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Deep Questions with Cal Newport · July 13, 2026 · 1h 4m

Should I Use Notebooks More Often? (Cal’s Strategy) | Monday Advice

Cal Newport

Cal Newport shares his personal system for using four different notebooks to support different kinds of thinking, explaining why most people fail to adopt a notebook habit. He also offers commentary on a controversial article about Gen Z IQ decline and school smartphone bans, answers a listener question about remote work focus, and provides advice on staying focused during major events like the World Cup.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Cal's Four-Notebook System00:00:00
Cal describes how he uses four distinct notebooks, each dedicated to a specific type of thinking or planning, to avoid the common trap of buying notebooks and never using them.
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Smartphone Bans and the Gen Z IQ Debate00:30:11
Cal discussed a controversial article claiming Gen Z has lower IQ than millennials and the growing trend of smartphone bans in schools.
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Remote Work and Focus Strategies00:38:15
Cal answered a listener question about staying focused while working remotely, sharing his tactical advice.
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Maintaining Focus During Major Events Like the World Cup00:40:57
A listener asked how to stay focused on work during big events like the World Cup, and Cal provided advice.
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References

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Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word — Walter Ong
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Lost — Rachel Hartigan
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