Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout

Analyze the historical context Newport provides for the development of “pseudo-productivity” in knowledge work. How has this context shaped current work practices, and what implications does it have for future reforms?

Discuss the role of technology in both creating and potentially solving the problems of overwork and burnout that Newport identifies. How can workers and organizations balance the benefits of technology with the need for sustainable work practices?

Analyze Newport’s critique of using “visible activity as a proxy for useful labor” (217). What alternative metrics or approaches does he suggest, and how feasible are they in various work environments?