Shelfology Book Pairing

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

by Cal Newport

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 an indispensable guide to anyone seeking focused success in a distracted world. 'Cal Newport is exceptional in the realm of self-help authors' New York Times 'Deep work' is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. Coined by author and professor Cal Newport on his popular blog Study Hacks, deep work will make you better at what you do, let you achieve more in less time and provide the sense of true fulfilment that comes from the mastery of a skill. In short, deep work is like a superpower in our increasingly competitive economy. And yet most people, whether knowledge workers in noisy open-plan offices or creatives struggling to sharpen their vision, have lost the ability to go deep - spending their days instead in a frantic blur of email and social media, not even realising there's a better way. A mix of cultural criticism and actionable advice, Deep Work takes the reader on a journey through memorable stories -- from Carl Jung building a stone tower in the woods to focus his mind, to a social media pioneer buying a round-trip business class ticket to Tokyo to write a book free from distraction in the air -- and surprising suggestions, such as the claim that most serious professionals should quit social media and that you should practice being bored. Put simply: developing and cultivating a deep work practice is one of the best decisions you can make in an increasingly distracted world. This book will point the way.

366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living: Featuring new translations of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius

by Ryan Holiday

THE MULTI-MILLION COPY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER An updated and expanded edition of the book that launched a global phenomenon: daily doses of practical, uplifting philosophy from the bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way How can we find true meaning, conquer grief or measure success? The answers to these questions and more can be found in Stoic philosophy - and The Daily Stoic is the definitive guide to bringing Stoicism into everyday life. Selling over 3 million copies since its publication in 2016, The Daily Stoic has become a global phenomenon. Each page offers powerful quotations from Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus, alongside historical anecdotes and thought-provoking commentary from Ryan Holiday, the voice of modern Stoicism. With an entry for every day of the year, this updated anniversary edition offers new insights, updated translations and expanded ancient teachings designed to help you tackle life with serenity, self-knowledge and resilience.