Unstuff Your Life

Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good

By: Andrew J. Mellen

Narrated by: Andrew J. Mellen

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the country's most sought-after professional organizers here makes his foolproof rescue plan available for everyone.

Arguably the most organized man in America, Andrew J. Mellen has created unique, lasting techniques for streamlined living, bringing order out of chaos for a client list that includes attorneys, filmmakers, and even psychologists. With Unstuff Your Life! he puts his powerful program in the hands of his widest audience yet. Acknowledging that it's often the "stuff behind the stuff" that holds people back, Mellen offers an action-based plan to redirect clutterers from dwelling on their feelings. This simple shift yields immediate results that will help everyone achieve organizational bliss. Mellen's mix of humor, honesty, tough love, and foolproof strategies will motivates listeners to work through their feelings and make real behavior changes that will have long-lasting effects.

Written in Mellen's signature no-nonsense yet hilarious tone, Unstuff Your Life! brims with personality, along with approaches not found in other organizing books. Built on the principle that we must distinguish ourselves from our possessions, Unstuff Your Life! starts with truly achievable goals and works toward the nightmare projects everyone tries hard to avoid. From the basement to the bedroom, the kitchen to the car, and more, listeners will learn:

• Where to find a permanent home for your keys and wallet
• How to sort the mail in a manageable and time-effective way
• What it means to group "like with like"
• How to tackle bills and budget
• How to problem-solve with your new skills, and more

The result is absolute freedom from the burden of clutter - and more free time than you ever imagined possible.

Please note: Lists and worksheets mentioned in the audio can be downloaded from andrewmellen.com/uyl-downloads/.

©2012 Andrew J. Mellen (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Living in chaos? Professional Organizer Mellen has written the book to help.... [T]hose willing to take even a small sip of Mellon's Kool-Aid may enjoy a more organized, efficient, and well-managed life." ( Publishers Weekly)

Just doesn't work as an audio book

Any additional comments?

I listen to an audio book in the car and when walking. No, I can't stop the recording and fill out a form or write down my thoughts. No I'm not going to stop right now and put my keys away, they happen to be in use int he car's ignition. Maybe the pbook or ebook is worth the effort, but not the audio book.

A perfectly organized book

This is a great book for anyone who is looking for ideas and/or motivation for organizing their home/office/car/computer. The author approaches general ideas about organization and clutter control/release in the first part of the book and then moves on to approach the topic room by room and finally deals with your car and your computer files.

The narrator/author has a congenial and energetic tone and offers a lot of encouragement throughout the book. There are basic principals and specific pointers available for almost every possible space in your life. While the author does address hoarding and materialism, he doesn't get overly judgmental, but he doesn't pull any punches, either.

As a result of listening to this book, I cleaned out my closet and chest of drawers and various surfaces that were cluttered, and I'm motivated to do more. I generally consider myself an organized person, but what the author did for me was give me the necessary permission and encouragement to let go of some things I'd been keeping for reasons that weren't good enough to justify keeping them.

This is not just a book, but a full course in organization. There are even helpful lists available on the author's website to guide you through things like what to toss and what to keep, how long to keep certain records, and what you should and shouldn't find in certain spaces like your car. He refers to these lists in various areas of the book. Of course, everyone will have different opinions on some of his material, but overall, he makes sense.

I wish I'd had this book when I was two. I know...I know...I wouldn't have been ready for it...but I would have been more organized.

Timeless Wisdom-Even if you aren't a Hoarder

Where does Unstuff Your Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 2

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unstuff Your Life?

If Everything is Precious; Nothing is Precious. Best piece of advice for letting go.

What does Andrew J. Mellen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing him tell you the mantra's really help - as if he is there coaching you through the process.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extremem reactions...only Ah Ha! moments. It made me chuckle somtimes.

Any additional comments?

This is a great book for anyone always saying to themselves that they "really need to clean (insert room or space) today" but never doing it. His principles have transfered into other areas of my life as well.

Starts well then gets repetitive towards the end

Would you listen to Unstuff Your Life again? Why?

Yes, but only the first half because it become repetitive (mundane? detailed?) towards the end.

Would you recommend Unstuff Your Life to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, because the 2 simple basic principles just works: like with like and one home for everything!

Have you listened to any of Andrew J. Mellen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

What did you learn from Unstuff Your Life that you would use in your daily life?

"Like with like" and "one home for everything".

It's so easy!!!

I was completely surprised by how just listening to this book changed my bad habits into healthy productive ones. I am 55 years old and never thought I'd get organized, but it's so easy with this book. I can hear Andrew Mellon tell me to put like with like every time I set something down. I like how he tells you the WHY of his methods. I am going to try to get my husband to listen to it!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is challenged with too much stuff and organization.
To Andrew Mellon I would say Thank You So Much!!!

EVERYBODY should read this book!

What did you love best about Unstuff Your Life?

This is an amazing book that truly motivates you to WANT to clean up and organize everything in your life. I have listened to some of the chapters multiple times just to make sure I get every little bit of the great advice that the author gives. He's also very funny and easy to listen to. He allows no room for excuses, only action. A GREAT book!

I loved this book

Would you listen to Unstuff Your Life again? Why?

I listen to this book almost daily. There is so much good information. I was able to move forward with getting rid of clutter after I read this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which scene was your favorite?

N/A

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No... I needed to reflect after each chapter.

Very helpful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend, because it is clear and direct, the author/narrator is totally aware of the feelings that involve to throw away things we don't really need in life and it begins with the basics of " do you own things or do things own you?"

What about Andrew J. Mellen’s performance did you like?

His voice is loud and clear, I think this book is best narrated by his own writer!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed when I identify myself in some cases

Any additional comments?

Sometimes we are not able to un stuff our emotional life because we can not un stuff even our physical life

great book

I've listened to A LOT of self help books for uncluttering. This one is a gem and I'm listening to it again. I truly enjoy the narrator and the message is presented in such a great way and so easy to follow. a wonderful book for anyone that struggles with keeping organized or who has ADD.

Absolutely Totally Great

I am a very organized person but I learned so much from Andrew Mellen's book!! Having a blast "unstuffing" my home!! Great to know that the old hat on the top of the closet is just an old hat - it is not your grandfather!! Yes, the mantras of the book are "Like with Like" and "everything has a home with its brothers and sisters" - Even if you are totally organized and really OCD - you will love, love, love this book.