Cal Newport explains why we are getting dumber in Episode 369 of the Deep Questions podcast. Buy Cal Newport's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow IQ scores had been steadily rising since WWII, but, in recent years, this phenomenon has slowed. In fact, since 2010, we’ve actually been getting dumber! A phenomenon known as the Reverse Flynn Effect. In this episode, Cal explores a common theory for this effect before then offering a new theory that offers hope for those looking to avoid the march toward stupidity. He then answers listener questions and checks in on the news about phones in schools. Download my FREE Deep Life Guide HERE: https://bit.ly/3QBIcug Listen to Episode Here: https://www.thedeeplife.com/listen/ Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Links: Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000156 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4jW8MOxIKY https://www.rebeccaschiffman.com/beachvacation rebeccaschiffman.bandcamp.com https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/school-cell-phone-ban-nyc.html Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.oracle.com/deepquestions https://www.indeed.com/deep https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions Connect with Cal Newport: 🔴Visit Cal's BLOG and website: https://calnewport.com/blog/ 🔴Check out Cal's books: https://calnewport.com/writing/ 🔴Check out The Deep Life: https://thedeeplife.com About Cal Newport: Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal's particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives. Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He's also the creator of The Time-Block Planner. The videos are considered to be used under the "Fair Use Doctrine" of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don't use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies. #CalNewport #DeepWork #DeepLife #DeepQuestions #TimeblockPlanner #WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast