More Than Pretty Boxes

In this book, Lane tackles the study of organization and decluttering to understand the impacts they have on society. She looks at the professional organizing industry, which has exploded in recent years with various shows and podcasts. Through interviews with organizers and observations of real-life organization sessions, Lane traces the industry’s history to offer strategies to help people get their lives in order. She also offers a deeper analysis of the overwhelming demands of work and tackles larger themes of overconsumption, emotional connection to stuff, and gender roles. More Than Pretty Boxes (University of Chicago Press) helps readers better understand the problem while providing ways to manage mess and clutter in their own lives.