Book Review: Martha Stewart's Organizing by Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart’s Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home and Routines
by Martha Stewart (648.8 Ste)

 

I really loved this book for what it was: A beautiful, Pinterest-y inspiration book. I have it on my dining table and every time I open it, I feel inspired to clean and organize. My favorite part of the book, and her magazine for that matter, is her detailed calendar. Her monthly calendar is stellar and I always look forward to it the most when I read her magazine. This book delights me because it has all of the calendar months neatly organized inside one, glossy, confectionery binding. I devour cleaning and organization books and this one is, by far, the prettiest.

 

I am always astounded when I pick up a cleaning/organization book and its contents are not cohesive. Martha does not disappoint in the slightest. Every chapter is neatly organized, flowing from section to section with ease. She details how to clean and organize based on the items she listed in her monthly calendar. For example, In the month of November she has “Assemble a Winter Car Kit” and “Make Holiday Crafts.” The following pages are dedicated to describing exactly the best way to detail the car and make holiday crafts. I love it!

 

Aside from the visual delight, I enjoy how streamlined the book is with check lists, calendars, and tasks. She presents a year’s worth of chores in a manageable, easy-to-follow format. It is no wonder she is able to handle such a busy life. She also dedicates a good portion of the year to leisurely activities. Reminding us to ice-skate, horseback ride, and gather with friends and family. After all, it is important to celebrate and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

 

If you are looking for a deep, philosophical kind of organizational book, I would stick to something like Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or anything by The Fly Lady. If you are wanting Pinterest-in-book-form, then look no further!

 

[ official Martha Stewart corporate web site ]

 

Recommended by Monica K.
Bennett Martin Public Library – Public Service

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Organizing Your Home

Organizing Your Home: Decluttering Solutions and Storage Ideas
by Emily Wilska [648.8 Wil]

I enjoy books about organizing. I love looking through all the photos and seeing new gadgets in which to store goodies, or read about the latest computer program or online site to compile recipes into one easy-to-use location, or browse through the latest shabby chic scheme for binders, paper holders, and pens. My desk is piled high (ironically it's disorganized) with organizing books. This book took me longer than normal to get through for it had so much to offer. Yes, all good organizing books tell you to go through each room with three boxes - one for toss, one for keep, one for think-about-later; they all tell you to store "like items" together; and that heavy items are stored on the bottom shelf with the lightweight items on overhead shelves. And yes, this book also discusses the basics of organizing. But it also provides a guide for organizing every room of the house without getting bogged down. It covers Food Storage, Photos and Mementos, Home Technology, and Maintaining a Family Calendar. There're several color photos on every page to illustrate ideas along with tons of decluttering and storage solutions. Have luggage or toiletries bags you don't use any longer? Donate them to your local Foster Care Agency as many of those kids only have grocery sacks for storing their few belongings. The Resources list at the back of the book includes many websites for additional information for getting yourself organized. Websites include FEMA for a handy list of what to pack for an emergency; online sites (such as The Container Store) for ordering organizing tools and supplies; strategies to cut down on junk mail; several recycling sites offering info and locations for recycling electronics; how to store photos; where to order replacement china pieces; how long to keep financial records and why; how to safely dispose of medicines; and much more. The author also has a Facebook page and her own website where you can enroll for the Tip of the Week. Have fun browsing through this organizing book, or take your time and do a deep-read for the many useful tips and ideas. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The One-Minute Organizer Plain and Simple by Donna Smallin.] -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Organized Life web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.