Digital Minimalism

by Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism cover
Good Books rating 3.48
Technology and Innovation
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 268
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9780241341131
  • Publisher: Portfolio
  • Published: 2019-01-01
  • Formats: 34
  • Reviews: 4

In 'Digital Minimalism,' Cal Newport, a professor and author, offers a compelling argument for reducing our dependence on technology. He introduces the concept of digital minimalism, where individuals prioritize meaningful interactions and activities over constant digital distractions. Newport provides a thirty-day 'digital declutter' process to help readers reassess their relationship with social media, prioritize high-quality conversations, and rediscover the joys of the offline world./n/n Newport's approach is backed by research and real-life examples of digital minimalists who have successfully cut back on screen time and found greater satisfaction in their lives. The book is not just about reducing technology use but about living more intentionally and purposefully in an age where digital distractions are ever-present.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-10-17
insightful 4.40

The book is praised for its actionable advice and real-life stories. It offers a calm wisdom that encourages readers to rethink their relationship with technology.

This review highlights the practical and actionable advice found in Digital Minimalism, along with the real-life stories that make the book engaging. The reviewer appreciates the calm wisdom it imparts, which challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with technology. They seem to find the book both insightful and helpful, suggesting it provides valuable tools for living a more focused life.

Quick quotes

    The book is packed with actionable advice, real-life stories, and a calm wisdom that challenges readers to rethink their relationship with technology.

    It offers a philosophical framework as well as a lot of actionable content.

    Digital Minimalism, on the other hand, equips the reader with tools.

reddit.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
practical 4.50

The reviewer finds Cal Newport's 'Digital Minimalism' to be a practical and aggressive guide to decluttering our digital lives. The book advocates for a 30-day digital detox and emphasizes the importance of solitude, meaningful conversations, and rewarding leisure activities to counteract the negative effects of technology.

The reviewer appreciates Cal Newport's 'Digital Minimalism' for its straightforward and practical approach to addressing our digital addiction. The book suggests a radical 30-day digital declutter to reset our relationship with technology. Newport argues that gradual changes are ineffective due to the engineered attraction of the attention economy. The reviewer highlights the book's emphasis on re-engaging with fundamental human activities such as solitude, face-to-face conversations, and rewarding leisure practices. These practices are seen as essential for reorienting ourselves toward our embodied selves and escaping the digital vortex. The book is praised for providing a clear path to reclaiming our lives from the invasive overgrowth of digital technology.

Quick quotes

    The behavioral indicators of chemical dependency align quite well with our near-constant interaction with smartphones.

    In my experience, gradually changing your habits one at a time doesn’t work well — the engineered attraction of the attention economy, combined with the friction of convenience, will diminish your inertia until you backslide toward where you started.

    We need solitude to flourish, for 'humans are not wired to be constantly wired.

inverarity.livejournal.com · Unknown · 2025-09-13
good 4.00

The reviewer found 'Digital Minimalism' by Cal Newport to be a good read, highlighting its practical advice on reducing digital distractions and increasing meaningful activities. They particularly enjoyed the sections on solitude, high-intensity leisure, and conscious use of technology, finding them insightful and applicable to their own life.

The reviewer appreciated 'Digital Minimalism' for its practical approach to managing digital distractions. They found the book's emphasis on solitude, high-intensity leisure, and conscious use of technology particularly valuable. The reviewer enjoyed the sections on the Amish and the role of strenuous leisure time, which they found enjoyable and thought-provoking. They also appreciated the book's advice on reducing mindless browsing and increasing meaningful activities, which they plan to implement in their own life. Overall, they found the book to be a good read with useful insights.

Quick quotes

    The crux of the book is the recommendation to follow a strict, 30 day, optional digital detox and then to selectively and careful reintroduce digital services back into your life.

    Newport is interested in the practical implications of becoming, what he terms, a “Digital Minimalist”.

    I think this particular distinction, which Newport borrows from Sherry Turkle in her book Reclaiming Conversation is extremely valuable as it lays bare the lie that social media companies have told us.

My Nonexistent Minimalism · 2024-11-09
disappointing 1.00

The book is criticized for being overhyped and pretentious. The reviewer finds the writing quality lacking and suggests that people pretend to like it.

This reviewer is quite critical of Digital Minimalism, calling it overhyped and pretentious. They argue that the writing quality doesn't live up to the hype and suggest that many people pretend to like it to fit in. The tone of the review is dismissive, indicating a strong negative opinion of the book's overall quality. They seem to feel that the book's popularity is more about social perception than genuine merit.

Quick quotes

    The book is overhyped for the quality of the writing.

    It's extremely pretentious and maybe that's why everyone pretends they like it.

    So that's why everyone pretends they like it.

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