The Hoarder in You

How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life

By: Dr. Robin Zasio

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

We all have treasured possessions - a favorite pair of shoes, a much-beloved chair, an ever-expanding record collection. But sometimes, this emotional attachment to our belongings can spiral out of control and culminate into a condition called compulsive hoarding. From hobbyists and collectors to pack rats and compulsive shoppers - it is close to impossible for hoarders to relinquish their precious objects, even if it means that stuff takes over their lives and their homes.

According to psychologist Dr. Robin Zasio, our fascination with hoarding stems from the fact that most of us fall somewhere on the hoarding continuum. Even though it may not regularly interfere with our everyday lives, to some degree or another, many of us hoard.

The Hoarder in You provides practical advice for decluttering and organizing, including how to tame the emotional pull of acquiring additional things, make order out of chaos by getting a handle on clutter, and create an organizational system that reduces stress and anxiety. Dr. Zasio also shares some of the most serious cases of hoarding that she’s encountered, and explains how we can learn from these extreme examples - no matter where we are on the hoarding continuum.

©2011 Robin Zasio (P)2011 Tantor

Useful... and also not

I grew up in a hoarder house and am a compulsive shopper - though I don’t have any problem getting rid of things. Actually, I get rid of all the things without considering their value or usefulness. My house is tidy and organized with very little clutter, though I have to constantly purge. routine cleaning is something I have had to work very hard at, as I wasn’t ever made to do it as a kid. Yet, I am terrified of becoming a hoarder. This book gives an interesting view into hoarding, cluttering, shopping, organizing -among other things- but I found myself feeling overwhelmed at the suggestions. The descriptions of “how great it would be” to have an orderly home made me feel like my house wasn’t good enough as it is- As if the comparison home is the most orderly, organized, spotless home. The idea of asking an entire list of questions about every single object made me dread the idea of even opening my closet. I understand that I don’t have problems with anxiety around my things (other than acquiring too much) and perhaps this book just wasn’t meant for me.

I also found the weird use of gendered pronouns, changing from one section to another, to be distracting. And sometimes the narrator used strange inflections that made sentences seem to not make sense.

I guess it just comes down to this - the information about the psychology behind hoarding and the hoarding continuum was interesting and helpful to know. The step by step instructions were not. I’m glad I bought it and read it, but disappointed in the last third.

Hoarder that is me!

This is the best book so far I have read (Audiobook) about hoarding. Why people hoard, with good examples and how to overcome.
I have read many books about cleaning and purging.
But this book explores deep details about cleaning and how to keep your home clean!

informative and compassionate

loved this book. Comprehensive, informative and I lived that she was so non judgemental. good read

Helpful and Applicable

Many ideas I can put into place immediately, others just gave me anxiety because I can't get to them all right away!

Interesting

Book was very interesting and got slot of good points for my own life. I am not a hoarder but got me moving to start going through my house to get rid of things I am not using etc.