The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1) by Marie Kondo, translated by Cathy Hirano
- Publisher: Ten Speed Press, 2014
- Genre: Self-Help Book
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 224 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
If you need affirmation for getting rid of stuff without feeling too much guilt, then Marie Kondo’s book is probably pretty helpful. I think I understand how her ‘talking to inanimate things’ seemed crazy to a lot of people, but as a fellow Asian, it is actually quite understandable, though of course, it is still a little bit weird.
The main theme is her selection criterion for whether or not get rid of things. It is really intuitive: does it spark joy? If this sounds vague, then it is probably time to ditch whatever the thing you are trying to decide the fate of.
Marie also tackles the problem of people being unable to throw away presents from loved ones or feeling guilt when throwing away read books.
The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not ‘things’ but a means for conveying someone’s feelings.
You read books for the experience of reading. Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don’t remember.
While I may not agree with Marie on every occasion, many of her ideas were still either reassuring or helpful.
Overall, this book is good for change of mindset and pursuing a simpler life. I have been appreciative of minimalism, and this book is a very good start for those who are interested in decluttering life. [20 Jun 2018]
