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Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Ask yourself why you want to get organized..." (more)
Key Phrases: One Challenge, Three Solutions, United States (more...)

4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

While both of these books are aimed at people who bemoan the amount of stuff they've accumulated, their approaches are completely different. Glovinsky, a professional psychotherapist and professional organizer, asks readers to examine the underlying psychological issues that they have with "things." She explains different mental glitches that can make organizing harder for some people than others. Quizzes and checklists are offered so that readers can identify their thing issues and compensate for and/or ameliorate them. Basically, she takes Julie Morgenstern's Organizing from the Inside Out to the next level. Smallin, on the other hand, shares some concrete tips and techniques to control clutter. Unfortunately, she strays from that direction and digresses into topics such as personal finance (she gives tips on saving and investing), personal safety (she explains why semiannual fire drills are important), and final arrangements (she provides lists of what must be done when there's a death in the family). This lack of focus, coupled with an annoying tendency to repeat the same hints in different paragraphs, makes her book an optional purchase for public libraries. Glovinsky's book is recommended for any public library where clutter-control books circulate well. Pam Matthews, M.L.S., Olmsted Falls, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"If you have a tough time getting rid of things, organization guru Donna Smallin offers some helpful guidelines." -- Houston Chronicle

"Smallin helps the skeptical see how they can not only get their houses in order but keep them that way..." -- New York Daily News

"This is a logical course, that give you the push to tackle any challenge, from the medicine cabinet to finances." -- San Francisco Chronicle

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Product Details

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; illustrated edition edition (September 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580174485
ISBN-13: 978-1580174480
Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,890 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#30 in Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating

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More About the Author

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› Visit Amazon's Donna Smallin Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Ask yourself why you want to get organized. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
One Challenge, Three Solutions, United States, Company Professional Organizing, Poison Control Center, Store Elsewhere, The Container Store, Internal Revenue Service, Messies Anonymous, Sheila Delson

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 7 books:

Pet First Aid: Cats & Dogs by American Red Cross in Back Matter
Cats and Dogs by Robie Madison in Back Matter
Too Busy to Clean?: Over 500 Tips & Techniques to Make Housecleaning Easier by Patricia R. Barrett in Back Matter
Time Management (Bright Ideas) by Ray Arnold in Back Matter
Direct Marketing (Marketing in Action) by Margaret Allen in Back Matter

See all 7 books this book cites

3 books cite this book:

How to Start & Maintain a Profitable Sewing Business: Making Money with Your Sewing Skills by Becky Reed on page 54
ADD & ADHD for Dummies by Jeff Strong on page 225
Fw Publications North Light Books, How To Organize Your Scrapbook Workspace in Back Matter

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	65% buy the item featured on this page: Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges 4.2 out of 5 stars (29) $11.53
	12% buy Organizing from the Inside Out, second edition: The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life 4.5 out of 5 stars (175) $10.20
	10% buy How to Start a Home-Based Professional Organizing Business (Home-Based Business Series) 4.7 out of 5 stars (22) $12.89
	8% buy The One-Minute Organizer Plain & Simple 4.7 out of 5 stars (15) $8.76

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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

262 of 263 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It worked for me, July 28, 2003

By	pm444 "pm444" (Okemos, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I have purchased several books about organizing and getting rid of clutter, and they have all had some good suggestions. However, I never managed to apply the principles in anything except a half-hearted and short-term manner. Thus, I ended up with spaces that had been partially cleared and organized, only to revert to their former clutter and chaos after a few months.

This was no one's fault but my own, of course, but with Smallin's book, it didn't happen that way. She is able to present information and ideas that make sense, but she manages to do it in a way that builds your motivation to actually try it and to stick with it. I guess the best way of putting it is that I never felt overwhelmed, even when things looked very chaotic (as they always do at some point in a re-organization project).

The book is extremely well-suited to reading short sections that will allow you to get started right away. Then, if you need a break from the work itself, or need more suggestions, you can go back to it. Smallin also includes multiple suggestions from other professional organizers, which is very helpful because it gives you more options.

I'm almost finished with a two-week de-cluttering and organization project. In the past, I never could have gone that long without giving up and throwing it all back where it came from. But this time, I kept going back to Smallin's book, and she helped keep me on track. I was even able to use suggestions from books I had read before, such as not buying new storage cases until you have actually done the organizing and know what you need to store.

A major re-organization project is something like a weight-loss regime. You can try to do it the fast and easy way, but it won't last. Or, you can do it slowly and patiently, refining and modifying your plan as you see how it evolves. That's my goal, and with Smallin's book as my guide, I'm confident that it will be possible.

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226 of 227 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Suze Orman of organizing, June 10, 2003

By	Pravin Wagh "waghdude" (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sometimes the problem with clutter and disorganization isn't simply to buy storage and other items at an office supplies store. You could do that endlessly, and end up with lots of RUBBERMAID and STERILITE containers piled up in your garage or closet, and still not make any progress on stopping bad habits that lead to clutter. Smallin touches upon various areas of one's life that all lead to disorganization. In my case, and one that a friend related to for herself, Smallin hit the mark by stating that perfectionists can be the messiest because they keep waiting for the perfect organization plan; it's not that they like the mess, but they don't get started because they haven't come up with the ultimate strategy.

The book is laid out like a magazine and has lots of side-bars to keep you interested. Unlike many self-help books, Smallin isn't selling herself and claiming to make up her own new science. She quotes various other organizing experts in those sidebars, and provides a pretty extensive set of references and links that the reader can follow up with to continue their newly organized ways.

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113 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Price, January 6, 2004

By	derketchup "derketchup" (Pacific NorthWest) - See all my reviews

I bought this book in an attempt to bring some semblance of order into my very messy studio apartment. The author has obviously spent a large amount of time researching her book, with a major theme around decluttering.

With this book's help, I have gotten rid of clothes that no longer fit or were unwearable (what was I thinking?), that third set of dishes I was keeping just incase (I had to feed an army? c'mon), and several beauty products I no longer used.

But perhaps the best thing I've gotten from this book was going through my book case and selling old books I never read or only read once right here on amazon.com. I spent $12 on this book roughly, and so far I've made $80 net on stuff that only gathered dust.

I love this book so much, I don't think it'll have a chance to gather dust.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars space galore
I found spaces in my small apartment that I didn't know I had. Excellent book.
Love my new, uncluttered look and I can finally find things.

Published 28 days ago by ahusberg

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointed
This book came with a paper clip in it and several pages with underlines and circled words. I was disappointed to see this.

Published 2 months ago by Christa R. Engels

4.0 out of 5 stars It delivers.
I borrowed this book from the library after attending a program on de-cluttering, where it was one of several books recommended by the speaker. Read more

Published 6 months ago by J.D. Mack

5.0 out of 5 stars GLAD I GOT THIS BOOK
I was hesitate about getting this book on all the mixed reviews. Well I am glad I got it. Within 5 minutes of looking through the book I TOTALLY organized my kids... Read more

Published 20 months ago by L. Rodier

4.0 out of 5 stars Reference book for organizing many different aspects of your life
I purchased this book because I wanted to organize the spaces in my home (I am terrible about not "finding a home" for new items and letting my mail pile up everywhere). Read more

Published 20 months ago by Melissa Kaye

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book - Covers It ALL!
I got this book from the library originally, and was so motivated and floored by the amount of information covered, I just had to have it. Read more

Published 21 months ago by L. Marshall

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative Ideas! Good Tips
In addition to the valuable information in this book, it is filled with tips and checklists that are well put together. Read more

Published on July 14, 2007 by Colette Lamm

5.0 out of 5 stars You're Smart, You're Disorganized, Smallin can fix that !
Donna Smallin's book delivers ! Organizing Plain and Simple, offers people a reasonable and concrete way to dig out from under the chaos. First, you declutter. Read more

Published on July 4, 2007 by Hazel Carty

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth it
A lot of what is in this book is just plain common sense that you probably already know. The reviewer is correct that this book is also lacking in focus - it's all over the place... Read more

Published on June 26, 2007 by Newsie

3.0 out of 5 stars too much information
This shows the importance of finding self-help books that suit your personal needs. Someone who lives alone in an apartment will have different problems from someone who lives in... Read more

Published on April 12, 2007 by lisatheratgirl

› See all 29 customer reviews...

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