"Our lives are so filled with junk from the past-from dried up tubes of glue to old grudges-that it's a wonder we can get up in the morning," excla...
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Jan 13, 2009
Julie (jjmachshev)
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I was very excited to read "Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life" by Gail Blanke. If you could see my house, and especially my 'reading room/office', you would understand immediately. I have such a hard time getting rid of 'stuff'. I have clothes in my closet that I bought three years ago that still have the tags because I haven't yet worn them...but can I throw them out? Uh, NO! Why? Well, duh...because I haven't worn them yet! If you don't understand that,
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Jan 22, 2012
Anastasia
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Yes - check it out - I'm writing a review. I can't pick apart prose nor make cross references to 16th century literature and Sylvia Plath when reviewing a modern day preternatural bestseller, but I can be honest. I'll confess - I read cheesy self-help books. I've read ones that, afterwards, I felt were full of crap as well as ones that hit a little too close to home. This book, however, made me think. It made me shift my worldview of myself just a teensy bit, but it's made a lot of differe
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Apr 10, 2011
Tracey
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Okay, this book isn't THE must-have, only-one-you'll-ever-need decluttering book (which, for me, remains undiscovered), but Throw Out Fifty Things appeals to pack rats like me in one fundamental way: Gail Blanke gives us permission to keep the things we love even while encouraging/prodding/slightly nagging us to get rid of things that we don't need and don't suit us anymore. Amid the TV shows and books advising people to dump everything unused and keep a near-empty home, Blanke counters with the
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Feb 25, 2009
Anna
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This is a great book to get rid of the unnecessary clutter in your home and in your head, cleaning out the junk and having more space for the important things.
I think one of the best things about this book is how "throwing" isn't exactly dumping all the things you deem useless in the trash. The book, in fact, encourages getting rid of the junk the right way, either through recycling, swapping, and donating. For a book that encourages throwing things away, it's actually gre More...
I think one of the best things about this book is how "throwing" isn't exactly dumping all the things you deem useless in the trash. The book, in fact, encourages getting rid of the junk the right way, either through recycling, swapping, and donating. For a book that encourages throwing things away, it's actually gre More...
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Aug 06, 2011
Annie
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I saw this book while wandering around Powells in PDX a couple months ago and, having just visited Adam, Courtney and Milli in the Man Vs Debt RV (http://manvsdebt.com/) and hearing a little about how they sold almost everything they owned in trade for the freedom of travel and new experiences. Seemed like a good thing to read on the plane to inspire myself to have a big purging fest when I got home.
So, the first part of the book is what you might expect — Blanke walks you through the More...
So, the first part of the book is what you might expect — Blanke walks you through the More...
Feb 21, 2011
Kate
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This book is a very quick read and yet makes some really good points. It went far beyond what I expected, which was just some tips on getting rid of/organizing stuff around the house. Instead, much of it was about ridding yourself of negative ways of thinking. Some of the things she recommends getting rid of:
--the need to be right. For example, if your co-workers are ticking you off, you can wallow in that, and yes, get people to agree with you. But do you have a bigger goal than bein More...
--the need to be right. For example, if your co-workers are ticking you off, you can wallow in that, and yes, get people to agree with you. But do you have a bigger goal than bein More...
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Dec 26, 2009
Barky
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Gail Blanke takes readers room by room through their cluttered homes (and thoughts) and challenges them to throw out fifty things. And by “fifty,” she means fifty individual things, so multiples (like 16 pairs of pants – that’s one thing) don’t count! And by “throw out” she means donate, recycle (and only as a last resort throw away) these things. Gail attacks the clutter (physical and mental) in her own life and gives examples from others’ lives to show how stuff and attitudes can hold us ba
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Aug 09, 2009
Michael
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If you saw the condition of my home office right now you’ll immediately understand why this book intrigued me. It has way too much stuff in it. Bookshelves overflowing. Papers piled in baskets, in computer paper boxes, or just scattered around. My daughter has clothes she wants to sell on eBay, I have hundreds of HeroClix figures and accessories that also need to go on eBay. Scrap wood, library books, old magazines, cardboard boxes, bags and packing material, old printer and computer equipm
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Jun 10, 2011
Christen
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There is nothing new in this book. Nothing at all. But what I really liked about it is that she doesn't just suggest categories of things to throw out, she gives detailed examples of what to throw out. I also found it helpful that she gives me permission to get rid of things I would otherwise feel guilty about getting rid of (expensive clothes I've never worn, for example). I also found really helpful her suggestion that for those things you're really on the fence about, put them all in a "
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Apr 29, 2011
Schnaucl
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I once read a book that advocated only keeping things you really love. I found that advice somewhat impractical. I do not think I could find silverware that I really love because frankly, I don't care about silverware all that much but I need it to eat.
This book has a related but much better approach. Instead of having only what you really love Blanke recommends getting rid of anything that makes you feel bad. I'm sure most people have some things they've kept because they "sh More...
This book has a related but much better approach. Instead of having only what you really love Blanke recommends getting rid of anything that makes you feel bad. I'm sure most people have some things they've kept because they "sh More...
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Apr 18, 2011
Tom
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Writing this book must have been very cathartic for Gail Blanke, because she just about poured out her whole life story onto its pages. I learned a lot about her marriage, her kids, her dogs, her parents, her time at summer camp, her appearance on Oprah, etc.
What I didn't learn was how to clean up clutter. If I followed her vague rule for throwing things out--"If it doesn't make you feel good"--then I'd keep most of my stuff because it's my stuff, and it makes me feel good More...
What I didn't learn was how to clean up clutter. If I followed her vague rule for throwing things out--"If it doesn't make you feel good"--then I'd keep most of my stuff because it's my stuff, and it makes me feel good More...
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Oct 07, 2010
Ruth
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I had seen the buzz about this book on my blogs this summer, and I remembered adding it to my list on the library website. But I wasn't sure what I would think of the book. I have read so many clutter books, and I figured this one wouldn't be any different.
Was I ever wrong! How refreshing it was to read about a lady who actually struggled and still struggles with the various things she writes in this book. She has organizational issues. It was amazing to have her "throw out" More...
Was I ever wrong! How refreshing it was to read about a lady who actually struggled and still struggles with the various things she writes in this book. She has organizational issues. It was amazing to have her "throw out" More...
Sep 25, 2010
Esmee
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Gail Blanke introduces the book by revealing her "methodology", the "Michelangelo Method". For you self-disciplined, self-starting individuals the second paragraph of the Introduction says it all. "And that's my job as your coach: to help you let go of all the extraneous marble: to chisel your way through the stuff, junk, and clutter-physical and mental-that stands in the way of helping your very best self move into the next glorious phase of your life.” There are just
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Sep 19, 2011
I wasn't really enjoying Blanke's exhortive life-coach style, but the clincher was her talking about illness as something we can control. It's just one step away from blaming people for being sick.
I don't think her decluterring philosophy really gibes with mine, either. Having categories count as only one "thing" doesn't encourage people to keep tossing. And in my experience, putting a lot of emphasis on what happens to stuff after you've decided to get rid of it is very co More...
I don't think her decluterring philosophy really gibes with mine, either. Having categories count as only one "thing" doesn't encourage people to keep tossing. And in my experience, putting a lot of emphasis on what happens to stuff after you've decided to get rid of it is very co More...
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Jul 13, 2009
Dreamybee
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Didn't quite finish this as the second half of the book was more philosophical ("throw out" those old, negative thoughts about yourself) and less action-oriented (throw out your old cinched-waist, tapered-leg, acid-washed size 2 jeans from high school). I probably would have given this 3 stars, but I didn't like the author. To me, she always sounded like she had to prove to you just how cheery! and motivational! she was, which just got annoying after a while. I did like that she thr
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Oct 13, 2009
lauren
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i have a strange thing for self-help books, even though i think they are usually awful and not particularly relevant to my life. I also have a thing for feng shui, and this book is a watered down mix of both. But I'm still sort of enjoying it. Actually i think it's more about enjoying the process of getting rid of things and organizing my house, a process i started before picking up this book. I'm into her idea of keeping a list of the things I'm getting rid of. Otherwise, eh. She's pretty ditzy
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Mar 30, 2010
Emily
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A good book - I read it straight through without actually throwing out anything. I think this is a book I'll pick up again when I feel physically up to parsing out my stuff. I could see this making a real difference in home organization and being able to let go of things.
I thought the second half (mental/emotional throwouts) would be cheesy and ridiculous. At first it was, but the more I got into, the more I appreciated the message. Do I think this section would make a life-changing More...
I thought the second half (mental/emotional throwouts) would be cheesy and ridiculous. At first it was, but the more I got into, the more I appreciated the message. Do I think this section would make a life-changing More...
Oct 23, 2011
Lindsay
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this book helped me so much, I simply could not believe it! I picked it up because of a need to de-clutter my home, and it ended up de-cluttering me.
The book begins with help for clearing out old physical things. How to determine if an old eyeshadow or tshirt is ready to go, and how to tidy up your living room. How you want to present your home.
Next, the book explains how to de-clutter your mind and self and soul. Gail walks you through working on yourself and old min More...
The book begins with help for clearing out old physical things. How to determine if an old eyeshadow or tshirt is ready to go, and how to tidy up your living room. How you want to present your home.
Next, the book explains how to de-clutter your mind and self and soul. Gail walks you through working on yourself and old min More...
Jul 05, 2011
Sher
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I am not a hoarder, and really don't mean to be a pack rat, but things stack up on me. I am grateful that this book has given me permission, so to speak, to get rid of so many things in my life that I will never use again. I love that Gail Blanke made the connection between physical clutter and mental clutter. Cleaning up one leads to cleaning up the other. I think I've known that for a long time. I just sent two huge bags of clothing and two bags of books to D.I., our local thrift store, a
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Nov 28, 2010
Laura
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While there was some good advice, the author made it too personal and all about her; the book would have been a lot shorter if she had left out some of the personal anecdotes and odd idiosyncracies. I was also a little surprised to find all the self-help-y stuff in the later chapters - I thought this would be more about physical clutter, and the tactics she discussed for doing that were just the usual tactics. That said, there were a few interesting lessons to learn - I just wish I could have go
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Nov 30, 2010
Pam
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Well at first blush this seems like a no brainer. I can find fifty things in my junk drawer. How disappointing to learn that the whole junk drawer counts as one item. So 3 pairs of pants and 5 shirts equals one item. Counting this way will take me a year at least to get to fifty. There is one other thing that counts, clutter in the mind. That being said, I just may be done by the end of the week.
If you are the sentimental type, you will need to rethink how you save your memories. I More...
If you are the sentimental type, you will need to rethink how you save your memories. I More...
Oct 28, 2011
Cori
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Lately, I've been reading a lot of minimalism blogs and might be on the way to becoming a bit neurotic about culling in our own home. Even hubby has jumped on the cull wagon. We just want less stuff. Less stuff means less to deal with and less to clean. It means that if we ever had a serious fire, we wouldn't be as freaked out because we'd have less to replace. As a result, we've been working our way through our house and are selling/tossing/giving away as much as we can to just get rid of it.
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Aug 03, 2011
Abbie
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I was expecting more of a de-cluttering, home organizing type of book. So you can imagine my confusion when half-way through listening to it, she had gotten through the whole house. But that's ok, because truly, it's the rest of the book that shines. Sure, I know I need to throw away all those old, half-used Clinique Bonus Time lipstick tubes. Yes, I know I need to clean out "that drawer" in the kitchen. I KNOW these things. Supposedly, the Flylady is helping me with that (as I stick m
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Nov 06, 2009
Robin
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I am a big fan of purging clutter and getting organized, so this book was right up my alley! It is a quick read, with each chapter covering an area in your home or life that needs cleaning. It goes beyond the usual "toss clothes that don't fit" type of clearing out, moving deeper into the ideas of throwing out things like regrets, bad memories, fears. (Blanke connects objects to emotions, for example if an heirloom makes you sad, sell it.) This book did inspire me to do a major clear o
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Jan 11, 2010
Jenny
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So. I finally finished this book. I started it.... oh, about 2 months ago.
Did I like it? Yes and no. Was it helpful? Yes and no. Like with most self-help books that I read, I found this one to simply point out what I already know. I've also read a lot of sales books and I think they say similar things: Be yourself, don't fear failure, and reach for the moon.
The first part of the book deals with physical clutter, which is why I wanted to read the book in the first place. U More...
Did I like it? Yes and no. Was it helpful? Yes and no. Like with most self-help books that I read, I found this one to simply point out what I already know. I've also read a lot of sales books and I think they say similar things: Be yourself, don't fear failure, and reach for the moon.
The first part of the book deals with physical clutter, which is why I wanted to read the book in the first place. U More...
Jun 18, 2009
Donna
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I haven’t quite finished this book yet, since I had to turn my book loan in for inventory, but I pulled the workbook offline and I have started with my “purging”. This is my list of 50 things I’m throwing out, selling or giving away (it is a work in progress). Note: multiple items of the same type (like jewelry or clothing) counts as one item.
The Bedroom
1. Hard plastic storage case for free weights that disappeared years ago.
2. Old jewelry (including the silv More...
The Bedroom
1. Hard plastic storage case for free weights that disappeared years ago.
2. Old jewelry (including the silv More...
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Apr 01, 2010
Sarah
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I skimmed through this while on vacation last week. Our house has been on a de-clutter kick for over a year now, and I am a big believer in the idea that more stuff means more chaos! We are finding it very liberating to let go of the STUFF we just don't need. So, I agreed with her premise, and I also liked her plan to let go of both material and mental clutter (some of her thought here made a lot of sense to me).
But, the whole thing was filled with stories of things she or other peo More...
But, the whole thing was filled with stories of things she or other peo More...
Oct 04, 2009
Amy
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Interesting, but monotonous after awhile. You must throw out 50 things total from your house. The author takes you through each room to find things to toss, but it's not as easy as it sounds. For example, in the laundry room, you find 4 mismatched socks and 2 pairs of old holey underwear that can be thrown away. You & I may look as this and say, hey this is going to be easy. I already have 6 things to throw away. WRONG! According to the author, these items only = 2. Four (4) mismatched socks is
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Jun 15, 2011
Melody
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I picked this up at the library. Based on a quick glance at the cover, I thought it was a book about clearing clutter from your house. I should have looked at the pile of words under the title, which include "broken heart, promises, missed opportunities" and various other self-helpy buzzwords. The writing style reminds me of the women's magazines I read as a teen, rife with unbelievably uplifting anecdotes and breezy, we're-all-friends-here tone. Do I even have to say I hated it? I did
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Jan 05, 2012
Ruthmgon
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Wow!
This is a great book to read as those new years resolutions roll in. I finished this despite the 4 other books I had started. I was not expecting this format to be easy to read and it was pretty well written, so this gets high marks from me.
What I enjoyed the most was that idea that--- yes there are things to toss in all of your many rooms in your house, but there's also that lingering regret that you got fired from that one job, or that you never forgave your birth parents More...
This is a great book to read as those new years resolutions roll in. I finished this despite the 4 other books I had started. I was not expecting this format to be easy to read and it was pretty well written, so this gets high marks from me.
What I enjoyed the most was that idea that--- yes there are things to toss in all of your many rooms in your house, but there's also that lingering regret that you got fired from that one job, or that you never forgave your birth parents More...
