Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain: A Creative Approach to Getting Organized

by Lee Silber

Almost all the organizing books on the market today target the "left-brainer" - people who are generally disciplined, neat, and analytical. But for those who are more creative and spontaneous rather than logical and detail-oriented, help is on the way! In this book, Silber turns traditional organizing advice on its head and offers unique solutions that complement the unorthodox lifestyle of the creative "right-brainer."

For
* Discover how right-brainers can be organized in a left-brain world
* Overcome obstacles that stand in the way of being more organized
* Pile, don't file - put paper in its place the right-brained way
* Learn how being a "pack rat" can be a good thing

This creative new approach to getting it together is perfect for those who can't relate to boring traditional organizing techniques!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Personal Development

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2004

About the author

I am a huge fan of the library and can clearly remember making the short walk to get books during the summer months. Does that make me a nerd? Clearly, but who cares. My love of books (at a young age) led me to become an author (at an older age). In 2020 I reached a major milestone, 25 books written and published.

Reviews

[Madeline B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was able to offer up a few good nuggets of information to apply to organization. There were also many points that are now outdated and I found difficult to apply to today. I also wish there were more bullet points and other lists of quick ideas. I found the book rather wordy when I just wanted to jump to fast tips and tricks.

[Mortalform]

The first few chapters are extremely drawn out. I recommend jumping around these to headings of interest or skipping all together, unless you are in need of constant reassurance that you can do it, being right-brained is an asset and organization is not the sole purview of the left-brained you can, in fact, work with those original impulses to create a system that works for you.

That is not to say that these reassurances aren't important, they are, even for myself having someone out and out state that there was nothing wrong in working with my tendencies to create a unique solution that may appear to have nothing in common with traditional concepts of organization was very important. Having myself consciously acknowledge that fact made the whole experience more of a cheerful puzzle than drudgery.

[Donnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by one of us, Lee Silber, Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain provides motivation, opportunity and hot tips for the creative and the chronically disorganized.

This book is designed for easy non-linear browsing and as I read it I used a notepad for a bookmark so I could capture the ideas popping into my brain.

One thing I really appreciated about Lee's writing is how non-judgemental he is regarding those of us that do not approach organization in a traditional, linear way. I also enjoyed the quotes and facts peppering the book.

I suggest pairing this with The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine.

Genre: Non-fiction

Topics: Organization, Storage, Housekeeping

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book motivated and inspired me like no other book on the topic. Every time I read it, I had to put it down and go put some of the ideas into action. The author is fun and friendly (he replied to my emails!) and it's a fun read, despite the subject matter.
I'm a reformed-slob-in-progress, but thanks to this book (seriously!) I'm getting there.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me all over! Great ideas from an older book.

[Barbarrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for those of us who are primarily right brained. It not only offers lots of advice on how to organize and create a cleaning schedule afterwards, it also teaches you to rethink certain areas where a technique might not be working. It helps you organize areas to suit the way you use them, not just listing the typical ways it has been done. This book took me from slob to the one referred to as 'the clean roommate.' In the past, when I integrated the cue card system described in the book, it worked beautifully and my home was sparkling clean at all times but it was hard to keep up and took waaaay too much cleaning. So I'm going to read it again and this time when I do the cue card system I will just schedule things less often than recommended in the book. After all, my floor doesn't need to be clean enough to eat off of. That's what the 3 second rule is for ;)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this book for about a year. I like the idea behind this book, but I'm still waiting to find some actual help -- so far it's been a lot of learning to understand my organizational blue-print. Like we didn't already know what that was!! I've been there and done that. I'll keep reading to find out how to work with myself.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank god for this book! It explains why I have such a hard time being "organized." It's because my brain doesn't work like that. I can be organized, just not in a linear way. The tips are great, and the book is even put together in a right-brain-friendly way. Thank you for writing this book!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Silber is a good friend of my husband, Mark's (who is quoted in the book!).

Lee never fails to inspire!

[Hessam]

I love this book!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it possible for me to be organized?

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have the time, this is a great book to read, offers practical steps to take in getting your whole life organized.

[Allison Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors on organizing - thinks like a right brainer, writes like a whole brainer. Fun too.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this book, but there was a lot more of why than how and I just wanted those proportions switched.