Key Moments
The Books I Read in January | 2022
Deep Questions with Cal NewportKey Moments
Cal Newport discusses five books read in January 2022: 'Will', 'The Late Shift', 'How to Take Smart Notes', 'The Jesuit Guide', and 'Giants'.
Key Insights
Cal Newport aims to read five books monthly by making reading a default activity and diversifying genres.
'Will' by Will Smith and Mark Manson is a well-crafted memoir praised for capturing Smith's unique voice and psychological depth.
'The Late Shift' details the intense competition between Jay Leno and David Letterman for 'The Tonight Show' and the immense difficulty of hosting a late-night program.
'How to Take Smart Notes' introduces the Zettelkasten method, highlighting its potential for productive writing and academic success.
'The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything' explores Jesuit theology and spirituality, offering applicable life lessons for a broad audience.
'Giants' offers a compelling dual biography of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, contrasting their backgrounds and intertwined destinies.
The discussion touches on the cyclical nature of religious discourse in public life and the evolving cultural landscape surrounding it.
INTRODUCTION TO MONTHLY READING HABITS
Cal Newport begins by establishing a new habit on his show: dedicating the first session of each month to discussing the books read in the preceding month. He shares his personal goal of reading approximately five books per month. To achieve this, he cultivates reading as a default activity, opting for a book over digital distractions, and diversifies his reading material across various genres and difficulty levels to prevent monotony. He emphasizes that the format of the book (audio, Kindle, hardcover) is less important than the act of reading itself and advocates for reading interesting material over meticulously curated lists focused on impressing others.
EXPLORING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY THROUGH BIOGRAPHIES
Newport delved into the entertainment industry with two books. The first was 'Will,' the autobiography of Will Smith, co-authored with Mark Manson. Newport found the book exceptionally well-done, particularly noting its success in capturing Smith's distinctive voice and offering psychological self-reflection while detailing his rise to stardom. He was surprised by the lack of critical acclaim for the memoir, considering its difficulty. He also shared an amusing anecdote about how Will Smith's team once contacted him for tutoring advice, which ultimately didn't materialize due to scheduling and Newport's discomfort with one-on-one tutoring.
THE LATE NIGHT WARS: LETTERMAN VS. LENNO
The second book focused on entertainment was 'The Late Shift,' chronicling the intense rivalry between Jay Leno and David Letterman for Johnny Carson's 'The Tonight Show' in the late 20th century. Newport was drawn to this subject by his interest in late-night television and the craft of building audiences. He highlights David Letterman's immense broadcasting talent and innovative approach to television, contrasting it with Jay Leno's strength in topical, extended monologues that ultimately proved more appealing to a broader audience. The book also underscored the immense difficulty and financial rewards associated with hosting a successful late-night show.
THE POWER OF NOTE-TAKING: HOW TO TAKE SMART NOTES
Shifting gears, Newport discussed 'How to Take Smart Notes' by Sönke Ahrens. This book brought the Zettelkasten note-taking method, originating from German sociologist Niklas Luhmann's highly productive academic career, to a wider English-speaking audience. Newport described the book as optimistic, proposing that an effective note-taking system can make writing effortless. Although he doesn't fully subscribe to the effortless writing claim, he considers it an essential introduction to this influential method. The book's journey to his desk was lengthy, having been received by a reader and sitting in his office for over a year due to pandemic-related closures.
JESUIT SPIRITUALITY AND LIFE LESSONS
Next, Newport explored 'The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything,' a non-fiction work that distills Jesuit theology and Ignatian spirituality into accessible lessons for a broad audience, including secular individuals. As Newport is affiliated with a Jesuit university, he sought to deepen his understanding of this tradition. The book adopts an advice-driven format, explaining Jesuit practices and their significance, and offering insights into the monastic life and the personal journey of becoming a Jesuit. This discussion also led to a brief reflection on the evolving role of religion in public discourse, particularly within the tech community.
DUAL BIOGRAPHY OF LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS
The final book for January was 'Giants,' a dual biography by John Stauffer, focusing on the lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Newport, a long-time admirer of Lincoln, finally read this highly acclaimed work, which contrasts their distinct backgrounds—Douglass emerging from slavery and Lincoln from rural poverty. The book meticulously details how their lives and perspectives evolved, eventually intersecting significantly during the Civil War. Newport found the book to be exceptionally well-written, accessible, and insightful, offering a profound profile of the era leading up to the Civil War and the individuals who shaped it.
REFLECTIONS ON RELIGION AND CULTURAL SHIFTS
Newport briefly reflects on the changing landscape of religious discussion, noting a shift from the dominance of the 'New Atheist' movement in the 2000s to a more open re-engagement with religious questions. He posits that figures like Jordan Peterson may have played a role in this shift, challenging the intellectual exclusivity previously imposed by atheist polemicists. The socio-political context of the 9/11 attacks and the Bush era initially fueled the New Atheist movement, framing religious discussion as a reaction. However, as cultural tides have turned, making religious adherence a minority position, the discourse is becoming more inclusive and tentative exploration is resurfacing.
LOOKING AHEAD TO FEBRUARY READING
Concluding the recap, Newport gives a brief update on his February reading progress. He mentions being close to finishing his second book of the month. One of these is a substantial 600-page dense work that he started in January and is taking his time with due to its quality. He expresses optimism about meeting his February reading goals, especially with an upcoming trip to Florida that will provide dedicated reading time. This forward-looking statement reinforces his commitment to consistent reading and reinforces the habit he aims to maintain.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Organizations
●Books
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The speaker makes reading a default activity, choosing a book over digital distractions. They also read a variety of genres and difficulties to prevent monotony.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Will Smith's biography, co-authored with Mark Manson. The speaker enjoyed it, finding it well-written in capturing Smith's voice and reflecting on his career.
A book about the competition between Jay Leno and David Letterman for 'The Tonight Show' after Johnny Carson's retirement. Discussed for insights into late-night TV.
A book that introduced the Zettelkasten method to an English-speaking audience, drawing from research on sociologist Niklas Luhmann's productivity.
A dual biography of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, contrasting their lives and their eventual intersection during the Civil War.
A highly successful book by Mark Manson that sold around 18 million copies and prompted Will Smith to ask Manson to co-author his biography.
A nonfiction book surveying Jesuit theology for a popular audience, extracting applicable lessons from Ignatian spirituality.
Prestigious university where the speaker was a doctoral student. Mentioned in the context of being contacted by Will Smith's people for tutoring.
The religious order whose theology and spirituality are surveyed in 'The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything.' The speaker is attending a Jesuit university.
The university where author John Stauffer is based. Mentioned in relation to the book 'Giants.'
The institution where researchers studied Niklas Luhmann's productivity and the Zettelkasten method.
Competitor to Jay Leno for 'The Tonight Show,' discussed in 'The Late Shift.' Praised for his originality and talent in broadcasting.
One of the central figures in 'The Late Shift,' competing with David Letterman for 'The Tonight Show.' Known for his monologue.
A sociologist whose productivity was studied, leading to the development and popularization of the Zettelkasten method.
One of the subjects of the dual biography 'Giants.' His life is contrasted with Lincoln's, highlighting his rise from slavery.
The author of 'The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything,' who provides insights into Jesuit life and spirituality.
Associated with the New Atheism movement, mentioned as someone who helped package arguments against religion and motivated by the 9/11 attacks.
Author of the biography 'Will,' co-authored with Mark Manson. Discussed for his driven mentality and competitive nature, including hiring a Monopoly coach.
Co-author of 'Will' with Will Smith. He is also known as the author of 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,' which sold over 18 million copies.
Mentioned as part of a group of pragmatic non-fiction authors in their 30s. Also mentioned for having a religious conversation on a podcast.
Mentioned as part of a group of pragmatic non-fiction authors in their 30s.
Associated with the New Atheism movement, mentioned as someone who helped package arguments against religion.
The other subject of the dual biography 'Giants.' His life is contrasted with Douglass's, highlighting his rise from poverty and his presidency during the Civil War.
Mentioned as part of a group of pragmatic non-fiction authors in their 30s who know each other, including Mark Manson, Tim Ferriss, and James Clear.
Host of a podcast where the speaker has had similar conversations about religion.
His rise and fall and rise again is suggested as having a significant impact on loosening the grip of New Atheism in certain circles.
The previous host of 'The Tonight Show,' whose retirement created the competition between Jay Leno and David Letterman discussed in 'The Late Shift.'
Associated with the New Atheism movement, mentioned as someone who helped package arguments against religion.
US President during the time of the 9/11 attacks and the rise of New Atheism, mentioned in the context of evangelical support and political reaction.
The author of the book 'Giants,' a Harvard scholar whose book is a dual biography of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
The spiritual tradition of the Jesuits, explored in 'The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything' for its applicability to secular audiences.
A movement from the 2000s that reacted against religious fundamentalism and the influence of evangelicals in politics, influencing the conversation around religion.
A note-taking and knowledge management method detailed in 'How to Take Smart Notes,' based on the work of sociologist Niklas Luhmann.
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