Live More With Less: The Gift of Minimalism: Simplify, Declutter and Get Organized

by Karen Alexander, Teresa Baker (With)

Are you ready to simplify and declutter? If you have been searching for a way to simplify, organize and embrace a minimalist style of living then you need to know how to get there. You need the right mindset, training and tools to get the job done, just like anything in life. You didn’t learn how to ride a bike without someone teaching you the basics... Live More With The Art of Minimalism is the 21st Century Guide to Simplify, Get Organized, and rid yourself of Clutter once and for all. Have you thought about how to simplify, but you didn’t know where to begin? Perhaps you've tried to get organized but can never stick with your plan and soon everything is out of control again. Inside you’ll discover that with the right skills, you can accomplish just about anything. This book is designed to work with your lifestyle and what makes you happy . The authors don't try to tell you do do some unrealistic activities to get rid of your clutter. They will help you makes decisions about what is important to you and how to get what you want. If you think that maintaining an organized and minimalist life is hard, this book will change your mind. You should have no reason after reading this book to not know how to embrace minimalism, simplify, declutter and get an organized home and life. Here is what Karen covers in this book. You will be able to get past all of the obstacles that have been stopping you from getting rid of clutter and getting organized in the past. It's time you got the skills you need to help you make this an easy process and a lifelong skill.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

130 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Keshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half of the book was definitely what i needed to get through my de-cluttering road blocks. I'm a "Second Generation" Hoarder - My dad is a hoarder, and though I thought I wasn't because I was the cleanest of all my siblings growing up, and i would regularly go through stuff and throw it out... This last year as I've filled up my apartment, I've realized I have some Hoarding tendencies. I realized I was a hoarder when I was at a second-hand store and saw something fantastic (a huge beautiful painting - an original artwork) for $25. I know I didn't have a wall in my apartment big enough for the painting, and told myself it could brighten up someone else's place very nicely. Then I thought, "What if a Hoarder finds it?! I must Save it from The Hoarder!" At that moment, I was the Hoarder.

This book helped me realize it's okay to get rid of things I "paid good money for" or got as a "special gift" from now-deceased family - stuff I don't like and don't use. I got through the "Guilty" feelings because the book addressed that. All the listed questions to ask myself about whether or not I should keep an item really helped. Some of them I'd thought of before, but some were new and super helpful.

I stumbled across this book mostly on accident, but I was thinking about this topic almost everyday. The amount of stuff in my house was bothering me. It was affecting my self-esteem negatively, much like the author mentioned with her own experience. And when I asked my husband's opinion, would re-enforce my "guilty" reasons I had to keep the stuff. I had to decide not to listen to the "guilty" feelings or his comments because my self-esteem was more important. I was becoming a basket case. (I was imagining how I'd start over if my building burned down. I was almost wishing it would. I started asking my visitors if my living room was uncomfortable to be in. I would start getting abnormally emotionally upset when expressing my anxiety to my husband.)

Back to reviewing the book. I liked the way the author explained that these self and stuff analyzing questions are very personal and everyone will have a different level of comfort. That kind of patience and understanding is exactly what hoarders need if they're ever going to get anywhere with cleaning up the mess. I like that the book is mostly pretty short, so that I can go back and re-read it as i need a refresher or a boost in motivation to get the tedious stuff done.

I don't love that the pictures of homes in the book look immaculate - like people don't live there; model homes, or even show homes. Pictures off the internet from interior designers. That's discouraging to anyone trying to clean their house. Most of us will never have it that clean, new, and color matched. Also, most people live in older homes. It re-enforces a false notion that to "keep up with the Jones's", and impress your visitors, you must have a home like that. (I read it on the kindle, so all the pictures were small and in black and white, fyi). Homes like that impress everyone including myself, but if I were actually there, I'd be uncomfortable. I'd be afraid to touch anything. I'd feel out of place and wouldn't belong there. That's my 20 cents.

Enough reviewing. I've talked too much. It mostly only happens when I write. Late at night. Ta ta friends! I think I'll buy this book for my DAD!

[Maria Miaoulis · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'll feel as if there's someone right by your side, cheering you on as you tackle the clutter in your life with this guide. Alexander speaks from experience, so these are tips that will bring you the results you're hoping to achieve.

[Tung Lam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nội dung không có gì đặc biệt, vẫn là những nội dung chung chung về lối sống tối giản, không có nhiều điểm nhấn.

[Le Minh Thu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tối giản trong tâm trí, bài trí và cuộc sống. Nêu bật lên lối sống tối giản của người Nhật !

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declutter

I felt this book was reasonable and doable. I liked the positive reassurance and steps in small bites. I am happy to share this book.

[Brandon Minster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good points about life simplification, not just clutter removal. I might have given it four stars if not for the consistent typos and occasional incoherent sentences (a re-written sentence that is now missing a verb and such) that were very distracting.

[V. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straight forward no nonsense approach to simplifying our homes and life styles. I love the fact that she makes you stop and really think about some of the reasons you may want to simplify. I would definitively refer to it again sometime in the future. An enjoyable read for sure.