--- product_id: 254944807 title: "A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload" price: "₩34130" currency: KRW in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.kr/products/254944807-a-world-without-email-reimagining-work-in-an-age-communication store_origin: KR region: South Korea --- # A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload **Price:** ₩34130 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload - **How much does it cost?** ₩34130 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kr](https://www.desertcart.kr/products/254944807-a-world-without-email-reimagining-work-in-an-age-communication) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller From New York Times bestselling author Cal Newport comes a bold vision for liberating workers from the tyranny of the inbox--and unleashing a new era of productivity. Modern knowledge workers communicate constantly. Their days are defined by a relentless barrage of incoming messages and back-and-forth digital conversations--a state of constant, anxious chatter in which nobody can disconnect, and so nobody has the cognitive bandwidth to perform substantive work. There was a time when tools like email felt cutting edge, but a thorough review of current evidence reveals that the "hyperactive hive mind" workflow they helped create has become a productivity disaster, reducing profitability and perhaps even slowing overall economic growth. Equally worrisome, it makes us miserable. Humans are simply not wired for constant digital communication. We have become so used to an inbox-driven workday that it's hard to imagine alternatives. But they do exist. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, author and computer science professor Cal Newport makes the case that our current approach to work is broken, then lays out a series of principles and concrete instructions for fixing it. In A World without Email , he argues for a workplace in which clear processes--not haphazard messaging--define how tasks are identified, assigned and reviewed. Each person works on fewer things (but does them better), and aggressive investment in support reduces the ever-increasing burden of administrative tasks. Above all else, important communication is streamlined, and inboxes and chat channels are no longer central to how work unfolds. The knowledge sector's evolution beyond the hyperactive hive mind is inevitable. The question is not whether a world without email is coming (it is), but whether you'll be ahead of this trend. If you're a CEO seeking a competitive edge, an entrepreneur convinced your productivity could be higher, or an employee exhausted by your inbox, A World Without Email will convince you that the time has come for bold changes, and will walk you through exactly how to make them happen. Review: Clarity and action plan toward better work structuring - This is, as usual, a Cal Newport classic - extremely well researched, clearly thought out and organised, and presented with clear actionable steps toward better structuring of knowledge work. The book gives a new and clear perspective on why we use email the way we do, and how to move toward a much more efficient, less fragmented, more satisfying, less overwhelming style of work. Review: Email is just a symptom - I have bought this book on impulse, seeing the eponymous phrase “World without email” which seems to suggest that email is a menace worthy of nothing short of eradication. Not feeling particularly oppressed myself, I was wondering what exactly is the problem Cal Newport attributes to emails and what the “reimagining” is about. While the book turned out to be highly enjoyable, full of good insights and not that much anti-technology, I am not sold on the author’s belief that electronic communication is stifling the effectiveness of work. Our habits are. It is true that you can spend the whole day in your inbox. You can feel productive - so many messages sent! So many people can see how responsive you are! - without actually delivering much in the whole day. You can offload work to other people just by clicking “reply”. You can FYI everyone in the team (and beyond) in a pretense that their silence means agreement. All of that is easy with email, and all of that is oftentimes unnecessary. We are inundated with excessive messages. Cal - in the first part of the book - traces the reasons to the fundamental property of email being vastly quicker and cheaper than paper letters or phone calls. Couple that with our innate tendency to respond to social cues, the reasoning goes, and no wonder the inbox became the place we visit every couple minutes. The author claims this reinforcing relation between the electronic communication and human psychology to be so strong that he uses the argument of “technological determinism”. Back in the nineties, the offices switching from paper to email expected reductions of time spent on communication, but it turned out the volume of messaging increased dramatically, kept growing ever since and became the new normal in the office work. But, I dare to say, we are not losing precious time and attention on corporate spam because email - as a technology - destined us to do so. I believe the whole situation is just convenient to many employees, who would not have that much to do if emails stopped flowing in. Moreover, many organisations are toxic, with people fearing of being judged as slackers without email trail justifying their efforts. Last, but not least - engaging in email threads is easier than actual knowledge work. I believe that rather than the effortlessness of the technology, it is the prevalent office conformism and minimisation of mental effort that lead to excessive time spent on emails. As Cal notices, “the underlying value of the constant electronic communication that defines modern work is never questioned”. This value is low - but it’s part of the common landscape, and it is rather a minority of people who tend to question how their companies work. On the other hand, there are some people who do value uninterrupted time - mainly in the knowledge-based jobs (where quality suffers greatly from interruptions); the second part of the publication is devoted to existing communication/collaboration techniques used in IT, engineering and scientific organisations. While I have some doubts about the reasoning shown in the “why email hurts us” part of the book, it was more enjoyable to read than the “solutions” part, which is perfectly in order but felt just a bit dull. Moreover, I don’t feel there is anything radical or visionary to warrant the “reimagination” of work promised in the title. Setting up processes for repeatable work, using task boards, reducing people synchronisation by giving them autonomy - none of that is new or cutting-edge. It’s common sense applied to motivated people. It is a good book, it highlights an important problem, it is well written - but I am not sure if it can spark a revolution. Still, food for thought. Recommended. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #61,744 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #51 in Social Aspects of Technology #95 in Communication Skills #284 in Business Management (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,854 Reviews | ## Images ![A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71gVwx5HXaL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clarity and action plan toward better work structuring *by K***R on November 2, 2025* This is, as usual, a Cal Newport classic - extremely well researched, clearly thought out and organised, and presented with clear actionable steps toward better structuring of knowledge work. The book gives a new and clear perspective on why we use email the way we do, and how to move toward a much more efficient, less fragmented, more satisfying, less overwhelming style of work. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Email is just a symptom *by J***N on March 30, 2021* I have bought this book on impulse, seeing the eponymous phrase “World without email” which seems to suggest that email is a menace worthy of nothing short of eradication. Not feeling particularly oppressed myself, I was wondering what exactly is the problem Cal Newport attributes to emails and what the “reimagining” is about. While the book turned out to be highly enjoyable, full of good insights and not that much anti-technology, I am not sold on the author’s belief that electronic communication is stifling the effectiveness of work. Our habits are. It is true that you can spend the whole day in your inbox. You can feel productive - so many messages sent! So many people can see how responsive you are! - without actually delivering much in the whole day. You can offload work to other people just by clicking “reply”. You can FYI everyone in the team (and beyond) in a pretense that their silence means agreement. All of that is easy with email, and all of that is oftentimes unnecessary. We are inundated with excessive messages. Cal - in the first part of the book - traces the reasons to the fundamental property of email being vastly quicker and cheaper than paper letters or phone calls. Couple that with our innate tendency to respond to social cues, the reasoning goes, and no wonder the inbox became the place we visit every couple minutes. The author claims this reinforcing relation between the electronic communication and human psychology to be so strong that he uses the argument of “technological determinism”. Back in the nineties, the offices switching from paper to email expected reductions of time spent on communication, but it turned out the volume of messaging increased dramatically, kept growing ever since and became the new normal in the office work. But, I dare to say, we are not losing precious time and attention on corporate spam because email - as a technology - destined us to do so. I believe the whole situation is just convenient to many employees, who would not have that much to do if emails stopped flowing in. Moreover, many organisations are toxic, with people fearing of being judged as slackers without email trail justifying their efforts. Last, but not least - engaging in email threads is easier than actual knowledge work. I believe that rather than the effortlessness of the technology, it is the prevalent office conformism and minimisation of mental effort that lead to excessive time spent on emails. As Cal notices, “the underlying value of the constant electronic communication that defines modern work is never questioned”. This value is low - but it’s part of the common landscape, and it is rather a minority of people who tend to question how their companies work. On the other hand, there are some people who do value uninterrupted time - mainly in the knowledge-based jobs (where quality suffers greatly from interruptions); the second part of the publication is devoted to existing communication/collaboration techniques used in IT, engineering and scientific organisations. While I have some doubts about the reasoning shown in the “why email hurts us” part of the book, it was more enjoyable to read than the “solutions” part, which is perfectly in order but felt just a bit dull. Moreover, I don’t feel there is anything radical or visionary to warrant the “reimagination” of work promised in the title. Setting up processes for repeatable work, using task boards, reducing people synchronisation by giving them autonomy - none of that is new or cutting-edge. It’s common sense applied to motivated people. It is a good book, it highlights an important problem, it is well written - but I am not sure if it can spark a revolution. Still, food for thought. Recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Let's fight back against the tyranny of email! Cal, lead us! *by J***L on March 3, 2021* I received this book TODAY and have been tearing through it. I can always rely on Cal to produce high-quality argument-type books, which identify serious, modern-day problems (usually related to human cognition, concentration and productivity) and then propose solutions. His prior book, Digital Minimalism, was my favorite book of 2019. The clarity in Cal's thinking is second to none. He is garnering a rabid fan base because of his demonstrable success as he practices what he preaches. I just discovered his podcast (Deep Questions), and absolutely love that too. He speaks like he writes: with precision and wisdom; Every word is concise and useful. And of course, his blog is central to his hive of followers, which I have not consumed that much of to be honest. But I read is prior works of Digital Minimalism, Deep Work, and So Good they Can't Ignore You. They were all extremely satisfying reads. You'll love his work if you like personal development, self-actualization, productivity, and living an intentional, well-balanced life. I'm a sucker for research books on the effects of modern-day consumer tech. And Cal owns this space. He puts his professorial research skills to use as a purveyor of desperately needed insights in a world dominated by distraction. We check our email inboxes every six minutes. Email has "transformed our workflow" under our noses. It's a "radical shift" in work culture, which has amounted to a drag on productivity. It's a "constant state of unease in a low-grade background of humdrum anxiety." Those are just a couple of gem, hard-hitting quotes you'll find in this book. Consistent with his other books, Cal keeps the table of contents simple and efficient. It has two parts: 1) The Case Against Email and 2) Principles in a World without Email. I'm a practicing lawyer and I very much appreciate Cal's thesis type of writing. His prose has always been crisp, punchy, and persuasive. He comes across in all mediums as honest, smart, and prescient. I will check back in when I finish the book, or will post my final review on Goodreads. Cal, thank you SO much. I've been telling my friends that I've been waiting for your follow-up to Digital Minimalism. I learned of this book through your podcast feature on Todd Henry's Accidental Creative. ## Frequently Bought Together - A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload - Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout - Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.kr/products/254944807-a-world-without-email-reimagining-work-in-an-age-communication](https://www.desertcart.kr/products/254944807-a-world-without-email-reimagining-work-in-an-age-communication) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Korea* *Store origin: KR* *Last updated: 2026-09-04*