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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > February > 25 > Entry
Throw Out Fifty Things…
Most of us our tightening our belts. Spending less. Saving more. Living more frugally. Reducing our greenback imprint.
Or, at least we should be. Hard times are coming. Did you hear President Obama’s speech last night? He’s trying to rally the troops (that would be us). Circle the wagons. Identify the culprits. Look for solutions.
A new book ties into our new vision of ourselves as consumers; Throw Out Fifty Things — Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life (Springboard) by Gail Blanke will be published on March 20.
Gail Blanke offers solutions in her book for what she refers to as “life plaque”, the crap that we have allowed to build up in our lives.
It’s not just stuff. Here are some examples:
You know that junk drawer? What’s in it? Lots of junk that we don’t use or need, old receipts, dead batteries, half empty containers of worthless products. Pitch’em!
Do you have old regrets? We all do. Get rid of ‘em! Nobody’s perfect, right? Blanke suggests that we stop wasting our time and energy rehashing past failures, mistakes, all those coulda beens, and begin living in today.
She wants us to start assessing our physical spaces, our bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, attics, and garages and start pitching that junk, or giving it to someone who will actually use it. You know, all that clutter, physical and mental has simply got to go.
I have something that I want to get rid of; an extra copy of this book. I want to give it to one of you, my readers.
Here’s how you can get it: leave a comment. Tell me what you are ready to throw out. It can be an object, an idea, a regret, a feeling, a person. You name it.
Comment as many times as you like. Enter this contest as often as you want. Multiple entries are welcome.
What do you want to throw out? Oh, and if you start on politicians that list could be endless. On the publication date, March 20, I will choose the comment that I like the best and that commenter will get the book sent to them in the mail.
I wanna hear from you…
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: clearing the cobwebs
Comments
By vick
March 2, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
Publishers won’t want to hear that but I think that’s fabulous. I love turning people on to books. We always have the option of buying new or used or checking them out of their local library. Publishers prefer that everybody buy all new books. Hard times dictate recycling those older titles.By time
March 2, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this
I know I sound the heretic, but I recycle books! The look on a fellow student’s face when I gave away my college imperialism library was priceless! Sometimes I even hope I will see my favorite reviewer noting one of my shared books. Libraries seem to enjoy my largess as well, it’s like they know who needs them more than I. I know there is that need to accumulate and refer to them, but my mother’s struggles with her collection still remind me of the joy of sharing.By beastmomma
February 26, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this
I thought of something else: I would like get rid of my fear of failing law school classes, not getting a job I love, and hating living in MA!By vick
February 26, 2009 8:22 PM | Link to this
Mark from St. Paul…I give away a lot of stuff as you know. When I see my old friends (some of them are in their 80s now) I always try to give them a hard time. I saw my buddy Bill the other day in the grocery. He’s nigh unto 90 years old. He started whining about how hard it is to get old. I said, yeah Bill, I know what you mean. It is HARD.By Mark from St Paul
February 26, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
Note that Vick is GIVING AWAY his extra copy of this book. Vick NEVER throws away anything and is known to his old friends as MR. PACKRAT!By Gail Blanke
February 26, 2009 5:09 PM | Link to this
Vic, thanks so much for reviewing my book. I loved your comments. I’d be deligted to provide the “winner” of your contest a free hour of phone coaching! Btw, Mary makes a good point. The Resource Guide in the book provides a lot of good information for re-cycling just about everything. Our aim is never to add one single thing to a landfill. Again, thanks for your kind words. This is definitely the time for all of us to let go of the past - so we can grab hold of the future. All the best, GailBy Gail Blanke
February 26, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this
Vick, thanks so much for reviewing my book!I loved your comments and can’t wait to find out who the “winner” of your contest is. Maybe they would like a hour of free coaching. Btw, I understand Mary’s concerns about the environment. That’s why there’s a distinctly “green” attitude about “Throw Out Fifty Things.” As you’ll see in our Resource Guide, there are re-cycling opportunities for just about everything.Iknow that none of us wants to add one more thing to a landfill! But it’s time to let go of the past so you can grab hold of the future. The fact is, you can’t grow if you don’t let go! So I hope all your readers get crackin’! All the best, GailBy beastmomma
February 26, 2009 2:46 AM | Link to this
Yes, you do hear wedding bells Vick. These days the bells are giving me a headache :)By vick
February 25, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this
Some good points, Mary. I’m familiar with the book A PERFECT MESS. I reviewed it here for the DDN when it came out.By Mary
February 25, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this
I resent the simply throw it out mentality -so irresponsible when you read about all our toxic dumps and waste. I sell some of my clutter on eBay. We need to establish better cradle to grave handling of our consumerism including cutting back and better recycling programs for things like batteries, mercury-containing light bulbs, and plastic bags. (I try to reuse bags, carry a reusable bag, and as a last resort, recycle them which is very inconvenient.) These are the types of issues government should be working before building ballparks, hockey arenas and concert halls. A good book that puts decluttering into perspective is “A perfect mess- the hidden benefits of disorder”. Know of any good books on anti-consumerism? It is appalling to me so much of our economy depends on people buying junk they do not need and now our government wants us to go out and do just that to stimulate our economy. There has to be a better way for society to operate.By Irishguy
February 25, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this
I’ve got a couple of junk drawers to clear out. My employeer has decided I’m one of 50 things to be thrown out, my division is being eliminated. So I may have more free time to pester you in the near future Vick. I’m sure you consider my polictical beliefs to be mental clutter in need of throwing out ;-)By vick
February 25, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
Excellent stuff, Beastmomma. Do I hear wedding bells?By beastmomma
February 25, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
On a more abstract level, I would like to get rid of self-doubt, insecurity, and fear about what the future will bring.By beastmomma
February 25, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this
Right now, I am in the process of purging my belongings so that I can move onto the next phase of my life. In a poetic manner, I am trying to get rid of the old papers which document my past so that I can get ready for my future.