135: Monotasking, Reading, and Building Home Libraries with Thatcher Wine

Feb 6, 2025

Thatcher Wine, a creative entrepreneur and the founder of Juniper Books, discusses the modern role of books and the joy of book curation. He shares insights on creating custom libraries for celebrities and finding time to read amidst distractions. Thatcher highlights the power of monotasking to enhance productivity and reading experiences, emphasizing mindfulness in the digital age. The conversation also touches on how personal interests shape coffee table books and the impact of influential authors like Kurt Vonnegut and Anthony Bourdain.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

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The Art of Monotasking and Book Curation

01:50 • 16min

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Exploring Personal Interests Through Coffee Table Books and the Impact of Social Media on Reading

18:11 • 3min

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Mastering Focus: Reading and Monotasking

21:22 • 15min

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Pioneering Culinary Innovation: A Childhood in a New York Restaurant

36:23 • 2min

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Exploring Influential Literature and Authors

38:37 • 3min

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For the Love of Books

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

Kitchen Confidential

Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Anthony Bourdain

Kitchen Confidential is a memoir and industry commentary that offers a candid, often humorous look at the less glamorous aspects of high-end restaurant kitchens. Bourdain shares his personal experiences, including his struggles with drug addiction and his rise through the culinary ranks. The book is structured as a collection of anecdotes and includes practical advice on the cooking trade, as well as warnings to consumers about restaurant practices. It captures the intense, often chaotic world of professional kitchens and explains why people are drawn to this demanding profession despite its challenges.

#2318

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Cat's cradle

Kurt Vonnegut

#369

• Mentioned in 44 episodes

Slaughterhouse-five

Kurt Vonnegut

This novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a chaplain's assistant in the U.S. Army during World War II. Billy becomes 'unstuck in time' and experiences his life out of order, including his time as a prisoner of war in Dresden during the Allied firebombing. The book is a powerful anti-war statement, blending Vonnegut's own experiences with science fiction elements, such as Billy's abduction by aliens from Tralfamadore. It explores themes of post-traumatic stress, the absurdity of war, and the human condition, using Vonnegut's characteristic black humor and fatalistic tone.

#10885

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Breakfast of Champions

Kurt Vonnegut

Published in 1973, 'Breakfast of Champions' is Kurt Vonnegut’s seventh novel. It is set in the fictional town of Midland City, Ohio, and focuses on two main characters: Dwayne Hoover, a wealthy car dealer on the verge of insanity, and Kilgore Trout, a science fiction writer. The novel is known for its unique style, which includes simple syntax, irony, black humor, and didacticism. Vonnegut himself appears as a narrator, using metafiction to explain and manipulate the narrative. The book critiques various aspects of American society, including war, sex, racism, success, politics, and pollution. It also features drawings by Vonnegut, which illustrate various aspects of life on Earth.

David speaks with Thatcher Wine, a creative entrepreneur, writer and book curator. He is the Founder & CEO of Juniper Books, a company that creates custom book collections and designs special book sets. He is the author of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better that provides a clear and accessible plan for life in the 21st century and also the coauthor of For the Love of Books: Designing and Curating a Home Library.

They talked about:

📚 The evolving role of books in modern life

🏛️ Creating custom libraries for celebrities

⏰ Finding time to read in a busy world

💫 The art of book curation

🧠 The power of monotasking

📱 Breaking free from digital distractions

For the Love of Books | https://amzn.to/4hkM27k

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain | https://amzn.to/4hJWx3Z

Kurt Vonnegut | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse Five | https://amzn.to/413w6Az

Cat's Cradle | https://amzn.to/3Q5bu4C

Breakfast of Champions | https://amzn.to/433jVp9

The Quilted Giraffe Restaurant | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quilted_Giraffe

👤 Connect with Thatcher:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatcherwine/

Website: https://www.thatcherwine.com/about

👨🏾‍💻 About David Elikwu:

David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist, and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people think deeper and work smarter.

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135: Monotasking, Reading, and Building Home Libraries with Thatcher Wine

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