Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport

Self-improvement, Technology, Education

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2026

⏱️ 92 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”? If there was one word to describe modern digital tools, it would be “fast.” But not everyone thinks this is better. In today’s episode, Cal explores the concept of “slow technology” – the embrace of tools that have fewer features and more friction, but nonetheless produce better work and more satisfaction. His guide in this effort is the acclaimed children’s book author Amy Timberlake, who talks to Cal about her recent shift to using a mechanical typewriter. Cal then reviews other examples of slow technology in action, and then proposes several general principles for applying the philosophy in your own life. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia INTERVIEW: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”? (w/ Amy Timberlake) [3:20] INBOX: - A book about spiritual sloth [1:03:49] - What is Cal’s opinion about Yuval Harai’s thoughts on AI? [1:05:22] WHAT CAL IS UP TO: - Deep or Crazy: 2nd edition signed Andromeda Strain for HQ? [1:18:29] - Myth buster gear: display in HQ [1:20:13] - 400th episode [1:23:01] Books: Magic Journey (Kevin Rafferty) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/02/why-some-are-returning-to-mp3-players https://ugmonk.com/blogs/journal/analog-the-simplest-productivity-system https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240102-oppenheimer-and-the-resurgence-of-blu-ray-and-dvds-were-now-in-the-age-of-streaming-anxiety https://ignatius.com/the-noonday-devil-ndevp https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32240681755 Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp: https://www.betterhlep.com/deepquestions https://www.calderalab.com/deep https://www.mybodytutor.com https://www.grammarly.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If I had to use one word to describe modern digital tools, it would be fast.
0:07.8	Now, whether we're talking about workplace communication or swarms of AI agents or even apps for ordering food,
0:13.4	the focus always seems to be on reducing friction and increasing the options available to get people through whatever tasks they're
0:21.5	thinking about as quickly as possible.
0:24.8	Now, the speed, of course, has a negative side effect.
0:28.5	It's exhausting.
0:29.7	It reduces so much of our life to a frantic blur of swipes and taps and clicks,
0:34.9	all in a sort of never-ending battle to keep up with the ceaseless
0:38.6	barrage of incoming information. But what can we do? Going faster has to make us more
0:44.9	productive, right? Or does it? You see, there's a growing subculture of individuals who are
0:51.4	embracing simpler technologies that offer less features and more friction.
0:57.8	And they're not doing this as a political statement, and they're not doing this because they're
1:01.0	nostalgic, but instead because they think these more minimal tools actually makes them
1:04.9	better at their work and makes their life more livable.
1:09.7	I call this movement slow technology, and it's what I want to talk about
1:14.2	today. Now, to help us better understand it, we're going to be joined by Amy Timberlake,
1:18.4	who's an acclaimed, the best-selling author of children's and middle grades books.
1:23.0	Timberlake has won countless distinctions, including a Newberry Honor and an Edgar Award.
1:27.9	Her titles have been named to, as far as I can tell, just about every best book of the year
1:32.5	list in existence.
1:33.9	So she knows what she's talking about.
1:35.2	Now, Timberlake came to my attention recently.
	...

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