Cal Newport · 2021
A productivity book arguing that heavy reliance on email harms workplace efficiency and proposing alternative communication methods.
A speaker recommends a book written by someone else.
None yet.
The author, or a host talking with the author, discusses the book. Not counted as an endorsement.
“Now, I documented this effect, for example, in my 2021 book here, I'll hold it up here, A World Without Email, which looked deeply at the history of email and how this particular humble tool changed the definition of work.”
Cal Newport, Host on The Cal Newport ShowDo Hard Things (Featuring: Jerry Seinfeld)
“Actually, the book that performed the worst was A World Without Email, which actually has very big ideas and practical advice for taming complete overload.”
Why: Offers practical advice for taming complete overload.
Cal Newport, Host on The Cal Newport ShowWhen Productivity Theory Meets Practice
“if you want more of those details you should also read my book a world without email that gets way into the weeds on rethinking how communication happens…”
Why: Read it to get into the weeds on rethinking how communication happens.
Cal Newport, Host on The Cal Newport ShowKids Should *Not* Use Chatbots! (You Should Be Wary, Too…)
“this is very intense because you have to have like a violin player practicing complete unbroken concentration. I write about this a little bit in my book, A World Without Email.”
Cal Newport, Host on The Cal Newport ShowClassic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice
“This hyperactive hive mind strategy that we have, as I detailed in my 2021 book, A World Without Email, which is on-demand, unscheduled communication through email and chat like Slack, is the main way that we sort of all organize.”
Cal Newport, Host on The Cal Newport ShowHow Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice
“Deep work, digital minimalism, life without email. So that was the correct title, right? Life without a world without email.”
Why: It helped shape his communication systems to avoid endless back-and-forth messaging.
Chris Moody, Guest on The Cal Newport ShowShould I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice
“My next book after that was called A World Without Email. That book was about technology. A lot of what I was doing on my podcast was technology.”
Cal Newport, Guest on The Tim Ferriss Show#857: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 — New Tips from Maria Popova, Morgan Housel, Cal Newport, Craig Mod, and Debbie Millman
Other books cited in the same episodes.
Deep Work
Cal Newport
Discussed together in: Classic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice (The Cal Newport Show) and 3 more episodes
Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport
Discussed together in: #857: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 — New Tips from Maria Popova, Morgan Housel, Cal Newport, Craig Mod, and Debbie Millman (The Tim Ferriss Show) and 3 more episodes
Slow Productivity
Cal Newport
Discussed together in: When Productivity Theory Meets Practice (The Cal Newport Show) and 2 more episodes
So Good They Can't Ignore You
Cal Newport
Discussed together in: Kids Should *Not* Use Chatbots! (You Should Be Wary, Too…) (The Cal Newport Show) and 1 more episode
A Brief History of Intelligence
Max Bennett
Discussed together in: How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice (The Cal Newport Show)
More Everything Forever
Adam Becker
Discussed together in: How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice (The Cal Newport Show)
The Odyssey
Homer
Discussed together in: Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice (The Cal Newport Show)
Disneyland and the Rise of Automation
Roland Betancourt
Discussed together in: How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice (The Cal Newport Show)