Customer Reviews

Outwitting Clutter: 101 Ingenious Space-Saving Tips and Ideas to Make Any House or Apartment More Livable

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Bill Adler, Jr. is hilarious. If you don't get anything but a good laugh from this book, it's worth it. He has a great sense of humor and he knows how to make decluttering fun and lighthearted. He gives good tips and a different insight which you may or may not agree with(choose and use those which you think will work for you). I have read a lot of material on decluttering and organizing and this book was still helpful, enlightening, and just plain fun to read.

If you're anything like me,you've been fighting clutter all your adult life.Reading about how to control clutter to me is like reading recipes is to my wife.After all this reading we'll look at each other and say,"Let's go to the Mall,and then out to eat."Although newspapers and magazines are continually carrying articles about clutter,they're as common as those on energy conservation.The best book I've come across, several years ago, was "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslett(see my review of December 29,2005).Despite my best intentions and efforts Clutter still stands.
When I came across Adler's book,and already having been familar with his other book,"Outwitting Squirrels",I thought it would be well worth reading.Both of these books are to the point,totally all encompassing,full of humor and will describe both you and your cluttering instincts to a tee.Whether reading this book will help you turn your habits around or will become another addition to the 'pile' ,all depends on you.So what's new about raising Hell on Saturday nite and reading the Bible come Sunday morning?Anyway,you gotta keep trying,just think how it would be if you didn't try.I am reminded of Larry McMurtry's novel "Cadallic Jack" and the old fellow who had his house stuffed with bird nests he had collected over the years.
I'll give you a little personal example.I came into a small collection of matchbooks and have no interest in them.Come to think of it I hardly see them anymore.I have offered them to several,but to date no takers.Now is the time to take advice from my title.Get rid of them!
The one big thing that comes into play with clutter is that it definately involves those we live with.Somebody elses clutter is a lot more easier to get rid of than your oun.Now if you want to really declare war on it,exchange control over one anothers clutter.However;one should also discuss divorce expenses before embarking on a War on Clutter..If you think Bush bit off a big one with his War on Terror,you're in for a biiiig surprise!
Don't loose heart completely.Just like his book shows how you can still continue to feed backyard birds and still live in peace with squirrels,he gives some of the same help in living with clutter.If all else fails,organized clutter beats disorganized clutter every time.My wife and I have declared two areas in our home off limits over clutter.I have half of the basement for my 7000 books,puzzle and other collections and she 3 closets and a bedroom,as a result of empty-nesting,for her treasures.The rest of the house is neat as a pin and off limits to clutter.
I think the best laugh in this book is where Bill talks about the clutter of hair shampoo and and conditioners ..check out 151.
while most advice on clutter deals with getting rid of clutter;Adler takes it a step further and gives some good suggestions on how to manage it,if you can't eliminate it all together.
While Adler gives us a great war cry,"Don't bring it home";an old friend of mine gave me this piece of wisdom,"Every thing you get,takes looking after."

This author's advice is direct and simple and seems very good for getting the reader started immediately on organizing. Highly recommended.

This book is easy to follow practical methods of declutter. I love the 10 lists. Read them to my daughters, they also enjoyed them. You will get this when you read it. Entertaining also. Helps you get rid of the excuses. And how to maintain. Gives you a different way of looking at things.