Cover Image: The Simple Life Guide To Decluttering Your Life

The Simple Life Guide To Decluttering Your Life

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I couldn't finish this book. There are so many books now about decluttering your home and life and this book didn't offer anything new.

Was this review helpful?

The book started off well. The author talks about choices he made to downsize and declutter and how he did it. I really liked that he talked about going slow. This doesn’t have to be a major life change all in one weekend. He advises to take steps to make it easier to do. Then he goes off the rails a bit. He goes to this weird place about obese people. I get that people who need to declutter don’t just need to get rid of stuff from their homes but, the author doesn’t do a good job connecting the dots of why this chapter is included. His other chapters discuss friends, social media, politics and the holidays. He started off good and seemed relatable and then he took a turn. It was kind of like talking to someone at a work event who seems normal until he has a couple of drinks and goes on a “that’s how they get you” tirade.

Was this review helpful?

Who doesn’t love a good self-help book to organize your life a little more? I really enjoyed this read and thought the author gave many useful and practical applications.

Was this review helpful?

Great book for those who are looking at ways to declutter their life. I found this book to be very helpful and full of great tips.

Was this review helpful?

Relationships, health, money ... this book covers much, much more than merely the clutter in a house! It covers the clutter in a LIFE! Although I am by no means finished with de-cluttering, this book prompted me to think in different ways about myriad aspects of life's "clutter" and to focus on what it truly meaningful to me.

Was this review helpful?

This is not your typical book on how to declutter your home or office. It is about decluttering your life. Today’s life is so filled with too much to do which causes stress. According to the author, he has five principles for living a simple life. By following his principles, he says that instead of feeling like your life is stressful and a burden, you will find joy. Life will be joyful for you. Is that truly possible?

I found the book interesting though I do think that at this point in my life it’s not what I need. I do think that many would find this book helpful, It does make one think about what they want in their life.

Was this review helpful?

The Simple Life Guide to Decluttering Your Life is a no nonsense approach to working towards the life you always dreamed of. This book provides practical steps to work towards whatever you need to to have a simplified life and it's not just getting rid of "stuff" but taking steps to improve your finances, the relationships in your life, decluttering your mind, technology, holidays and more! The author shares his own experiences, which I appreciate as it makes it more relatable and realistic. I also like that he is blunt at times because I think many of us need a little kick to get us on our paths to living our dreams! I definitely plan to check out the authors other books as well. Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lately there have been a lot of books written about decluttering your home and life. This book really didn't offer anything new and kind of seemed like a long infomercial. The author mentions other books he has written and seems to toot his own horn too much.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed reading this as it is a subject close to my heart.
I found it, however to be more of an essay on the subject, rather than practical tips. The author is clear about this though and does not dress it up as something it is not. I found the 'straight to the point' style of writing' refreshing and it was a book that did hold my attention.
It was well written and easy to read and inspirational in parts. Anyone with an interest in this subject will enjoy reading it and I recommend it.
Many thanks for the opportunity to review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Really useful and interesting. Not very different from other books but still pretty ok for what it is meant to offer.

Was this review helpful?

Wow (not in a good way). I'm all for paring down our lives to the things (physical and otherwise) that really matter so I should be an easy sell for this kind of book. I'm not sold. I expected to read about minimizing possessions and likely downsizing, probably something about limiting social media, perhaps something about paring down social activities to those that really add to your life.

What I didn't expect? Repeated mentions of the author's other books and an overall condescending tone. In the "health" chapter, Collins speaks of playing a game of "spot the obese person" and then goes on to discuss how the overweight people he sees riding mobility scooters appear able bodied aside from being obese. Hey, Gary? You don't know these people's stories, what they're dealing with that maybe you can't see. He then goes on to say that if you take his "observations" "as some sort of fat shaming or being insensitive, this book is not for you." You're right, Gary, this book is definitely not for me. I did skim through the rest of the book so I could give a full review. Overall, this is a long-winded way of saying things that are common sense. You've likely heard it all before...

I'm glad Gary Collins is happy with his current lifestyle, but this is in no way what I was expecting and I am SO glad I didn't pay for this drivel.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

We're all buried in stuff. And we want to live well. So there are a lot of "simplify" books out there. This one was useful because it categorized the various aspects of life in a different way: time, space, energy, etc. We need to declutter. We know that.

And here's a fresh look at how you might do it - and the freedom you're about to experience from that process. Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

The Simple Life Guide to Decluttering your Life left me wanting. Too many superlatives, too much referring to his other writings, and too many “I’m going to tell you about this..,” statements. Instead of just telling us what he wanted us to hear, he constantly gave us ineffective teasers and references to his other books. The decluttering content was minimal without many practical or innovative ideas. I had hoped to get a lot out of this book to encourage me and my decluttering attempts, but was sadly disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

As a person who is into the idea of minimalism I know that it’s about a lot more than getting rid of all the stuff you have accumulated. I think that Gary Collins has a great perspective on how to declutter all of the areas of your life. This book has a great focus on health, finances, social circles, and our mind. I think it’s important to address all of those areas before people even begin to declutter their homes. If they don’t have a good understanding of WHY they have so much clutter in their life then they will end up back in the same position. One area I found particularly interesting was talking about picking sides, especially when it comes to dealing with politics. I have followed many of the tips given and it certainly leads to a more relaxing life. There are a lot of action steps throughout this book, where a little change can go a long way.

Was this review helpful?

Simple suggestions on ways to declutter all aspects of your life.
This book intended of helping people clear excess from your life.

Thanks Books Go Social and NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating is 1.5 stars.

What did I just read?

I don't feel like this book would help me achieve decluttering of anything. I felt a was reading the rantings of a man who would never really get to the point, This book could have been one page long and only feature his list 1- 10 point summary because it would have been more to the point and less....rambling.

Honestly, I can't even tell you what was on the list really because the rest of this book was clutter of words (and I read the whole thing, start to finish just this afternoon so it's not like there was time to forget anything).

This book also felt like a giant ad for the author's other books. It's full of "now I'm just glossing over this, so if you want more details on decluttering your (insert whatever he sorta mentioned) acquire my book Decluttering (insert what he sorta mentioned).

I feel like the pieces of advice I did notice are 100% common sense. Live within your means. Don't eat processed foods, junk, etc and not exercise and wonder why you're fat. Don't hang around toxic people who bring you down instead of supporting you. Don't get sucked into your devices all day. Go outside once in awhile. Exercise. Plan for a rainy day that could last awhile. Plan for your retirement. etc. All of it is ridiculously obvious. I was very disappointed with this read.

Was this review helpful?

The Simple Life Guide To Decluttering Your Life by Gary Collins, MS is a very thought-provoking book. From the title I knew that it would cover more than just the clean out the closets and getting rid of stuff. Still it covered so many areas of life that one may not really consider but is also weighing us down. I found that it was for me anyway.

Simplify or decluttering are not the key words of this book. Instead it the word change. Early on this comment is written, “Your home is only a small piece of the puzzle, as there are many other things in your life you must confront and change to begin living the life YOU want.” Who doesn’t want to live the life that they believe is best for them? So of course, I read on.

There is much to gleam from this book with the author’s honest, could also be said to be blunt, style of writing. He begins with startling facts about marketing, its purpose and its goals; not necessarily in the buyer’s interest. That is only the beginning, health, finances, relationships, social media, holiday celebrations and more are brought to the reader’s attention to be scrutinized. It is pointed out that what is best for me may be different from him. I am a grandmother with over forty years of marriage behind me, he is a single man with two dogs, so it is unlikely our views on the best would be the same. However a framework is given that can be used to change allowing me or anyone else to simplify and declutter. It is a guide that can be useful if one is willing.

I am giving it 5 stars because the book covers the many aspects of life, not just the acquiring of too much stuff. Continuing to acquire things will not make you happy but then neither will just getting rid of it. It is much deeper than that. I do wish that the spiritual had been looked at too, finding purpose there is also life changing.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Review Title: Seeking the All Around Simple Life (Review of The Simple Life Guide To Declutter Your Life by Gary Collins, MS)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
**** 4 Stars
What a helpful book for those who hope to simplify and declutter their lifestyle in whole and not limited to only household accumulations. This is a book that will help guide readers through their whole existence (except for the religious component) with a thorough look at what is needed to live a good life and what is excess that causes stress.

The book delves into what makes a quality life in regards to purpose, health, finances, social circles, informational storage, household necessities, holiday and celebration traditions and excesses, political associations, and hobbies. The book is well laid out so the reader should not feel overwhelmed by having to consider all these areas at the same time. They each have a dedicated chapter. Many people have allowed all these areas of their lives to become overly cluttered so that dysfunction can result. This book seems to whittle life back down to the basics so life management becomes possible and a joy instead of a daily burden.

The author has cleared the excess from his life and shares with the reader what worked for him and might be helpful for the reader. He is not adamant that people need to follow his exact strategy but offers it as a starting point to design your own personal working plan.
I enjoyed the personable approach used in this book so you get the feel of being friends with the author. My one criticism is that since I mostly read books for Christian audiences, I found the use of some profanity and expletives detracted from the author's message. That will not bother many who could benefit from this author's work. I had to overlook some language to get to the main message. Other than that, the book is well worth the read and has many helpful solutions for all who are challenged by a cluttered lifestyle.

I received a free ebook copy of this book through Net Galley for honest review purposes. I read it completely and have given my honest opinion about the book.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting reading. I’ve been trying to do exactly that: trying to declutter and keep what I use more, trying to keep it to the bare essentials, but I’ve been procratinating, until recently, I’ve been taking baby steps, but I’ve already got over the worst part: starting,

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed some parts of the book even though it wasn't really what I expected. There are some good pointers even though I didn't find anything new. It is best suited to the US market due to its political examples and leanings. The writing itself was good, well structured and it was easy to read. However I found some of the stories and content a bit boring and the author had strong opinions on the right way to do things. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, it wasn't what I was expecting. The US market it was intended for will probably love it, and it will no doubt appeal to lots of people.

Was this review helpful?