I have no stance in this philosophical debate. My interest in this matter instead veers toward a thesis of much more pragmatic and individualized interest:

1. stance

Your stance on a particular matter is your attitude to it. (对某事的) 态度; 立场

I learn to use it in situations like where I have no right or preference to judge something. 

Benn is a smart guy. He graduated from an elite college (the University of Virginia) with a degree in economics, and like many in his situation he had ambitions for his career.

2. like many in his situation

This phrase could be used in similar situations when you want to describe a person or a group of people who have something in common.     

Most new developers dedicate a four-year college education to learning the ropes before their first job—and even then, competition for the best spots is fierce. 

3. learn the ropes 

就是我们所说的摸到门道，外行不了解内情所以这个表达可以在我们讲类似情形的时候使用。

4. competition for the best spots is fierce

I can totally understand and as if I can feel the fierce again when I see this sentence. Next time we can describe the competition people competing for the same spot by using this sentence. 

Most knowledge workers, however, as I argued earlier in this introduction, have lost their ability to perform deep work. Benn was no exception to this trend. 

5. be no exception to …

I’m no exception to the lazy group who’s always be willing to lay on the sofa watching TV after dinner. 

I learnt a lot expressions from this chapter to describe similar situations I may have encountered in my real life. 

“I was always getting on the Internet and checking my e-mail; I couldn’t stop myself; it was a compulsion,” Benn said, describing himself during the period leading up to his quitting his finance job. 

What a familiar and similar compulsion! I bet you have the same feeling as I do too. Everyday I have the experience of checking my wechat messages and moments that always made me wonder how did I spend my day! My colleagues have the same feeling! How did we spend our day? No wonder we need deep work ASAP to get rid of shallow work all the time.