I first came across this book in the mid 80's.It is the best book on the subject of de-cluttering your life that I've ever seen.It was first published in 1984,and has been on bookstore shelves ever since.Just look at the reviews here;they go back for years.
Don Aslett has been billed as America's Cleaning Expert for at least 25 years.He started in the building cleaning business while in university,and by the time he graduated he was employing many to work for him and even had a fleet of trucks.He is so proud of his profession that he travels around the country carrying a briefcase that looks like a toilet.
In this book, he gives you the benefit of all his years in the business.You quickly learn that the biggest element in cleaning is dealing with clutter.
He is so good of taking the ordinary things that clutter up our life and sap our strength,and writing about it in such a humorous way ,that you'll have tears coming from your eyes from laughter.
It is almost uncanny how he addresses every excuse we've ever used to convince ourselves that clutter is worth keeping,sorting,arranging,storing,piling,labeling,boxing,hanging,stacking,packing,guarding,cleaning,keeping as spares,keeping in case someone else might want it,and on and on.
I was showing this book to a neighbor who has a double car garage ,and can't put any of his three vehicles,with a combined value of over $150K ,inside out of the searing sun in the summer and snow and ice of the winter;for the simple reason ,it's full of clutter.If you think Aslett's examples are exagerrated,this fellow has boxes of National Geographic magazines the Thrift stores won't even take.He even showed me a box of marine charts he collected when he had a boat.The boat's been gone for 15 years.He offered them to me;but No Thanks!Oh well,I'll just keep them,someone might use them.I asked him if he still had an anchor.He thought for a minute."I'm sure I do...somewhere.Do you want it? " No,I said,just wondering.
You have probably seen other books on getting rid of stuff,also numerous magazine and newspaper articles;but this is the real bible on the subject.Why else is it still being sold and reviewed after 20 years?
Aslett has been a popular speaker on the subject.He has also written books,"Is There Life After Housework" and"Do I Dust or Vacuum First?" He has also put out tapes that are hilarious.
His books are full of quotes and one of his best tests to evaluate if something is junk,just try to give it to someone.
I have a friend who often says;"Everything you get,takes looking after." That about says it all.
In the end,you may not learn too much from this book;it is intended to motivate you,not teach you.Everyone knows junk when they see it;getting rid of it is the challenge!
Here's to de-junking your life.
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