The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life

by Robin Zasio

We all have treasured possessions—a favorite pair of shoes, a much-beloved chair, an ever-expanding record collection. But sometimes, this emotional attachment to our belongings can spiral out of control and culminate into a condition called compulsive hoarding. From hobbyists and collectors to pack rats and compulsive shoppers—it is close to impossible for hoarders to relinquish their precious objects, even if it means that stuff takes over their lives and their homes. According to psychologist Dr. Robin Zasio, our fascination with hoarding stems from the fact that most of us fall somewhere on the hoarding continuum. Even though it may not regularly interfere with our everyday lives, to some degree or another, many of us hoard. The Hoarder In You provides practical advice for decluttering and organizing, including how to tame the emotional pull of acquiring additional things, make order out of chaos by getting a handle on clutter, and create an organizational system that reduces stress and anxiety. Dr. Zasio also shares some of the most serious cases of hoarding that she's encountered, and explains how we can learn from these extreme examples—no matter where we are on the hoarding continuum.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Mental Health, Personal Development, Health

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Robin Zasio, PsyD, LCSW, is a featured therapist on the A&E series Hoarders and specializes in treating hoarding and other anxiety-related conditions.

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for hoarders, those who know them, and those who have different levels of difficulty with clutter while still not so much as to be called hoarding. The book is divided into two parts, the first being chapters 1-4, then 5-9 deal with action against stuff. I'll list what I think each chapter is about here:

1: What hoarding is about. Even non-hoarders with clutter may have organising troubles
2: On love of stuff: what it's like for a hoarder (different from usual clutter-person); what hoarding tendencies can be found in non-hoarders; the reasons we save some things and how to challenge these ideas; what certain clutters say about us
3: What it feels like for hoarders' families and how they (should) deal
4: Continuum, from 1 (neat-freak) to 5 (boarderline hoarder) where the non-hoarders are (I am the middle number, 3, but would like to move towards 2?); collecting or stockpiling, saving levels, souvenir-gathering; on the concept of waste (incl. debate on usefulness)

5: Making the decision to deal with clutter; how to deal when it comes to hoarding (treatment), especially on mental level (usual distortions); on exposure to triggers
6: Taking control of buying-mindset
7: Starting cleaning the clutter: underlying issues (and how an outsider can help) - work them out to prevent backsliding; being prepared for anxiety and unpleasant feelings; actual starting and how to organiset the ones kept (like with like, size, color etc.); dealing with hard-to-decide items
8: Cleaning room by room - issues related to particular rooms; food-storing times; how long to keep ones documents; dealing with pets' stuff; dealing with certain excuses
9: Staying clutter-free
Appendixes: List of items to rate with anxiety levels; list of possible rewards for good work/behavior

Of course I felt some reluctance in starting this book, yet as I read I found that I read it quite quickly. Being a questioner made me grumble at some ideas, yet I can see how it really is helpful and now feel inspired to do at least some of it at my place. I'm certainly grateful that I don't have many rooms to clean XD

The book tells everything very clearly and at no point it felt judgemental. Even when one would have only one or two places in the house with need for good sorting and cleaning, this is useful, and makes one understand clutterers a bit better. So a well worth reading kind of a book, for sure :)

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I intuitively knew there was a “hoarding continuum.” I have one sister who exists very much on the minimalist end of that scale—I envy her ease at keeping her house clean and organized. My other sister and I inhabit the mid-range of the scale, thankfully well away from OMG territory, but we struggle with accumulations of “stuff” in our homes.

It makes complete sense to me that the hoarding tendency goes hand in hand with anxiety issues and with perfectionism. My desire to do things not merely well, but excellently often stands in my way when I am sorting household debris—if I could just toss things into the dumpster and leave it at that, my home would be much less crowded. However, I feel the necessity to recycle as many items as possible—making things available for people who have less and keeping things out of the landfill. I’m starting to see that I need to let go of this perfectionism. Even the charities are getting picky about what items they accept and I need to just chuck some things.

Anxiety certainly also plays into my issues—questions like “where exactly is that electronics recycling depot?” hold me back, because I am reluctant to load the car and hope that I can find the spot. I like to know where I am going, but I can’t know until I actually go there the first time. I’ve managed to work myself into the perfect circular loop of inactivity.

I think one of the best tips in this book is the existence of thought distortions which make it difficult to part with certain objects. The whole “what if I need this later?” myth is a great example and one which I have heard directly from my sister’s lips. The truth is, if we need it later, we can borrow it or rent it or maybe find it second-hand. The real truth is we are unlikely to EVER need it and it is taking up real estate that could house things that are actually useful.

I had already come to see my household accumulations as piles of unmade decisions—now I have a few tools to deal with those problem piles. And I also have a book recommendation to make to my sister.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial reaction: I picked this up from my library as a random read on organization, and this turned out to be a nice resource in the realm of organization and clearing clutter on a psychological level. It addresses both cluttered lifestyles and hoarding, and Dr. Robin Zasio, psychologist on the series "Hoarders," approaches the topic with a myriad of stories, helpful tips, and analysis of such problems on a psychological level. I really appreciated that this book takes on the topic on a level of organizational approaches as well as mental/emotional examinations.

Full review:

This was a book I picked up a long while ago to search for resources on organization, clutter, and self-improvement. When I initially came across it at my local library, given that I'd seen marathons of the show "Hoarders," I jumped at the chance to read it, even if I wouldn't necessarily call myself a 'hoarder." (Rather, I'm more of just a person who looks for different methodologies on organization, and sometimes I incorporate those strategies if it somehow makes me more efficient.) I'll admit, however, there were too many things that I did hold onto when I was younger for fear that I would need them at *some* point in my life when really I only had use for them once or twice.

Cassandra Campbell does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. This book not only goes into Zasio's own experiences with some of the more extreme examples of hoarding she's seen in her work (illustrating stories of her clients to make their transformations all that more vivid), but she offers advice to those who are hoarders and non-hoarders about the emotional attachments we make towards our possessions, and how to practically approach organization in a way that mentally and physically clears clutter. It also illustrates, to an extent, how clutter plays into anxiety, which is important for understanding the heart of how hoarding develops (because it's not just physical disorganization, it has factors in what we think and feel).

I definitely would recommend this as an addition to a library for anyone who values literature on organizational systems and self-improvement. It was a valuable read and one I'd readily return to as a resource.

Overall score: 4/5 stars.

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoda time: (Guilty secret) I am a pack rat who dreams of being a minimalist. I attach emotional value on clothes, jewelry, gifts, and other items. I have clutter closets filled beyond acceptable capacity. I am not an extreme hoarder, my house is clean and neat but I am uncomfortable with the level of stuff I do have hidden in my closets. I seem to place sentimental value on clothes above all other items, weird huh ? I figured that out after doing all the questioning steps in this book. I found the tie that bound me to these items, time I had with my mother shopping for clothes, a treasured time gift I tried desperately to hold on to. I have a distorted view of the impact these items have on me. They made me sad at the memories that were so brief and never again, they made me feel guilty for not appreciating her more, they made me feel fat for not being that size anymore, etc. I have other small trinkets from broken dreams/relationships that I hold on too. I morn times gone, the good the bad and the ugly. Why did I keep things that only made me sad ? I did't realize I was till I went through the process of breaking down my reasoning. I do to want to tie myself to negative emotions, and I never thought I was till this book open my eyes.

This is not a book just for extreme hoarders. This will help the cluttered, the chaotic, the disorganized , the person who just has difficulty deciding what to keep. Zone control, for those spots that always seem to collect stuff. Easy simple steps help you look at what you have how to really feel about it and how you can change that into a realistic pattern. It is a short quick read that gets right to the point. This is not rocket science it is a retraining of habits learned over many years. It takes time, deep breathing and and open heart but it can be done if you follow the steps. I would recommend it to just about anyone to get good handle on their clutter even if it's just one drawer.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 1-5 hoarder continuun, from neat freak to hoarder, I am, actually a 4. I don't actually hoard anything (with 1 exception) and I don't have ANY trouble throwing things away, usually. I constantly have a bag of clothes set to donate, I sell stuff at a community yard sale every year. That said, I'm a huge slob. There is crap in every room of my house. I throw some away but it's still a total mess. So this book gave me hints on how to tackle this in small doses which were helpful. I immediately cleaned out the freezer by asking the question she asks of hoarders to get them to throw out food - this might still be safe, but it's probably no longer tasty. Also, that Trader Joe's frozen food that you didn't really like? Cut your losses. You don't want to eat it. Throw it out. And I did. It was interesting! However, I think I really need Robin Zasio herself to come over to my house and make me do this de-cluttering. Kind encouragement of "just a little bit at a time" can easily become, "You know, start whenever." That clutter ain't going anywhere.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the show Hoarders and I love Dr. Robin Zasio. I picked this up thinking that it was going to be a lot of stories of extreme hoarders as is presented on the TV show. While some examples were discussed, this was more of a self help book to help you purge the clutter from your life. Even if you are not an extreme hoarder as depicted on the show (I still remember that episode when they were pulling out the dead cat bodies from the clutter and the home owner was like so that's what happened to Fluffy) there is lots of good advice that everyone can use including how to organize your stuff and what the shelf life is on certain things. There is also a useful section on how to talk yourself out of buying things and an internal dialogue you can have with yourself when you are reluctant to get rid of things. It doesn't mean you didn't love your grandmother just because you are getting rid of the Chia pet she gave you when you were ten. I am off to purge those old newspapers and magazines now. That stack of laundry that needs to be put away does not mean I am lazy, I am a perfectionist. Thanks Dr. Zasio!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Robin Zasio, the psychologist from the hit TV show "Hoarders," offers self-help for those of us with a tendency towards accumulating clutter (non-hoarders with hoarder tendencies or "clutterers") using the same professional guidance she gives her hoarder patients. This book is amazingly helpful for people wanting to deal with excessive clutter, but readers with even a low-level "hoarding" problem will probably need professional help as this book provides tools but cannot replace an actual therapist and won't magically turn a hoarder into a self-starter who is capable of decluttering.

She begins by identifying some of the many reasons behind hoarding tendencies and explaining the most common cognitive distortions underlying them. These are:
* all-or-none thinking -- seeing things in black or white categories
* overgeneralizing -- seeing a single event as a never-ending pattern
* discounting the positive -- rejecting positive experiences
* mind reading -- claiming to know the (usually negative) thoughts or feelings of others with no solid fact to support these conclusions
* fortune-telling -- anticipating that all future events will turn out badly and treating the prediction as it were an established fact
* catastrophizing -- expecting the worst possible outcome and responding to the prediction as though it is true
* emotional reasoning -- "I feel this way, so it must be true" / believing negative emotions reflect reality
* should statements -- trying to motivate one's self with should (or shouldn't) statements as if a punitive voice is required for action
* labeling -- attaching negative labels to one's self or others, an extreme form of overgeneralization.
Dr. Robin also challenges these "thinking errors" and provides alternative thoughts.

She explains the difference between collecting and stockpiling (82) and between being a saver and a pack rat (84).

On page 151, she identifies the three biggest traps that people fall into when attempting to declutter and the alternative views that will allow you to over come.
1) Trap: "I'm afraid that I'll need it and regret throwing it away." Alternative view: "If you haven't used it in a very long time and don't see a specific date by which you will use it, it's very likely that you will never need it. If you do, you can acquire another of the same item, either by borrowing or buying it secondhand if price is an issue."
2) Trap: "I'm afraid that I'll never get it back if I throw it away." Alternative view: "While you may never get that specific item back, the likelihood of a negative outcome resulting from not having the item is minute. What's more, if you do need it, there may well be a better version available at the time."
3) Trap: "My [relative or loved one] would have wanted me to keep it." Alternative view: "You loved [this person], and keeping or discarding any item doesn't change that fact. There are other ways of honoring [him or her] than keeping something that takes up space and makes you more overwhelmed."

Some of the most helpful advice is about letting go of things that were gifts, belonged to an era of your life that is over, that have no current use or use in the foreseeable future, that you keep "just in case," that might still be useful, that were freebies, that you don't want to "waste," that have sentimental value, and that belonged to a deceased relative or loved one. Below is the advice that I found to be gems.

The tendency to keep things "just in case" is one that most of us encounter. Dr. Robin's sage advice is: "There's nothing wrong with saving things that you think you might need in the future, or things that might be of value. But there's a fine line between being smart and planning ahead, and saving anything that could conceivably be of use to someone else in the near future, which can lead to excessive clutter" (83). "It may have a use, but if you don't have use for it in the moment, you are not going to make it more useful by keeping it in a drawer. It is not wasteful to get rid of something you don't need. You are not responsible for making use of everything that crosses your path" (124).

Another strong impulse that leads to clutter is not wanting to throw away anything that might be useful. Dr. Robin's advice to combat this is: "We hear so much about overcrowded landfills and recycling and reuse . . . It makes it very difficult to throw anything away that's not rotting or utterly useless, even if you have no plans to use it. But is it any better to treat your home or your yard like a landfill? Instead of throwing away excess things, we simply keep them, store them, stockpile them, and only very occasionally use them. The end result is a house full of clutter, and that, too, is a waste" (90).

In dealing with "good deals" and freebies, remember "It's not a 'good deal,' no matter how inexpensive it is, if you're not going to use it, if you already have another like it at home that will expire if you don't use it, or if it takes up space, which causes you stress" (120). "Free things can be very costly" (127). It is also important to keep in mind that "Free things are rarely free, and cost you big in terns of clutter, disorganization, and even money" (129).

Dr. Robin provides a helpful sidebar on pages 86 and 87 about how to determine if you are saving sentimental items because you are "stuck." The best piece of information in this section is the distinction between taking "good care" of the things you save and saving items that "get piled in the back of a closet, hidden under a bed, or stored in an attic or basement and possibly damaged by water or dust" (87).

She recommends against saving things simply because they are a part of your past, reminding the read that they are not dishonoring the person they were by getting rid of items that are no longer relevant to who they are now.

Unfortunately, she doesn't go into much detail about feeling compelled to keep things just because they were gifts. Dr. Robin only comments, "Sometimes it feels like we should save things simply because they were given to us, not because they're meaningful or useful" (83).

Dr. Robin lists her Rules for Clutterers on page 131:
Rule #1: One in, one out.
Rule #2: No homeless items. If you're considering bringing something into your home, you must be able to identify where it will live or what it will replace.
Rule #3: Be able to identify how and when you are going to use the item. In addition to a home, the item needs a plan.
Rule #4: Do things in the moment. If you put it off, you're unlikely to ever get around to [it].
Rule #5: No duplicates.
Rule #6: If it needs to be fixed in some way, it doesn't come it. Far more often than not, you won't get around to repairing it. If you're trying to cut back on clutter, nothing broken or in need of refurbishing should cross your threshold.

Dr. Robin also includes a sidebar with the OHIO (only handle it once) Rule for decluttering developed by Dr. Randy O. Frost on page 149.
* If it's broken, it goes.
* If it smells, it goes.
* If it's contaminated with bugs, mold, or animal droppings, it goes.
* Ask yourself if you have a use for it at a specific point in the future. If not, it goes.
* Are you giving it to someone on a set date in the future? If not, it goes.
* Does it have a home? If not, then it either goes, or something else does to give it a home.

Dr. Robin also includes her own question checklist of questions to help the reader determine whether or not to get rid of an item on pages 158 and 159.
1. Is it functional?
2. Do you love it?
3. Is it a classic or utilitarian item?
4. Is there a worthy story attached to the item?
5. Does the story make you feel good?
6. Is the item relevant to your life?

[Paullette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, touted in reviews as a practical decluttering guide with credentials (its author is a clinical pychologist & expert on the treatment of compulsive hoarding). After a promising start it got v. clinical, v. quickly, and aside from a couple of token single-dweller examples, is otherwise entirely devoted to clutterers who live in 2- to 6-person households. In fact, so much of this book concerns the relationship dynamics of roommates and family members that by the time I finished reading it, any fear I had of diagnosis as an actual hoarder was completely replaced by that of dying alone. Skip it if you're solo, or at least don't read it right before the holidays--I'm watching "Pretty Woman" right now, so can accurately quote Vivian on Rodeo Drive: "Big mistake--HUGE!"

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really much of a hoarder, but I'm always looking for ways to help me get rid of stuff and clear the clutter. Unless you have a serious problem with hoarding, only the first part of the book will be useful. Unless, of course, you like to read case histories of people who have/had pathological hoarding tendencies. The one that sticks in my mind from this book is the guy who could not even offer people a place to sit when they came to his house because every surface was covered with dog figurines. Did he even have a real dog? The book doesn't say.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to accumulate things in piles and dropping them on the dining room table with the intent to take care of them later. I watch episodes of "Hoarders" to encourage myself to clean up. Dr. Zasio's book sheds more light on how and why we tend to collect and hang on to things in a disorganized and cluttered environment. She also shares strategies on cleaning up, helping someone else to clean up their space, and how we can keep the clutter away. She encourages self love and acceptance by reminding us to be kinder to ourselves and remind ourselves we don't accumulate overnight, it's going to take time to work through our space.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good. And timely! I got a lot out of understanding myself and others. Professional advice from someone who actually has kids. I can finally get rid of some of the silly things I've been hanging on to and maybe even be slightly less judgmental of others. *maybe*. This book is for everyone who has belongings not just hoarders. I just happen to be purging at the moment so my head is in the zone and very open to the idea of letting things go.

[Auntie Raye-Raye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I planned to take today off. Instead, I ended up doing chores, cause I had this audiobook playing.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zasio (a psychologist on A&E’s Hoarders) presents the dysfunction she specializes in treating as not as a one-in-a-million freakshow but as something that everybody does to one degree or another. Indeed, most regular people have “crap” issues (my term, not Zasio’s)—be it a closet crammed with sweaters or shelves of review copies you’ll never read (I’m talking to you, Barbara Hoffert!). As a book, Hoarders is a completely fascinating, wtf chronicle of seemingly normal people hoarding weird crap. Among many profiles are those of a nice young man who hoards crappy old blenders and toasters in the hopes of fixing and selling them and a successful businesswoman living in a craphouse filled to the brim with clothes and cat poop. However, it also provides excellent tips, advice, and suggestions for anyone willing to take a good, hard look at their crap. Even as she explains the terrible emotional anxiety hoarders experience when parting with belongings, Zasio acknowledges that we all hang onto them even if the situation never becomes acute. The difference is that hoarders are rarely swayed by logic (e.g., you really can lose this stained loveseat/80′s pantsuit/collection of Elvis shot glasses) or “need vs. want” conversations. Interestingly, Zasio also declares that it’s okay to keep crap for no good reason—as long as it doesn’t interfere with your life1. See, Dr. Z. isn’t anti-crap as much as she is pro-health, and as such she encourages readers to live without crap (e.g., ask: is it functional? Relevant to your life? etc.) because “your environment—and your mind—will feel clearer in no time.” VERDICT A real-life counterpoint to George Carlin’s caustic routine about ‘Stuff‘; Hoarders is an excellent, readable, actionable self-help book for anyone interested in de-cluttering.

Find this review and others at Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the root cause of your clutter is NOT psychological attachment or compulsive acquisition, this book is not terribly helpful. Nor is the book particularly well-written; I found it clinical and repetitive. Don Aslett's classic, "Clutter's Last Stand," covers the same territory in a much more entertaining manner. I picked it couple up randomly as a fourth grader and still remember it. "Clutter's Last Stand" has also stayed in print for over 25 years, which I doubt will be the case for this mediocre TV-show tie-in.

To the extent that I have clutter problems, it's because we moved into a new house this summer without taking time off to deal with the transition. Now that the house is organized enough to be functional, it's also because we have other priorities right now. This book's recommendations assume you have infinite time resources... very not the case.

Maybe I should have been reading Laura Vanderkam's "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think" instead. But, you know, Book Club. I look forward to the discussions of this one...

[Carrie LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found this book quite helpful at this time in my life when I am moving from a 3,700 sq ft home to a 2,195 sq ft home. It's interesting to find out why I am hanging on to an old Dooney & Burke and a Coach bag that are worn and that I would not use in public because of this - feeling bad to let them go because they were so expensive! Also, feeling bad about giving away things that no longer serve my lifestyle or that I don't like but were given to me by family who are no longer with us. My worst hoarding is in the paperwork arena. I must have every bank statement and tax return for at least the last 22 years, plus closing statements on houses we no longer own (5 of them!) I will definitely be re-reading this book in the near future when we start unpacking in the new house all the stuff I still couldn't get rid of.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more geared towards a hoarder rather someone like myself who finds hoarding fascinating. I did like the organization tips, though.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I'm on a decluttering mission and this hit the spot. Full review to follow.

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025-08-02 Just finished this in semi-record speed for me - about 3 days.
The reason is that the book dealt with a problem I have, and have been trying to address for many years, my hoarding/cluttering tendencies, and difficulties in throwing away old/useless stuff. I'm not horrendous on the continuum, but bad enough that I have one big room and other parts of our home that really have too much "stuff" and my wardrobe and PC are cluttered with far too much and in too disorganized a fashion, that I have difficulties and extra stress in trying to find some things. Plus, all this is not good on my wife, let alone my productivity or alleviating my procrastination habits.

I found the book had some interesting insights in why I might have this problem and some tips on how to address the problems and develop better habits. That's all good.

I did post a few of the choicer short sections I read in the book, as I was reading - they are noted by GR below this review. I'll post a few more in this review, plus a few questionable statements, since I found that book to have some biases and outright errors that gave me pause.

1. I liked the author's realistic description of people being on a continuum of levels of clutter and hoarding - from none to beyond belief overfull of stuff. Here's a quote from p. 8 that somewhat describes me: "the guy whose house is tidy enough but whose garage is a museum of unfinished projects and boxes of historical artifacts,". That's a long way from the trouble of a relative I know, or other folks' houses/garages I have seen on TV or up-close in person, just walking in the neighborhood.

2. She makes the highly valid and important point on p. 22 that hoarders (and others) often believe that "If I see value in it, someone else will,”. Since values are subjective and many don't appreciate others different values, this becomes a common error.

3. Another statement that nailed a bad trait of mine: Page 45 "Not being able to get rid of books, even when there are way too many, often has to do with being afraid of not having immediate access to the information they contain."

4. Another motivating truism that the author pointed out: Page 50 "for most of us, failing to deal with your clutter, and avoiding devoting the time to making your environment a place of peace, is a losing proposition in the long run. It may seem easier at the time to not deal with your clutter, but overall, it makes life much harder and adds to your stress level." Amen.

5. Not helpful are too common statements that clutterers/hoarders hear: Page 61 “Your stuff is more important than me!” and “Just throw it away! It’s no big deal!” - Well, to the person who has difficulty with too much stuff, it IS a big deal. The author went on to identify other unhelpful/counterproductive statements that loved ones/family too often resort to, because they can't seem to understand the issues involved.

6. And to combat that problem, she came up with this very helpful list: Page 62 "THE 10 MOST HELPFUL THINGS TO SAY TO A CLUTTERER" Here are two of the ten: “You don’t have to fix
this problem overnight.” “Let’s find ways to simplify the process.”

7. Here the author talks about one issue of illogical thinking that can lead to cluttering & hoarding: Page 99 "If a client says, “I can’t throw anything away,” this is likely a cognitive distortion we refer to as all-or none thinking." This is a problem for many other unclear thinkers, besides just hoarders: "all-or none thinking."

8. Page 100 "People who hoard compulsively have many thought distortions around the power of their possessions and what they believe they would feel if they were to stop acquiring or get rid of those possessions—distortions that they believe are the gospel truth—so they keep accumulating, until they are trapped by their things, sometimes literally. "
I think this is the Key Insight of the author in understanding the cluttering/hoarding problem and how to heal it.

9. Page 104 "Emotional reasoning: You assume that your negative emotions necessarily reflect the way things really are: “I feel it, therefore it must be true.”
Another great insight which is super-common in many other areas too. I have seen this as far too prevalent when issues of economics come up. Those who generally recognize it and learn basic economic insights overcome it, but those who ignore it have a MUCH tougher time recognizing reality.

10. I loved the author's kind, creative and helpful hints on how to gently challenge thinking "distortions." VERY useful.

11. On p. 110 (of this 200 page book) the author introduces her version of the term "the Greater Good" which is fraught with many different definitions and implications, but her definition is a fairly valid and important concept: —a larger goal that can benefit you or others and that, in calmer moments, you feel is more important than simply avoiding anxiety... bigger, long-term benefits, rather than merely staving off your anxiety in the short term." The author does NOT use the term "happiness" for some unstated reason(s?), but seems to me to definitely be attacking some who favor hedonism, and other short-term goals that favor pleasure or other even less rewarding or fulfilling goals such as just avoiding pain or anxiety. Her definition is on the right path, but the term Greater Good has already been corrupted and probably is not worth saving in any case, since it begs the question of "whose scale" judges? For anyone who wants to know more of why Happiness is a much worthier word/concept/goal, I recommend "The Virtue of Happiness" by by Joel Wade.

12. Page 112 "These are all examples of distorted thinking. As I highlight in this chapter, it’s not wasteful to get rid of something you are never going to wear again.
"never" going to wear again????? The author made a point earlier that this word is an indication of distorted/exaggerated, black-white thinking. Perhaps she needs to revise her statement here. This was not the only place where the author broke her own rules, which sadly lowered her believability, even though all she had to do was be a bit less dramatic/vehement in her statement(s).

13. I appreciated the author's use of some alliteration: Page 115 "THE DESIRE TO ACQUIRE:"

14. Another excellent section: Page 139 "THE FIVE **LEAST** HELPFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR SOMEONE WHO CLUTTERS" and my favorite, since it really hit home: "Throw out things without the person’s permission." (I added the stars, so there is no mis-reading.)

15. Up to this point, the author had been doing everything she could to offer ideas to help folks head-off problems - before the problems get too bad. But then she finally recognizes the too often inevitable truth on Page 147 "At a certain point, the emotional and physical energy it takes to function in a cluttered environment becomes more frustrating than cleaning up would be, and you simply take action. This feeling of bottoming out can lead to positive change." This "bottoming out" is what too many have to hit before they are finally willing to actually take the action needed to resolve the problem. Not just with cluttering/hoarding, but also of course drugs, alcohol, etc. and I have also observed, ... country's economic policies.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of the show Hoarders, and admired Robin and the work she does for many years. So -of course - I had to read her book. It was educational and I did learn a few things about the hoarding condition and about myself.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book more out of a growing interest in minimalism than out of any inclination to think myself a hoarder. As reading of the book progressed, I realized I was more of a clutterer than I thought. This wasn't a painful revelation and this book offered me some good insight into myself, and for that alone I'd be grateful for the read.

In addition, the book is well-written, organized into useful sections for self-help and to support friends or family who may be hoarders or clutterers. The book is non-judgemental and helps to offer insight into the struggles that many hoarders experience with stress, depression and anxiety that manifests in their disorderly disorder. I'd recommend the book for anyone who is concerned that they themselves or a friend or loved one might be a hoarder. It will help build a bridge to understanding and light a way for possible improvement if the desire to change is genuine.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t consider myself a hoarder (and I don’t think anyone who knows me would), but this book has some super helpful tips on how to declutter your life. It made me take a look at the things I hang onto and why. It made it WAY easier for me to start cleaning out my closet, kitchen cabinets, etc. I read this book because I find the topic interesting, but I wasn’t sure it would help me streamline my home. Worth a read :)

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio download from my library. Dr Zasio gives a lot of great information and advice for those anywhere on the clutter/hoarding continuum. She offers a list of questions to determine where you fall, how many hoarding tendencies you have. Just having tendencies does not make you a hoarder, but it does mean you need to be aware of your issues and know how to deal with them. Many people hold onto items, thinking getting rid of useful items would be wasteful. Dr Zasio points out that keeping the item is also wasteful. You're wasting time moving things around that you don't need that are in the way of finding what you do need. You're wasting space in your home. And you're wasting your opportunity to let that item bless someone else. If the item is useful, there's someone else out there who needs it if you don't. Don't hold onto something you don't need now in the chance you *might* need it in the future - have faith in yourself that you'll be able to provide for your needs in the future without stockpiling all those "someday" items.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need some inspiration to really clean up the clutter in your house, this is a great book. I listened to the audio version and after every time I listened to part of it, I wanted to clean, clean, clean.

I ended up going through my garage, closets and junk drawers and donated so many things I really didn't need, but had been keeping "just in case." There was so much stuff I was keeping around with the thought that one day I might use it or need it. But I really don't need 10 water bottles with company logos, bottles of cleansers that have been in my garage for 10 years, or multiple pairs of high heels that I thought I will wear again one day. In reality, that stuff is just going to continue to sit in my garage or closet. It felt great getting rid of so much crap!

As the author states several times in the book, not everything will apply to you and your situation. However, I found lots of great tips and inspiration, and I hope now I can continue to throw things away and not hoard all the stuff!

[Maria Loza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. This book is for the average person who struggles with some clutter. Not for actual hoarders like myself, so the title is misleading. I read more than half the book before giving up because it was a waste of my time. The author refers to actual hoarders as “the other” instead of the person reading the book. Hoarders generally don’t have someone else in their life trying to help them - they need to help themselves- which is why I’m reading this book. I’m not interested in learning the psychology science of the hoarder’s brain. I am interested in fixing my hoarding problem myself. I thought this was a self help book but it’s more of an overview of what a hoarder is.
The author seems to be judge-mental of hoarders as well, and talks about people she has seen in her practice as if they’re ridiculous in a “can you believe it?” way. Makes me hesitant to get help myself for fear of being judged by someone like her. Listening to an “expert” talk about people with your condition who doesn’t understand what it’s like to actually be that way is upsetting.

[Shayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always struggled with keeping things that others would see as useless. As a child, I remember really being involved in saving the environment, Reduce Reuse and Recycle was drilled into us. So I tried to save trash and reuse it. I can't blame the environmental program for my hoarding tendencies. It runs strong in my family, my grandparents had it, my mother has it and yes my sister has it too. I do think that I can put some recent blame on Pinterest. I can now show my husband in beautiful pictures why I need to collect the tops of my beer bottles or old cd's filled with outdated computer programs.
This book was a wonderful read and addressed possibilities for real emotional pain triggering hoarding but also reminded everyone that we have the one drawer that needs to get cleaned out again.
At the end of the book, I felt motivated to work on my over-cluttered garage and its spring so time to do a spring fling and get ready for a clutter-free summer.

[Asma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first audio book, and first organizing/decluttering book as well.
For a first-time experience, I have to say I really enjoyed listening to it while cleaning.
The author explains hoarding and clarifies the definition with examples of different motivations and degrees. She also gives advice on both how to declutter crowded spaces and how to avoid clutter in the first place.
What I liked the most and what I plan on following were the following: how to avoid the black and white problem, as well as the Ohio Rule: only handle it once.
I had several "Oh I do this as well" moments!
Although reading the hard copy of the book would have allowed taking notes, which in turn would have helped in future organizing plans, it just would not have been worth spending nine designated hours, from my perspective at least.

[Ketti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really spoke to me, because I think that most people have some sort of hoarder tendencies. My father was a paper hoarder; our garage was full of paper. Sometimes as a teenager if my parents were not home I would whisper to a friend, “Do you want to see the garage?”
Robin is so kind and compassionate to the hoarders that she helps. This book has motivated me to let go of many things. I was so impressed I purchased a copy; it’s defiantly on my re-read list. When the book arrived I immediately purged three books from my book stash…..I am learning.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this as an audiobook finally got me to straighten up my bedroom and closet and clean my car, so that's something. I expected more of a guide to decluttering, which was light. Rather, I learned a lot about why compulsive hoarders and clutterers hold on to things, and how best to be supportive when helping them address their situations.

tl;dr: You probably won't find any life-changing magic here, but it's great for reframing and broadening one's perspective on compulsive hoarding.

[Sarah Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative about hoarding and hoarding traits. There is lots of useful information about dealing with hoards if you aren't one and hoarding if you are one. I realized that I have hoarding tendencies, but my periodic purging of thinks keeps them from being a problem, though the book suggested ways of managing those tendencies so it didn't turn into such a major event and planning things to regularly keep things under control.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this 5 stars, not for the writing style, or because I think every single person should read this (though I do think it would help most), but for how it impacted me.

I’ve been on a decluttering journey for the past year (and have had the strong desire, with periodic bursts, for over a decade). On her scale (1 being a neat freak and 5 being borderline compulsive hoarder), I have ranged from a 4 or 5 to a 3 over the course of my lifetime. But I had been stuck firmly as a 3 for a long time. It drug me down. I would get anxiety and become emotionally paralyzed, and not be able to clean. It was too hard.

Through a series of many events, I was already moving into a much better place, and had been at a 2, maybe 2.5, for a couple of months when I read this, though I knew nothing of her scale.

Reading this was a balm to my soul. I have so many of these hoarder tendencies. To hear the psychology behind why, to hear that it’s common, to learn ways to break myself of the cognitive distortions, was game changing for me. It helped me accept where I have been, and gave me tools on my journey.

I have found that those mental tricks my mind plays on me spread far past clutter. I would listen to something in the book, then find that same principle apply later that day in a completely different aspect of life. And what once would have paralyzed me in anxiety I now had tools for, and I was able to see the error in my thinking and change my response.

I eventually got to her scale of hoarding tendencies. I fully expected to find myself at a 3, or even 4. I have defined myself my whole life as messy and cluttered and a bad housekeeper. I’ve always known that the clutter is what has made it hardest for me to clean. Yes, I had made some serious progress recently, and that progress even felt genuine and not temporary. But I had labeled myself already.

So when I got to #2 and found myself agreeing with almost everything in there, then got to #3 and only a few things applied to me now, but I could see how I was very much a #3 less than a year ago, brought me to tears. It was so empowering to be able to see my change and to more tangibly label it. It gave me the power to break from my lifelong label and view myself as a *good* housekeeper.

And now when I have bad days, or feel myself slipping into old habits, I have new tools in my tool belt to help me fight it.

And that, to me, is worth 5 stars.