The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

"Before you dive in and start writing lists, tearing cIosets apart, and designing new storage, let's begin at the beginning, which is figuring out how..." (more)
Key Phrases: life management center, acquisition trap, group like things, Orderly Pursuits, The Least You Need, Amazing Space (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback
• ISBN-10: 0028643186
• ISBN-13: 978-0028643182
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #722,148 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Fantastic!, March 17, 2000

By	Mei-Ling (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life (Paperback)

I bought this book about a year ago, and it really has changed my way of thinking. Being a very sentimental person, I have a tendency to keep everything. The problem is, there is only so much space and my drawers & cupboards were starting to look a little (read very) crampy. After reading this wonderful book, my attitude to stuff changed and with it came a whole new life! I have read other organising books but must say that they were less than inspirational. Georgene Lockwood has a lovely personal style that shines through her writing. I also recommend reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Time" in conjunction with 'Organising Your Life'. It holds many of the same premises yet focuses on different angles of your life.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better for people who aren't Chronically Disorganized, February 14, 2004

By	Wallis Davenport "joyous2" (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was really excited to get this book, hoping it would get me more organized, especially as far as keeping my house tidy and organized. However, aside from a few exercises that helped me prioritize my needs, I was quickly disappointed as there is really nothing in this book I didn't already know.

For instance, as for keeping house, who doesn't know that dishes need to be done after every meal? Or that vacuuming should be done twice a week? I needed and hoped for a book that would help me find a way out of my rut that gets me past KNOWING what I need to do into DOING it. For that, I highly recommend either *Sink Reflections* by Marla Cilley, or *Conquering Chronic Disorganization*, by Judith Kolberg.

One big problem with this book is that it only offers one way to battle disorganization. If you are Chronically Disorganized like me, you've already tried that way and it's a bad fit. That's why it doesn't work in the first place.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life is too basic and assumes that once you know what you're supposed to do, everything will magically fall into place. That may be true for some, but for chronically disorganized people, I feel this book is truly lacking.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Basic Strategy for the Getting It Together, May 26, 2000

By	"anonymous90210" (Beverly Hills, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide To Organizing Your Life (Paperback)

Of the three organizing guides I own - this is my favorite. I am very organized but I found this book inspirational. It touches on the basics for getting organized and would really be helpful for those who need to pick up basic skills. The thing I enjoyed most about this book was that it didn't dwell on complex systems (if you're trying to get organized, the last thing you need). I also like the reference section. If you buy one organizing book then get this one - a good valuable tool for the money. Read and get organized! Lockwood should promote on Oprah - this is the best book - beats "Organizing from the Inside Out" and far surpasses the Beverly Hills organizing book.