Excellent review. You give a very good insight into the content, the principles and discuss those in a wider context. This is combined with great presentation. I only wonder, why you have not so many followers yet. Outstanding work. I am particularly glad to hear the issue of indivdual solutions for systemic problems. A general issue of all self-help books. I appreciate about Newport that he, in contrast to many other authors, doesn't propose magical solutions. Rather his books stem from years of tinkering on thoughts. Granted he writes about his situation as a college professor and successful author. This is fair. But one should stop and think whether one's own situation is similar to his and whether the principles discussed in his book are applicable. I am looking forward to your next videos.
I'm a long fan of cal newport. I agree with everything you said. I like to see his interviews and podcast more than his book, because there he is confronted with these exact questions, and then he enters deep into these dark corners, not giving exact solutions, or simply saying, I don't have a solution other than you changing jobs. yet his views helped me a lot in my own life. specially if you are trying to build a business as I am. buy again, you are right. I was in the military for example when I met him. There if I say No to a task in my country, I can even get arrested for insubordination, so, I'm surrounded by politics, while trying to be the more honest as possible to my many bosses (the military has a lot of administration work too).
Great review! I really appreciated your balanced approach and you pointing out the weaknesses of this book in a way that is not confrontational but constructive (which is hard considering they are the tipical eyeroll issues found in most books written by privileged cis white men). Also the video production is very good! Which is particularly impressive considering how small the channel is. Will check your other videos out!
My experience with employers was their attitude toward assignment was "Shut up and do it." They did not analyze how best to achieve the organization's goals. It was "I pay you, here's the work." That doesn't mean slow productivity isn't worth pursuing, but like anything, you have to modify to your circumstances.
To be fair to Newport, a lot of the criticisms here are the classic reviewer's critique that he didn't write the book that she would have written - which, of course, was never his intention. Is it fair, for example, to expect him to have addressed the problems of late-stage Capitalism or the power dynamics in large organizations? Or the problem of childcare support? He had his topic and his focus, and he covered those areas very well; no book can cover everything. Perhaps Lackey should write her own book to cover the other areas of modern life she considers important.
I appreciate the feedback! In the video, I highlighted another book (The Friction Project) that seemed to take the Slow Productivity principles and apply them in an organization-wide lens that does account for some of the dynamics I mentioned. But I appreciate the watch of the video and you sharing your feedback!
While I agree that no book can cover everything, the critique is still valid and is ubiquitous in self help books where little thought is given to the circumstances of normal people but seem to be written for an audience who can just implement directly without any repercussions. I think self help authors should understand the implications of implementation taking a generic person which typically has many other commitments and define this person implicitly or explicitly.
This is the point of a review! Much like a good scientific paper, it's useful to point out possible areas of expansion/gaps that weren't addressed by the experiment and suggestions for how to improve.
wow thank you very for this review / VERY practical with most of our situation
Excellent review. You give a very good insight into the content, the principles and discuss those in a wider context. This is combined with great presentation. I only wonder, why you have not so many followers yet. Outstanding work. I
am particularly glad to hear the issue of indivdual solutions for systemic problems. A general issue of all self-help books. I appreciate about Newport that he, in contrast to many other authors, doesn't propose magical solutions. Rather his books stem from years of tinkering on thoughts. Granted he writes about his situation as a college professor and successful author. This is fair. But one should stop and think whether one's own situation is similar to his and whether the principles discussed in his book are applicable. I am looking forward to your next videos.
i like that u used 2 rules to mesure the book .(the 3 and 4 stars )
I really enjoyed your perspective. I dont always see the missing pieces that keep things from being the right solution until im trying it out myself
I'm a long fan of cal newport. I agree with everything you said.
I like to see his interviews and podcast more than his book, because there he is confronted with these exact questions, and then he enters deep into these dark corners, not giving exact solutions, or simply saying, I don't have a solution other than you changing jobs. yet his views helped me a lot in my own life. specially if you are trying to build a business as I am.
buy again, you are right. I was in the military for example when I met him. There if I say No to a task in my country, I can even get arrested for insubordination, so, I'm surrounded by politics, while trying to be the more honest as possible to my many bosses (the military has a lot of administration work too).
Great review! I really appreciated your balanced approach and you pointing out the weaknesses of this book in a way that is not confrontational but constructive (which is hard considering they are the tipical eyeroll issues found in most books written by privileged cis white men).
Also the video production is very good! Which is particularly impressive considering how small the channel is.
Will check your other videos out!
Thank you Lyra, I'd love to know what else you think of other videos on the channel!
My experience with employers was their attitude toward assignment was "Shut up and do it." They did not analyze how best to achieve the organization's goals. It was "I pay you, here's the work." That doesn't mean slow productivity isn't worth pursuing, but like anything, you have to modify to your circumstances.
To be fair to Newport, a lot of the criticisms here are the classic reviewer's critique that he didn't write the book that she would have written - which, of course, was never his intention. Is it fair, for example, to expect him to have addressed the problems of late-stage Capitalism or the power dynamics in large organizations? Or the problem of childcare support? He had his topic and his focus, and he covered those areas very well; no book can cover everything. Perhaps Lackey should write her own book to cover the other areas of modern life she considers important.
I appreciate the feedback! In the video, I highlighted another book (The Friction Project) that seemed to take the Slow Productivity principles and apply them in an organization-wide lens that does account for some of the dynamics I mentioned. But I appreciate the watch of the video and you sharing your feedback!
While I agree that no book can cover everything, the critique is still valid and is ubiquitous in self help books where little thought is given to the circumstances of normal people but seem to be written for an audience who can just implement directly without any repercussions. I think self help authors should understand the implications of implementation taking a generic person which typically has many other commitments and define this person implicitly or explicitly.
This is the point of a review! Much like a good scientific paper, it's useful to point out possible areas of expansion/gaps that weren't addressed by the experiment and suggestions for how to improve.