Don AslettCritiques

This one was a DNF for me. I didn't get very far into it, so I won't leave a rating. I found much of the content to be repetitive, or in page-long spurts that weren't very interesting. It felt as if I was reading some never-ending prologue, forever out of reach from content worthy of just comfortably reading.

I will say that I liked the author's perspective on the amount of time we have lessening as we age. Though we might have loved all our things when we were younger and had more time for them, now we have to pick and choose. All those things we don't have time to use but still keep because we, theoretically, never stopped liking them- they're burying the things we want to invest our time and attention in today.

That logic helped me let go. I decided to finally give away the ocarina I'll never have time to learn to play, and all my fishkeeping supplies. Fish are gorgeous to look at, sure. But they dont add enough to my life that I want to be burdened with the cost and time of upkeeping my own tanks. I get more pleasure from cross-stitching while I watch a movie, getting lost in the pages of a sprawling fantasy, or gaming at midnight with friends.

Part of this new adventure in respecting my time has been knowing when to put a book down. If it doesn't capture my attention, there are dozens of soon-to-be favorites just waiting on the shelf.

Thanks to Don Aslett for the fresh perspective.

This one was a DNF for me. I didn't get very far into it, so I won't leave a rating. I found much of the content to be repetitive, or in page-long spurts that weren't very interesting. It felt as if I was reading some never-ending prologue, forever out of reach from content worthy of just comfortably reading.

I will say that I liked the author's perspective on the amount of time we have lessening as we age. Though we might have loved all our things when we were younger and had more time for them, now we have to pick and choose. All those things we don't have time to use but still keep because we, theoretically, never stopped liking them- they're burying the things we want to invest our time and attention in today.

That logic helped me let go. I decided to finally give away the ocarina I'll never have time to learn to play, and all my fishkeeping supplies. Fish are gorgeous to look at, sure. But they dont add enough to my life that I want to be burdened with the cost and time of upkeeping my own tanks. I get more pleasure from cross-stitching while I watch a movie, getting lost in the pages of a sprawling fantasy, or gaming at midnight with friends.

Part of this new adventure in respecting my time has been knowing when to put a book down. If it doesn't capture my attention, there are dozens of soon-to-be favorites just waiting on the shelf.

Thanks to Don Aslett for the fresh perspective.

Every time we're ready to plan a reno, I take this book out from the library and reread it. The book is dated(written for early eighties decor) but I always find it helps me focus on creating a easy to clean space. With five kids, that is one of my big priorities.

n idiot's guide to clearing clutter which looks at why and how it is created and how more productive a life can be without it. The book provides a light hearted approach but no staggering insights included. I did pass it on as soon as I had read it, so maybe it did help.

In Who says it's a woman's job to clean? Don Aslett tackles the controversial subject of the mistaken idea that man is genetically engineered to not want to clean and care for himself. He covers some of the same material as in his complete guide to cleaning, Is there life after housework?, but goes further and explains how to pick up after yourself and how to do laundry. Then he notes that a man will find a better way to do anything - Aslett did and revolutionized the way we clean. But he realized that he wasn't doing this at home and vowed to change. If you need to give someone in your life a nudge, this book will do it. It's funny, with wonderful illustrations, but serious at the same time. And it is time for everyone to help out at home. We all live there!

In Is there life after housework? cleaning expert Don Aslett explains how to clean easily without spending hours doing it. I read this years ago and followed his advice for a while. Now that my allergies are aggravated by cleaning products, I am changing back to his simple methods that really work. He lists all the supplies and equipment you need for the whole house and what you don't need. (In choice of vacuum, I differed. I use the canister model since I have rug in only 3 rooms and cork, linoleum or laminate in the rest. Using the power attachment works as well as an upright for carpet and the floor attachment for bare floor.) Some jobs are worth parceling out to professionals; if you keep up with it, the rest is manageable.

In addition to the text, Aslett illustrated the book and provided an index. This is a must read if you don't want to spend the bulk of your precious time cleaning and your house will thank you.½

My goal for 2017 is to write a book, I think Don Aslett has really motivated me. There are some sections of the book that are a little dated but overall, this is a well-written book by a down to earth, bestselling author.

Reread in 2016. Good book, donated. If I'm in a Don Aslett mood, Not for Packrats Only is a better book, but this one is good, too.

Reread in 2016 then donated. If I'm ever in a Don Aslett mood, this is the better book.

Occasional tongue-in-cheek humor. Amusing, e.g., "Junking by Age Group and Generation" on page 37

Love, love, love this book!The author is hilarious and he will inspire you like nobody's business to decluttering your home!

This book changed the way I think about STUFF and enabled me to be much freer than I was before I read it. When I moved across the country, I brought a box of books and a few articles of clothing, some music and very little else.

It's time to de-junk your life as the cover says.

A very thorough look at reasons behind and methods to deal with hoarders, pack-rats, junk addicts and the like. I do collect things and stuff although I was surprised at how many parts of the book did not apply to me at all, however the chapters that did, well he described these addictions as though he wrote directly from my own experiences.

This book is helpful and I have taken away quite a few tips to help de-junk and therefore de-stress my life.

Don Aslett is an amazing man. He seems to have unlimited energy and enthusiasm. I suspect that he cleans and organizes for fun. ;)

This book has dozens, maybe even hundreds of ideas, tips, and suggestions for increasing your productivity. He shares advice from other readers, as well as observations from his own personal experiences. He obviously follows his own advice - he (and his wife) raised six children, published more than a dozen books, and runs several businesses.

If you need motivation to organize your house, be more productive at work, or stop procrastinating, you will find much motivation and inspiration here. If you are an overachiever who is already extremely productive, this book might stress you out a little bit. You'll start comparing yourself to Aslett and thinking of even MORE things to fit into your hectic schedule. :) But in spite of that, you are bound to find some ideas you haven't thought of before. I know I did.

Aslett's books make efficiency seem fun, and they are always enjoyable reads. Definitely recommended, and I know I will read more of his books in the future.

I have found this book very helpful. It gives lots of information on removing stains of all different types from almost anything.

Ideas for downsizing and reorganizing your home.

I love this author. He is funny, clever, and he makes you WANT to get rid of your junk. He makes you laugh at yourself for having the junk in the first place. He's blunt, but not really offensive. This book is a bit out of date but still very applicable. It looks like a shorter book, too, but it took me a while to read because it is packed with information. The best book on de-cluttering I've read yet!

I always enjoy reading Don Aslett books. He is an excellent writer with a keen ability to keep the reader interested while imparting cleaning and organization wisdom. Having owned and managed businesses I thought I knew quite a few professional secrets, but Don was able to teach me even more secrets and give me the little push I needed to step things up a notch. One thing I find quite funny is that he only mentions wearing shoes while cleaning once in the book, which is so important, even at home. It can save you from slips, plus your feet will not be tired at the end of the day if you wear proper shoes. However he mentions time and time again to use a lambswool duster to remove cobwebs. I found that to be enduring and cute as obviously cobwebs are a pet peeve of his.

This book is ideal for people wishing to do a better job cleaning their house in less time, semi-professional and professional cleaners, as well as those looking to enter the cleaning business. The final chapter is so eloquent and from the heart it made the book worth so much more than just a cleaning book. Filled with humor, wisdom, and tried and true cleaning methods, this book is sure to delight all readers who care about a clean environment.

One thing I should add is that there is a newer edition of this book. For the few extra dollars, I would recommend the newer version for more up to date information.

I haven't finished reading this, but a lack of environmental awareness is not a trait I want to develop in eliminating clutter.

I love this book!½

a good encyclopedia, when remembering to utilize it½

this is the original...the one that tells you the best how to get housework done. Aslett makes it much easier than you ever imagined.

Exceedingly witty and amusing book written by a man who is a professional cleaner. Very highly recommended both as a good read and as a useful handbook

I'm sorry. I just don't have time to review this book...tehe...

COLLECTIBLE LIKE NEW