The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better

by Thatcher Wine

Reclaim your attention, productivity, and happiness with this “captivating, informative and beautifully written” book by learning how to keep your focus on one familiar task at a time (Nate Berkus).

Modern life is full of to-do lists, all-consuming technology and the constant pressure to be doing and striving for more. What if you could train your brain to focus on one thing at a time? What if the secret to better productivity involved doing less, not more? 
 
Drawing on research in psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness, The Twelve Monotasks provides a clear and accessible plan for life in the twenty-first century. Practice resisting distractions and building focus by doing the things you already do—like reading, sleeping, eating, and listening—with renewed attention. For example, the next time you go for a walk, don’t try to run an errand or squeeze in a phone call, but instead, notice the cool breeze on your face and the plants and birds that may cross your path. Immerse yourself in the activity and let time melt away, even if you’re only actually out for 20 minutes. Notice how much clearer your head feels when you return home. This is the magic of monotasking. With monotasking you will:


Become more productive
Produce higher quality work
Reduce stress 
And increase happiness.
 
Thatcher Wine’s The Twelve Monotasks will help you do one thing at a time, and do it well, so you can enjoy all of your life!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Productivity, Personal Development, Audiobook, Business, Psychology

263 pages, Hardcover

Published December 7, 2021

About the author

Thatcher is a creative entrepreneur, the author of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better, and the coauthor of For the Love of Books: Designing and Curating a Home Library. He is the founder and CEO of Juniper Books, a company based in Boulder, Colorado, that specializes in custom curated libraries and beautifully designed book sets.

Thatcher has long been an advocate for reading as a form of self-care and a means to build focus in the digital age, concepts that form part of the foundation of The Twelve Monotasks. While defending the place of printed books in our culture for the past twenty years, Thatcher has also sought to reinvent their creative potential. He has spoken widely about books and libraries including a TED Talk called “The Books We Keep, the Stories We Tell.”

Thatcher’s monotasking philosophy took shape as he grew Juniper Books and weathered numerous personal challenges, including a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. From a childhood in the restaurant business to the rise and fall of his internet startup in his twenties, Thatcher’s experiences have informed and refined his ideas on living with focus and purpose.

Thatcher lives in Colorado and loves to spend time with his two children and play on the slopes and trails whenever possible. For more information and to contact the author, please visit monotasking.tips and juniperbooks.com.

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really should have been a short article. Wine gives a chapter to each thing he says we should monotask (give our full attention to): Reading, Walking, Listening, Sleeping, Eating, Getting There, Learning, Teaching, Playing, Seeing, Creating, and Thinking. Now next time you're doing one of those things, pay your full attention to them. There, saved you some time that you can now use on monotasking. 😉

Seriously, he makes a good case for why each one is important to really focus on and then he gives some rather weird assignments we're supposed to play along with (no). It's worth skimming if you need to remember why those things are good to do on their own, but it feels overlabored. A bullet list with a paragraph on why each matters would have worked for me.

PS I misread a Goodread friends review earlier when I was still reading this myself and thought he said there was a chapter on wine. I was so excited that one of the last two chapters I had left was on monotasking wine! LOL Sadly, no, that's the author's name. That made me realize how many chapters I'd add on my own list for important things to monotask. Okay, not really wine but relaxation, good company, exercise, nature, humor.... Perhaps the main point should just be to stop multitasking so much and be mindful, period.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[Kelly]

This one is worth skimming, though you don't need to read in depth. Mostly, a nice reminder of the value of doing certain tasks like reading, eating, walking, thinking, listening, etc., in their own right, without trying to do something else simultaneously.

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some valid principles in this book, but I question whether it needed to be a book instead of an essay or an article. If you're already conversant with the concept of mindfulness and have tried to implement it in your life, this book almost certainly won't have anything remarkable to tell you.

At times it got to feeling overly earnest. Sometimes the suggestions given for how to "monotask" certain activities felt performative, awkward, or too detailed. And when it occasionally encouraged the reader to dictate the habits of friends and family members, I was downright annoyed (make an agreement that no one in the car is allowed to use their phone so that everyone can "enjoy" the journey--what?? maybe you don't have the right to insist on that!).

I wholeheartedly believe in the value of focusing on what you're doing, and staying present in the moment. But I think if you're committed to doing that, you probably don't need an entire book obsessively instructing you about how to do it, and how to irritate the people around you in the process.

That said, if you're new to the concept of mindfulness, you might find *some* of the explanations in this book informative.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Co. for this digital review copy.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this while doing my taxes. As a working mother there is no way I can live life without multitasking.

[Robert R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privy to a review copy of this book. The concepts the author puts forth seem simple - and they are - but that's the beauty of it. His logic and clear writing style is refreshingly accessible and he presents in such way that it's like having a conversation with a friend. I can see how paying attention to the tasks and exercises in this book can really help with one's focus and attention to detail. And, unlike the exercises espoused in many self help books and theories out there, monotasking is a way of looking at things and activities that can be easily adapted by anyone, no matter how busy, frazzled or consumed you may feel. It's a cumulative growth of abilities, and doesn't require an all or nothing commitment. This is a game changer.

[Vaida Kurpiene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labai aiški knygos mintis - daryti vieną darbą vienu metu, bent x minučių.

Pastaraisiais metais metais pastebėjau, kad per dieną padarau mažiau nei įprastai ir sprendimas ne tokie vykę kaip anksčiau, o streso lygis - pakilo. Nors šalia esantiems vis tiek atrodo, kad darau daugybę dalykų ir padarau, bet lyginu save su savimi. Ir noriu grįžti į ankstesnę aš.

Pradėjau save stebėti ir matau, kad blaškausi nuo vieno darbo prie kito. Kai anksčiau koncentruodavausi, padarydavai viena darbą ir tada imuosi kito. Dabar ne. Tam įtakos turi ir nuolat kompiuteryje šokinėjančios messenger žinutės, ir skambučiai, ir mano smegenys nuolat "šokinėja", o galvoje sukasi nesuskaičiuojamas kiekis darbų.

Tad jau nuo vasaros dedu pastangas grįžti į pradinę būseną ir mažiau mėtytis. Galvojau bus paprasčiau. Bet vis "atkritimai įvyksta". Nes elgiuosi taip automatiškai, o tuomet pataisoma sunkiausia. Bet pamažu sekasi vis geriau. Kur pastanga, ten ir rezultatas.

Man asmeniškai knyga, padėta svetainėje pasitarnavo daugiau kaip priminimas į tai koncentruotis.

Skaitosi lengvai. Skaityti rekomenduočiau po skyrių per savaitę ar net per kelias, nes kiekvienas skyrius turi savo užduotis. Jų nedariau, nors ne visai tiesa. Dalį dariau intuityviai nuo vasaros, dar neskaičiusi knygos. Pavyzdžiui, vaikščioti be telefono ir stebėti aplinką. Vairuojant tik vairuoti.

Kitos užduotys, nurodytos šioje knygoje yra mano tiesioginis darbas, pavyzdžiui, mokyti. Jį darau tik monotaskingo metodu, nes kitaip nebūtų rezultato.

Bet vien mąstymas apie tai ir dėmesys šiai temai naudingas. Tad pasidalinsiu savo patirtimi, o knygoje kitais žodžiais tai irgi aprašyta.

Faktas, kad kai koncentruojiesi į x darbą vienu metu didėja pasitenkinimas, vakare apima jausmas, kad puikiai padirbėjai, o asmeniniuose santykiuose labiau jautiesi išgirstas ir išgirdęs.

Be to, vakare mažiau būnu pavargusi, o ir nuotaika - geresnė.

[Alanawiens · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that could have been an article.

[Lindie ✦ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly dry, but a quick read. Used it to put me to sleep before bed. Could have been a blog post and I didn’t learn anything.

[Heather Neyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In these days of near constant tech-heavy multi-tasking, I found this concept refreshing. It was harder to do than I expected in the beginning but the rules are incredibly simple, easy to follow, and once practiced, it was clear that it was something my brain needed - especially the walking. Looking forward to more practice in the new year!

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE TWELVE MONOTASKS ABOUT?
We live in a society that celebrates the multitaskers, those who seemingly do a half-dozen things at once—while posting about it on Twitter/Instagram/etc. We feel inadequate if we're not at that level—and if we are, we should be pushing for more. Thatcher Wine wants to call us back—at least some of the time, not necessarily all the time--to a more straightforward, more focused (remember focus?) way of life and work. Arguably, this would be a healthier and less stressed way of life as well.

Using research from Neuroscience, Psychology, and insights from mindfulness practices, Wine outlines Twelve things to focus on—monotasks—Reading, Walking, Listening, Slppeing, Eating, Getting THere, Learning, Teaching, Playing, Seeing, Creating, and Thinking. After making his case of "The Art and Science of Monotasking," Wine spends one chapter on each monotask, describing and defining it, showing its benefits, and giving some exercises to help the reader start practicing the task. He then gives a couple of wrap-up chapters—encouragements to practice these (and other monotasks) and reminders of the benefits.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
I really like this idea—I know I need to focus more and this approach seems like a good way to build that ability.

Some of the chapters seemed more attractive to me, as well as easier to fit into at least my life—the Walking, Eating, Seeing, and Playing chapters really stood out. Oh, and, obviously, the Reading chapter—that's a given, right? It was a great way to start that part of the book. I'm not saying I thought the others were a waste of time or anything, but I read these chapters and immediately identified how I could easily make that part of my life and what the benefits would be. I bet most readers will have a few chapters like that, too—ones that jump out at them as being good fits—their lists will vary from mine, but they'll have theirs.

The chapters laying out the individual monotasks are arranged the same—by the third you know where you're going to find what—the explanations, the benefits, the challenges, the practical exercises. It's a firm outline and easy to use.

Overall, for me, one of the biggest selling points of the book is that it provides a different vocabulary for what's likely a good idea. I've read a few books and taken a few classes on dealing with stress, emotional wellness, etc. lately—one recurring idea was mindfulness, being present, and so on. There was something about the language that bothered me. I liked the concepts, but the pseudo-spirituality/pseudo-psychological terms it was couched it didn't sit right with me. I always felt like I was being silly in not being comfortable with them, but it was a real stumbling block for me. Now, Wine's monotasking isn't the same idea—but they're compatible, really compatible. But his approach, his terminology comes without the touchy-feely connotation—making it more palatable to many readers (I can't imagine I'm the only one).

A FEW PROBLEMS
While there were a few chapters that jumped out at me as being easily useful and adopted, there were a few that didn't seem that easy to work into my life—and I'm not sure that Wine convinced me would be that helpful for me: Travel, Thinking, and Teaching. It's possible—maybe even likely—that once I do the exercises, I'll change my mind.

For some of the monotasks (and those three are good examples, again, your results may vary), I really had to wonder how universally adoptable they'd be. For example—I commute alone, in the dark (one way)—I can't do a lot of what he suggests in the Travel chapter. Some of the others seem more geared toward people like Wine—the self-employed, business owners, or managerial types—all with a degree of affluence. People who are at the low end of the corporate ladder, don't have the freedom or ability to do a lot of this. It doesn't take down the whole system, but it's a chink in the armor.

On the more nitty-gritty end of things, there's a lack of variety in personal anecdotes that Wine uses. There are three formative events in his life that he uses as the basis for observation, for personal examples, etc. Were I him, I'd probably base most things I say off of those same events/experiences. It just makes the reading seem repetitive. This isn't an attack or a problem with the system he's proposing, it just makes the reading a bit duller.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE TWELVE MONOTASKS?
As always, I'm trying not to evaluate the arguments or thesis—my goal is to talk about the reading experience. That said, if I was going to evaluate Wine's arguments and proposed methods—it'd be a pretty positive assessment. This is definitely the kind of book I'm likely to return to, but more on that in a minute.

The problem with evaluating the reading experience is that I didn't read it the way Wine intended. Once you get to Part II, "The Twelve Monotaks," the reader is supposed to take them one chapter at a time. Read about the task, take in the guidance and practice it before moving on to the next. I didn't have that kind of time between the publicist and today (even if I waited until release day, I wouldn't have). But I can imagine how that would work—and it'd be better than plowing through it as I did.

But even plowing through without the breaks take each in turn with some practice, I got a pretty good idea of how it should work. It seems like a solid approach, one that's not overwhelming either—rather than trying to work in 12 or so new disciplines into your life, go for one. And then another. It's the camel nose in the tent approach. I can see that when I return to this in the coming months, slowly bringing in each task to my life is going to work much better than diving in and trying to add all twelve at once.

A lofty goal—helping people learn/relearn/recapture the ability to focus in a world full of distraction—and a common-sense approach to pursue it. It's the makings of a good read—whether the method is successful or not is probably up to the reader. But Wine gives the tools in an attractive, easy-to-read manner.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Little, Brown & Co. via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

[Haze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't groundbreaking by any means, but it is simple and helpful, and I think that's also very important. It presents information, examples, and exercises in a way that is very easy-to-read-and-absorb, which honestly, is exactly what we need when it comes to the topic of simplifying things in a world that has normalized complicating everything.

I like that the author doesn't preach monotasking, and that he recognizes that it makes sense to multitask certain things sometimes, but I think the book is a great reminder for us that we don't have to multitask everything and become slaves to productivity, and that sometimes it is okay to take our time and enjoy doing one thing at a time. For our sanity.

[Alin Dragu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I enjoy books like this very much so but this book was not enjoyable.

I actually think the tasks he points out are solid and there are some good points but this book didn’t make me think or see differently. It didn’t inspire me.

It just told me stuff. It’s so dry. I found myself skimming through so much content trying to find interesting portions.

The book feels forced, honesty. Like trying so hard to be simply write a book and bloat it with information instead of writing 12 blog posts.

I don’t recommend it. Clearly.

Bummer this book wasn’t executed well.

[Trace Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

Focus on one thing at a time. There is no such thing as multi-tasking. Bring your full attention to the thing at hand. Quality over quantity. Not sure this needed a whole book to say that.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Twelve Monotasks encourages readers to ditch their multitasking habits and focus on monotasking, which is doing one thing at a time. The book teaches us how to bring our attention to one thing at a time and train ourselves to pay attention to everything in our lives so we can call upon our monotasking muscles when we need them, whether it is a task, a conversation, or a hobby. The book lays out an easy-to-follow plan that helps us follow this method in our daily lives.

Monotasking is not about doing less in life; it's about doing everything but one thing at a time. I love the whole idea behind this book. I loved all the different tips and tricks and ways of thinking about how to be the most efficient. This book teaches us that we can learn how to be fully present in our bodies and our minds. This book and the idea of monotasking give us permission to enjoy every moment in life, one moment at a time.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/tha...

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this monotasking book and I feel like its effects are going to stay with me forever. I own my company with clients around the world in every time zone, and am always "on". I always secretly prided myself on incessant multi-tasking, not attributing it to the inevitable (even temporary) burnout. This book is awesome - it's a fast read that quickly explains the benefits of monotasking conceptually - and then moves on to offer really manageable steps to show you how to focus on one thing at a time. I'm not a fan of overwhelming wellness programs that are unrealistic in ask. This book's advice is so perfectly bite-sized - you don't feel like you're immediately failing. It's just the opposite - you just focus on making one tiny change at a time, and it made me feel great about myself. Can't wait to keep it going. Highly recommend for busy, productivity-obsessed people - it's already been a game changer for me.

[Mindset Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past few days, I was reading this new book called "The Twelve Monotasks" which focuses on the twelve tasks that you should do every day to build your monotask muscles.🧠

The Monotask is simply to perform one activity at a time so that you can do it effectively with your full attention. 💪

Each of the monotask in this book is about bringing your attention to one thing at a time, then carrying that ability to focus on other activities and throughout your life. 🔥

The book teaches you how to perform each of these monotasking step by step so that you can get better at it doing every day.

The key to each of the Monotasks is to do the task and nothing else. 🙂

Thatcher Wine has written an incredible book on how to do our everyday tasks more effectively with our full intention. This book helped me to avoid multitasking and do "Monotasking" which I'll be using in my everyday activity.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. This is not a book to read just because you want to set fleeting New Years resolutions (though by all means if that’s how you’ve found it then great!). The chapters in this book contain tips, practices, and philosophies for a lifetime. I realized while reading that I’ve actually been craving monotasking in so many areas of my life during these times when burnout, distraction, and chronic stress are so prevalent. As a millennial who grew up being taught that multitasking was a prized quality (especially when applying to jobs), this book offers some relief to all the multitasking burnout that’s built up in my life (and I’m sure I’m not the only one!).

I now have new tools to help improve my well-being on a new level. Not without lots of practice ahead, but this one’s going on the “keep” shelf.

[Kyle Govert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't give me as much as I thought it would. Much of it was obvious. I've read a number of books lately about productivity, relationships, social interactions, etc. And this book continues to say the same thing: cell phones are destroying us mentally and physically and take away from all of our relationships.

[Sandra Greenway · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where there are a million things vying for your attention, it's refreshing to read a book that encourages putting your phone down, reading to your children and focusing your mind on every day activities that calm your spirit and sharpen your mind.

[Elizabeth Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you start the new year with any book, this is the one! Thatcher Wine has written a true gem, one to be passed along to absolutely everyone, regardless of age. Wine's message is profound, made the more so through its simplicity! This book is incredibly grounding and provides avenues for each of us to quiet the chaos, deepen connections with loved ones and, most importantly, find joy in simply doing one task at a time.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book reminded me of how many mistakes I make when I rush through things or try to do too much at once. It outlined another way to approach my daily life and everything I want to accomplish and inspired me to do things differently.

[Jason Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book and it was incredibly well thought out and written, a lot of the advice will be too difficult to apply in my own lifestyle (and I disagree with some) - but the message is clear and accurate.

[CJ Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute game changer for me. As an entrepreneur, mom of kids with special needs and someone always seeking nuggets of truth and light in this world, this book floored me with its practical magic. It gave me easily accessible everyday monotasking skills that strengthened my ability to focus, create and grow in all areas of my life. Highly recommend!

[Hazel Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending decades as a "multi-tasker," this book has encouraged me to mono task - with ease, efficiency, calm, and achievement. Wow. Loving all of the advice and its thoroughness, guidance, and research-backed and practical methods. As a spiritual life coach, I am looking forward to incorporating this into how I guide clients to reach their goals, with more centeredness and success!

[Stephanie Farmwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice to help you do everyday tasks well and with intention.

[Sokcheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no doubt its a useful book. Unfortunately, i skipped through the last 2/3rd of the book because i was not learning anything new from the book because of my knowledge on mindfulness practises. Monotasking and being mindful seem to be two ways of describing the same thing...

[Mikala]

DNF 48%. While aspects of this were very insightful (I particularly enjoyed the very first Monotask discussed about reading!), I found that each subsequent Monotask to follow became more repetitive and over-stated. The same principals were applied to every Monotask, to the point where if you read one you felt as though you had read them all. It seemed like the writer was grasping at straws to make this into a fully formed novel, so within later tasks there was so much redundancy included. Sentences began reading like laundry lists.

Since I felt that I had received everything I needed from this book within the first 10%, I regret reading even a far as I did...

"Our attention is a prized possession. And yet we tend to give it away for free." 💯

[Dovilė Pankevičienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daugybė žmonių dirba prie įvairių algoritmų, kad patrauktų mūsų dėmesį ir ateityje dėmesio trikdžių bus vis daugiau, todėl reikia mokintis nuo to atsiriboti.

[Moryma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have made a compelling article. The author is affable but the book reads like a student trying to make a word count threshold so he can turn in an assignment.

[Palmer Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colleague received an early copy of this book and suggested I read it, I am very glad that I did! I always thought in order to succeed I had to multitask and do as many things as I could at any given moment, but after reading the book I realized I needed to make some changes. If I could just slow down and focus on one task at a time, I could save time and improve the quality of my work. And not only did my work-life improve, so did my personal relationships. Since I've started to practice the art of mono-tasking outlined in this book, I am more present when talking with friends and family and walking away from conversations with a fuller appreciation of the interaction. I offer my highest recommendation for this book! ~ PG