Helpful Score: 7
He begins by talking about the clutter problem in general. I especially liked the chapter in which he deals with common excuses people come up with for hanging on to their clutter.
He has room-by-room plans for clearing the clutter and month-by-month plans for maintenance.
It's a great book. As he says, "It's not about the stuff." He helps you deal with the issues behind the clutter and develop a vision of what you want your home and your life to be like.
He has room-by-room plans for clearing the clutter and month-by-month plans for maintenance.
It's a great book. As he says, "It's not about the stuff." He helps you deal with the issues behind the clutter and develop a vision of what you want your home and your life to be like.
Debra W. (debmomof6) reviewed It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
This is an absolutely wonderful book. It gets into how we let our stuff control us and what to do about it--not just organize and reorganize it, but toss it out. Even my 10-yr-old daughter got into "being brutal" when it came to cleaning her room and making a more pleasant space. A highly recommended book.
Mary R. (Meiran) reviewed It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
While I might not be a compulsive hoarder like some of the people in this book, I have a really bad problem with being a packrat.
This book is helping me completly change how I look at my stuff, and decide to get rid of things before we move to our first home. It's great advice, and almost as soon as you say "Yes but!" he has a reason why you're excuse doesn't work.
Not all the advice is perfect, but it's a great place to start. Much better than the other organizing books I've read.
This book is helping me completly change how I look at my stuff, and decide to get rid of things before we move to our first home. It's great advice, and almost as soon as you say "Yes but!" he has a reason why you're excuse doesn't work.
Not all the advice is perfect, but it's a great place to start. Much better than the other organizing books I've read.
Cindy M. (RenascenceC) reviewed It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff on + 77 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
As with most books of this type, you've probably seen most of the ideas before. But I once heard that a book like this is "worth it" if you get one good idea to take away. I got several:
-- Don't donate something to Goodwill or Salvation Army that you wouldn't buy there yourself or that you wouldn't give to a family member (or friend?). Just throw the other stuff away.
-- When tackling a decluttering or reorganization project, think hard about what you want your life to be like in that space, then start with the things that will help make it what you envision.
-- For closets and shelves and drawers and other confining spaces, clear everything out first, then put back only what will fit (with a little room left over for new stuff).
After reading it I spent almost three days working on my in-home office space (including filing tasks), and I was quite pleased with the result, although I'm sitting at this desk two weeks later and it's cluttered again. The good news is that I can get it cleared in about five minutes . . . when I decide to do so. :-)
-- Don't donate something to Goodwill or Salvation Army that you wouldn't buy there yourself or that you wouldn't give to a family member (or friend?). Just throw the other stuff away.
-- When tackling a decluttering or reorganization project, think hard about what you want your life to be like in that space, then start with the things that will help make it what you envision.
-- For closets and shelves and drawers and other confining spaces, clear everything out first, then put back only what will fit (with a little room left over for new stuff).
After reading it I spent almost three days working on my in-home office space (including filing tasks), and I was quite pleased with the result, although I'm sitting at this desk two weeks later and it's cluttered again. The good news is that I can get it cleared in about five minutes . . . when I decide to do so. :-)
Michele (luluinphilly) -
Helpful Score: 4
I read this book in one sitting. It starts to get repetitive after a while. For me, no new tips. But if you follow Peter's common sense advice, you'll cut down on a lot of useless crap. I always have paperbags in my closets. Once they are filled, I take it to a shelter. I never buy anything new unless I'm replacing it. I've cut down on a lot of "stuff" by recycling it or giving it to my students as prizes.
