Discussions on these topics is often not very nuanced. I think before talking about problems of distraction and/or the inability to maintain deep concentration we should dissect the premise of the original problem.
For me, for example, it is being socially self-conscious that hinders deep concentration in what I'm trying to study or work on. E.g., if my classmate is trying to help me and somewhere in his helping me I am lost, I will become increasingly more lost because my brain is then a) concerned about making me look stupid, b) afraid of disappointing the helper, etc. The other distraction for me is one where I'm thrown off a tangent in thoughts by a certain hook -- e.g., thinking further about a 'thing' that was just passively mentioned in a lecture, and just wandering very far off with it.
I can very well analyze my problems, at least I think so -- but it's damn hard to come up with a strategy to get at them. I think I am capable of maintaining deep concentration -- I think most people are, and I think that's verifiable by doing something that you already are good at -- you'll notice that if you do do it you won't be distracted as easily; you will maintain deep concentration.
This concludes the problem with me (and I think, for most people) to not be with deep concentration, but the will power.
I can recommend the book. I've read it the day it came out. Of course, it's some kind of compilation of the stuff you could already read on Leo's homepage. But anyway: it can't be wrong if you read about the same thing twice.
I love Leos work. Along with Tim Ferris, Randy Gage and George Leonard (wrote the great book "Mastery") he has been one of my most important teachers as an adult.
I think the "uncopyrighted" statement could be misleading.
Does Leo really intend to mean that the free version of the book is being released into the public domain or is he simply highlighting the fact that it's not locked down with DRM. No DRM does not equal no copyright and works shouldn't have to be in the public domain to be shared by people.
Leo "uncopyrighted" pretty much everything a few years back, including all of his blog content as well. In fact, he doesn't even require attribution when copied. I've talked to him about it and he said not only has it not hurt him, he feels like it's been a huge benefit to his growth
For me, for example, it is being socially self-conscious that hinders deep concentration in what I'm trying to study or work on. E.g., if my classmate is trying to help me and somewhere in his helping me I am lost, I will become increasingly more lost because my brain is then a) concerned about making me look stupid, b) afraid of disappointing the helper, etc. The other distraction for me is one where I'm thrown off a tangent in thoughts by a certain hook -- e.g., thinking further about a 'thing' that was just passively mentioned in a lecture, and just wandering very far off with it.
I can very well analyze my problems, at least I think so -- but it's damn hard to come up with a strategy to get at them. I think I am capable of maintaining deep concentration -- I think most people are, and I think that's verifiable by doing something that you already are good at -- you'll notice that if you do do it you won't be distracted as easily; you will maintain deep concentration.
This concludes the problem with me (and I think, for most people) to not be with deep concentration, but the will power.