Book · Focus and productivity · 2019
Indistractable
Nir Eyal · 7 parts
The Useful verdict: Read parts 1, 2 and 4. They hold the whole method; the rest applies it to work, kids and relationships.
The book in 60 seconds
Nir Eyal says distraction isn't really about your phone: it's a way to escape uncomfortable feelings. His 4-part model: master your internal triggers, make time for what you value, hack back external triggers, and use pacts to make distraction harder.
Your time
About 4.5 hours to read the parts that matter, instead of about 8.5 hours for the whole book.
Based on about 336 pages at 40 pages an hour, with skimmed parts counted at a third.
Raja's take
I tried the blockers. One Sec, grayscale, deleting apps. None of them lasted. Eyal explains why: distraction starts inside you, not in the phone. Read part 1 before you install anything.
Read only these parts
Tap any part. Read: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4.
Part 1: Master Internal Triggers
Distraction starts with a feeling you want to escape. The 10-minute rule lives here.
4 ideas from this book
The 10-minute rule
When the urge to switch hits, wait 10 minutes. Often it passes.
Name the feeling first
Write down what you felt the second before you got distracted.
Timebox your values
Put time for the things you care about in your calendar before the week fills up.
Make a pact
Raise the effort or the price of giving in, like a website blocker or a bet with a friend.
Read it if
You drift off when a task feels hard, boring or unclear.
Skip it if
Your problem is mostly notifications. Digital Minimalism fits better.
Used to fix
Fix 2 forI can't focus for long
See the fixQuick answers
Is Indistractable worth reading?
Yes, but not all of it. Read 3 of its 7 parts: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4. They hold the whole method; the rest applies it to work, kids and relationships.
Which parts of Indistractable should I read?
Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4. Skim the parts marked skim for their 1 idea, and skip the rest on a first read.
Who is Indistractable for?
You drift off when a task feels hard, boring or unclear. Skip it if: Your problem is mostly notifications. Digital Minimalism fits better.
Free PDF
Every chapter verdict, in 1 PDF
Which chapters to read, skim or skip for every book in the Library, updated as new books arrive. Plus The Useful Life lessons, 3 a week. Unsubscribe anytime.
