal innovations of modernist and postmodernist literature that followed.
CATHEDRAL OF THE WILD: A MEMOIR OF ADVENTURE AND CONSERVATION
The memoir "Cathedral of the Wild" by Boyd Varty, discovered through Tim Ferriss's podcast, is highlighted as a particularly compelling read. Varty's family established one of the first sustainable safari wildlife preserves in South Africa on previously overgrazed land. The book recounts dramatic encounters with wildlife, including a crocodile attack and black mambas, as well as historical events like Nelson Mandela's visit after his release from prison. Newport praises the memoir's extraordinary stories and suggests it would make a fantastic television series.
THE LOOP: AI AND COGNITIVE BIASES
Jacob Ward's techno-criticism book, "The Loop," discusses how artificial intelligence can create feedback loops with human cognitive biases. Ward, a science and technology writer, explores how AI can exploit natural heuristics, which then feed back into the AI, potentially influencing human behavior in ways that deviate from our values. Newport finds the topic interesting and important for his work on tech and culture, though he notes the book didn't present a singular, knockout argument.
DISCUSSION ON NEAL STEPHENSON AND FICTION WRITING
The conversation shifts to Jesse, who is reading works by Neal Stephenson. Newport and Jesse discuss the overlap in characters between Stephenson's books, such as "Reamde" and "The Fall." They appreciate Stephenson's unique blend of meticulous detail, similar to Andy Weir, and profound character development, akin to Ursula K. Le Guin. However, they also note a tendency for Stephenson's stories to feel rushed towards the end, with plot resolutions happening rapidly after extensive build-up.
THE CRAFT OF POPULAR FICTION AND THE AUTHOR'S LIFESTYLE
The discussion touches on the lifestyle and craft of popular fiction authors like Neal Stephenson. Both Newport and Jesse express admiration for authors who can consistently produce engaging work for a dedicated fanbase without necessarily chasing literary awards. The idea of living somewhere inspiring, deeply contemplating an idea, and composing books on a schedule resonates as an ideal. Stephenson's curmudgeonly approach to promotional tours is also mentioned, highlighting his focus on writing.
BROADER READING GOALS AND LITERARY HERITAGE
Newport reveals a discussion with an editor who suggested he doesn't read enough "literature." This prompts him to acknowledge the need to incorporate more classics into his routine to deepen his cultural understanding and commentary. He plans to track progress on a large, classic book he is currently reading, even though he won't finish it within the month, alongside his typical five-book goal. This reflects a commitment to broadening his literary foundation.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Software & Apps
●Companies
●Books
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The books read in February 2022 included 'Living with a Seal' by Jesse Itzler, 'Voices in the Ocean' by Susan Casey, 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck, 'Cathedral of the Wild' by Boyd Varty, and 'The Loop' by Jacob Ward.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Susan Casey's book about dolphins, exploring captivity and trading in places like the Solomon Islands and the Japanese city from 'The Cove'.
A science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson about the destruction of the moon and Earth, and humanity's efforts to survive in space.
A book by Jesse Itzler about his experience being trained by David Goggins.
Boyd Varty's memoir about his family's work establishing wildlife preserves in South Africa, featuring intense wildlife encounters and historical context.
A techno-criticism book by Jacob Ward that explores feedback loops between AI and human biases.
Susan Casey's book about large waves, which includes following big wave surfer Laird Hamilton.
A book by John Steinbeck, read by the speaker from their personal library. The style is noted as largely third-person observation and characterization through dialogue and action.
A book by Susan Casey about great white shark hotspots.
A novel by Neil Stephenson featuring characters that may appear in other works.
A book on health and fitness, mentioned by Jesse.
A novel by Neal Stephenson that required significant research and conceptualization from the author.
A novel by Neil Stephenson where the character Dodge dies and his brain is attempted to be saved, involving a virtual world.
Visited Boyd Varty's reserve after his release from prison to recharge and reflect.
Author whose focus on people and characters is compared to Neil Stephenson's writing style.
Author of 'Of Mice and Men', whose style is described as old-fashioned but effective in characterization through dialogue and action.
Author of 'Voices in the Ocean', 'The Devil's Teeth', and 'The Wave'. Formerly a successful magazine editor for Outside and O, The Oprah Magazine.
Big wave surfer featured in Susan Casey's book 'The Wave'.
Author of 'Living with a Seal', where he hired David Goggins to live with him for a month and push him through intense workouts.
Host of a podcast where Boyd Varty was a guest, leading to the speaker discovering Varty's memoir.
Author of 'The Loop', a science and technology writer focusing on AI and human feedback loops.
Author of 'Cathedral of the Wild', who was a guest on Tim Ferriss's show. His memoir details a remarkable life in South Africa, including wildlife encounters and interactions with Nelson Mandela.
Mentioned as a writer who engaged in modernist literary innovation shortly after Steinbeck's era.
The speaker refers to a book by 'Sisson' which might be the same author as S. J. P. Carlson, author of the Primal Blueprint.
Hired by Jesse Itzler for 'Living with a Seal' to conduct intense workouts.
Author known for his detailed scientific explanations, contrasted with Neil Stephenson's focus on character.
Author whose prolific output is mentioned in contrast to the challenges of literary fiction.
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