Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Ranked #1 in Focus, Ranked #1 in Low-Carb Cookingsee more rankings.

One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.

Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most...
more

Want to learn the key points of "Deep Work" in 21 minutes?

Get a full book summary of Deep Work by signing up for Shortform.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being 100% comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you don't spend your time wondering what the author's point is.
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of Deep Work from the world's leading experts.

Daniel Pink AuthorAs automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today. (Source)

Seth Godin Author, Marketer, EntrepreneurCal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. (Source)

Ryan Holiday AuthorI've been a fan of Cal for a long time. His book So Good They Can't Ignore You is one of my favorites, but it's his new book that's probably had the biggest and most immediate impact on me. For those of you who enjoyed Tyler Cowen's Average is Over, you already know how important the ability to focus, be creative, and think at a high level is going to be in the future. This is a book that explains how to cultivate and protect that skill--the ability to do deep work. One thing I've already started doing since reading this book is recording the number of hours of deep work I do each day in my... (Source)

Marvin Liao Partner/500 StartupsThe Joy of Not Working (Zelinkski), Flash Foresight (Burrus), The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Gracian), Sapiens (Yuval), The End of Jobs (Pearson), Deep Work (Newport), Sovereign Individual (Davidson), The Fourth Economy (Davison) & The Monk & the Riddle (Komisar). Every single one of these books completely changed how I looked at everything in the world & literally pushed my life in a new direction. They were Paradigm Shifting as they say. (hate that word but it really was a Paradigm Shift for me). (Source)

Vincent Pugliese Question: What books would you recommend to young people to be prepared for the future workplaces? Answer: So many! So many by Seth Godin (Linchpin, The Icarus Deception, Purple Cow) Essentialism by Greg McKeown, Deep Work by Cal Newport, The Choice by Og Mandino, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, No More Dreaded Mondays and 48 Days To The Work You Love by Dan Miller, The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran, Will It Fly by Pat Flynn, The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews, QBQ by John Miller, The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. Wow, there are so many... (Source)

Angela Pham The attendees in the altMBA program actually influenced me the most in my book purchases: [...] And Adam Thomas’ recommendation of Deep Work got me to pull the trigger on that title. (Source)

Sujan Patel Georgetown professor and Study Hacks blog author Cal Newport takes the idea of talent and turns it on its head. Deep Work explores why the ability to focus without distraction is so cognitively demanding and becoming increasingly rare. Newport convincingly argues that deep work is like a super power and not terribly hard to do with the right hacks in place. This is a must-read for entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business who are trying to push through distractions and insecurity. Staying persistent and focused is ultimately how entrepreneurs -- like me! --work incredibly hard and... (Source)

Louis Nyffenegger I don't think I have a specific book that I can call my favourite. Some books have had a big impact on my view of how to build a product/company ("Rework"), some were very enjoyable to read ("The Phoenix Project"), some helped me improve the way I think ("The Pleasure Of Finding Things Out") and some the way I live ("Essentialism") or work ("Deep Work"). (Source)

Mike Benkovich I am always interested in ways I can improve my productivity and efficiency. I've found myself being a bit distracted lately so I'm hoping this will put me on the right path. I'm not expecting to learn anything new but brushing up on some of the skills I already know always helps. (Source)

Ben Casnocha Here lies a playbook for professionals of all stripes to achieve true differentiation in a crowded talent marketplace. Cal Newport's latest shows why he is one of the most provocative thinkers on the future of work. (Source)

Adam Grant Makes a compelling case for cultivating intense focus, and offers immediately actionable steps. (Source)

Derek Sivers Just when you think you already know this stuff, DEEP WORK hits you with surprisingly unique and useful insights. Rule #3 alone, with its discussion of the 'Any-Benefit' mind-set, is worth the price of this book. (Source)

Jeff Morris Jr. @simardm I read it. Great book. (Source)

Jeff Bullas Recommends this book

Pierrette Abeel Recommends this book

Michael Sliwinski Recommends this book

Mikhail Dubov A few books had a dramatic impact on how I work day to day [...] Deep Work. (Source)

Michael Hyatt Recommends this book

Gabriel Weinberg The books I keep coming back to are the ones where I took away lasting mental models. These include [...] Deep Work (about time management models). (Source)

Benjamin Spall Deep Work by Cal Newport put into words something I'd had in the back of my mind for some time. (Source)

Sol Orwell I enjoyed Cal's Deep Work. It helped crystallize some thoughts. (Source)


Rankings by Category

Deep Work is ranked in the following categories:


Similar Books

If you like Deep Work, check out these similar top-rated books:


Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world?