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Reviews
Outer Order Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin
katiegilley's review against another edition
5.0
This book was full of practical advice on decluttering and is one of the best that I've read in a while. I've been slowly decluttering for years and still found some inspiration and good ideas. Rubin does a great job of reminding us WHY decluttering helps and that it's going to look different for everyone.
grannysmith's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
2.0
Not the best book I've read on this topic. Seemed a little over-simplified.
valmeac's review against another edition
2.75
Meh, Threw around ideas for cleaning up. The life changing magic was not a system that works well for me, but was much more motivational in getting me to clean up.
handmaderiot's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a blog post about tidying, but in a book. Helpful tips.
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
A couple of my sisters have recommended various Gretchen Rubin books over the years; my first read of hers was THE FOUR TENDENCIES, which I find myself thinking of often and bringing up with friends, and winter felt the right time to listen to OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM.
Rubin takes a more relaxed approach than Marie Kondo as she suggests our demeanor is influenced by our surroundings. She offers helpful tips without judgment, reinforcing how what works and what is important is what matters to the individual. It's not about minimalism, unless that is of value to you; outer order is about wanting what we have.
The audiobook was a quick listen and I have no doubt I'd pick up a physical copy were I to spot one at a book sale, as it could be valuable to revisit and flip through. I realized I'd heard of her one-minute rule before and had employed it (but had mistakenly internalized it as the two-minute rule, not that it was detrimental in any way to do so). I jotted down her top ten tips for creating outer order; I don't know if I'm ready to incorporate them all (honestly, this is the intensely busy time of year at work, which might be another reason why I was drawn to reflecting on establishing more inner calm), but I see myself revisiting them at different times of the year.
Rubin takes a more relaxed approach than Marie Kondo as she suggests our demeanor is influenced by our surroundings. She offers helpful tips without judgment, reinforcing how what works and what is important is what matters to the individual. It's not about minimalism, unless that is of value to you; outer order is about wanting what we have.
The audiobook was a quick listen and I have no doubt I'd pick up a physical copy were I to spot one at a book sale, as it could be valuable to revisit and flip through. I realized I'd heard of her one-minute rule before and had employed it (but had mistakenly internalized it as the two-minute rule, not that it was detrimental in any way to do so). I jotted down her top ten tips for creating outer order; I don't know if I'm ready to incorporate them all (honestly, this is the intensely busy time of year at work, which might be another reason why I was drawn to reflecting on establishing more inner calm), but I see myself revisiting them at different times of the year.
meg444's review against another edition
3.0
Would make a good coffee table read. Somewhat sporadically organized??
wanderingmole's review against another edition
4.0
This little book is comprised almost entirely of different tips and suggestions for ways to clear clutter. My favourites were those that require us to confront our possessions and reasons we hold on to them honestly (eg asking whether we keep things for a fantasy future self, or a past self who we have outgrown). It is also intensely practical, full of thought experiments and ways of approaching clutter differently (eg create distance by taking a photo of a room, imagine you’re moving house, ask Do I need it? Do I love it? Do I use it?)