Shane’s Take — A World Without Email
This book really resonated with me. Cal Newport makes a strong case for why we would be better off without email in most cases. I’ve read a lot about the detrimental effects of interruptions and task switching. Our use of email has led us into a working system (the hyperactive hive mind as Newport calls it) in which we face constant distractions and interruptions that pull us out of a good chunked workflow. We feel like we have to stay constantly connected in order to stay on top of things. Newport isn’t naive enough to suggest that everyone can completely give up email. Instead, he provides project-based alternatives as well as systems to limit email’s effects. Nearly any reader will be able to find applicable tips for better productivity.