Ada's shelf
The books and tools I'd start with.
I keep this shelf short on purpose. Each one earned its place by helping someone focus, and each has one line on why it's here.
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Start here
Deep Work
It explains why one hour of unbroken focus does more than a whole day of half attention, and how to protect that hour from everything that wants it.
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Books8 more
2019Digital MinimalismCal NewportA calm case for keeping only the apps that earn their place, with a thirty-day reset that shows you which ones do.2024Slow ProductivityCal NewportIt argues for doing fewer things at a natural pace, so the work you finish is work you are glad to have done.2021A World Without EmailCal NewportIt shows how constant back-and-forth messages break up the working day, and what a team can do instead.2012So Good They Can’t Ignore YouCal NewportIt suggests that passion usually grows out of skill, so getting good at something is the place to begin.2012MasteryRobert GreeneStories of people who became great at their craft through years of patient practice, and what that practice looked like day to day.2018The Laws of Human NatureRobert GreeneA long look at why people act the way they do, which helps you notice your own moods before they make decisions for you.2017Perennial SellerRyan HolidayIt’s about making work that keeps finding readers for years, instead of chasing one quick spike of attention.1998The 48 Laws of PowerRobert GreeneWorth reading to understand how people play for influence, so you can recognise it when you see it rather than copy it.
Tools2 entries
T01RaycastMac launcherIt opens apps, files and quick answers from one small window, so you leave fewer tabs open along the way.T02AmieCalendarYour tasks and your calendar live in one place, so each task gets a time instead of waiting on a list.
Make some room for the book first.
The Quiet Week gives you seven small changes that clear space for reading in an ordinary day, and it's free.
Get The Quiet Week ↗︎