Helpful Score: 9
Interesting take on decluttering. The fundamentals are the same (toss, give, repair boxes, etc.) as most other books on the topic, but the coverage of impact of clutter on various parts of one's life is fascinating. Inspiring read.
Helpful Score: 8
Karen Kingston has an interesting take on clutter. In this book, she writes about clearning many kinds of clutter, not just physical "stuff" clutter. She introduces Feng Shui, but doesn't explain it in great detail. The main thought regarding physical clutter is that the energy in your house (or other space) is blocked by the clutter, and that by clearing the clutter, the energy will flow better.
The chapter "Clutter and the Feng Shui Bagua" seemed to me to be the only part of the book that really connected Feng Shui and clutter together. I found some helpful information there, but wish it had gone into more detail and explanation. The rest of the book is much less focused. It seems that the author was trying to write a self-help book for any and all kinds of clutter that may exist in a person's life. The whole book seems to touch on different types of clutter (as included on the cover: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) and how they inter-relate, but it doesn't go very deep.
This book was easy to read quickly and is worth the time, even if you don't share the author's spiritual/metaphysical beliefs. It is written in first person from her to "you", and is interspersed with her personal experiences of clearing clutter and comments on her workshops and professional "space clearing" experiences.
The chapter "Clutter and the Feng Shui Bagua" seemed to me to be the only part of the book that really connected Feng Shui and clutter together. I found some helpful information there, but wish it had gone into more detail and explanation. The rest of the book is much less focused. It seems that the author was trying to write a self-help book for any and all kinds of clutter that may exist in a person's life. The whole book seems to touch on different types of clutter (as included on the cover: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) and how they inter-relate, but it doesn't go very deep.
This book was easy to read quickly and is worth the time, even if you don't share the author's spiritual/metaphysical beliefs. It is written in first person from her to "you", and is interspersed with her personal experiences of clearing clutter and comments on her workshops and professional "space clearing" experiences.
Helpful Score: 6
Not just a book for achieving a clutter-free house, but a clutter-free life. Declutter your body, your emotions and your spirit - very inspirational.
Helpful Score: 5
An excellent book to inspire you to rid yourself of unnecessary objects. A cure for the common pack rat!
Helpful Score: 4
Motivating book for clearing clutter. Explains the unseen effect clutter has on many facets of your life.
While I disagree with the author's philosphy and many of her opinions in regards reality, I nonetheless found the book interesting and helpful.
While I disagree with the author's philosphy and many of her opinions in regards reality, I nonetheless found the book interesting and helpful.
Helpful Score: 3
I buy organization books in the hope that they will wear off on me and somehow make ME organized. Usually that doesn't work. "Clear Your Clutter" didn't clear mine, but Ms. Kingston give give me some helpful hints to get started AND gave a reasonable explanation of feng shui, no small feat.
Helpful Score: 3
A small book that packs a lot of great information on how to create a better living space; provides insight on how feng shui can have far-reaching effects on your mental, emotional & spiritual state.
Helpful Score: 3
Rather well done. Since I like the concepts associated with feng shui I find a book to read now and then. The book focuses on cleaning the clutter from your life - focusing on the important few things that you really want to do as well as the people with whom you can relate. It's good advice and I found myself de-cluttering my home and the things I on which I spend my time.
There is one unneeded and silly chapter, Chapter 18 Clutter Clearing Your Body. The author should have spent discussed the importance of healthy eating and drinking water, exercise and strength training, getting plenty of rest and knowing your limits as well as stretching yourself physically and mentally in more detail.
In addition, a rather stupid example was given where the author discusses how she hated and avoided ironing until she bought the most elaborate iron she could find after which she "loved" ironing. If someone dislikes ironing that much I cannot see how one could suddenly "love" ironing!!!!! Except for these two points I would give the book four stars. Hence, the three star rating.
There is one unneeded and silly chapter, Chapter 18 Clutter Clearing Your Body. The author should have spent discussed the importance of healthy eating and drinking water, exercise and strength training, getting plenty of rest and knowing your limits as well as stretching yourself physically and mentally in more detail.
In addition, a rather stupid example was given where the author discusses how she hated and avoided ironing until she bought the most elaborate iron she could find after which she "loved" ironing. If someone dislikes ironing that much I cannot see how one could suddenly "love" ironing!!!!! Except for these two points I would give the book four stars. Hence, the three star rating.
Helpful Score: 2
just organizing my sock draw made a difference!
Helpful Score: 2
Good book. Very helpful for clearing all kinds of clutter in your home and life.
Helpful Score: 2
An excellent book for beginners
Helpful Score: 2
Loved It! Even if you don't Feng Shui it is a great book that helps you to see clutter for what it really is - Stuff sucking the life out of you. It helped me to not feel bad about letting go of stuff I didn't need or love.
Helpful Score: 1
Useful as a tool for thinking about de-cluttering your home, whether or not you hold much store by Feng Shui!
Helpful Score: 1
This book is so good I have 2 copies.
Helpful Score: 1
As one who is frightenly aware I've inherited the hoarding and clutter gene, this book was a great "cage-rattler" to stop me in my tracks. It helped me to refocus my strategy from acquiring stuff to getting rid of stuff. I refer to this book as my Cheerleader in my new game of Clutter Clearing! I, strangely, thought it would be a large-sized book with hundreds of pages (commensurate with my clutter problem!), so was startled to find it small and with only 165 pages. But then, isn't that part of Kingston's plan? Without a bunch of mumbo-jumbo clutter words, she makes her points very precisely. I was able to read this in one afternoon leaving me no excuse to start immediately on Clearing My Clutter!
What an excellent audiotape. Karen Kingston has a great british voice. She has lots of enthusiasm and excitement about her subject and it comes across when she speaks. I learned a lot by listening to what she had to say.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to throw out stuff to make their home more livable. Karen explains the reasons why people can't part with "stuff"... such as they inherited things from their relatives and they feel they 'should' keep those things even if they never use them. Or they got presents from people and would feel guilty if they gave the presents away even if they don't like them.
Clearing away those things frees up energy, which actually makes us healthier and happier. Everytime I listened to the tapes, I learned something more. The interesting thing about this book is that the author gives you permission to let go of all the things you feel guilty about giving or throwing away. When you understand your motivation for "holding on", it is so much easier to let go.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to throw out stuff to make their home more livable. Karen explains the reasons why people can't part with "stuff"... such as they inherited things from their relatives and they feel they 'should' keep those things even if they never use them. Or they got presents from people and would feel guilty if they gave the presents away even if they don't like them.
Clearing away those things frees up energy, which actually makes us healthier and happier. Everytime I listened to the tapes, I learned something more. The interesting thing about this book is that the author gives you permission to let go of all the things you feel guilty about giving or throwing away. When you understand your motivation for "holding on", it is so much easier to let go.
She is so persuasive! I always need her inspiration to dig myself out.
Extremely helpful. I followed a lot of the ideas and my space and work space feels so much more harmonious.
Good, not finished with it yet.
