There are dozens and dozens of books available on organization, so what makes this one different? A system! Most organizing books are full of specific suggestions for organizing specific items or tasks. These can be very helpful for those of us who need some ideas to get our creative juices flowing. But what do you do when you need to organize something for which you haven't found an idea listed in a book? You buy a copy of Organizing from the Inside Out. Julie Morgenstern has provided a basic formula of organization which can be applied to any specific situation you encounter. She walks the reader through the organization process, step-by-step. She also points out common errors - both technical errors (going about it the wrong way) and psychological obstacles (reasons we really don't want to get organized) - and offers suggestions for correcting them. If you only buy one book on organization, make it this one.

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It's about time! Julie Morgenstern has written an organizing book that covers a new way of looking at the task of organizing effectively without labeling or blaming the person behind the lack of organization. Rather, she says, people who don't organize just never learned how to organize, through no fault of their own--after all, it's not a skill that's taught in school. That said, she gets down to work helping you figure out an organizing system that will really work for you, not a system based on cookie-cutter filing concepts or special storage units.
Morgenstern's "from the inside out" system begins by laying out the possible reasons for a failure of organization: technical errors (like having a complex organizing system that breaks down), external realities (like not enough space for your belongings), and psychological obstacles (like fear of failure--or success). Then, her Analyze and Strategize steps help create a plan of action based on your needs and goals, and the brief chapter called "Attack: Getting the Job Done" offers basic ideas for making space. The largest section of the book, "Applying What You've Learned," addresses the specifics of organizing workspaces, home offices, living spaces, and storage areas. Each section has a "How Long Will It Take?" box that gives a realistic time estimate, and Morgenstern's "Julie's No-Brainer Toss List" for each area gives the permission and encouragement that most of us have been waiting for to get rid of things we'll never use again. The section at the end, "Tackling Time and Technology," is worth its weight in DayTimers and PalmPilots. Whatever your organizing issues are, you're not a hopeless case, and you don't need special equipment--just a little understanding of the problem and a willingness to plan before diving in.

I enjoyed this book - Julie Morgenstern talks about issues that could be preventing you from gettin organized.

Addresses many of the root causes for disorder in your home or office, and gives practical suggestions for creating a personalized system. Much better than the "one-size-fits-all" approach many similar books take.

Great tips and insights on how to get organized and stay that way.

Wonderful book! Now if my kids could just follow it I would have an organized home!

Again, ok. I took away a few sound practices that I still use.

Easy to read ~ has some great ideas.

Helpful organizing advice; book is well-organized as well!

This is a very detailed book on the subject of organizing every room in your home. Very useful!

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I love it. Found this book to be intuitive. Many of my excuses, foibles, and unrecognized road blocks were right on the page for me to read, and discover that I was not alone. Thank God. I've tried many organizing tips and methods to no avail, but this one is working for me.

The cover of this book is different than the one shown here, but it is the same book. Very simple steps, easy to follow.

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