“Weekend Makeover” by Don Aslett is a book that will convince you and help you eliminate the junk NOW. There are many books on organization, but I think Don Aslett’s are among the best for motivating a person to do something with all the unnecessary possessions that clutter our lives.
“Weekend Makeover” is a revised version of Aslett’s “Lose 200 Lbs. This Weekend”. If you have that book, you may not want to get this one. While there is new material in “Weekend Makeover,” much of the book is the same. I’ll point out the big differences in this review, which includes two extra chapters, but keep in mind that there are minor differences throughout. Personally, I like the format and images of the previous book. “Lose 200 pounds.” it was a bigger book with more pictures. These were typical of Aslett’s Marsh Creek Press editions, and when Adams Media revised and published the books they took on a more conventional size with fewer illustrations. Don’t think I don’t like the Adams Media editions. They put out some great books, and I like the little cheat sheet on sorting trash and getting started inside the “Weekend Makeover” cover. However, I really liked the old big size with lots of illustrations from the original. The highlight of either edition is Aslett’s excellent junk removal information.
Aslett points out that the “weight” you’ll lose by following the Weekend Makeover tips isn’t just the weight around us (clutter in the closet, attic, and garage), but the weight in us (stress, pressure, depression), and in us (calorie disorder). If you’ve ever been stressed about not being able to find something in a mess, having to quickly clean up or hide clutter because people come to visit, or any number of bad feelings due to excess in so many of our lives, this book is for you. .
I really enjoy Aslett’s no-nonsense, no-nonsense approach. Eliminate clutter and disorganization in your life. While that’s one reason to ditch the junk, the big reason according to Aslett is to feel better. That’s the big reason to get rid of junk, and it’s a very good reason for it. Once the clutter and disorganization are gone, you can be much more productive and things seem to be going much better. Being in control and organized will make you feel better. As someone who has accumulated, I have used Aslett’s books as motivators to get to work and eliminate garbage. Once done, I felt much better. But sometimes old habits die hard, and at certain times I’ve found that things, for one reason or another, started piling up again. (Paper clutter seems to be my biggest hurdle) Aslett’s books always lift me up and get me going again. Speed reading certain chapters again is a great motivation. And I keep learning new little tricks to help me stay on track.
After a motivating introduction and a quiz to determine what kind of drug addict you are, this book is divided into nine chapters, two more than Lose 200 Pounds.”:
1. Too much. Aslett points out how many of us have too much, how the excess has taken over. He describes excess and how it can get us down. She then explains why the least she can help us.
2. What are the costs of clutter? Original chapter title: The Many Price Tags of Clutter. Chapter two illustrates how clutter costs us in many ways. Take our money, our time, our freedom. Eliminating junk will make us feel better, improve our time management, save us money, and many other positive things that Aslett describes in this chapter.
3. The big question: When? (The answer: this weekend) Original title of the chapter: The big question: When? An entire chapter on why you should remove the junk NOW. Read it and you’ll be motivated to start NOW, this weekend.
4. The power of a weekend. This is a chapter added to the first addition. In this short chapter, Aslett describes how much you can do on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Aslett shares how you can MAKE time to remove the junk. (Some of the ideas in this chapter were originally found in the previous edition’s chapter titled The Simple Weight Loss Solution: Subtraction!
5. The ABC of cleaning. Original Chapter Title: The Simple Weight Loss Solution: Subtract! If too much is the cause of the disorganization that leads to stress and other ills, simple math shows that subtraction is the key. Aslett shows you how to make a plan and start getting rid of the excess
6. Clutter at a glance. (The first edition had this as chapter 5) This chapter is a short course on the most common and troublesome types of clutter that inhabit the modern home and office. Stuff on top of stuff, clothes, furniture clutter, photos, gifts, books, magazines, fitness clutter, paper clutter, sentimental clutter, someday stuff, and other categories. Aslett gives great advice on what can be done to eliminate these categories of clutter. However, I must admit that while I enjoy reading Aslett’s books and think his advice is excellent, when it comes to my library, I just won’t get rid of any. Books are my most prized possessions. Not only do I read all of them, but I often reread parts of them and use them for research. Also, I like to have a large library. My autographed books are especially important to me, and yes, I have several of my Aslett books signed from the time I had the opportunity to meet him. My copy of Lose 200 Lbs is signed and I will keep it along with all my books until the end. Then they will go to my family or to a library. And that’s a good point. Use Atlett’s advice to work for you. You don’t have to follow it to the letter to earn a lot and improve your life.
7. Room-by-room clutter guide. This is an additional chapter not found in the first edition. This chapter focuses on different rooms and where you can find what kind of clutter there is. Some readers will be surprised to find things at their own addresses listed in this chapter. The solution? Discard
8. To keep it off now! This is the chapter I need to reread from time to time. It is the chapter on how to prevent clutter in the future. Aslett provides some simple and effective tips for staying organized once he’s got his life in order. He ends the chapter with the Ten Commandments for him to stay free.
9. Too wonderful for words. A few final pages including some testimonials from people who have quit and what has been done for them, as well as some words of encouragement from Aslett, including his personal code that works for him. He calls it “Live Providently,” the Big Ten.
If you’ve read Aslett’s other books on clutter, you know his style. This one is just as nice, just as practical, just as motivating. I have won from all of them. As a junk man myself, I appreciate Aslett’s books and how they have helped me get rid of junk when things start to pile up, and I’m trying to incorporate his advice on how to keep it tidy so I don’t have to go through it in the future.
This book may not have enough new material for someone who already has “Lose 200 Pounds.” to buy, unless you’re an Aslett fan like me. However, if you haven’t read the previous edition, I highly recommend this book if you need a jumpstart to start cleaning and organizing your living space. It doesn’t matter if you live in a small apartment or a huge mansion, clutter will steal your time and your life. Don Aslett is committed to helping people break free from clutter, and this book is one that will help you achieve that freedom.
If you want to take control of your life and be more organized. Read this book and act NOW. Get rid of the excess in your life and watch some of your stress go too.