Serving as deputy editor for the paper and also heading their digital strategy isTom Standage.
He previously served as the editor-in-chief ofEconomist.com, and even plays in a band when time allows.
We spoke with Tom to learn a bit about how he works.
Its old but still fast enough for me, even with lots of apps and tabs open.
I have my eye on the new MacBook.
They say its comparable to a MacBook from 2011.
For me, thats an upgrade!
At work I have a generic Dell PC with two monitors.
What apps, software, or tools cant you live without?
The sign of a mature technology is that its invisible and you only notice when it doesnt work.
The big example of that for me is cloud storage.
Well, not any more.
Or back things up.
The other tool I couldnt live without isSlack.
And we all have much emptier in-boxes as a result.
Finally, in the offline world I am a big fan of Moleskine reporters notebooks.
They are just the perfect size.
Whats your workspace setup like?
I like to keep my desk pretty tidy.
We all threw a lot away.
In general Im good at avoiding or throwing away paper.
I have a phone on my desk but rarely use it.
The best thing about my office is the view over leafy St Jamess Park.
I once read somewhere that offices should ideally have long sight lines and a view of greenery.
I am lucky to have both.
I like to switch between sitting at my desk and sitting on the chaise with a laptop.
Does that count as exercise?
Whats your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
I am a big fan of canned responses in Gmail.
The main thing, though, is not to multitask.
Whats your favorite to-do list manager?
Ive tried apps and Google docs, but its just not the same, for some reason.
I think crossing things out or checking them off is something I prefer to do on paper.
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget cant you live without and why?
My Nespresso machine, which gets me going in the morning.
I like my Kindle Paperwhite, too.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
I have a 10kg Baking Steel that goes in the oven to ensure that this is the case.
The switch from a weekly to a daily cycle.
In retrospect we had what I call the catharsis of publication every week.
I was just watchingyour TedX talkwhere you discussed how social media has historical predecessors.
That is, Twitter could fail as a business, Facebook can change their algorithms, etc.
Do other coffee houses simply spring up in their place?
When Romans exchanged papyrus rolls, or pamphlets passed between coffee houses, there wasnt this level of centralization.
But I wonder whether this state of affairs is here to stay.
It turned out that they didnt, and those proprietary walled gardens gave way to the open web.
What do you listen to while you work?
I cant listen to music with lyrics while writing or editing.
My favorite writing music is anything by theKeith Jarrett Trio.
What are you currently reading?
Im currently readingPoseidons Wakeby Alastair Reynolds, one of my favorite sci-fi authors.
Hes very good on transhumanism and augmented reality.
On the non-fiction front Im readingWhy the West Rules (For Now)by Ian Morris.
Thats essentially what I do in my own books.
Thats what I do at work.
You could say I spend my whole life trying to figure out what the future will look like.
Speaking of reading, do you read ebooks or do you prefer paper?
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
Im terrible at small talk but very happy talking to a large crowd.
How do you recharge?
Going to the coast and walking on the beach.
Playing video games with my kids.
Drinking wine with my wife.
Playing the drums.Heres my band on Spotify.
Whats your sleep routine like?
Are you a night owl or early-riser?
Im a night owl and always have been.
I rely on coffee to wake myself up.
Fill in the blank: Id love to see _____ answer these same questions.
Elon Musk or Neal Stephenson.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Ive been using all of those hacks ever since.
I think the life-hacking movement identified the easy wins early on.
Theold life-hacks are the best, it would seem.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
