The Joy of Junk: Go Right Ahead, Fall In Love With The Wackiest Things, Find The Worth In The Worthless, Rescue & Recycle The Curious Objects That Give Life & Happiness

by Mary Randolph Carter

Best-selling author Mary Randolph Carter is back at it with a full-throated celebration of junk and thrifting. The Joy of Junk shows us how to live stylishly and creatively with the personally meaningful objects we love to collect for our homes.

From the author who taught us that "junk" in not a four-letter word, and drawing on her years of experience as a passionate thrifter and collector, Carter highlights her favorite junking moments, revels in the thrill of the hunt and imparts many personal tips for finding treasures in flea markets, yard sales, estate sales, shops, on the web, or wherever you may find yourself. With her passion for self-expression and her personal approach to decor, Carter speaks to our desire to surround ourselves with belongings that bring beauty and meaning to our lives.

Along the way, Carter interviews other designers and high-profile collectors--such as Lisa Eisner, Bunny Williams, and Mike Wolfe from "American Pickers," among others--revealing their favorite treasure hunts and showing us how they live with their collections. Inspiring and liberating, The Joy of Junk shows how we can integrate our passions and histories to live creatively and happily with the special and quirky objects that give our homes soul.

Genres: Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Design

274 pages, Hardcover

Published September 25, 2018

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total fun! The things people collect and keep made me marvel! Some things I spotted on the pages I can well remember from the way way back years. But the sheer number of quirky oddities, bits and pieces and arty gatherers keeps this big book interesting. It will make you smile. Either because of the delight taken in the heaps of stuff or the fact that someone else has much more to sort through than you yourself ever will. This book makes the average attic ,garage,and basement look just fine;)

[Barb Wiseberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love every one of her books - she has an incredible ability to make quirky items fit together. A great inspiration!

[Cheryl]

omg... so overwhelming... mostly photos, but it was implied that I'd be able to find a 'why' in here, or possibly ideas to balance against the minimalist lifestyle... but no, this is just too extreme... and imo ugly and trashy, too...

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As they say, one person's trash...
Curious to define what brings us joy as junk, yet often our treasures are junkie...it's the stories and sentiment we give them that make them fascinating, and I'm often intrigued by the life of objects. I totally get the thrill of the hunt, being a lifelong op shopper, there is something exciting about finding kooky treasures!
This book is a visual treasure chest, filled with collector's stories and all kinds of inspiring decors.

[Lisa Norris]

Very entertaining and enjoyable. Beautiful photography and interesting collectors and their junk!

[Lydia Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspirational visual book for the junk obsessed. It profiles many other junk collectors, their collections and brief reasons why they collect what they do.
I was delighted by the variety of creative souls featured, and now I have an urge to go hunt for junk that speaks to me. As a junk obsessed artist, I found this book fun.

[Kat Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Not exactly what I expected. I was hoping for more of an explanation of why people are so drawn to kitsch/camp/junk/etc., but it was a collection of personal stories. If that's what you're looking for then great. It just wasn't what I was looking for. Beautiful photos though.

[Marcie Lovett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like Carter's books, but I was so disappointed with this one. The writing is incoherent, the pictures are just okay (note: her son is the photographer). Kitchen Junk remains one of my all-time favorites, this one just doesn't measure up. Cannot recommend.

[Nico]

Lots of passionate collectors

[Haylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars/Home Decor

[Kendra]

No one has ever walked into my house and thought, "Wow - how minimalist!" But the pictures in this book made even me feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed by stuff. Hard pass!

[Dinh Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the book, so much fun and inspiring collectors’spirit to go hunting interesting stuff around! so beautiful and dedicated work covering all generic aspects for all collectors!