Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World --- A Review

I was very impressed with the author when I read his "Deep Work". When I, thus, saw this work in the bookshop, on the strength of his reputation, I bought it.

Cal Newport did not disappoint me.

This is one of the few books that are, I should say, unputdownable. Newport's passion for simplicity and meaningful living is singularly beguiling. Any minimalist can say or even regurgitate the exact same thing, --- word for work --- that the author had said in "Digital Minimalism" but it would not be the same: it would not create the impact that Newport has created in the book. Because he practises, I strongly think, what he preaches, his ideas, belief and postulates have a weighty influence on the reader --- or, at least on me.

The goal of the book, in the words of the author, "is to make the case for digital minimalism, including a more detailed exploration of what it asks and why it works, and then to teach (the reader) how to adopt this philosophy if (the reader) decides it's right for (him)."

In short, Newport did not set out to advocate the abandonment of new technologies like what the Luddites propose; neither does he subscribe to some Amish members' views that all tools introduced after the mid-18th century must not be used. E contra, his attitude towards, and philosophy of using technologies are very much akin to the Hindu concept of yukta-vairagya, to wit, use them for the singular purpose of attaining the goal in life, and if they do not, give them up.

Addressing the techno-apologists' arguments that technologies like social media, mobile phones and the Internet have their indubitable utility, the associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of six books, trenchantly argues that digital minimalism is not so much about giving up modern inventions as regaining one's autonomy from the gizmos that have subjugated our minds and lives by their seemingly "utility".

The book presents balanced views of the inevitable place of Facebook, YouTube and mobile phones in some of our lives, and the insidious and pernicious effects and impacts that they have on the human psyche and mind. In that sense, Newport is very objective, sensible and mature in the way he has shown the futility of eschewing technologies for the sake of doing so, comparing it with the reckless fervency of fecklessly adopting everything that technology entices us with.

In the first part of the book, Newport discusses how technologies like the smartphone and Facebook have been carefully engineered to foster behavioural addiction. He cites a number of convincing studies to corroborate his opinions. He, then, talks about the benefits of following the three principles of digital minimalism.

He quotes convincing authorities like David Thoreau and Frédéric Gros, whose philosophies as regards introspection, solitude and "less can be more", have had, as it appears monumental influence on his own philosophy of digital minimalism.

By the time he gets to the second part of the book, Newport has sufficiently convinces the reader of the imperativeness of digital declutter, a term that he uses to explain the process of divesting oneself of superfluous technologies.

Having set the tone for the book, the author goes even deeper into the subject matter, i.e., the essentiality of being with oneself. In the course of it, the writer discusses how "solitude" helped noted personalities like Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Raymond Kethledge, Michael Erwin, Anthony Sorr, Edward Gibbon, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and notable others.

Carefully delineating the sacredness of having to be left alone to oneself, he systematically pulverises the sacred monuments built around the specious ideology of "we-cannot-lead-a-normal-life-without-technologies".

By the end of the accessible book, the professor gives the reader many profitable and practical techniques and ways to regain his autonomy from people like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Job who unceremoniously usurped our constitutional rights to our minds and lives.

Unless one is convinced that one wants to lead a normal and healthy life, the way that it should rightly be, one ought not to read this book, which is bound to revolutionise one's cherished ideas about smartphone, Facebook, Instagram, tweeter, YouTube and all other social media.

It is my considered view that this is a must-read for everyone who values his life, his remaining years on earth, and his goals of existence. It is a must-read for every spiritual aspirant who is determined to make strides in his spiritual endeavour.