Throw Out Fifty Things

Clear The Clutter, Find Your Life

By: Gail Blanke

Narrated by: Gail Blanke

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Throw Out Fifty Things is truly an eye-opener. According to Blanke, our lives are so filled with junk from the past - from dried up tubes of crazy glue to old grudges - that's it's a wonder we can get up in the morning, never mind go to work, care for our children and parents, and just put one foot in front of the other.

Blanke wants to start a movement of people across America throwing out 50 things (magazines count as one!) that will help liberate us from the stuff - both physical and mental - that clutters our lives. It's the physical stuff that keeps us from being happy and calm in our house - not to mention keeps us from finding our keys in the morning! And it is the clutter in our mind that drags us down and holds us back from living the life we want to live.

Blanke takes the listener through each room in the house and helps us figure out what to throw out that will help us move forward. She'll show us how to find and throw out "toxic" possessions that remind us of failed relationships, bad jobs, etc., and she'll help us figure out what to keep in order to help us find out who we really are.

©2009 Gail Blanke (P)2009 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

I'm Throwing Out 50 Things

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 excess and mental excess. Cleaning up one leads to cleaning up the other. 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.

Ms. Blanke did a great job of reading her own book.

So useful, listened to it a 2nd time right away.

There are a host of books on how to declutter, I have a bunch myself somewhere...

So the message isn't new but the author/narrator is easy to listen to and very insightful. As she spoke, I found myself nodding my head thinking "that's me" as she described a variety of different types of clutter from room to room.

But where this book really excels and differs from previous reads is when Gail Blanke starts to address the clutter in our minds and issues we tend to hold onto, in most cases for far too long. It was enlightening to say the least.

My home office has honestly never looked better after listening to this. It's truly a great feeling to walk into it again after years of a mess and the horrible weighted down feeling I'd get from knowing it needed to be addressed but didn't know where to start.

There is soo much helpful information that I felt I had to listen to it again just to review and internalize the lessons better. Normally after listening to a book I move on to my next title. But this one is worth multiple listens.

I'm grateful to have come across this title and to the author for the genuine help this has been. It's a relatively quick and easy listen, one I'd whole heartedly recommend!

Throw this book out

This audio book is about three and a half hours long. After the first thirty minutes I was convinced the contents could have been distilled down to something much smaller. It rambles about multiple column lists and anecdotes of important or life changing finds while throwing out items. Some of which sound made up. This is good and useful information that probably could have been shared in less than a fifth of the time. Maybe some will find the style entertaining but I did not.

Entertaining and inspirational.

This book held my interest with the author's ability to address deep issues using empathy, personal stories, and humor. It was very well organized into short chapters. I listened to the book while deciding what stuff I would get rid ro create a more simple and serene life. Really enjoyed this book.

This approach really was helpful to me beyond what I expected

The author's approach ended up being more helpful than I had originally anticipated. I knew that decluttering and tidying up would be helpful for me as a person and for my psyche (you know "As without, so within; as above, so below", or however that saying goes). But, you must give this one a listen because it is an OVERALL help more than merely a decluttering manual.
Please forgive me I am not much of a book reviewer. And be sure to listen to the sample audio to see if you can stand her voice. I found it OK although I was a tad distracted by her "homespun" way of speaking. I found the author to be very likable.

More to it than just 50 things!

Where does Throw Out Fifty Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an actionable book, one that has inspired me to further reduce clutter in many categories - including mental clutter!

What did you like best about this story?

That is not just about finding 50 things to throw away as the title may imply. There's some depth to it as well. Reading this book reminds readers that there is more to clutter than just extra stuff around the house. This is an overall wellness book that you really should pick up! RECOMMEND!

Decluttering is not just for your closets..

Would you consider the audio edition of Throw Out Fifty Things to be better than the print version?

Haven't seen the book but I have often bought both for reference.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Throw Out Fifty Things?

Talking about the emotional clutter is very profound

What does Gail Blanke bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I buy audio because it works better for my busy life, with just the book I would probably skip over a lot and miss immportant issues.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Throw Out Fifty Things?

To just get started and don't wait until I have time to clear out everything.

Not what I expected

I got this book because I am into minimalism. The first few chapters are about paring down, but then the author launches into motivational stuff, encouraging the reader to let go of obstacles to success. It's just not what I wanted.

Great Concept! Great Plan! Very Good Book!

Where does Throw Out Fifty Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It wasn't the best book I have read in the last year but one that I have decided to take to heart and do. I'd say out of the 35 i've read in the last year, it'd be in the top 50%

What other book might you compare Throw Out Fifty Things to and why?

Goals: How to get everything you want by Brian Tracy

Did Gail Blanke do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, the stories were great but I would have preferred a more dynamic/conversational reading.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

This wouldn't be a film

Great book - Men, read between the lines...

This is a great book. It seems to be aimed toward women, but it can be just as useful to men if they just read between the lines and take the examples as just that - examples. She talks a lot about makeup, clothes, shoes, etc. Men an just substitute the obvious, like tools, etc. It might seem obvious, but if someone is as in-need-of-a-change to buy this (audio)book, every little bit helps. Sometimes it's easy to make excuses. ;)