The Office Clutter Cure :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Excellent Office Efficiency Guide

2008-08-27
Don Aslett's Office Clutter Cure book isn't technically about office efficiency, but you will find if you follow his advice to clear the clutter from your office space, you will automatically increase your efficiency - it will inevitably happen without you even thinking much about it. You'll be able to find things easier, and for some reason, most people get more work done if their work area is cleaner. It might seem that there's no logical connection between clean work space and productivity, but it does exist (although I know many people think they work better in a messy office).

Don Aslett has a great sense of humor, and it shines through in this delightful and easy to read book. Highly recommended if you work in a cubicle or small office.

Practical guide to decluttering your workspace

2006-05-23
As owner of one of the U.S.'s largest cleaning firms, author Don Aslett has first hand experience with the way that mess and confusion can impede a good day's work. His book shines a light on the chaos, from overflowing wastebaskets to staggering stacks of paper, to (gasp!) the inside of the communal refrigerator. He reveals why out-of-control office clutter is not simply unsightly, but harmful to your productivity and your career. Then, he offers the cure, including ways to reduce paper accumulation, organize your workspace, weed through the junk and create your own filing system. He brings humor, enthusiasm and passion to tackling the daunting job you need to do before you can do your real job. If you want to be liberated from your office mess and experience the exhilaration of a clutter-free work life, we recommend this book - just put it on top of your stack.

Quite helpful

2005-05-26
This book is a humorous pictural guide to reducing office clutter. It offers many reasons for "86-ing" piles of useless clutter and suggests alternate solutions such as using a briefcase.

very motivating

2003-02-15
This is classic Aslett -- it will have you pitching half the papers on your desk in no time. Aslett has some good ideas on how to begin to conquer the clutter of accumulated paper, and ideas that can be used in discrete time increments. Of all the clutter / office organization books I've read, his are the only ones that actually make me eager to get to work.

Two reasons I gave this book four stars rather than five, are (1) because of Aslett's gratuitous name-dropping & boasting (when my coimpany was cleaning AT&T, when I was consulting with the top executives of IBM, when I was making one of my many TV appearances with Regis & Kahie Lee . . . ); and (2) because Aslett seems to consider himself an expert on all things rather than sticking to what he knows best. Of course, I've read most of his books, and there is some redundancy, as if they're just regurgitations of former material. If you haven't read his other books, you might not have this perception. Nonetheless, every time I read one of his books I can manage to throw out several boxes of stuff, and after reading this, my office at work no longer has any hidden stacks of papers waiting to be dealt with.

Offices and Classrooms 2003-01-28
I don't work in an office. I work in a classroom. However, I found that much of what is said in this book applies to me.

I teach science, and have worked in 2 different schools where I inherited the previous teacher's mess. In the first one, I applied many of Aslett's principles without even realizing it. There was so much junk that I couldn't even work. I did almost no labs my first year because I couldn't find anything!

At my new school, started by organizing. Recently, I read this book and was inspired. I went through my storage area and threw out every broken piece of equipment. I also snuck out a few pieces of equipment that I knew I would never use.

It has been a wonderful feeling. I now have room to have a sort of "office" in my storage room. I can find equipment quickly, making me more likely to do labs, and I have created room for the equipment I plan to order that I will use.

I see no obvious connection, but I now get my work done a lot faster. I write a lot of my own material. Before I did my decluttering I was working until midnight or later. Now I'm going home for supper, and coming back and working only a few more hours.

His book is not so big on specifics. That is why I did not give it a fifth star. A few more specific ideas on organizing papers and the clutter I'm required to have would have helped. Overall, however, he covers the general principles of clutter removal and organization, he is inspiring, and, most important, this book is a help.

Honestly, this book made me a better teacher!

This book decluttered my mind 2002-04-07
Keeping the office clutter-free has never been so much fun!

Millionaire cleaning entrepreneur Don Aslett combines his organizing know-how and his business savvy in this new masterful second edition of The Office Clutter Cure. Clutter not only hinders work, it holds back careers! But with America's #1 dejunker Don Aslett by their side, readers learn how to declutter their offices-and reap the rewards of an organized work life.

By taking charge of their work space, readers also rev up their reputations, boost their productivity, and enhance their creativity-not to mention win the admiration of the boss. With The Office Clutter Cure, 2nd Edition as their guide, readers will revitalize their careers, becoming the stars of the office and the envy of their colleagues.

Good for small offices 2000-07-29
I received an autographed copy of this book from Don Aslett a couple years ago after writing to him in praise of his "Clutter" series of books. So huzzah to Don! :-) I found this book, like his others, to be entertaining and eye opening. The only reason for four stars is that it seems geared toward a smaller office, where the decision to pitch files and streamline may be handled a little more easily. I think more space might have been devoted to how to deal with "bureaucratic" offices such as mine, where useless stuff must be "archived" with the okay of the higher ups. So much stuff I would love to pitch in the trash can, but can't, due to red tape. So someone who has full control of what stays, what goes, might glean more useful advise from this. I particularly enjoyed his office "types" list...Homefront Hannah, etc. I think everyone can identify with these.

This book got me a big raise!!! 1998-09-25
After Don Aslett's books, 'Clutter's Last Stand" and "Not for Packrats Only" changed my life at home, I decided to buy this book to see if it could help me at the office. Although I often worked overtime, it took forever to get anything done. I had no time for lunch so I was always tired. Filing cabinets full of old folders, a desk cluttered with reams of paper, family pictures, inkless pens, an outdated computer, a floor crowded with boxes of ancient files and boxes of supplies hindered me every time I tried to start a project, interview a client, or take a phone message. After spending a whole afternoon looking for an important document, I was so stressed that I thought of quitting. Fortunately, I went home and read Don's book instead. What a revelation! I thought that maybe this book would help me learn how to organize all that stuff. Instead, Don offered a more common sense approach. He suggested that if I got rid of most of it, the rest of the stuff would almost organize itself. With that in mind, I spent a whole weekend shoveling and bailing myself out of a 13 year accumulation of stuff. As I worked, I referred to Don's book. With subtle humor and gentle compassion for the average office clutterer, Don guided me with suggestions and techniques for "finding the gold" and getting rid of the rest. On Monday morning, I sat down in my clean and organized office and started on my first task. By noon, I had accomplished so much, that I was able to take an hour for lunch with my friends. By the end of the day, all my tasks were completed - and it had all seemed so easy! My boss started to notice that I was getting things done and began giving me more and better tasks. Since I no longer needed to work overtime, my stress-level decreased and I had lots of energy. After a few months of being dejunked and organized, I received a nice commendation - AND A BIG RAISE- with time to enjoy spending the money. Everyone thinks that I'm working harder - but I'm just working smarter. I also cleaned and organized my nine-year old son's "office" at home. He doesn't complain as much about his homework and is bringing home great report cards.

It's great to be in control again of my office, my home, my life. Everything seems so sunny and rosy now. In Don's book, as well as in my book, the simple (dejunked) life is the better life. Don, keep on writing, and I'll keep on buying your books. Thanks for everything.