Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent and inspiring resource
Comment: Out of all the organizing books I've read--more than I'd like to admit--Regina Leeds' "One Year to an Organized Life" stands out as the most comprehensive and inspiring book yet.

The book is organized into 12 sections--one for each month of the year, starting with January, although as Regina points out, there's no time like the present to get started. She takes you through not only the main areas of your home--the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom all get their own sections, as well as "common rooms" and, intriguingly, "hidden areas" which includes the attic, basement, garage, laundry and guest rooms--but also devotes sections on travel, entertaining, creating a festive atmosphere, and paper organization. I'm especially drawn to July's section, titled, "Fun in the Sun: Scrapbooks, Memorabilia, Greeting Card Collections, and Your Address Book." There are also sections on Back-to-School and Moving, both of which offer general tips and strategies anyone can apply--even those who don't have kids or are planning to move.

The sections contain an introduction, a summary, and four chapters that correspond with the weeks in a month. Each chapter opens with a bulleted list, encouragingly titled "This week you can," followed by a time estimate for how long it takes to complete the task. The short essay at the beginning of the section introduces the "Habit of the Month," while a week-by-week summary, followed by a "Bonus tip," and "Affirmation of the Month," provides review and closure.

It's been two months now since I received "One Year" and the difference in my home is evident in almost every single room. Just following the "Habit of the Month" alone can make a significant difference. While some reviewers apparently are uncomfortable about the spiritual aspect of organizing that is part and parcel of Leeds' approach, I LOVE this about the book. It's obvious that organizing is so much more than learning "tips or tricks." The perils of chaos--and the benefits of organizing--are undeniably linked to one's emotional health. If you want to get organized and treat yourself in the process, I recommend curling up with a nice cup of tea and plotting your own year to an organized life.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: great book to get you started
Comment: I like how she divides things up to a room, group of rooms, or other group to organize your home. This method breaks it down to manageable pieces that don't overwhelm you.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Suggestions Are Brilliant -- Now How Do I Get Motivated to Start Organizing?
Comment: I loved reading though this book and imagining what my life could be like if I implemented the wonderful room-by-room systems outlined here. The book made me feel as though I could really finally clean out my attic, find time to vacuum under the beds, balance my checkbook, plan ahead for meals, and recoup a large tax deduction from Goodwill after I collected and donated all my family's unused clothes, toys and knick-knacks. And I'm going to do every single one of those things -- after I start my novel and truly dedicate to flossing everyday.

Unfortunately the book does not come with Dobby the House-Elf to actually perform all of these tasks, or at the very least kick me in the behind until I start doing them.

But my personal shortcomings aside, this is a wonderful reference for those enterprising slobs who can actually do more than daydream about being able to start each day without digging through the laundry mountain for clean underwear and coming across that earring they lost five months ago.

I recommend purchasing this volume and keeping it on your bedside table -- for the shaming factor, if for nothing else.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Helpful
Comment: A picked up one helpful "jewel" from this book. That you need to understatnd what, in your past, makes you behave the way you do in order to change your behavior. This tidbit made it worth the cost of the book and the time to read it. You can staighten things up, but if you don't change your behavior, then it won't last. Other than that, the "Just Do It" attitude and the importance of taking things a step at a time are well presented in this book.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing. This didn't help at all
Comment: Boy, was I disappointed with this book. It's clearly aimed at housewifes and house husbands. Almost nothing about organizing paperwork, calendar, your office...etc. This was an utter waste of time for me.

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