Review: The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul by Dave Bruno

Title: The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul
Author: Dave Bruno
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: December 15, 2010
Edition: Kindle (227 pages)
Categories:

• Nonfiction
• Autobiography
• Memoir
• Self Help

The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul by Dave Bruno

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In November, 2008, the author, Dave Bruno began a year of living with 100 or less personal items. He details his experience in this book. He also provides practical advice to those who may wish to do the same.

I found this book interesting for sever reasons. I've always been highly organized, so one would think I have no clutter. Wrong. I have it all right. It's just hidden behind my closet doors and dresser drawers. I am decluttering--sometimes quickly, and sometimes more slowly. As part of this process, I've been reading books on the subject, and am finding that I can and want to live with less. This book helped me to see that the 100 Thing Challenge wouldn't be a perfect fit for me--but I don't need a magic number. The whole idea is to take what works for you and discard what doesn't. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The third reason I found this book appealing is that it illustrates the consumerism promoted by advertisers--the idea that if we have more or buy more, we'll be happier. This book made me see how gradually this creeps into the mind set.

I have always felt pressured by stuff and things--mostly because I have things of value that my mom treasured. These are things I do not use--but they have esthetic appeal. Yet, they're work to maintain, and as I get older, I do not want to spend my time doing this. As I declutter my life, I am finding peace and contentment in less. I believe this will only increase as my journey continues. I find each book of this type to be helpful in a different way.