William C. Strubbe

Hoarding, Collecting, Pack-rats - These very human anomalies are exposed and explained in this entertaining, yet scholarly narrative by William Strubbe and Janice Strubbe Wittenberg. The authors take the reader into a world where having more stuff is the focal point of a persons life, ambitions, and desires - A world of troubled souls - seeking solace in the never-achievable goal of having it all. Showcasing extreme cases, we are shown how apparently normal persons of high intellect, and social norms spiral downward into an abyss of their making. We are shown some of the causes postulated as the root of this malady, brain dysfunction in specific areas, biochemical imbalances, behavioral reinforcement, among others. The authors also show how recovery is possible, yet often ephemeral in nature and also show us how sometimes the hoarder pays an ultimate price for entombing themselves in their own "stuff". This book is an easy read, well written, and almost conversational. It flows so well that I could not put it down while I flipped to the next chapter seeking the next narrative. As a final note - you may (as I did) examine the inner you - "Am I a candidate for this malady?". I can't answer that now - I'm packing up a box of old stuff I saved - to donate to my local charity.… (mer)