My favorite books about organizing everything in your life

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm the founder of Life Organized Inc, a firm specializing in the organization of people, their lives, and physical spaces. Known for creating solutions that are as aesthetically appealing as they are practical, I transform spaces from the inside out. My areas of expertise include home and office organization, time management, digital decluttering, organizing for academic success, maximizing productivity while working from home, and management of everyday chaos. I'm a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the NYU Stern School of Business.


I wrote...

Secrets of an Organized Mom

By Barbara Reich,

Book cover of Secrets of an Organized Mom

What is my book about?

My book offers a life-changing approach to decluttering and streamlining your home so you and your family can live a simpler, less chaotic life.

Room by room, I address the most problematic areas in the home—from the tornado-struck play area to the packed basement—and tackle organizing in manageable bites. In addition to organizing tips, I address how to avoid social overload, preaching the power of “No”—for example, when your child wants to attend multiple birthday parties in one weekend. As the mother of twins, I have first-hand insight into the lives of crazed moms. Combining the humor of a sympathetic friend and the no-nonsense advice of a true type-A personality, I offer clever, appealing solutions that are genuinely achievable for everyone.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids

Barbara Reich Why did I love this book?

Not only is Jancee Dunn wickedly funny, but her real world, practical advice, collected by experts (including my tips in a chapter about organizing your home), will resonate with new and not-so-new mothers everywhere. 

Although my children are now young adults, I remember the white-hot fury Jancee describes about why and how I became an expert on everything, from changing diapers, to scheduling carpools, to filling out the 42 pages of forms required for a teen trip to Australia, even though I worked more hours than my husband. I particularly enjoyed the chapter with advice from an FBI hostage negotiator. Who knew that simply paraphrasing your spouse’s words could work such wonders in diffusing a marital spat?

By Jancee Dunn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Clever, honest and hilarious . . . her book should become a baby shower classic.' Publishers Weekly

'Funny, honest and helpful.' Grazia

'Loads of useful, achievable advice.' The Pool

How did I become the 'expert' at changing a nappy? Jancee Dunn wondered.

This, combined with a lack of sleep, a suddenly unfair division of household chores and her husband's new found passion for very long bike rides, meant that Jancee found it hard to look at her well-meaning, clever, funny husband playing with his iPhone without feeling a white-hot rage.

Like many expectant parents, they'd spent weeks researching the safest…


Book cover of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Barbara Reich Why did I love this book?

In our world of 24/7 connectivity and overly busy lives, Greg McKeown provides the key to happiness and success; decide what you want to achieve (i.e., what’s essential to you), and then focus all of your energy on that while tuning out other distractions. As someone who tries to “do it all,” this book helped me understand how to be strategic in how I spend my time.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt stretched too thin, who has said yes when wanting to say no, or who has felt the frustration of having precious time dedicated to someone else’s agenda.

By Greg McKeown,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Essentialism as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The life-changing international bestseller that started a global movement - now updated with the new 21-Day Essentialism Challenge and an exclusive excerpt from EFFORTLESS

Have you ever found yourself struggling with information overload?

Have you ever felt both overworked and underutilised?

Do you ever feel busy but not productive?

If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is to become an Essentialist.

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown, CEO of a Leadership and Strategy agency in Silicon Valley who has run courses at Apple, Google and Facebook, shows you how to achieve what he calls the disciplined pursuit of…


Book cover of How to Be a Financial Grownup: Proven Advice from High Achievers on How to Live Your Dreams and Have Financial Freedom

Barbara Reich Why did I love this book?

Organizing finances is a critical life skill that many people ignore—until it’s too late. In Financial Grownup, Bobbie Rebell shares the stories of business leaders and the lessons they learned about financial planning. Each chapter offers specific advice and action items that the reader can and should implement.

By Bobbi Rebell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Be a Financial Grownup as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bobbi Rebell, award-winning TV anchor and personal finance columnist at Thomson Reuters, taps into her exclusive network of business leaders to share with you stories of the financial lessons they learned early in their lives that helped them become successful. She then uses these stories as jumping off points to offer specific, actionable advice on how you can become a financial grownup just like them.

Financial role models such as Author Tony Robbins, Entrepreneur Ivanka Trump, Shark Tank's Kevin O’Leary, Mad Money's Jim Cramer, Designer Cynthia Rowley, Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren, Zillow's CEO Spencer Rascoff, PwC's CEO Bob Moritz, and…


Book cover of Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life--With 100 Recipes

Barbara Reich Why did I love this book?

People who live with clutter and disorganization are far more likely to struggle with weight issues than those who keep their homes orderly. In my years of organizing kitchens and pantries, I’ve seen that buying healthy food is only a small part of healthy eating; organization of that food and meal planning are equally important. In Fridge Love, Kirsten Hong not only shares how to organize your refrigerator so healthy foods are easily accessible, but also shares recipes and meal planning tips.

By Kristen Hong,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fridge Love as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A one-of-a-kind guide to organizing your fridge-including practical tips for meal prep and storage, plus more than 100 recipes-that makes it easier to eat better, save money, and get the most out of your food

Practicing "fridge love" is a roadmap to eating healthier, saving money, and reducing food waste while enjoying a beautiful and harder-working fridge. This book-part organizational guide and part food-prep handbook-is your guide. Author Kristen Hong adopted a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet in an effort to lose weight and improve her health. But amidst the demands of day-to-day life and a busy family, she found it impossible…


Book cover of The Art of Clean Up: Life Made Neat and Tidy

Barbara Reich Why did I love this book?

Swiss artist Ursus Wehrli reorganizes what he sees through humorous photos that categorize everyday objects by color, size, and shape. The letters in alphabet soup are arranged alphabetically, the cars in a parking lot are organized by color, and a fruit salad is separated into its individual fruits. The colorful before and after photos are fun for all ages.

By Ursus Wehrli,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Clean Up as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Swiss comedian and cabaret artist Ursus Wehrli loves organisation in the extreme. In The Art of Clean Up, Wehrli arranges a bowl of alphabet soup, a group of pool-goers, a spruce branch and other elements of our chaotic world into neat rows sorted by colour, size, shape or type.


You might also like...

Split Decision

By David Perlmutter,

Book cover of Split Decision

David Perlmutter Author Of The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializing in media history and speculative fiction. I have been enchanted by animation since childhood and followed many series avidly through adulthood. My viewing inspired my MA thesis on the history of animation, out of which grew two books on the history and theory of animation on television, America 'Toons In: A History of Television Animation (available from McFarland and Co.) and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows (available from Rowman and Littlefield). Hopefully, others will follow.

David's book list on understanding the history of animation

What is my book about?

Jefferson Ball, the mightiest female dog in a universe of the same, is, despite her anti-heroic behavior, intent on keeping her legacy as an athlete and adventurer intact. So, when female teenage robot Jody Ryder inadvertently angers her by smashing her high school records, Jefferson is intent on proving her superiority by outmuscling the robot in a not-so-fair fight. Not wanting to seem like a coward, and eager to end her enemy's trash talking, Jody agrees.

However, they have been lured to fight each other by circumstances beyond their control. Which are intent on destroying them if they don't destroy each other in combat first...

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in order and clutter, romantic love, and decision making?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about order and clutter, romantic love, and decision making.

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