St
uff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee
Reviewed by: Carey Gibbons, Reference Assistant
Genre: Non-fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Stuff takes an in depth look at hoarding in many of its forms. The authors interview and profile many different people over the course of this book and examine their relationships to the things they collect. Some people obsess over the information in newspapers and magazines. Other people feel the need to keep anything they come into contact with or possess, including garbage. Other people feel the need to collect living animals. Frost and Steketee deconstruct all of these behaviors, examining the unique relationships people have to the things they own, interspersed with historical accounts of hoarding and collecting.
My Review: I mostly read this book out of curiosity. As someone who likes a minimal amount of stuff, I was curious about the need some people have to pack their homes and their lives with literal baggage. I thought that this was a wonderfully insightful and compassionate look at hoarders. Frost and Steketee do a great job of explaining hoarding behavior and the potential reasons behind it. They do an excellent job of giving their interviewees/patients a voice without being judgmental. It’s important for potential readers to bear in mind that this is a history and analysis and not a self-help book. But weather you are a hoarder, know a hoarder, or are simply curious, this is a great look at a sub-section of human nature.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!