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The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done (Hardcover)

by Dave Crenshaw (Author)
Key Phrases: passive interruptions, recurring meetings, The Myth of Multitasking, The Cost, The Exercise (more...)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (August 18, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470372257
ISBN-13: 978-0470372258
Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,229 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#27 in Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
passive interruptions, recurring meetings

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Myth of Multitasking, The Cost, The Exercise, The Steps, Department of Psychology, Mark Twain, Personal Systems

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	77% buy the item featured on this page: The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done 4.4 out of 5 stars (22) $13.57
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	3% buy Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity 4.4 out of 5 stars (540) $9.12

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I'd read this 10 years ago!, October 8, 2008

By	Book Lover - See all my reviews

As a busy mother of three and manager of a family business, I've spent years feeling like there is not enough time in the day, and no possible way to do everything that needs to get done. I believed that if I wanted to get anywhere in life I had to be a master "multitasker," but I was stressed-out, spun-out, and I saw no end in sight.

Today, I have to say that The Myth of Multitasking has totally changed my life.

Reading this book was a complete eye opener for me. I've learned how to examine my day, and see just where I'm losing precious time. I have to say that I was initially shocked at how ineffective I was. I was not only spinning my wheels at work, I was doing my family a huge disservice by not giving them the complete attention they deserve. Admittedly, a lifetime's worth of bad habits are hard to break, but this short fable literally gave me more time for my family, my work, and my life.

Highly recommended for anyone, but especially moms who work.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works!!!, October 27, 2008

By	happyearthmama (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This is a fabulous book that everyone should read at least once. It takes an hour or two at the most.

It's written in story form (like "E-Myth" or "The One Minute Manager"). "Phil" is a business coach who is helping "Helen" regain control and organization in her business. He takes her through a series of exercises (included in the back of the book) to show how multitasking takes MORE time than focusing on one thing at a time, and that it damages productivity and-- worse--relationships. Then he gives her some exercises to help her out of her "multitasking".

The gist of the book is: there is no such thing as multitasking. Since our brain can only focus on one thing at a time, we either switch-task (switch our focus between two or more things rapidly) or background task (focus on one task while doing another that does not require focus--like talking on the phone while sweeping the floor). Background tasking is okay at appropriate times, but most of us fall prey to switch-tasking too often.

I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I still found this book very applicable. I sat down the same day I finished it and did some of the suggested exercises. I'm into my second week of living according to these ideas, and I can tell already that I get more done. Even better--I feel much more satisfied at the end of the day because I know all of my relationships have gotten the attention I intended for them to get.

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Multi-tasking is a myth and this book does not add much, October 26, 2008

By	Bas Vodde (Singapore) - See all my reviews

"The Myth of Multi-tasking" is another business novel. This time about multi-tasking. My first response to this book was excitement. Finally, a new book on the subject of multi-tasking. I bet it will state all latest research, describe experiments done, check on the brain activity to physically prove multi-tasking is a myth etc etc. I was disappointed. None of the above is included in this book (ok, some quotes taken out of research) and instead it's an average story about a consultant helping a CEO.

The book describes the story of Phil who is called in my Helen for some reason. He convinces her that multi-tasking is not efficient (as she seemed to believe) and teaches her different ways of organizing her work so that she does not need to "switchtask" and becomes more effective. Of course, she believes the consultant, changes all her habits and her company and a happy end.

The book is easy to read. It's also small, you can read it in about an hour!! There is not much more than the above story in the book and some quotes from different research (of which some are actually interesting). One thing that annoyed me is that the author decided to rename "multi-tasking" to "switchtasking". I kept wondering why he couldn't call it simple "task switching" which is the common term for this.

The book didn't bother me. I got a couple of useful research quotes out of it and one interesting game to "prove" multitasking is inefficient. The book is small and therefore it might be easy to read. Don't expect much though. 3 stars.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for Anyone Struggling with Getting Things Done or with Attention Challenges
The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done
Time management is a struggle for many professionals and in the past, those that could multi-task were revered... Read more

Published 18 days ago by Stephanie Calahan

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy time management guide, sans multitasking
Dave Crenshaw has managed to stretch a clear, simple concept into an entire book, but it is a useful, helpful concept. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Rolf Dobelli

4.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic, but makes it's point.
A quick, easy-to-read book that makes a point without a lot of "technical proof."

In a hurry? Give this book a try. Read more

Published 2 months ago by R. J. McCabe

5.0 out of 5 stars Relevent and Useful
I found myself thinking "this is me!" many times. The great thing about this book is that it gives you very practical ways to implement its ideas. Read more

Published 7 months ago by W. S. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Destroying the illusion of doing multiple things at once...
This is the book that I've needed to read for a long time now... The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done by Dave Crenshaw. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Thomas Duff

3.0 out of 5 stars In a nutshell: No such thing
Your brain does one thing at a time. Period. Doing more than one thing on the CPU is simply stopping and starting quickly. OK. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Karen Tiede

4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing it back to the basics!
This is a great book to bring things back to basics. I already knew that multi-tasking was not something that would really help me get more done and this book helped me realize... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Todd Thurston

1.0 out of 5 stars If you like fluff...read this book.
All I can say is what a snoozer. Yet another book to add to the dozens of cookie cutter, "you're-doing-everything-wrong-and-here's-how-to-fix-it" business, self-help, I... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Bastian Hughes

5.0 out of 5 stars Uni-tasking Vindicated!
Now I know exactly why I was never able to multi-task and always referred to myself as a uni-tasker. Read more

Published 9 months ago by B. Speer

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Back Memories!
What a phenomenal book! I was having flashbacks to my first time with the certified time coach. If everyone can't have Dave in person, this is the next best thing. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Tyler Hawkins

› See all 22 customer reviews...

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