"Most Life-Changing Book I've Read in Years"
This book is more valuable than gold. Truly. It contains hours of immeasureably useful coaching advice and knowlege concerning our relationship to our "stuff." It's narrated by the author in clear, natural way, and written in a manageable style. It lends itself easily to stop and start listening. Peter Walsh is experienced and honest. His true gift lies in making people aware of their emotional life in regards to their material possessions. Possessions is a good word; espeically as Americans, we seem possessed by our things, instead of being in charge of them. All this junk weighs us down in ways I hadn't thought of until Peter pointed them out. Our crap casts a magical pall over us. Peter breaks that spell. He punctures our self-deception, showing us how this stuff wouldn't be here if we hadn't let it. The glory of this book is not just how he points out WHAT is wrong, it's when he points out WHY. Why did my life get like this? He takes all the reasons people give (read: excuses) for why they keep drowning in their cluttered lives. He exposes the underbelly of those reasons. He's incredibly enlightening when he's revealing the many hidden personal costs behind our clutching, hoarding behaviors. He is kind but remorseless in helping people to see what it costs to live like they do. Then he helps you fix it. His book is a good balance between large ideas and a detailed program of change. If you follow it, you will invariably find your life changes for the better. Note: he WILL insist you get rid of things. He doesn't flinch from calling it as he sees it. And he's seen it all, as he makes clear. His message: don't be owned by your things. Live your life in a way that flows naturally from the choices you make first about how you want to be. Then learn to relate to your stuff in a way that fits those choices. Don't let your knick-knacks choose for you! Own your own life.
A final note: get the audiobook version--it takes up less space!