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It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
by
Peter Walsh
When you think of what it will take to clean your house, are you so overwhelmed you throw up your hands and cry, "It's all too much"? Do you dream of having a closet where your clothes aren't crammed in so tightly that you can actually get to them? Is your basement filled with boxes of precious family mementos you haven't opened in ten years but are too afraid to...more
Audio CD, 0 pages
Published
January 9th 2007
by Simon & Schuster Audio
(first published 2006)
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This book is for people who are overwhelmed by the accumulation of stuff in their homes. They yearn for clean, empty spaces, but they just don’t know where to start.
Peter Walsh is the Dr. Phil of neat and tidy. If your house looks like the bargain basement of the local discount store at the end of the Boxing Day sales, and you’re sick of it, you need this book.
Walsh is a lively enough writer to keep you modestly entertained while he is putting his ideas across. His f...more
Peter Walsh is the Dr. Phil of neat and tidy. If your house looks like the bargain basement of the local discount store at the end of the Boxing Day sales, and you’re sick of it, you need this book.
Walsh is a lively enough writer to keep you modestly entertained while he is putting his ideas across. His f...more
Peter Walsh is a self-styled expert in the area of organizational consulting. According to his website he considers himself to be "part contractor and part therapist in his approach to helping individuals attain their goals." He doesn't mention any particular credentials.
I disagree with Walsh about clutter in general; he seems to have zero tolerance for it while I don't think there is anything wrong with a little bit of clutter. A few piles of assorted stuff around a home ...more
I disagree with Walsh about clutter in general; he seems to have zero tolerance for it while I don't think there is anything wrong with a little bit of clutter. A few piles of assorted stuff around a home ...more
view all 4 comments
I have always considered myself to be an organized person, but in the past few years, with two kids, a full time job and a slew of volunteer commitments, that intrinsic organizational skill seems to take a vacation.
I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend and also because I loved Peter Walsh on Clean Sweep.
While my home doesn't even remotely look like the ones he worked on for TLC, I confess to the problem of "too much stuff". My cabinets, drawers an...more
I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend and also because I loved Peter Walsh on Clean Sweep.
While my home doesn't even remotely look like the ones he worked on for TLC, I confess to the problem of "too much stuff". My cabinets, drawers an...more
I've read several home organization books, and this one was a little different, in a good way. The author has you visualize what kind of life you want and how you want each room of your house to look and feel, before you even start decluttering. He claims that the clutter really isn't about "the stuff," and I know that to be true. There ends up being a lot of shame and guilt about clutter, self-recriminations, "why can't I keep the house straightened?" Etc. Visualizing wh...more
Wow, this book was helpful. See, I'm a second generation pack-rat; I grew up with piles of papers on the dining room table and clutter everywhere. I've actually read quite a few of these self-help organization style books, but this was the first one that addressed the real issue with living you life in a pig-sty: you are cheating yourself out of the life you want to live. When put that way, parting with all the crap I've been lugging around since I moved out of my parents' house has become muc...more
Tracy
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who needs to declutter their lives!
"How to live a richer life with less stuff..." when I saw this book at my store, it spoke directly to me. I finished it within a couple of hours, and it actually made me want to go upstairs and trash those old term papers that I haven't looked at since college! The part where Walsh talks about book clutter was especially relevant, but I don't think I'm ready to part with any of mine. He has some sensible, easy to follow advice that I'd better start listening to.
Nice to have a book on organizing that approaches the problem from a different angle. Instead of what containers/system would work best, Peter Walsh asks what do you really want out of your life? Is your home getting in the way of that? What do you want to use this room/space for? What things in this room get in the way of that? Sparks a more heartfelt approach to decluttering that helps keeps your stuff from getting in the way of your life.
Pregnancy has put me in nesting mode, so I've been on a crazy cleaning and organizing tear these last couple of weeks. I don't really think I have too much clutter in my home -- I'm not a hoarder, and I regularly get rid of things I don't need. But, the issue is that mainly with a hectic life (job, kids, errands, gym, etc.), things don't always get put back where they belong. And as a result my house gets messy...and I find a messy house stressful. So I like books like this one because even thou...more
Okay, I thought this book was fine, but I didn't love it. It may not even be the author's fault. I might have liked it a lot more if it was the first book I read about de-cluttering, and before I had gutted 75% of my house last spring.
I have another book that I loved 100 times more. It was more detailed, more convincing on why to de-clutter, and totally funny. And inspiring. I read it, and I stayed up until midnight for days on end, went without sleep, food or exercise in favor of c...more
I have another book that I loved 100 times more. It was more detailed, more convincing on why to de-clutter, and totally funny. And inspiring. I read it, and I stayed up until midnight for days on end, went without sleep, food or exercise in favor of c...more
Loren
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
overwhelmed and disorganized people
Recommended to Loren by:
book store display
This book rocked my world! The title says it all, really. I've never watched the author's show, but I love this book! The author has you analyze your stuff and why you're keeping it. It's a great shot of perspective, and has practical ways to go about methodically going through your stuff and thinning, trashing or caring for your things. I found my attachment to what is essentially "junk" disappear after reading this; there is something profound in his analysis of how we value and o...more
and my obsession with organizational books continues…
I liked this one. Seems like a cool guy.
2/2009: edit to add another star and this note:
Apparently I more than liked this book. I have read it two more times. This is odd. I don't have clutter and am somewhat of a minimalist. Why has this book been almost a spiritual experience for me?
He asks Big Questions. What do you want your life to be like? Does your living space reflect that? I love his message ...more
I liked this one. Seems like a cool guy.
2/2009: edit to add another star and this note:
Apparently I more than liked this book. I have read it two more times. This is odd. I don't have clutter and am somewhat of a minimalist. Why has this book been almost a spiritual experience for me?
He asks Big Questions. What do you want your life to be like? Does your living space reflect that? I love his message ...more
good advice on how to analyze your belongings and the role they play in your life. what I liked most about the book was that the author stressed repeatedly that your belongings shouldn't impeed you from living the life you want, and that this often is the case, even on a small scale. while i'm definately not a pack rat, it made me rethink our living space, belongings and the purpose for each room in the house. the book is a good guide for how to purge and weed, as well as tips that everyone, ...more
Peter Peter Peter. Must you ask me to reflect on my goals for my life and my living space? Can't you just tell me how to stop being a slob? I AM AN AMERICAN . . . I expect solutions to be immediate and painless.
Actually, I thought this was quite good. The author has a TV show called Clean Sweep, which I don't think I have ever seen. The book is really designed for a woman who lives in the suburbs, is married, has small children, and has a house and a yard and a garage. However, Walsh...more
Actually, I thought this was quite good. The author has a TV show called Clean Sweep, which I don't think I have ever seen. The book is really designed for a woman who lives in the suburbs, is married, has small children, and has a house and a yard and a garage. However, Walsh...more
This is a perfect book for me to be reading now, but it's not surprising I had to renew my library copy 3 times before I even got around to starting it. Peter Walsh makes some big claims about how we'll all live a better life after we clean up the clutter that is overrunning our homes. He feels that our stuff comes to own us, and that we no longer own our stuff. Not only will we have an organised, clutter free house that will allow us to have a dinner party at the drop of a hat and without any r...more
willaful
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone
Shelves:
nonfiction,
library-or-loaner
I've read many books on organization, some more helpful than others, but this is hands down the best. It's not just practical ideas and info about how to organize your stuff -- although there's that too -- but an introduction to a whole new way of thinking about your space, that provides true motivation to do the work necessary to create a comfortable home. Walsh encourages us to "imagine the life you want to live" -- and provides practical charts and ideas to help us figure out how t...more
The beauty of this book is that I can't tell you what exactly made it effective for me except for the fact that I have felt a HUGE shift. I am currently living differently, in a different mind set and in a different physical realm so to speak. My tiny house is feeling freer and more spacious. I am feeling better in my relationships, more organized in my every day life functions. I am not bogged down by clutter, and not feeling like a deer in the headlights, unsure of what to do, where to start, ...more
Viewers of TLC's Clean Sweep already know Peter Walsh, but he brings his guidance to the masses in an accessible, sensible book. All kinds of households - spouses, partners, roommates, families with kids, people with no kids - find themselves reflected in Walsh's scenarios, a refreshing change from many organizing books that assume the reader is a married woman with kids. He stresses that organization isn't really about the stuff being organized, it's about the life that the person wants to live...more
This book was exactly what I needed, a comprehensive "how to de-clutter and take control of your stuff" book that actually spoke to me both about the how and the why. Walsh approaches it realistically with the knowledge that he's talking to pack rats (not neat freaks in a freak house cluttering accident), and acknowledges the fact that different people have different lifestyles and may need to attack things differently. Furthermore he presents things in a way that don't make you feel d...more
This is a great audio book to listen to while you're cleaning. I've learned so many organization and de-clutter principles from this book. A lot of people may think that you need to read this book after there is a problem, but I think this is a book everyone should read BEFORE there is a problem. I don't particularly think I currently have hoarding tendencies and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, but I know the tendencies run in my genes and I definitely could see myself doing some of the horrend...more
Heather
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who want to de-crap
Shelves:
non-fiction
here's the deal:
Peter Walsh v. the Container Store.
I'm downsizing my life, which I meant to do when I got back from Louisiana two years ago, as I expect natural disasters every day. The less stuff I have, the less stuff I'll mourn over...be prepared and all that. Plus, I have a lot of crap. This book may help you let go of your crap. Or maybe it won't. Maybe I read it because I wanted to get rid of it all. it's like a diet book for your stuff.
Peter Walsh v. the Container Store.
I'm downsizing my life, which I meant to do when I got back from Louisiana two years ago, as I expect natural disasters every day. The less stuff I have, the less stuff I'll mourn over...be prepared and all that. Plus, I have a lot of crap. This book may help you let go of your crap. Or maybe it won't. Maybe I read it because I wanted to get rid of it all. it's like a diet book for your stuff.
This is the first thing I've read on organizing, simplifying, etc, so everything was new. And hopefully nothing was very novel because it all seemed pretty commonsensical. As with books on overeating, I appreciate it when they recognize and address a range of motivations. I read some of the negative reviews before starting the book and was then perplexed when he said the opposite. You're 'allowed' to keep pretty much everything. It's also nice he doesn't start with buying any file boxes, etc. Th...more
Angela
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants some de-cluttering motivation
Shelves:
non-fiction
This is decent for what it is - a somewhat fluffy anti-clutter self-help book. Sure, the info could have been covered in a short magazine article, but really, the main purpose of this sort of book is not to inform, but to motivate. And it does a decent job of that - so much so that I'm thinking of tackling the surface of my desk as soon as I finish this review. (Now if it had inspired me to clean the bathroom, we'd have been looking at 5 stars...)
So much of this book resonated with me.
It's a perfect follow-up to The Story of Stuff, at least it is for me, since it turns the reasoning of keeping things (both emotional and logical thinking) on its head.
I like that he takes the approach that American society IS a consuming society and unless you consciously decide otherwise, you WILL have to deal with too much stuff in your life many many times.
This quote, at the end of the book, is something I really liked and...more
It's a perfect follow-up to The Story of Stuff, at least it is for me, since it turns the reasoning of keeping things (both emotional and logical thinking) on its head.
I like that he takes the approach that American society IS a consuming society and unless you consciously decide otherwise, you WILL have to deal with too much stuff in your life many many times.
This quote, at the end of the book, is something I really liked and...more
Since I don't have a house or kids, I felt like a lot of this didn't apply to me. And SOME of the things he suggests, I already do! Okay, only a few. But at least I'm not a completely hopeless case! :) I certainly do need to take control of my clutter and change a lot of the things I do. As Walsh was so fond of pointing out, if I didn't, I wouldn't have read the book! But he does give some good advice and a nice system for actually changing the way you do things and not just getting rid o...more
I'll start with some background. I consider myself a fairly organized person, and I throw a lot of stuff out. I don't buy a lot. It's common for me to walk through a store and come out without making a purchase. I do not feel the need to acquire lots of stuff to make my life whole. I can find my keys, my papers, and my wallet -- immediately.
Nonetheless, after reading just a few chapters into this book, I put it down and yanked some photos and papers off my shelf -- items I did not wa...more
Nonetheless, after reading just a few chapters into this book, I put it down and yanked some photos and papers off my shelf -- items I did not wa...more
If you like reading about clutter-busting, you'll probably enjoy breezing through this book, even though it is not packed with a lot of revelatory insights (for people who have already read or even thought much about reducing their stuff). The author motivates you by explaining how paring down will enrich your life. Aside from going over the usual processes & techniques, he adds a step that many don't, and I think it is a good one: essentially, before you decide what to keep and where to keep ...more
Very good book from Peter Walsh, the professional organizer who was the star of TLC's "Clean Sweep". He gives excellent and practical advice on how to organize each area of the home, (including each room as well as the garage,) including questions to guide your decision making process, charts and checklists, and even mathematical formulas to help you decide how much to keep. Just as he did on the show, Walsh deals with not only the physical "how-to"s regarding organization,...more
I noticed that the average rating for this book was 3.75 and that's actually what I'd like to give it. I couldn't quite give it 4 stars because I plan on ignoring, modifying, and adding to a lot of the advice he gave, so that it will suit me and my situation. Overall, I think it is a good book, and if you are ready to get rid of clutter, than it's very helpful. But what I really would have liked him to expand on is the emotional issues--all the why's behind the clutter problem and how to deal...more
Although there were some helpful ideas in this book, I don't feel it was very applicable for me. Walsh is, or seems to be, primarily addressing married couples with a house and children. Since none of these apply to me, a lot of the information was pretty irrelevant to my life. Unlike other organizing or de-cluttering resources I've read, many of Walsh's suggestions were vague (provided no rubric for how to determine if a hobby is active or wishful thinking) or inflexible (storage solutions for ...more
Great, ass-kicking advice about how to frame your thinking about decluttering. A few trips to worthy charities ensued, as well as my first Craigslisting (a success!). Wished he'd have gotten a bit further into the "richer life" part, but I suppose that will come in time, after I've finished resetting my setting.
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| life-changing | 2 | 14 | Oct 14, 2008 07:57pm |
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Born and raised in Australia, Peter moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to launch a corporation to help organizations improve employee’s job satisfaction and effectiveness. He considers himself to be part-contractor, part-therapist in his approach to helping individuals attain their goals.
When not wading through clutter and large-scale disorganization, Peter divides his time between his work ...more
More about Peter Walsh...
When not wading through clutter and large-scale disorganization, Peter divides his time between his work ...more
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