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Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need by Tracy McCubbin
jamesmata's review
1.0
Lazy.
Under the header, “The Clutter Crisis” — “the same industrial complexes that created our modern obesity epidemic have created a clutter epidemic.” And, that’s all on that. I kept going back and re-listening to see if I missed any other context for this ridiculous statement. Dude, what are you talking about?
Not even 10% of the way in the author then brings up morbid obesity, boiling an incredibly complex issue down to, ‘I got my client to get rid of her stand mixer so she cooked more so she lost weight.’
I don’t care to read on, DNF.
Under the header, “The Clutter Crisis” — “the same industrial complexes that created our modern obesity epidemic have created a clutter epidemic.” And, that’s all on that. I kept going back and re-listening to see if I missed any other context for this ridiculous statement. Dude, what are you talking about?
Not even 10% of the way in the author then brings up morbid obesity, boiling an incredibly complex issue down to, ‘I got my client to get rid of her stand mixer so she cooked more so she lost weight.’
I don’t care to read on, DNF.
craftygoat's review
3.5
3.5. Quick read. Nothing earth-shattering. The "clutter blocks" were an interesting way of approaching the emotional attachment we have to stuff. The checklist for downsizing and the chapters on dealing with divorce or death looked like they'd be useful to readers to whom they're relevant. My favorite part was the resources for donating, recycling, etc. (the author also has these listed on her website).
gotta13happy's review
5.0
This had to be one of my favorite decluttering books - as soon people may or may not know. My mom is a compulsive hoarder and I grew up in a very chaotic and messy home. This past year we took on the job of clearing out a home of 40+ years and moving them somewhere safer and more reasonable for their life circumstances.
The thing that I really liked about this book was that it wasnt just some general cleaning/organizing tips and tricks like most books provide but instead it was a deeper dive into the psychology of the emotional roadblocks present with those who hold onto clutter. The author removes blame, offers a reasonable non minimalistic approach that guided by kindness and gratititude. Overall this book brought forth many ideas that helped me to understand the true ubderlying causes of the enviornment I've grown up in.
Also as an audiobook the authors voice is another solid 5/5 which enhances my whole experience.
The thing that I really liked about this book was that it wasnt just some general cleaning/organizing tips and tricks like most books provide but instead it was a deeper dive into the psychology of the emotional roadblocks present with those who hold onto clutter. The author removes blame, offers a reasonable non minimalistic approach that guided by kindness and gratititude. Overall this book brought forth many ideas that helped me to understand the true ubderlying causes of the enviornment I've grown up in.
Also as an audiobook the authors voice is another solid 5/5 which enhances my whole experience.
misty189's review
4.0
I love books on clutter clearing and organization, and I've read a lot of them. This author stands out with her take on looking at the emotional connection to the kind of stuff we are accumulating. She has a no-nonsense approach that is still compassionate, with good information for those downsizing, clearing space after a death or divorce, and for anyone wanting to MAKE SPACE. (It's good to have empty shelves!!)
It could have used another round of editing though. On page 162, in reference to how to organize your possessions, the author notes that, "There will be lots of illustrations so you can see what I'm talking about." However, the only illustration showing an organizing idea following that comment is of a cake plate with condiments on it. ??? Umm...okay. Still, this is a fresh take on getting rid of junk, and it inspired me to make some progress with my own clutter-clearing projects.
My favorite takeaways:
- "It's okay that I made a mistake in buying this item. My home is not an orphanage for unused objects. I can let this go to someone who will actually use it or even to the garbage, and I am still a good person."
- "Ask yourself: What am I holding on to all this for? Can I trust myself to know what I really need? The answer is yes, you can."
- "Take the chaos in, hear what it is asking for, embrace the changes, and make space in your home, heart and, life for the future you want."
Cheers to creating space!
It could have used another round of editing though. On page 162, in reference to how to organize your possessions, the author notes that, "There will be lots of illustrations so you can see what I'm talking about." However, the only illustration showing an organizing idea following that comment is of a cake plate with condiments on it. ??? Umm...okay. Still, this is a fresh take on getting rid of junk, and it inspired me to make some progress with my own clutter-clearing projects.
My favorite takeaways:
- "It's okay that I made a mistake in buying this item. My home is not an orphanage for unused objects. I can let this go to someone who will actually use it or even to the garbage, and I am still a good person."
- "Ask yourself: What am I holding on to all this for? Can I trust myself to know what I really need? The answer is yes, you can."
- "Take the chaos in, hear what it is asking for, embrace the changes, and make space in your home, heart and, life for the future you want."
Cheers to creating space!
clubsanwich's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Structured well with lots of valuable information that sticks. I appreciate the focus on the emotional aspects of clutter. One flaw: The author references things as numbers (example: Clutter Block #2) which ruins the reading flow.
romcm's review
5.0
I loved this one so much!!! The new idea in this book is that clutter comes from emotional blocks that need to be dealt with. I could read this again and again.
justiceofkalr's review
3.0
I think that [b:Make Space for Happiness: How to Stop Attracting Clutter and Start Magnetizing the Life You Want|60394834|Make Space for Happiness How to Stop Attracting Clutter and Start Magnetizing the Life You Want|Tracy McCubbin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655078025l/60394834._SX50_.jpg|95173812] is actually the better book of hers to read. This one has her seven clutter blocks in it, which I found useful, but she just doesn't spend as much time on those as I'd like before moving on the fairly run of the mill decluttering advice. Make Space spends much more time on why we have clutter and how to prevent that rather than just telling you to clear stuff out of your garage so you can park in it.
bookmarking's review against another edition
Patronising and didn’t at all reflect my difficulties with clutter. For example “We need to repair, not replace…” - but actually, a lot of my clutter are things I have set aside to replace. More of a book about shopping addiction and fast fashion/cheap plastic than too many items.