The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Ratings430
Average rating3.6
This book made some interesting points. I don't feel her technique is right for my home or my life right now, but I am incorporating some of her ideas into my homemaking.
The author's realistic sound and advice make it seem as if you are just having a conversation. She offers guidance, rebuttals, and then backs it up with experience. This is a quick read, and offers an honest approach to wrestling our lives back from our stuff.
Since starting this book I have finally managed to part with my graffiti laden secondary school polo shirt, which I last wore in 2001, and university notes I've not looked at since writing them down in 2007.
Kondo's approach is methodical and indeed ruthless, and recommends starting with clothes. Why? - You may ask. Well to me this makes sense. She recommends starting here, as we're all prey to buying something new every season – in theory discarding something we didn't like or use so much from the previous season.
The way to figure out whether an item is worth keeping or not, is whether it “sparks joy” – these are her words, not mine. Again, this methodology makes sense. If you don't love an item, why are you keeping it? In theory if you apply this theory to every item you own, you end up with only the items you truly cherish, and you end up happier as a result.
By sorting your clothes, you then have the know-how to approach other items you may own, sorting and decluttering as a result.
The author's culture and her background do seep through in some aspects of the book, but in a way that appealed to me. Don't let this aspect of the book put you off though – take it with a pinch of salt, as the message behind it is well meant.
No amount of nagging from my mother, Feng Shui books or the approach of trying to sort out a corner of my bedroom at a time was going to get me to sort all of my stuff out – until now. So far unloved clothes have been donated, books have been given to the public library in town and I have felt “lighter” as a result.
Though I'm far from a clutter free life, I've certainly broken the camel's back with the KonMari method and if like myself, you've struggled with clutter for whatever reason, this may be the book you're looking for.
Thoroughly recommended.
I'm so excited to throw away all my stuff now!! This was super interesting and I can't stop talking about it now. There are a few things in here that are like, a little bit beyond? But overall, awesome and I think will be really good for me to put into practice.
(btw I should, I suppose, take a moment to acknowlege the privilege involved with her suggestions like “donate that thing you don't use very often and just buy another one if it turns out you want to use it more after it's gone”, but I think they are very applicable for my own lifestyle and for many middle-class consumers).
The advice in this book oscillates between sensible and psychotic, as in deranged. I am a big fan of keeping a tidy living space, but when I read this book, I heard the words in the voice of a Stepford wife. Which was very funny, in a way.
It was OK. There are a few gems in here - the takeaway being keep what you love and discard the rest.
These uncluttering books are great motivation to get things done. I especially appreciate this one, because it's targeting Japanese households which lack the space we tend to have here in the US. This helps with focus more on what you should keep and get rid of it. The main concept of this book is “Do you love it?”. If yet, keep it, if not, then don't buy it or get rid of it.
Interesting and inspiring. It makes me feel less crazy. I used to divide the silverware in the dishwasher so that each piece had a friend and that no one was in a compartment alone. I like the idea of treating your possessions with honor and respect. I would really like to employ the Konmarie methods and I'm going to give it a shot.
These uncluttering books are great motivation to get things done. I especially appreciate this one, because it's targeting Japanese households which lack the space we tend to have here in the US. This helps with focus more on what you should keep and get rid of it. The main concept of this book is “Do you love it?”. If yet, keep it, if not, then don't buy it or get rid of it.
A perfect accompaniment for my recent obsession with decluttering. Contrary to what most believe, decluttering is less about owning less and more about owning what really matters to you. As Kondo states repeatedly, keep only the things that give you joy and discard the rest regardless of how important it once was to you or even how important you think it may be sometime (codeword for never) in the future. Although she repeats herself a lot in the first few chapters, I think the subject demands that she do because unlearning what most of us consider normal behavior can take a little bashing in.
After stressing on the importance of discarding, Kondo spends the majority of the rest of her book by offering practical tips that let you discard more and often. Although she is at loss for words at times to explain her ways making her resort to spiritual reasons, her intentions are clear. As most Japanese, she anthropomorphizes inanimate objects but there is a method to her quirky obsessive methods. She even tackles the holy grail of book ownership that most bibliophiles put beyond debate.
Overall, it is an enlightening read and probably you may even chose to read it again to be inspired once more. I've definitely learned a lot and even implemented several of her techniques in addition to taking her advice to heart. My house is much more lighter now but definitely more airy and a pleasant space to be in.
The author's ridiculous advice is basically to “surround yourself with things you love”, but with a twist: hold each item you own and ask them (?!) if they bring you joy. Hmm.. No, thanks.
Interesting juxtapose between western decluttering conventions and the KonMari method. She recommends throwing out things that “doesn't spark joy”. I can't throw away a perfectly good item when it can be donated or sold. Slows down the process but reduces landfill. Having said that, I can't disagree with being conscious of what you own and keeping items that make you happy. She also assigns personalities to her items, treating them as though they had feelings. It's weird when you read it in a book teaching you how to do stuff, but I think most of us do it already.