A Perfect Mess
by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman; read by David H. Freeman
Published by Hachette Audio
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Reviewed by Jamie Driggers
In a perfect world we would all be organized. Our workspaces would be clean, we would use the one-touch method to sort, and there would be no clutter. Or would there? Without disorder, there would also be no penicillin, and Einstein potentially wouldn't be known.
In A Perfect Mess the authors delve into mess, what makes it, and how it isn't always a catastrophe for there to be a little disorder in our lives. For example, did you know that the chemicals we use to keep our homes "sanitary" are often more likely to cause respiratory problems in our children than the germs we are trying to eradicate? However, this isn't only a book about why we don't have to clean (because sometimes disorder can become downright dangerous), it is an in-depth look at many of the successes of our, and previous, generations that are due in large part to thinking outside of the orderly method to which we have become accustomed.
I highly recommend this audio book, whether you are a businessperson trying to maintain the clean-desk policy, or a homemaker beating yourself up over the clutter in the kitchen, or even possibly a teen who wants to self-express.
Well-read by one of the authors, the audio is of excellent quality with no distracting sound variation. It is always fun to hear the emphasis that an author puts in as well. As I have also read the book, I noticed no problem in the abridgement. The message is still fascinating.
Armchair Interviews says: A Perfect Mess is a wonderful look into "the hidden benefits of disorder."