1000 Best Quick and Easy Organizing Secrets

by Jamie Novak

"Reading this book is like getting advice from a trusted friend. Jamie's non-judgmental, conversational style put me at ease immediately. I felt like she had popped by and we had chatted over a cup of coffee. The last thing that someone who is dealing with clutter needs is more guilt! Jamie makes it seem manageable to conquer clutter."
- Judith Leblein, Host of EBTV "Conversations" and WCTC 1450AM Radio Personality

"The best part is you don't have to know anything to get started! Jamie covers everything from start to finish."
- Ramona Creel, Owner of the award-winning www.OnlineOrganizing.com

"Chock-full of simple, easy-to-apply tips and ideas to help you get organized. This is a great organizing reference to read, refer to often, and enjoy!"
- Maria Gracia, Author of Finally Organized, Finally Free (www.GetOrganizedNow.com)

"At last - an organizing book that strives for progress instead of perfection. Jamie Novak's 1001 Best Organizing Secrets is real help for real people. Jamie understands that your house doesn't have to be perfect, you just need to be able to find your car keys."
- Lisa Earle McLeod, Syndicated columnist and author of Forget Perfect (Penguin/Putnam)

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Print your free fill-in-the-blank calendar and follow along with the toss-of-the-day at JamieNovak.com. Don't forget to tune into Jamie's 10 Minute Podcast every Monday at JamieNovak.com. And catch Jamie's YouTube Show every Wednesday.

When not writing or presenting VIRTUAL laugh-out-loud funny programs on de-cluttering Jamie is trying to find a cure for her addiction to clipping recipes she never prepares. Join Jamie for one of her free online programs at JamieNovak.com.

The author of multiple books on organization she has been seen on TV and her tips have been shared in national magazines. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of having to go through your stuff, especially paperwork, closets, and sentimental treasures, then her new book Keep This Toss That: The Practical Guide to Tidying Up is the best place to start. Written in checklist format all you have to do is follow along.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have been titled: "990 Super Obvious Organizing Suggestions, Plus Ten Useful Tips." Seriously, I kept interrupting my reading to repeat inane "organizing secrets" to my husband in a "Can you believe this got published?!" kind of voice. Lest you think I'm being overly harsh there was seriously the "tip" that to make doing laundry more convenient, you might consider keeping a scoop in your powdered laundry detergent. It was phrased that way, too. I couldn't help wondering what the author thought one might have been using all this time in place of a scoop? Like, all along you've been throwing out the scoop that came WITH the laundry detergent, and then measuring it out by hand? Never imagining, until fate brought this wonderful book to your door, that there was a better way?
Anyway, I wish I could tell you the Ten Useful Tips. I was keeping track of them for awhile, so that I could save all of you out there the trouble of reading "secrets" such as hanging stuff up on the fridge with a magnet if you want to keep track of it. But...I kept getting bored and frustrated with this book, and eventually gave up and returned it to the library without having copied down the few useful suggestions I found. So...sorry, I have nothing positive from this book to leave you with.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

LOL! Just had to share this "gem": "For one whole week, pay attention to how you spend your time. You might be surprised to find there are small changes you can make which will give you back pockets of time. For example, would using a letter opener speed up the process of opening the mail?"

A letter opener? Really?

[Blue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was interested for the first 20 pages and then I just thought to myself, this is very wordy. It felt like in the time I was taking to read all of that wordage I could be organizing stuff! This book seems to be better for someone who has never tried to organize before and doesn't know where to start. Most of the tips and tricks to be things I have already heard. I liked how things were broken down step by step, but I felt most of the steps were less necessary than me actually getting stuff done. After 20 pages I picked up the list I had written (which was basically a list I had already in my head), and finished about 1/3 of the stuff that was on it in less than an hour. I guess I need to spend more time de-cluttering my house and less time reading books about doing it. Perhaps a helpful book for some, but not for me.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took a while to read. There's a lot of info. A lot of good tips and tricks, some costly and some are just rearranging (whether time or stuff). A good book that I did get some notes out of but there was a lot that didn't pertain to me. I'd say this was an all-in-one and good for anyone since there's probably a little something for everyone. This was written well, but not really something you want to sit down and read through. More like something you'd want to use as a reference when you need to do a certain thing, taking it steps at a time. I was a little board towards the end and admit to skimming through a couple of sections (ex: I don't have a home office). Overall a pretty good book, but I'm glad I just checked it out. Some things were what I thought of as common sense or something I already do, but there's still a lot of good stuff. Good Luck

[Michelle Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I didn't think an organizing book could have so much impact. After reading this book my house has already seen drastic changes. I deal with one clutter area fully before I move on to my next project.

I recommend this book to everyone. There are tidbits of info that would be helpful for the already organized as well as anyone who needs lots of help.

[Amy Broome · Rating 1 out of 5]

At 200, was repetitive. At 250, was beyond bored. At 300, suspected the author never left her home. At 315, was sure of it. At 400, began skimming for anything not glaringly obvious. Got to end and was sadly disappointed.

[Adrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like her organizing contact. There's some little tips and tricks before she dives into each area to clean. Not too bad a book

[Rebecca Noran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wrote a few things down after skimming but this was pretty basic, and way longer than it needs to be. Also a place for everything and everything in its place is not “the Novak method.” Eye roll.

[Michele Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned nothing new. I was hoping for some new ideas and was extremely disappointed.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a mere 20 pages or so left in this book, so I am going to review it right now while I am at the computer.

I had to up this book rating to 4 stars, and I am contemplating upping it to 5. I am re-evaluating my star giving process. I think that I should give books that directly impact my life 5 stars. Then books that are like, good to read but don't change a thing about how I think or live, should be 4 stars and below. I have been giving this rating process far more thought than I should.

So anyways, based on THAT system, I should actually give this book 5 stars. It seemed like just a book of organization tips at the start, but the more I read (and re-read) parts, the more it all started to make sense! I have been truly inspired, and I have been seriously de-cluttering my house and life. Bags and bags have already gone to Deseret Industries in the past two weeks, and many more will still follow. I didn't think I was that cluttered, but man!, things have snuck up on me over the years. Why do I have two pizza cutters in my already overfilled drawers? Why do I still have the toaster oven that I burns the top of bread and that I haven't used in 5 years still stored in the bottom of my pantry? What makes me feel so completely unable to throw away stacks of magazines that I have not yet found time to read? Seriously, does my salvation hinge on reading a backlog of two years worth of Ensign articles? Probably not (I hope).

So I have been throwing things out like crazy! It's so freeing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the one down side: I got a used bread maker from a neighbor when I got married. I had NEVER used it, not even once. I was thinking I would finally part with it, but decided to try, just once, making bread in it last night, before deciding to let it go. Well holy cow! It was awesome bread! I am making another loaf tonight. It is not going to a new home. I will probably gain 20 lbs.

It's probably time to read a diet book again, now.

I recommend this book.

[Mary Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good ideas, some not so good. Lots of repetition.

[Christy Olesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of ideas here. My favorite is the Brain Dump. Is your mind cluttered with things to remember? The Brain Dump help ease your mind. Get yourself a small spiral bound notebook and just write things down. To Dos, lists, dates, feelings, ideas. I've been using one for the last couple of weeks. It why I remembered to review this book, I have a page of books ready to review on Goodreads. I'm remodeling/redesigning my office/studio and I've been jotting down idea for it. Sketching how the furniture will be used, making organizing notes to make my space more efficient. It will still be a few weeks before my room is done and I can move stuff back in. I'm going to use the Brain Dump to make lists of what to keep, what to toss, what to give away, etc.
The book is full of ideas to set you off in an organizing whirlwind. The one drawback is the lack of illustrations. I like pictures and charts and diagrams... show me in pictures. I'd like to see examples of what's suggested. For that I visit Alejandra on YouTube.

[Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would be surprised if there are 600 tips here. Not that 600 isn't a lot, but there's too much repetition here to honestly present this as 1000 secrets. Much of the book is probably common sense, although it's always helpful to be reminded to, say, get rid of junk mail before bringing it inside. The typos were a little distracting; some proofreading would really help the readability of this book. And my original impression stands: she really likes armoires. And Rolodexes. And the number seven.

[Relyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ick. You know that I love organizing books and read them for fun and tidbits of inspiration. This one had none. Is anyone really so disorganized that they need to be told to toss old medicine and expired coupons? Really? And if they are, would they really be reading a book on organizing. Nothing new, nothing inspiring, nothing good.

[Sidra]

I love organization books. They are a super-fun read for me because I grew up in clutter kingdom and I found a new love for being clutter free and organized when I watched TLC's "Clean Sweep". It changed my way of thinking...

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

the title of the book says it all-quick and easy organizing secrets. There are a lot of secrets that are common knowledge but it does have some good ideas. More than anything its a good book to get you motivated to organize.

[Alexandra Brovco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a nice book.

But, there's one advice given that I really want to warn you against.

That would be the advice of having a single password for all of your web accounts. Yeah, no. Please don't ever do that.

[Amygrace · Rating 4 out of 5]

great tips - more of a . Skim through the book at first to get ideas and then use as good reference to keep on hand (maybe in your organizing toolkit) when you tackle the big projects. Especially helpful right now as I remove clutter from last year and prepare for the next.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also Liked Brain Dump help ease your mind. Get yourself a small spiral bound notebook and just write things down. To Dos, lists, dates, feelings, ideas.

Also - Do one thing at a time, before going on to the next.

It is fun to read and a lot of good ideas!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, quick-ish read. Interesting tips, though not all applicable. Maybe I can be a little more organized?

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the tips were repetitive and she's a little too obsessed with armoires, but she had some great ideas that I jotted down and will definitely implement in my new home.

[Gregor Erbach · Rating 1 out of 5]

useless collection of tips and tricks

[Sarah Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy, informative full of tips. Some will apply and might be useful; others not. Some tips may NOT be for my house or household. However, many tips are covered. Something is bound to be useful.

[Edgar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its an Ok book got lots of points really need work to stay focused to finish but not a bad reading

[Jolene Knighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of good suggestions

[Riayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

There is some good advice buried in here, but, funnily enough, you have to dig through a lot of clutter to find it.

[Patricia]

spv
from hoopla