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justiceofkalr's review
4.0
A lot of really solid advice in here for all the practicalities of decluttering. Some of the chapters were not as relevant to my current situation, but some were very helpful for me. In particular the section on photos was great. We have a small office area that is just filled with boxes and boxes of photos. I'll definitely be putting some of the advice he gave to use there. I also loved his resource list at the end where he broke down different items, what you should do with them, and the resources to do it. This book is a particularly great resource for those moving after a long time spent in one place or those who are dealing with issues of inheriting a large amount of stuff.
mbricker35's review
4.0
This is a great book to help people think about how to reduce the items they have. Whether they are their own or someone else’s.
molexreads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! The title caught me and boy did I find the information about emotion and leaving a legacy hitting home for me. As I’m in the stage of life if grandparents passing and children growing I find that I want to hold on to the memories that I’ve tied to the objects left behind. I for sure look at possessions differently and realize why I’ve always wanted to keep so many things. Although my grandparents aren’t around to hear the stories I now look forward to going thru their memories after I sort my own. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars was because I couldn’t relate completely to the later chapters but I did enjoy them for dirtier reference.
sadie_young's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
I think what appealed to me about this book (besides the fact that I love when an author narrates their own books), is that really it’s a collection of stories. Sometimes decluttering books tell you “the how” but I felt like this one looked more in “the why” and I felt like that was a unique aspect, especially from someone who famously helps people clean up their junk for a reason. I’d definitely recommend this one to someone looking into simplifying but don’t want to feel excessively preached too.
kenzieotter's review
4.0
3.5 - rounded up. I listened to the audiobook and I love that Matt narrates the book. Lots of information that can be very useful. I like the set up of the book and how each chapter is basically a different step with a story attached as to why Matt thinks it’s a good idea to follow. He also includes a lot of great resources & if you get the audiobook, there is a free downloadable PDF available
yetilibrary's review
4.0
Most decluttering/organization books would be hard-pressed to get more than three stars from me, especially in 2022--there are just so many of them, and so few have anything to add. Here's why Matt Paxton managed four stars:
1. He wrote with older folks, and their kids, in mind. Are you trying to declutter because it's time to sell the "family home"? If so, are you doing it because you're moving closer to the grandkids? Or because you just want a smaller house? Or because your parents have died and you're cleaning out a lifetime of family memories? This book is really focused on handling houses filled with memories, and how to handle cleanups that, while they may be physically challenging, are hardest because there's so much emotional STUFF to contend with first.
2. He specified the need to have a very specific goal BEFORE you start decluttering or downsizing or whatever your initial plan is. Are you moving to a new home (and if so, specifically where)? Do you just want to clean out this one and IF SO what do you want your home to look and feel like?
3. Paxton includes thorough and specific CLEANING guidelines. A lot of these books have ideas for sorting, and storage, and so on; far fewer talk about the basics of a deep clean, and what to do when that cleaning gets complicated. (What DO you do when you find unknown chemicals in your parents' old house, and they're not around to ask? How do you safely investigate the attic of an aging home? Etc.)
4. Paxton also has a thorough list of references in the back for everything from where to donate different types of items, to cleaning supplies, to how to get paper shredded in bulk.
5. He's relatively sensitive to the idea that not everyone has the same financial means OR the same physical abilities. He gives you options: if you can afford X, do X, and if you can't, try Y and Z. If you're physically able, you may want to do A, B, and C, but it's a lot, so consider either hiring professionals or calling on friends and family to help. Not every decluttering guide has this level of awareness, and I appreciate it.
So. Four stars. If you're going to be moving out of the "family homestead" soon--especially if you're older--this book is worth checking out. If you're going to have to get the family home cleaned out and ready for sale, I would DEFINITELY recommend this book.
tl;dr A much better-than-average addition to the decluttering genre. Highly recommended for anyone who's trying to declutter a "family home" and get it ready for sale, especially if they're older. Definitely recommended for anyone trying to clear out the home of someone who has hoarding tendencies, just for the safe-cleaning tips (skip ahead to that part).
1. He wrote with older folks, and their kids, in mind. Are you trying to declutter because it's time to sell the "family home"? If so, are you doing it because you're moving closer to the grandkids? Or because you just want a smaller house? Or because your parents have died and you're cleaning out a lifetime of family memories? This book is really focused on handling houses filled with memories, and how to handle cleanups that, while they may be physically challenging, are hardest because there's so much emotional STUFF to contend with first.
2. He specified the need to have a very specific goal BEFORE you start decluttering or downsizing or whatever your initial plan is. Are you moving to a new home (and if so, specifically where)? Do you just want to clean out this one and IF SO what do you want your home to look and feel like?
3. Paxton includes thorough and specific CLEANING guidelines. A lot of these books have ideas for sorting, and storage, and so on; far fewer talk about the basics of a deep clean, and what to do when that cleaning gets complicated. (What DO you do when you find unknown chemicals in your parents' old house, and they're not around to ask? How do you safely investigate the attic of an aging home? Etc.)
4. Paxton also has a thorough list of references in the back for everything from where to donate different types of items, to cleaning supplies, to how to get paper shredded in bulk.
5. He's relatively sensitive to the idea that not everyone has the same financial means OR the same physical abilities. He gives you options: if you can afford X, do X, and if you can't, try Y and Z. If you're physically able, you may want to do A, B, and C, but it's a lot, so consider either hiring professionals or calling on friends and family to help. Not every decluttering guide has this level of awareness, and I appreciate it.
So. Four stars. If you're going to be moving out of the "family homestead" soon--especially if you're older--this book is worth checking out. If you're going to have to get the family home cleaned out and ready for sale, I would DEFINITELY recommend this book.
tl;dr A much better-than-average addition to the decluttering genre. Highly recommended for anyone who's trying to declutter a "family home" and get it ready for sale, especially if they're older. Definitely recommended for anyone trying to clear out the home of someone who has hoarding tendencies, just for the safe-cleaning tips (skip ahead to that part).