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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I can see how this book can be helpful for some. However, I didn’t relate at all. I bought the book for help with a minimalistic lifestyle, but it was mostly for older adults or those who have lost loved ones. I found it very repetitive and could have been made into a shorter book. Overall, I just don’t think it was for me.
Ok, so this reading actually dovetails nicely with (the new-ish trend in decluttering) Swedish Death Cleaning as this particular book focuses mainly on people who are downsizing their own possessions & house size or having to downsize for their parents (who may have moved into assisted living or similar circumstances) or who are dealing with quickly having to downsize after a parent or parents pass away.
I like Peter Walsh, I've read at least one of his other books (maybe more than one), have flipped through at least one or two more, & I used to like his tv show on HGTV that was on eons ago.
He has some helpful things in there & some exercises to do/think about that will help you define what legacy you want to leave. Even though this is a short book, I think it could have been written, organized, & presented in a better, cleaner, more streamlined format. He mainly focuses on defining your treasures (things that are truly valued by you & that show your values to those who will be dealing with your stuff after you die) & defining your worthy items (daily or needed items such as clothing, dishes, etc.). He, naturally, also emphasizes (as he does in every book or tv program he's on) that you have a finite amount of space & you can't physically fit more stuff into a set amount of space.
Eh, overall ok. I would have liked a better design & layout, along w/ better editing to really emphasize his core points. Sadly, I think his message is diluted because it gets lost among the other more filler-like stuff.
(Peter, I'll be your editor for your next book. Just contact me here & we can coordinate a work plan!)
I like Peter Walsh, I've read at least one of his other books (maybe more than one), have flipped through at least one or two more, & I used to like his tv show on HGTV that was on eons ago.
He has some helpful things in there & some exercises to do/think about that will help you define what legacy you want to leave. Even though this is a short book, I think it could have been written, organized, & presented in a better, cleaner, more streamlined format. He mainly focuses on defining your treasures (things that are truly valued by you & that show your values to those who will be dealing with your stuff after you die) & defining your worthy items (daily or needed items such as clothing, dishes, etc.). He, naturally, also emphasizes (as he does in every book or tv program he's on) that you have a finite amount of space & you can't physically fit more stuff into a set amount of space.
Eh, overall ok. I would have liked a better design & layout, along w/ better editing to really emphasize his core points. Sadly, I think his message is diluted because it gets lost among the other more filler-like stuff.
(Peter, I'll be your editor for your next book. Just contact me here & we can coordinate a work plan!)
It was ok. If I hadn't previously read other similar books on decluttering/organizing/hoarding/etc, I might have given this one 3 flat stars. The most intersting parts were the few personal stories of some folks Peter has helped.
Peter does touch on some peripheral issues here than many downsizing books overlook--such as dealing with a$$hole siblings while clearing out the deceased/institutionalized parents' estate.
VERDICT: 2.6 stars for me. If you like Peter Walsh's TV shows and/or have emotional issues with mom's old china cabinet, a broken stapler from 1977, or your collection of movie tickets stubs, then check this book out. Otherwise, there are decluttering books out there that get to the point far more quickly, and are less touchy-feely.
A FEW DETAILS:
Apparently, many folks have tremendous emotional attachments to stuff/junk. This book proposes a slow, relatively painless way to divorce such people from their junk.
This is not a throw-it-all-out and become a Zen minimalist plan; it's more of a thoughtful stuff-reduction plan. It deals with situations such as parents dying (or suddenly being in a nursing home), a family suddenly moving to a much smaller home, and other situations where there's a ton of stuff that suddenly must be downsized/moved/disposed of/etc.
I thought the method sounded excessively elaborate and emotional--but probably helpful to many people. I am definitely not saying Peter is wrong; he's spent years helping emotional people/hoarders & their stuff! Fortunately, Peter doesn't go crazy with tons of psychological test questions in this book; I remember seeing 4 or 5 short, easily-graded ones.
I liked a different Peter Walsh book better (maybe because I read it first?):
[b:It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff|34266|It's All Too Much An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff|Peter Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388510932l/34266._SY75_.jpg|789368] (3-4 stars).
Peter does touch on some peripheral issues here than many downsizing books overlook--such as dealing with a$$hole siblings while clearing out the deceased/institutionalized parents' estate.
VERDICT: 2.6 stars for me. If you like Peter Walsh's TV shows and/or have emotional issues with mom's old china cabinet, a broken stapler from 1977, or your collection of movie tickets stubs, then check this book out. Otherwise, there are decluttering books out there that get to the point far more quickly, and are less touchy-feely.
A FEW DETAILS:
Spoiler
Apparently, many folks have tremendous emotional attachments to stuff/junk. This book proposes a slow, relatively painless way to divorce such people from their junk.
This is not a throw-it-all-out and become a Zen minimalist plan; it's more of a thoughtful stuff-reduction plan. It deals with situations such as parents dying (or suddenly being in a nursing home), a family suddenly moving to a much smaller home, and other situations where there's a ton of stuff that suddenly must be downsized/moved/disposed of/etc.
I thought the method sounded excessively elaborate and emotional--but probably helpful to many people. I am definitely not saying Peter is wrong; he's spent years helping emotional people/hoarders & their stuff! Fortunately, Peter doesn't go crazy with tons of psychological test questions in this book; I remember seeing 4 or 5 short, easily-graded ones.
I liked a different Peter Walsh book better (maybe because I read it first?):
[b:It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff|34266|It's All Too Much An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff|Peter Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388510932l/34266._SY75_.jpg|789368] (3-4 stars).
Lots of good stuff here about defining your "treasures" (so you know which to keep) and identifying the underlying emotions that make getting rid of stuff so difficult. Will be worth a reread when I am actually downsizing someday!
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I checked this out from the library after helping my mother downsize (quickly and with great stress) and after our daughter moved out of our home. I may end up purchasing it just to highlight exercises and conversation scripts! Terrific book; very helpful and sensitive.
An important message and project, with great examples given for those downsizing their own homes or clearing out the estate of a loved one. However, I have little patience for books that promote themselves from within - I'm already reading the book, I don't need to read a pitch for chapter 7 in chapter 1.
I dunno, I don't think I learned anything new from this. My husband and I are downsizing our current household, so I listened to the audiobook more as encouragement while purging useless items. My grievance with the last Peter Walsh book I read was that he just said to throw things away, whereas here he goes into a little more detail in regards to steps to take before reaching that point. But ultimately I already know that I can donate items or sell them on Craigslist. Also, I don't really appreciate that he's riding the "Let it Go" wave (and even mentions the song at one point). He also quotes the amazing "Get busy living, or get busy dying" line from Shawshank Redemption. Come on, come up with your own hooks man. Meh.