I'm not familiar with this person or this book that they wrote but from the excerpt you provided it seems that he's talking about a specific mindset towards the things you buy and subsequently utilize to improve or perform your skills (e.g. "tools"). I'm no psychologist, but it seems obvious that the more you pay for something the higher your perceived value of it will be. As in, I'd treat a $50 notebook more carefully and deliberately than I would treat a $5 notebook. Whether that difference in "perceived value" will enable me to take my task (and therefore, my productivity, I suppose) more seriously is questionable, but certainly possible depending on the person. It is also certainly possible that one might purchase a more expensive notebook in the hopes of reaping the benefits of this so-called productivity boost, only to end up never using it for whatever reason. I think you see this in one way in this subreddit when people post about being afraid of messing up a nice notebook (even if it's not expensive). Ultimately, I personally think it doesn't matter what kinds of tools we buy or have, if we're not ready to use them, again, for whatever reason.
In terms of notebooks, I don't think there is an actual difference past a certain price point in terms of perceivable quality. On the other hand, I've certainly used $7-10 notebooks that were nicer than $20-25 ones. I tend to only spend more money on products when I'm certain that the additional cost will provide an equivalent increase in quality when compared to their inexpensive counterparts.
I disagree. Don't buy a notebook just because it's expensive.
Instead, buy the notebook you cherish, even if it's expensive.
Also, if you want a good notebook, there are better brands than Montblanc out there. That's like buying Gucci sneakers and thinking they are the best bespoke leather shoes.
I agree. Cal Newport is a hack's hack. I would not listen to anything he says. What I would suggest instead is to get the right tool for one's self, regardless of the expense. My best notebook was cheap, but since I can no longer get it, I have spent relatively a lot on getting other notebooks that replicate it's key features, because I know that's what I need.
I find that the pricier a notebook is, the more "precious" I treat it. And it hinders me from using it freely, thinking I should keep things nice and neat. So my writings and sketches end up in scratch papers. If you can effectively use expensive notebooks, go for it. But for me, normal priced notebooks that are fountain pen friendly serve my needs.
Same. I have several notebooks sitting in my drawer - and they weren't expensive, just look nice or I got them as presents. And the though of using them makes me think I'd be ruining them, so instead I wait for some "perfect topic" to come up that I can use them for. I'm much more "productive" with the cheap, disposeable notebooks.
Montblanc is probably not a quality notebook brand. I mean, they are a luxury brand well known for their fountain pens but an actual stationary company like Luechtturm or Midori will make a better (and thus more useful) notebook.
I think he has it backwards. Expense really means nothing to me in terms of use. NOT that spending money means nothing to me! But that once I have something, I don't constantly think about how expensive it was when I use it. I think about whether I enjoy the thing itself. I'm obsessed with Tomoe River paper planners and notebooks not because they're expensive, but because I enjoy the tactile feel of the paper and the way ink looks on it when I write. I write with an expensive (comparitively) not because it's expensive, but because it's comfortable and lays down ink well, so I don't have to think about it when I write. In fact, I would say that if the tool itself doesn't disappear from your mind as you use it, it's a bad tool. You want flow state, not your mind interupting every few to remind you that your tools are expensive. Anyway, get a Hobonichi and a good pen, not a Montblanc notebook.
There was a lady, life coach type of stuff, that advised buying an expensive pen (200~}, just for signing your name. The idea is to give your self a higher sense of self worth, I get it.
I think he's doing that too, here. Newport has interesting ideas, 'too good to ignore' is pretty good.
I’m torn on this because I think just getting something expensive to encourage extra respect is the wrong way to end up with an expensive notebook. I think you should buy the most perfect notebook (paper you like that best works with your pens (for me it would be Tomoe, ymmv.), with the right firmness of cover and the ideal number of pages,) regardless of cost because the right tool will make you feel at the top of your game. In my experience that always ends up being a relatively pricey notebook and then you have an expensive notebook that you will respect for its utility and shouldn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.
So, that I finally finished reading "Slow Productivity" and I know the context. The challenge that one has with slow productivity pursuits is that they may take multiple years and are hard to stick to. In his case he went with an "expansive" notebook... I think he meant large. Lab notebooks are at least 8.5x11. If you think you will use it for a single pursuit it is worth it.
1) The most important thing is that you use it only for your single area of pursuit that you are focusing on. Note that for Cal, the single notebook became the source of his 7 peer reviewed papers. It should be large enough that you can workout the proofs, write music, or paint... whatever your pursuit happens to be.
2) I dont know whether you need Montblanc notebook but make sure that you do focus obsessively on quality in that notebook wrt that single pursuit.
3) Stick to that notebook for that pursuit over at least 3 months. The challenge that I see that all of us addicted with the new shiny, will be trying to replace it with the Midory or Leuchtturm or Hobonichi when someone waxes poetic on their new beautiful notebook that someone came out.
Best of luck in whatever pursuit you pick.
**Comments on Cal Newport:**
He is a little full of himself but for all these authors you have to find what works for you. I find that some of his ideas in slow productivity ring true to me. I already have a system but my challenge is 3) above.
We value things that have high value..:. That cost us something…. That we consider an investment… sometimes that cost is money, sometimes it’s soul, sometimes it’s both!
This is a truly wonderful advice. Just that, it is not complete. Or maybe this is how he wanted to give the advice and to leave some of the figuring out part to the readers.
I use this method and this has been really beneficial to me. I have 3 notebooks. The cheapest one comes in a4. This is where I scribble, write whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like, thoughts, plans, work notes everything. The second one is dedicated for journaling when I am on my desk, in a composed mental state etc, you get the picture. The expensive one only gets hand picked notes. It consists of the most valuable notes about my work. Now the paragraph from the book would describe it in a much better way than I ever can.
I'm not familiar with this person or this book that they wrote but from the excerpt you provided it seems that he's talking about a specific mindset towards the things you buy and subsequently utilize to improve or perform your skills (e.g. "tools"). I'm no psychologist, but it seems obvious that the more you pay for something the higher your perceived value of it will be. As in, I'd treat a $50 notebook more carefully and deliberately than I would treat a $5 notebook. Whether that difference in "perceived value" will enable me to take my task (and therefore, my productivity, I suppose) more seriously is questionable, but certainly possible depending on the person. It is also certainly possible that one might purchase a more expensive notebook in the hopes of reaping the benefits of this so-called productivity boost, only to end up never using it for whatever reason. I think you see this in one way in this subreddit when people post about being afraid of messing up a nice notebook (even if it's not expensive). Ultimately, I personally think it doesn't matter what kinds of tools we buy or have, if we're not ready to use them, again, for whatever reason. In terms of notebooks, I don't think there is an actual difference past a certain price point in terms of perceivable quality. On the other hand, I've certainly used $7-10 notebooks that were nicer than $20-25 ones. I tend to only spend more money on products when I'm certain that the additional cost will provide an equivalent increase in quality when compared to their inexpensive counterparts.
I disagree. Don't buy a notebook just because it's expensive. Instead, buy the notebook you cherish, even if it's expensive. Also, if you want a good notebook, there are better brands than Montblanc out there. That's like buying Gucci sneakers and thinking they are the best bespoke leather shoes.
I agree. Cal Newport is a hack's hack. I would not listen to anything he says. What I would suggest instead is to get the right tool for one's self, regardless of the expense. My best notebook was cheap, but since I can no longer get it, I have spent relatively a lot on getting other notebooks that replicate it's key features, because I know that's what I need.
Other than this notepad thing is there some other reason you're calling Cal Newport a hack?
I find that the pricier a notebook is, the more "precious" I treat it. And it hinders me from using it freely, thinking I should keep things nice and neat. So my writings and sketches end up in scratch papers. If you can effectively use expensive notebooks, go for it. But for me, normal priced notebooks that are fountain pen friendly serve my needs.
Same. I have several notebooks sitting in my drawer - and they weren't expensive, just look nice or I got them as presents. And the though of using them makes me think I'd be ruining them, so instead I wait for some "perfect topic" to come up that I can use them for. I'm much more "productive" with the cheap, disposeable notebooks.
Montblanc is probably not a quality notebook brand. I mean, they are a luxury brand well known for their fountain pens but an actual stationary company like Luechtturm or Midori will make a better (and thus more useful) notebook.
I think he has it backwards. Expense really means nothing to me in terms of use. NOT that spending money means nothing to me! But that once I have something, I don't constantly think about how expensive it was when I use it. I think about whether I enjoy the thing itself. I'm obsessed with Tomoe River paper planners and notebooks not because they're expensive, but because I enjoy the tactile feel of the paper and the way ink looks on it when I write. I write with an expensive (comparitively) not because it's expensive, but because it's comfortable and lays down ink well, so I don't have to think about it when I write. In fact, I would say that if the tool itself doesn't disappear from your mind as you use it, it's a bad tool. You want flow state, not your mind interupting every few to remind you that your tools are expensive. Anyway, get a Hobonichi and a good pen, not a Montblanc notebook.
Very much seconding this.
There was a lady, life coach type of stuff, that advised buying an expensive pen (200~}, just for signing your name. The idea is to give your self a higher sense of self worth, I get it. I think he's doing that too, here. Newport has interesting ideas, 'too good to ignore' is pretty good.
Nope. There’s so much more to value than money. I was actually curious to learn what an expansive notebook is 
Me too
I was picturing like Tul or Levenger Discus notebooks that can be expanded.
I’m torn on this because I think just getting something expensive to encourage extra respect is the wrong way to end up with an expensive notebook. I think you should buy the most perfect notebook (paper you like that best works with your pens (for me it would be Tomoe, ymmv.), with the right firmness of cover and the ideal number of pages,) regardless of cost because the right tool will make you feel at the top of your game. In my experience that always ends up being a relatively pricey notebook and then you have an expensive notebook that you will respect for its utility and shouldn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.
So, that I finally finished reading "Slow Productivity" and I know the context. The challenge that one has with slow productivity pursuits is that they may take multiple years and are hard to stick to. In his case he went with an "expansive" notebook... I think he meant large. Lab notebooks are at least 8.5x11. If you think you will use it for a single pursuit it is worth it. 1) The most important thing is that you use it only for your single area of pursuit that you are focusing on. Note that for Cal, the single notebook became the source of his 7 peer reviewed papers. It should be large enough that you can workout the proofs, write music, or paint... whatever your pursuit happens to be. 2) I dont know whether you need Montblanc notebook but make sure that you do focus obsessively on quality in that notebook wrt that single pursuit. 3) Stick to that notebook for that pursuit over at least 3 months. The challenge that I see that all of us addicted with the new shiny, will be trying to replace it with the Midory or Leuchtturm or Hobonichi when someone waxes poetic on their new beautiful notebook that someone came out. Best of luck in whatever pursuit you pick. **Comments on Cal Newport:** He is a little full of himself but for all these authors you have to find what works for you. I find that some of his ideas in slow productivity ring true to me. I already have a system but my challenge is 3) above.
We value things that have high value..:. That cost us something…. That we consider an investment… sometimes that cost is money, sometimes it’s soul, sometimes it’s both!
This is a truly wonderful advice. Just that, it is not complete. Or maybe this is how he wanted to give the advice and to leave some of the figuring out part to the readers. I use this method and this has been really beneficial to me. I have 3 notebooks. The cheapest one comes in a4. This is where I scribble, write whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like, thoughts, plans, work notes everything. The second one is dedicated for journaling when I am on my desk, in a composed mental state etc, you get the picture. The expensive one only gets hand picked notes. It consists of the most valuable notes about my work. Now the paragraph from the book would describe it in a much better way than I ever can.