Stop Clutter from Stealing Your Life: Discover Why You Clutter and How You Can Stop [Paperback]

Mike Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

This is much more than an "organizing" book. It is written for clutterers by a reformed clutterer who understands why it is so hard to let go of the things that clog our lives. This is the only book that addresses cluttering as a psychological, spiritual and physical blockage in our lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A helpful guide for improving your life -- just be sure to put the cassettes neatly away after listening. -- Audiofile Magazine

Skillfully narrated by David Elias... -- Library Bookwatch --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From the Publisher

Many books will tell you how you should organize your life. This one doesn't tell you that you should follow "systems" and hard rules. It gently leads you to understand why you clutter, how it affects every aspect of your life, why an approach of "practical spirituality" can help you more than a to-do list, and then gives you some very practical tips that only a real clutterer would know. Mr. Nelson approaches a very serious problem that affects millions with a sensitivity that only a fellow sufferer could have, and a wry humor that makes the journey to recovery less painful. One of the stories is about a rock and roll star who has 27 refrigerators! If you've tried and tried to organize, and read other books that didn't seem to speak your language, this book is for you. It passes into the realm of books that can change your life. Unique in Mr. Nelson's approach is that he addresses the strains that cluttering can have on relationships. He's personally released over a ton of useless items. Financial clutter is also addressed. Medical experts, religious leaders, professional organizers, businessmen and clutterers themselves all present their views of the elephant. Mr. Nelson ties them together to show the whole animal.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564145026
• ISBN-13: 978-1564145024
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

194 of 196 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very special and helpful book, March 6, 2001

By 

Dr. Linda Johnson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Clutter from Stealing Your Life: Discover Why You Clutter and How You Can Stop (Paperback)

One of my therapy patients brought this book to my attention. While I am skeptical of self-help books in general, and books on organization especially, she seemed so affected by this one that I bought a copy. I have to admit that I was amazed. This breaks new ground.

My patients have complex issues, ranging from clinical depression to various OCD tendencies. A fairly common symptom among many of them, though, is hoarding or cluttering, as Mr. Nelson defines it. For a layman, he displays a good understanding of the difference, and is able to explain the psychological aspects of this disorder in easy to understand terms. More importantly, he offers real solutions to the root causes of this manifestation of symptoms.

Hoarding affects a very small percentage of the population, but cluttering (a more benign expression of less acute symptoms) is far more common that generally discussed. Because of the shame it causes, those not in therapy do not talk about it. Since the symtoms are not exhibited in public (like alcoholism), people can live their wholes lives without being diagnosed.

Something I often tell my patients is, "You aren't going to clean out your house until you clean out your feelings." Cluttering may be a lifelong tendency, or may start after a traumatic psychological event like a divorce, death, loss of job or other emotional episode. Mr. Nelson echoes this sentiment. I was impressed by his interviews with professionals in the medical community to give his book a solid foundation. Combined with the stories from self-diagnosed clutterers, and the thoughts of professional organizers, he presents a well-rounded picture of a hidden epidemic.

Thankfully, he has done with with a sense of humor that makes it easy reading. This book will elicit strong feelings from the readers, and his humor can keep them from feeling overwhelmed. That he weaves a spiritual view into his advice for recovery, without being preachy, opens an entirely new window of enlightenment.

This is not a book for people who want to "get neat." While there are chapters with practical advice on physically decluttering, they are written as only a real clutterer can appreciate. There are many books on housekeeping and organizing that would better serve someone who doesn't have an emotional attachment to her "stuff." The reader who will benefit from this book has tried and not succeeded in organizing her physical world. She had probably read other books that told her "how to" do it, and those tips had no lasting effect. This book is for those who want to understand the "why" of their cluttering. In my opinion, this is the first step that needs to be taken before the "how-to" can take place.

In conclusion, don't buy this book if just need to arrange your house better. Buy it if you need to arrange your life better.

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saved my relationship!, February 2, 2001

By 

Jill Jones (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Clutter from Stealing Your Life: Discover Why You Clutter and How You Can Stop (Paperback)

My cluttering has been a source of friction between me and my husband for years. He is neat. I am not. I am not so bad as to be a hoarder (as explained in the book), but am pretty meessy. I have been to classes on "how to organize your life," tried to practice feng shui (which may work for simply disorganized people, but not for people like me), and even hired an organizer to help me. Nothing worked.

I nearly passed this book over, becasue I've read half a dozen "organizing" books. But when I saw that Ann Richards, former governor of Texas and Lucia Cappachione, a spiritual self-help author I adore, endorsed the book, I took a look.

It is amazing! Mike (and you will feel like you know him personally when you read his book) approached cluttering from an entirely new perspective. He's obviously a clutterer himself who has found a way out. He manages to write with alternating seriousness, insight and much-needed humor. In fact, I found myself laughing out loud at his obviously single man's approach to housecleaning!

We need to change our ways of thinking about the stuff in our lives and improve our spiritual lives to really, permanently, get better. He shows us how.

The chapter on relationships hit home. I was using my clutter as a defense against closeness. I never knew that. By applying the principles he puts forth to my clutter and our relationship, things have already improved. He doesn't promise a miracle cure, or overnight curing, but he does point us on the right road.

If there is one criticism of this book, it is that it is not long enough. Oh, the 200+ pages are packed with information, but I felt that it could go on and on. I just wanted to keep reading. I hope that Mike will write a follow-up workbook. I just love his writing.

Thank you Mike, for writing such a personal and revealing glimpse into the lives of clutterers. You put a lot of yourself into this and it shows. I'll buy any book you write!

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope for Clutterers -- even if you have 27 refrigerators!, January 26, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Clutter from Stealing Your Life: Discover Why You Clutter and How You Can Stop (Paperback)

Mr. Nelson "gets it." This book is the first book written by a clutterer for clutterers. I own every organizing book on the market and not one spoke to me the way this one does.

Cluttering is not just a problem with having a messy kitchen or closet. For those of us who are clutterers and hoarders, it is a psychological and spiritual blockage that limits our lives and even destroys relationships. Yet, while he treats the subject seriously, his humor shines through like the sunlight of the spirit. The stories of clutters are honest and touching, but you have to laugh at the one who has 27 refrigerators in his yard!

The medical and psychological information, full of quotes from experts in the field, (family counseling and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders) is well-written and understandable to a layman. Where the book really shines is in the practical, yet spiritual approach to deluttering our lives and then our living spaces.

Mr. Nelson's practical advice for dealing with debt and bill collectors (which often accompanies cluttering) is priceless. His family relationship chapter will help so many non-clutterers understand how to save their marriages.

Our nonprofit organization, Clutterless Recovery Groups, has recommended this book to all of our members and adopted it as our "Big Book." Kudos, Mr. Nelson, and thank you. You will touch the lives of millions with this book.