Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

***Just arrived in stock!***

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 the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep-spending their days instead in a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there's a better way.

In Deep Work, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age. Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite. Dividing this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.

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 no-nonsense advice, such as the claim that most serious professionals should quit social media and that you should practice being bored. Deep Work is an indispensable guide to anyone seeking focused success in a distracted world.

About Cal Newport

I’m a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to my academic research, I write about the intersection of digital technology and culture. I’m particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives.

I’m the author of six books, including, most recently, the New York Times bestseller, Digital Minimalism.

In my academic career, I specialize in the theory of distributed systems,  which means I spend more time proving theorems than compiling code. To date, I’ve published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited more than 3,500 times.

I started blogging at calnewport.com soon after the publication of my second book, and have been posting here regularly ever since. The blog is named “Study Hacks” because when I started it I was primarily writing advice for students. I famously, however, have never had a social media account (it turns out that this is allowed).

I currently live with my wife and three sons in Takoma Park, Maryland, in a cool old Victorian house that has a study with a fireplace and a custom-built library table where I do my deep work.

The Concept

Note: This video wasn't made by either Cal Newport or us at VitaKea, however it is a really nice and quick discussion on the book by the folk at Board Studios.

Praise for "Deep Work"

“As a presence on the page, Newport is exceptional in the realm of self-help authors.”
—New York Times Book Review

“DEEP WORK accomplishes two considerable tasks: One is putting out a wealth of concrete practices for the ambitious, without relying on gauzy clichés. The second is that Mr. Newport resists the corporate groupthink of constant connectivity without seeming like a curmudgeon.”
—Wall Street Journal

“Deep work is the killer app of the knowledge economy: it is only by concentrating intensely that you can master a difficult discipline or solve a demanding problem.”
—The Economist

“What emerges most powerfully is the sense that it’s wrong to think of deep work as one more thing you’ve got to try to cram into your schedule. Truly committing to it, Newport suggests, transforms the rest of your time – so you’ll crank through shallow work faster, be more present in your home life, and eliminate time wasted switching between tasks. Depth, in short, isn’t at odds with a full life – it facilitates it. I’m persuaded.”
—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian

A Quick KeaLad Commentary on Deep Work

Quite simply, if you can read, I recommend this book to you... and it doesn't even talk about supplements! But I very much believe establishing practices for Deep Work will out-value any other biohacks or supplements when it comes to getting done what you actually want done. That big project that you can't seem to finish. Art. Writing. Even just thinking through a line of thought.

All the biology optimising tricks in the world is useless if that hard earned capacity is directed towards the wrong things. Like a Ferrari which has thousands of dollars of servicing every year, and the very best performance fuel. Only to drive at walking pace in bumper to bumper traffic.  Implementing Deep Work practices will help you take your own hard earned performance engine to the open road to run free and at optimal potential. And of course, combining Deep Work strategies with things like careful diet, exercise and supplementation... there you have a recipe for long and deep sessions of mental flow that is both good fun, incredibly productive, and anti-burnout. 

As far as reading experience goes, it would fit under casual and enjoyable but not a "light read". It's not a technical manual, but it will leave you with plenty to think on that would warrant focused reading... you could even say, deserving of a session of Deep Work session. As someone with an electrical engineering background, I also really appreciate the clean structuring of how Cal presented the book. First half covering the concept of Deep Work and value it provides, second half going over strategies to achieve deep work. 

This is one of the books that I read once yearly (so far read twice, will begin again soon!) as a reminder to keep my priorities in order and a check on how I spend my days. 

Right now, this is perhaps my highest recommended book in The VitaKea Store. We all want focus, this is a tried and true method and even gets better the more you practice it, as opposed to building a tolerance. Only downside is the need for self control haha!

Your KeaLad, Thomas - VitaKea Caretaker 🌿               

About the Author

The scientific blueprint for a long, healthy and happy life using cutting edge anti-aging and neuroscience based hacks

What exactly is "biohacking"?

Biohacking is just a fancy word for optimizing your own biological potential, and in the context of this brand new book from James Lee (author of The Methuselah Project) it means achieving this via:

• Slowing the process of cellular aging to extend longevity - Whether by reducing oxidative stress, activating sirtuins, preventing inflammation or by just simply connecting with those around you (Having rich social connections with those around you is one of the strongest predictors of long life);
•  Understanding your own neurochemistry to enable you to address any underlying issues or dysfunction involving neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine or even acetylcholine;
• Utilising the latest "nootropic" brain-boosting supplements and drugs to optimise memory and cognitive function - Never heard of racetams, EGCG, sulbutiamine or modafinil? Not for long.

The Biohacking Manifesto is, at its heart, a compendium of Lee's previous books The Methuselah Project, Your Brain Electric and Brain Hacks. However rather than just cobble these together and slap on a new cover, he has headed back into the clinical trial papers and the latest research from cutting edge biotechs to discover some brand new exclusive material for this book.

The Biohacking Manifesto includes:

• An exhaustive coverage of the latest supplements including - curcumin, astaxanthin and nicotinamide riboside (to name a few);
• A comprehensive guide to the fundamentals of neurochemistry, including a range of options for boosting neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine;
• An explanation of the various processes which underlie the aging process including - oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction
• Everything you need to know if you want to live to 100 and beyond

As a collected body of work, The Biohacking Manifesto gives you everything you need to know to enable you to put together a comprehensive strategy for living a long, happy and healthy life.

A Quick KeaLad Commentary on The Biohacking Manifesto

Insights from over 450 interviews distilled down from the guests of 'Bulletproof Radio' 

*** Just arrived in stock!***

The bestselling author of Head Strong and The Bulletproof Diet answers the question, “How can I kick more ass at life?” by culling the wisdom of world-class thought leaders, maverick scientists, and disruptive entrepreneurs to provide proven techniques for becoming happier, healthier, and smarter.

When Dave Asprey started his Bulletproof Radio podcast more than five years ago, he sought out influencers in an array of disciplines, from biochemists toiling in unknown laboratories to business leaders changing the world to mediation masters discovering inner peace. His guests were some of the top performing humans in the world, people who had changed their areas of study or even pioneered entirely new fields. Dave wanted to know: What did they have in common? What mattered most to them? What made them so successful—and what made them tick? At the end of each interview, Dave asked the same question: “What are your top three recommendations for people who want to perform better at being human?”

After performing a statistical analysis of the answers, he found that the wisdom gleaned from these highly successful people could be distilled into three main objectives: finding ways to become smarter, faster, and happier. Game Changers is the culmination of Dave’s years-long immersion in these conversations, offering 46 science-backed, high performance “laws” that are a virtual playbook for how to get better at life.

With anecdotes from game changers like Dr. Daniel Amen, Gabby Bernstein, Dr. David Perlmutter, Arianna Huffington, Esther Perel, and Tim Ferris as well as examples from Dave’s own life, Game Changers offers readers practical advice they can put into action to reap immediate rewards. From taming fear and anxiety to making better decisions, establishing high-performance habits, and practicing gratitude and mindfulness, Dave brings together the wisdom of today’s game-changers to help everyone kick more ass at life.

A Quick KeaLad Commentary on Game Changers

As with practically anything coming from Dave Asprey and Bulletproof, it probably pays to start with a word to acknowledge that this book is another one that is riddled with marketing for biohacking gear and performance products the whole way through. ***If you have the tolerance to read through that and not get sucked into impulse purchasing, then this is certainly a valuable book.***

"Game Changers" covers a wide variety of tricks, tips and insights all working toward the goal of high performance and feeling good... while steering you away from burnout in the long run (as is common with many folk "winning at life"). 

Personally I always appreciate this sort of read as a starting point for further research into new practices, and as an enjoyable way to expose myself to what's out there and find out what people are doing or have found beneficial. "Game Changers" does keep it pretty light and doesn't go in particularly deep on any specific topic, and as a result it reads very comfortably and casually. It also has plenty of interesting stories as you might expect from 450+ interviews.

If you've been reading around the space of biohacking and optimal performance for a while, you might find it discusses a number of practices you will be already familiar with (micro-dosing psychedelics, breath, nootropics etc.). That said, as someone who is very researched and embedded in the space, I found the unique perspectives very constructive and so have no regrets with re-crossing familiar territory.

TLDR?: An enjoyable and casual and read for exposure to what sort of practices people are doing and have found most beneficial. Does contain a fair amount of product and service promotion. Not overly technical.

Your KeaLad, Thomas - VitaKea Caretaker 🌿           

How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work

*** Just arrived in stock! ***

Over the past decade, Silicon Valley executives like Eric Schmidt and Elon Musk, Special Operators like the Navy SEALs and the Green Berets, and maverick scientists like Sasha Shulgin and Amy Cuddy have turned everything we thought we knew about high performance upside down.

Instead of grit, better habits, or 10,000 hours, these trailblazers have found a surprising short cut. They’re harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and outperform the competition.

New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler and high performance expert Jamie Wheal spent four years investigating the leading edges of this revolution— from the home of SEAL Team Six to the Googleplex, the Burning Man festival, Richard Branson’s Necker Island, Red Bull’s training center, Nike’s innovation team, and the United Nations’ Headquarters.

And what they learned was stunning: In their own ways, with differing languages, techniques, and applications, every one of these groups has been quietly seeking the same thing: the boost in information and inspiration that nonordinary states of consciousness provide.

About Steven Kotler

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist and the cofounder / director of research for the Flow Genome Project.

He is one of the world’s leading experts on high performance, disruptive technology and innovation.

He is also the author of eight books, including Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Tomorrowland, Bold, Abundance, West of Jesus, A Small Furry Prayer and The Angle Quickest for Flight.

His writing has been translated into over 40 languages and appeared in over 80 publications, including The New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, Forbes, Wired and TIME.

He appears frequently on television and radio, and is an in-demand speaker and advisor to everyone from the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command to Cisco and Google.

Alongside his wife, the author Joy Nicholson, Steven is the cofounder of Rancho de Chihuahua, a dog sanctuary in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. He has a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MA from Johns Hopkins University and, whenever possible, can be found hurling himself down mountains at high speeds.

About Jamie Wheal

Jamie Wheal is an expert on peak performance and leadership, specializing in the neuroscience and application of Flow states.

He has advised everyone from the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command, the athletes of RedBull, and the owners of NFL, NBA, MLB and Premier League teams, to the executives of Google, Deloitte Cisco and Young Presidents' Organization.

He studied historical anthropology under MacArthur Fellow Patricia Nelson Limerick, specializing in utopian social movements and his work has appeared in anthologies and peer-reviewed academic journals.

A Quick KeaLad Commentary on Stealing Fire

If you want to see the full scope of how far biohacking for mental flow can go... this is sure as hell the read for you. No doubt an extremely interesting read that I would recommend to anyone a little more down the biohacking and technology line of thought. 

Stealing Fire covers a wide array of different practices for to achieve real peak mental states, and also covers a lot of the background and underlying theory for you to understand why these practices or substances do what they do. These guys are well deep in the technology and research and have presented a really interesting read ...as well as one I feel very comfortable to trust in terms of efficacy of the statements they make. 

The only real downside is how blimmin' cool some of they tech they describe sounds, due to the fact that a lot of it is not really accessible or available for the average Joe in New Zealand. Not all of it though, there is still plenty of chat on the very accessible options such as float tanks, surfing (a personal favourite of mine) and lifestyle practices. 

10/10 Highly recommended for biohacking nerds.

Everything we think we know about ageing is about to change

*** Just arrived in stock! ***

 What Happens To Our Cells When We Age?

As cells age, they become larger and less capable of reproduction, undergoing changes that eventually result in the loss of cellular identity. For years, scientists have argued about why these changes occur, but popular opinion has coalesced around nine “hallmarks of aging.” But are these hallmarks a cause or a symptom?

About the Author

David Sinclair is a professor in the Department of Genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School, where he and his colleagues study sirtuins—protein-modifying enzymes that respond to changing NAD+ levels and to caloric restriction—as well as chromatin, energy metabolism, mitochondria, learning and memory, neurodegeneration, cancer, and cellular reprogramming.

Sinclair has suggested that aging is a disease—and that we may soon have the tools to put it into remission—and he has called for greater international attention to the social, economic and political risks and benefits of a world in which billions of people can live much longer and much healthier lives.

Sinclair is the co-founder of several biotechnology companies (Life Biosciences, Sirtris, Genocea, Cohbar, MetroBiotech, ArcBio, Liberty Biosecurity) and is on the boards of several others. (A full list of disclosures is available here.)

He is also co-founder and co-chief editor of the journal Aging. He is an inventor on 35 patents and has received more than 35 awards and honors. In 2014, he was on Time Magazine’s list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and listed as Time's Top 50 in healthcare in 2018.

A Quick KeaLad Commentary on Lifespan

TOTAL HUMAN OPTIMIZATION STARTS WITH ONE DAY