Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?

February 4, 2008
"Organizational consultant" and bestselling author Walsh (It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff) brings his less-is-more philosophy to weight loss in a guide that, ironically, proves bloated with unnecessary anecdotes and repetition. Most of Walsh's tried-and-true advice boils down to simple thoughtfulness, embodied in familiar exercises such as re-organizing your kitchen and pantry, making realistic meal plans you can stick to and "being present in the moment" while eating. Frequently admitting that he's no nutritionist, Walsh succeeds more as a cheerleader and coach; the book is overstuffed with anecdotes and accolades from fans who ostensibly encouraged Walsh to bring his clutter-cutting approach to the waistbands of America. Would-be dieters looking for a place to start will likely benefit from Walsh's straightforward style and the many worksheets and quizzes included, but those serious about making long-lasting dietary and lifestyle changes would probably be better served by an author with some degree of expertise in health and nutrition.

Well known for his de-cluttering skills on TV's "Clean Sweep," Peter Walsh describes how the physical environment in which we prepare and eat food influences what we eat and how we eat it. A cluttered home and kitchen are like stressful background noise, nagging us and making us feel insufficient, needy, out of control, hungry. This and other Zen-like principles are illustrated with vivid examples and answers to questions from his media audience. The enjoyable Australian author/narrator has a leisurely speaking cadence--a deliberate slowness that suggests he is serious about every sentence and concept. This pacing, and the casual way the program's content is delivered, makes engagement with its intentions build slowly but assuredly. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine