Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life

by Gail Blanke

"A perfect guide to getting the non-essentials out of the way, so that simple joys can make their way into our lives." -- Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love "If you want to grow, you gotta let go," is the mantra that bestselling author, columnist, and life coach Gail Blanke lives by. That means eliminating all the clutter - physical and emotional - that holds you back, weighs you down, or just makes you feel bad about yourself. In Throw Out Fifty Things she takes us through each room of the house - from the attic to the garage - and even to the far reaches of our minds. Through poignant and humorous stories, she inspires us to get rid of the "life plaque" we've allowed to build-up there.That junk drawer (you know that drawer) in the kitchen? Empty it! Those old regrets? Throw 'em out! That make-up from your "old" look? Toss it! That relationship that depresses you? Dump it! Once you've hit fifty (you'll be surprised how easy it is to get there) and once you've thrown out that too-tight belt and too-small view of yourself, you'll be ready to step out into the clearing and into the next, and greatest, segment of your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Reference, Personal Development, How To, Ebooks

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

see also: http://www.throwoutfiftythings.com/
Gail Blanke is founder, president, and chief executive officer of Lifedesigns, LLC, a company whose vision is to empower men and women worldwide to live truly exceptional lives.

A best selling author, Ms. Blanke’s last book, In My Wildest Dreams, Living the Life You Long For was published by Simon & Schuster in June 1998. The book has appeared on Amazon.com’s Best Selling Books list and the New York Times Business Best Seller List. Ms. Blanke was the sole guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show in October 1998 where she used concepts from her book to help empower audience members to live fulfilling lives. Ms. Blanke’s first book, Taking Control of Your Life: The Secrets of Successful Enterprising Women, sold more than a half million copies. Between Trapezes: Flying into a New Life with the Greatest of Ease about thriving on change and mastering the art of self re-invention, was published by Rodale in August 2004. Her column, “The Motivator” appears monthly in Real Simple magazine and she is featured as a Business and Career Coach on AOL Coaches.

A renowned executive coach and presentation skills trainer, Ms. Blanke has advised CEO’s, presidential candidates, college presidents – and even a jazz musician. A current presidential candidate recently remarked, “You’ve enabled me to find qualities in myself I didn’t know I had and express myself with power, grace and persuasion. What a difference you’ve made.” Ms. Blanke was called in by FOX News to critique George W. Bush’s second inaugural address.

Ms. Blanke is a graduate of Sweet Briar College in Virginia and majored in acting at Yale University Graduate School of Drama. She and her husband, F. James Cusick, a writer, and their two daughters, Kate and Abigail live in New York City.

from http://www.lifedesigns.com/about_gail...

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I'll tell you what I'm not throwing out, a stack of kerchiefs that have adorned the necks of all three of our golden retrievers..."

I should probably be clear that the quote here is from the author, not from me. I have no words. I respect that this is meant to be a serious book to assist others in purging clutter. There is a system to how items are counted and room-by-room suggestions but this just didn't work for me at all. It reminded me of Delicious Dish from SNL.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes - check it out - I'm writing a review. I can't pick apart prose nor make cross references to 16th century literature and Sylvia Plath when reviewing a modern day preternatural bestseller, but I can be honest. I'll confess - I read cheesy self-help books. I've read ones that, afterwards, I felt were full of crap as well as ones that hit a little too close to home. This book, however, made me think. It made me shift my worldview of myself just a teensy bit, but it's made a lot of difference. I originally checked this book out of our local community library in conjunction with Brian taking the last two weeks of December off of work, thinking "I can finally go through the kids' rooms and those boxes in the garage!"
Well, no such luck in the clean-out department. And it wasn't her chapters on throwing out physical items as much as the mental debris that set my unconscious working. Gail Blanke has a lot of examples of how to reframe negative attitudes and assumptions, or "attacking the mental mess," as she puts it. I know how to reframe. I have been in counseling for years to attack my personal mental messes. This book isn't a magic wand; I'm not touting it as an instantaneous fix that turns one's life into rainbows and fairies; but I liked the simple, straightforward way she writes and the pragmatic examples used to underscore her suggestions. It's probably really only a three-star book, but in my world it deserves an extra star for its personal impact.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read "Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life" by Gail Blanke. If you could see my house, and especially my 'reading room/office', you would understand immediately. I have such a hard time getting rid of 'stuff'. I have clothes in my closet that I bought three years ago that still have the tags because I haven't yet worn them...but can I throw them out? Uh, NO! Why? Well, duh...because I haven't worn them yet! If you don't understand that, then you are likely an organized kind of person that I love to envy.

I found this book very clear and the 'system' incredibly simple. Each chapter covers a different area/room in your house (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, etc) and the author provides advice and suggestions (if not outright orders) for what types of things you should consider in each of the rooms. There are even very informative 'box' suggestions in each chapter with data on recycling, donating, tag sales, swapping, hazardous waste removal, etc. And a handy resource section at the end provides websites and/or contact information by type of item. That's the good news about the book.

The only downside (for me) was that the constant 'cheering' and 'philosophizing' tended to wear on me. In that regard, I think I would have been more pleased with the audio book version...but then I wouldn't have gotten all the handy charts in the book! So, if soul-searching and imperatives don't drive you batty, then "Throw Out Fifty Things" may be just the ticket to help you clear out those things you really don't need. As for me? Well...let's just say I didn't quite make it to fifty.

[Donna Radcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t quite finished this book yet, since I had to turn my book loan in for inventory, but I pulled the workbook offline and I have started with my “purging”. This is my list of 50 things I’m throwing out, selling or giving away (it is a work in progress). Note: multiple items of the same type (like jewelry or clothing) counts as one item.

The Bedroom
1. Hard plastic storage case for free weights that disappeared years ago.

2. Old jewelry (including the silver and turquoise necklace my ex- husband gave me from a trip he went on and I couldn’t go---it was "business" and the real reason I couldn't go was because he took his girlfriend. I kept the necklace to give to a granddaughter someday, and reading the book it occured to me, why would I give a beloved grandchild something with that kind of story behind it?

3. 20 flimsy plastic hangers (the kind that you get at Meijer’s or Target with clothing)

4. A verrrrry old macrame double plant holder, hanging empty in my room because the plants died a couple of years ago.

5. 1 broken camera, too expensive to fix and can't find film for.

6. 3 no longer used metal shoe racks

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library. Based on a quick glance at the cover, I thought it was a book about clearing clutter from your house. I should have looked at the pile of words under the title, which include "broken heart, promises, missed opportunities" and various other self-helpy buzzwords. The writing style reminds me of the women's magazines I read as a teen, rife with unbelievably uplifting anecdotes and breezy, we're-all-friends-here tone. Do I even have to say I hated it? I didn't think so.

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published January 2010

Gail Blanke has written a book that has me on a clutter control roll! Fueling the urge to purge is the essence of her most recent book, Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life.

Blanke writes a humorous and highly inspirational guide to clearing physical and emotional clutter from your life. In fact, this book has inspired me to plan my next vacation around bringing order to my very own life!

Gail Blanke doesn’t think we pay enough attention to the lighter, prouder feeling that comes from cleaning stuff out of our lives. She writes:

“This is your life we’re talking about, and we’re going to let go of anything that clutters it up.”

She has been known to ask various hapless members of her family, “Hey, you want to see my closet?”

Although I hope to unleash my energy, I don’t think I’ll invite you to see my closet after my cleaning vacation!

My first experience with this book was in the audiobook format, read by the author herself. Her unique voice and her words of wisdom coupled with amusing anecdotes fired me up. Each chapter took about as long as a drive to or from work.

I tried not to be a road hazard as I listened, and my glove compartment is already fairly orderly, thanks to my husband, so I didn’t start applying my motivation to unclutter it while I was on the road.

Throughout the book and especially in the second half of the book, after you have gotten your house and office uncluttered, Blanke spells out the clear message that once you start throwing out a lot of physical clutter, once you get on a roll, a new urge kicks in.

This is when you get to the really good stuff, all the clutter in your mind! Blanke’s book has led me to believe that it is the physical stuff that keeps us from realizing our potentials. I will feel calm and liberated when clutter is gone from my life.

I requested the written version of the book so I could re-read the highlights of each chapter as I go through the rooms of my house. Chapters include lists and tips such as, “The Rules of Disengagement,” which help you decide what to toss and what to keep; “Green Tips,” which inform you about options for disposal of plastic bags, hazardous waste, expired medication, batteries; and “Steps for Clearing Clutter” for each room of your house.

Included in the back of the book is a scorecard to copy (or better yet, go to www.throwoutfiftythings.com to print it) so you can celebrate your accomplishments. Mine is printed!

This book encourages you to make the decisions easy, move forward, and to spend your time, energy, and space on stepping forward with grace and confidence. The aim is not to create a merely tidy or organized life. Blanke says:

“Our aim is to clarify who we are now, to decide what’s important to us now, and to answer the question, ‘What the heck am I doing here?’”

A person should look forward to their vacation, and with book and scorecard in hand, I am. Start now!

Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life can be requested in book or audio format at any La Crosse County Library with branches in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem.

Find this book and other titles within our catalog.

[Anna Balasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to get rid of the unnecessary clutter in your home and in your head, cleaning out the junk and having more space for the important things.

I think one of the best things about this book is how "throwing" isn't exactly dumping all the things you deem useless in the trash. The book, in fact, encourages getting rid of the junk the right way, either through recycling, swapping, and donating. For a book that encourages throwing things away, it's actually green and almost nothing is wasted.

It takes some work, but consider the proper disposal of things as a cleansing of the mind and body. By making your things accessible to those who need them, and giving them to the people who have use for them, you're doing the earth and your community a favor, and your mind gets some much needed cleansing therapy.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot because half of the book deals with physical clutter, and the second half is the emotional baggage that tends to hang around and drag us down. Blanke really gets to the heart of this second part, and gives the reader reals ways in which to deal with his heavy clutter of the soul. I liked all her little stories and personal examples. Yup, this was a good one.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This would (and did) make a better magazine article than a book. Here, I'll do it for you: "Throw out fifty things. It'll get the ball rolling and then you'll get rid of more stuff."

Ironically I only made it about fifty pages in.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skipped like, half the book because the second half is all about mental clutter and I feel like I'm doing pretty well with that. I mean, I'm doing well with physical clutter too but I just want a book that tells me what to get rid of and how to stop my parents from being total hoarders

[Dreamybee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't quite finish this as the second half of the book was more philosophical ("throw out" those old, negative thoughts about yourself) and less action-oriented (throw out your old cinched-waist, tapered-leg, acid-washed size 2 jeans from high school). I probably would have given this 3 stars, but I didn't like the author. To me, she always sounded like she had to prove to you just how cheery! and motivational! she was, which just got annoying after a while. I did like that she threw in a lot of useful tips for how to get rid of stuff-charities that can take particular items that you don't want to throw away, organizations that can repurpose items that are difficult to dispose of, etc. There are also worksheets in the book and a related web site where you can track your progress if you're into that sort of thing.

I thought this was a pretty good kick-start book, a good way to help get you motivated and thinking about things productively. One piece of advice that the author kept giving that I really didn't agree with though was that if you have to think too long about whether or not to get rid of something, are really agonizing over the decision, that means you should get rid of it. I think if the decision is that difficult, maybe you're not ready to give it up just yet. I know I've gotten rid of sentimental things in the name of practicality before that I've later regretted, but maybe that's just me.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I can't fault the author for capitalizing on the perennial theme of organization and clutter-clearing, but this book seems like it would be a good program for someone who had a coach, perhaps. And a therapist. And a 12-step sponsor. And A LOT OF TIME.

The "Fifty Things" aren't really fifty things. For instance, magazines are a thing. All the magazines you throw away. That counts as one thing. Same with everything: books, kitchen appliances, clothing. Well. I'm reading it, thinking: "I don't even have 50 categories of things, according to this system!"

But Blanke is including mental and psychic baggage, habits, all sorts of other "things." What's the problem with that, you ask? Refer back to the first paragraph. And include everything in your entire life under the category of "clutter" (hey, I like to go the long way to this one shop on the Main Line -- but that's cluttering up my time and the linear progress on a map!).

Good in theory, as I said; ridiculous in practice, even if you just stick to actual things. Why? Unless I just got a dumpster and started all over, as one of her clients did with clothing (rich client, I assume, who got rid of all her clothing and bought all new clothing), this isn't at all practical. It would take longer than the supposed course of this "program" (30 days, I think, or maybe 50 days) to find all my magazines and decide which to keep and which to throw away, and do that with all my things. Books? It took me months to simply get all my books in one place, a la The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. And then I got rid of a few thousand, give or take.

You are going to include, besides the junk drawer, "Those old regrets . . . That make-up from your "old" look, That relationship that depresses you?" Hmm. In 30 days completely clean out all the physical clutter, get a whole new makeup routine, just get rid of your regrets (like that! snap!), and tell your ma to go to hell.

Therefore: skip this one and get Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It wasn't tricky and it didn't try to completely overhaul your life, relationships, attitudes, habits, and . . . by the way, get rid of some stuff. It's not perfect (I'm never going to take all my paperwork and just dump it in a dumpster; I don't believe my socks are sad if I don't treat them nicely) but it's charming and doable, at least to an extent.

Skip it; unless, that is, you have a personal coach and you like the rest of the program enough to go for it. I'd give a million bucks if I found someone who actually used this book to completion without coaching. (Oh, and if I had a million bucks to spare.)

[The other Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhere in the middle of the book, the author states that she sees herself more as a motivational speaker than an organizational guru. It shows in the book, which is actually more about decluttering any personal beliefs that are holding you back from personal success than about decluttering your home. The author is very big on encouraging readers to remake themselves, and not just by getting a new haircut or changing jobs. At one point she suggests readers make up interesting stories to tell people about themselves (also known as "lying") and even go so far as to invent an interesting accent. You know, I just wanted to get a handle on the stuff that keeps piling up on my flat surfaces; I wasn't planning to go deep undercover for the CIA.

The short section of the book that actually is about decluttering the home has the same very basic advice that everyone gives (if it's broken, doesn't fit, or makes you unhappy, get rid of it). The problem comes when the author tries to illustrate each concept with a story from her personal life, at which point I discovered we lead very different lives. I don't have an attic, but if I did, I am 100% certain that I wouldn't have a couple of spare chandeliers in it that needed to be disposed of.

The part I most objected to was in the decluttering the bathroom section. The author advocated disposing of expired medication (always a good idea), not because the medication was no longer safe to use, but because keeping medication around the house gives readers the idea that they're the kind of people who could get sick, and that belief will somehow hold them back from personal success. The author then goes on to illustrate this point by throwing away her expired migraine medication, again not because it was no longer safe to use, but because she didn't intend to have another migraine. Has anybody on earth ever intended to have a migraine? I'm pretty sure the author didn't intend to need a double bypass, but it happened anyway.

If you like motivational self-help books, this may be for you, but if you were looking for organizational help in decluttering your home, this book is not useful.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this book isn't THE must-have, only-one-you'll-ever-need decluttering book (which, for me, remains undiscovered), but Throw Out Fifty Things appeals to pack rats like me in one fundamental way: Gail Blanke gives us permission to keep the things we love even while encouraging/prodding/slightly nagging us to get rid of things that we don't need and don't suit us anymore. Amid the TV shows and books advising people to dump everything unused and keep a near-empty home, Blanke counters with the fabulous idea that folks should keep what they love--tokens, clothes, collections, whatever--as long as they truly love it and feel good having the stuff around, even if (here's the great part) they never use it again. I read that and sighed aloud in relief.

Now, the drawback here is that one pair of shoes or thirty pairs of shoes counts only as one "thing" being thrown out, which might discourage some of us (ahem) from including as many items within that "thing" as we could. That aside, Blanke focuses on mental clutter as well as on physical clutter, without getting too mired in pop psychology. It's not important why we keep things--mental or physical--past the time they are important or useful; the point is to identify what's hanging around that's doing us no good and getting rid of it. Simple idea, smartly presented.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throw Out Fifty Things was better than I was expecting. I liked how the book actually took you on a journey with the author as she threw out fifty things... some of which were mental things that took up unnecessary space. I liked it a lot and found it motivating for some spring cleaning -- physical and mental. ;) lol

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a hoarder, and really don't mean to be a pack rat, but things stack up on me. I am grateful that this book has given me permission, so to speak, to get rid of so many things in my life that I will never use again. I love that Gail Blanke made the connection between physical clutter and mental clutter. Cleaning up one leads to cleaning up the other. I think I've known that for a long time. I just sent two huge bags of clothing and two bags of books to D.I., our local thrift store, and I happily waved good-bye to them. Maybe this is a life changing book.

[Hol]

I skimmed this after grabbing it from the Free Book Room on my way out of the office for winter break, as I love throwing stuff away and thought some how-to support for the process might be nice. Quickly I discovered that the author has far greater faith in the conscious mind than I do. She advises the rapid chucking of not only old books and clothes but old beliefs and attitudes. In this way her reader may achieve a totally new life in two weeks. I could try that, but my subconscious mind would meanwhile laugh itself silly.

[Sean Tordecillas · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first half to the second third of the book was all right but i was pretty much over the advice at that point. the stories associated with each chapter weren’t too engaging to me and overall i didn’t feel motivated to clean up my space with blake’s method. also apparently it’s not good to cross your legs that much for blood clots idk why that little bit of info stuck out to me in her book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely helped me part with some items I would have normally held onto for no good reason.

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail Blanke helps readers clear the extraneous stuff and ideas that clutter their homes, offices, and thinking. She goes room by room, pointing out what is likely to be found and thrown out, donated or passed on in each room. When she has completed the home, office, and garage, she discusses the ideas that often weigh us down, such as guilt and regrets from the past, fears that we may not succeed so we don't follow our dreams, and our list of imperfections (as though no one else has them).

This is a helpful, motivational book for anyone with packrat tendencies. Her writing style is light and friendly. She provides anecdotes of people who have tackled the same types of clutter and issues and how they overcame, as well as personal stories of her journey.

This useful, practical book can be the motivator that you have been looking for. I've already tackled 14 out of the 50 things. (I'm still debating whether I can throw out a pile of my husband's magazines that he hasn't looked at in five years!)

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you saw the condition of my home office right now you’ll immediately understand why this book intrigued me. It has way too much stuff in it. Bookshelves overflowing. Papers piled in baskets, in computer paper boxes, or just scattered around. My daughter has clothes she wants to sell on eBay, I have hundreds of HeroClix figures and accessories that also need to go on eBay. Scrap wood, library books, old magazines, cardboard boxes, bags and packing material, old printer and computer equipment all stored haphazardly throughout what once was a rather large and impressive workspace.


Ms. Blanke takes a concept made popular by shows like TLCs Clean Sweep and presents an unintimidating method to attack the mind-boggling, energy draining piles of STUFF that we collect and retain under the idea that maybe we should keep this because it will be useful someday. She asks you to consider the value of the object vs. the amount of energy that it sucks up in exchange for its continued existence. Sure, those cheap wire hangers that you have gotten from the dry cleaner for every item that you’ve taken there since 1993 might come in handy someday… but do they need to take up all of the rod space in all of your closets? I have a huge Rubbermaid tub FILLED with just power adapters and cables that I don’t know what to do with. I have no idea what they go to… cell phone chargers, video game systems, computer monitors, portable phones, and more. All of the plugs are different, so when I find myself desperately seeking the proper adapter for recharging the video camera battery, it is never there.


Throw Out Fifty Things walks you through the process of getting rid of the stuff that is draining the energy away room by room and gives you options for passing along items that you no longer use to others or recycling them. Now Michael, you say, I could throw out 50 things in the front entryway of my house… sure you could, except for one little ingenious twist thrown in by Blanke. Any of the same object is considered to be only one object of the fifty to get rid of; Hence, all of those cheap hangers in every closet in the house… one item on the list. That tub of AC adapters? One more item and so on. So say good bye to all of those single socks with no mates, those ugly gifts that you received from Aunt Margret taking up precious space in your hall closets and attics. If it drains energy from you when you see it… no matter what it is or how useful it is… GET RID OF IT.


Among the 50 things that you are going to throw out are psychological. Ideas such as letting go of mistakes from the past, the need to have everyone like you, or having to do everything yourself. All of these things drain your energy that can be better spent elsewhere and contribute to the generation of physical clutter as well.


The book is easy to read and provides space for you to create your own list of throwaways as you work through the book. It also provides many examples from Ms. Blanke’s personal experience and those she encountered working as motivational consultant. Last, the book also provides a resource list for ideas on how to get rid of those things that you might not know what to do with, but are still usable or recyclable. All in all, excellent book with good information. I highly recommend it.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all need to declutter. Gail takes us through a house, suggesting items such as out of date medicines, old magazines, unused presents that we don't like, broken appliances, clothes or books which can be donated to make room for new. She adds that anything that makes you feel inadequate has to go. Recycling is the best option for something which cannot be re-used.

Throwing out several of one kind of thing still counts as one, so a few mismatched gloves comprise one item. Same with old bank statements or blurred photos. As a few items are removed from each room there is space to rearrange the kept items.

As she is a motivational trainer, Gail's message then becomes one of throwing out old lifestyles or habits, including mental attitudes. If you were told that learning a new language or skill was too hard, you may have come to believe it. You may have been around people who never grew or learnt or went anywhere. Now is the time to make a new life. If you are frightened of losing a job, even though you hate the boss and come home depressed - maybe it is time to start a business.

Gail adds anecdotes about her clients, from a baseball player who decided that his losing slump was over, to a woman who threw out one initial item - her loser boyfriend. Another pal holds a garage sale each year and invites her friends to bring their items for sale. I was less convinced by some of Gail's personal stories - at this stage of her life does she really feel as inadequate as she admits? More likely that is a remembered feeling from some years ago. She has overcome ill health and tries to make a positive impact on other people.

This book is American so the references at the back are US based. Your local council website is a good starting point and a charity shop may take furniture or computers. Electronics and batteries can be recycled free, books can be bought on Kindle to get heavy old hardbacks off the shelves and old cars can be recycled free (ask your council; this is an EU legal requirement).

Go for it. Throw some clutter out today.

[Abbie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting more of a de-cluttering, home organizing type of book. So you can imagine my confusion when half-way through listening to it, she had gotten through the whole house. But that's ok, because truly, it's the rest of the book that shines. Sure, I know I need to throw away all those old, half-used Clinique Bonus Time lipstick tubes. Yes, I know I need to clean out "that drawer" in the kitchen. I KNOW these things. Supposedly, the Flylady is helping me with that (as I stick my fingers in my ears and close my eyes). It was the rest of the book - throwing away ideas and emotions and concepts - that grabbed my attention.
I have always enjoyed reading Gail Blanke's column in Real Simple, filled with vignettes about "people she knows". It didn't matter if she was talking about something completely un-relatable (for me) - the way she demonstrated her point with real life stories pulled me in everytime. And this book is no different.
Well written and absolutely motivational, I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who is feeling a little cluttered...physically or mentally.

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen the buzz about this book on my blogs this summer, and I remembered adding it to my list on the library website. But I wasn't sure what I would think of the book. I have read so many clutter books, and I figured this one wouldn't be any different.

Was I ever wrong! How refreshing it was to read about a lady who actually struggled and still struggles with the various things she writes in this book. She has organizational issues. It was amazing to have her "throw out" the things even as she wrote the book.

I think the interesting sections of the book really dealt with mental clutter and making your life the kind of life you really want. She had some great things to say about those issues, and I would highly recommend that everyone checks out those sections specifically.

I definitely give this book a five star rating. If you have have read those other organizational and housekeeping books, throw them out and get a copy of this book! And apply it!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the public library, because I feel the need to do a thorough cleaning out of my house. I have accumulated so much stuff over the years that I do not use that just fills up closets, drawers and lots of other places in my house. This book was a quick read, but filled with plenty of helpful hints, inspiring stories, resources for recycling and much more. It covers cleaning out your house, your business and your mental mess, then the last part gives you questions to consider about the future. I read that you shouldn't keep anything that makes you feel sad, depressed or heavy. You should fill your home and life with things that bring you joy!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of purging clutter and getting organized, so this book was right up my alley! It is a quick read, with each chapter covering an area in your home or life that needs cleaning. It goes beyond the usual "toss clothes that don't fit" type of clearing out, moving deeper into the ideas of throwing out things like regrets, bad memories, fears. (Blanke connects objects to emotions, for example if an heirloom makes you sad, sell it.) This book did inspire me to do a major clear out of my house. :-)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe not earth-shattering, as far as learning new things, but a good reminder. I liked that part of the getting rid of "50 things" includes the negative thoughts about ourselves and our lives.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit different from the regular "clutter-busting" type book - yes, there's suggestions on how to clear stuff out or decide what needs to go, and there's some interesting anecdotes, but the author then shifts to mental clutter, giving advice on letting go of regrets and failed relationships and the need to please. Not your normal "get rid of old magazines and clothes you haven't worn in a year" type advice.

Quotes to remember:

She quotes Thornton Wilder: We ourselves shall be loved for awhile and forgotten. But the love will have been enough; all those impulses of love return to the love that made them. Even memory is not necessary for love. There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning.

But the truth is the world belongs not to the one who fits in, but to the one who stands out.

...if you can feel the magic, you can go the distance every time.

[Karen Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another de-cluttering guide to inspire me to simplify, & it did inspire me. This author is more demanding than usual in that 50 things is really 50 categories of things. So if you throw out 15 old bottles of shampoo, lotion & fragrance it counts as 1. And likewise 6 pairs of old socks would count as another 1. I haven't begun this rigorous process yet so we'll see...Also included as possible things are unhealthy ways of thinking, outdated beliefs, etc. It's time to take action!

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fine albeit a little too "rich white woman" for me during the physical clutter section, disappointingly chicken soup self help after that.