The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Apr 13, 2016 Graceann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: advice

I can honestly say that I learned things from this book that have already changed my life. In my hallway are five large boxes full of books and clothing, waiting to be collected by a local charity shop. It's just the tip of the iceberg.

The reason I give the book four stars is that, for the first 40 pages or so, Miss Kondo repeats the initial message several times. In essence, "if you use my system, it will be great..." You've already got me, Marie - I've bought your book and I'm ready to get do I can honestly say that I learned things from this book that have already changed my life. In my hallway are five large boxes full of books and clothing, waiting to be collected by a local charity shop. It's just the tip of the iceberg.

The reason I give the book four stars is that, for the first 40 pages or so, Miss Kondo repeats the initial message several times. In essence, "if you use my system, it will be great..." You've already got me, Marie - I've bought your book and I'm ready to get down to brass tacks. Let's go!

Once we got into the actual nitty gritty of tidying, and I could see what her philosophy was, it all made such good sense to me. Yes, there's a lot of Kumbaya, new-agey, your socks have feelings kind of language, but the message, at its heart, is very intelligent and relatable. If you hold an item in your hand and it doesn't spark joy in your heart, why is it in your home?

I have a house bursting full of material possessions. Mixed in are items that spark joy, but I can't get to them because they're buried by the items that don't. Yes, there are things that don't spark joy in the conventional manner, such as my painkillers or my walking stick, but they spark joy in the service they provide in easing my pain and in helping me walk. No item all by itself is intrinsically "joyous," but the job it does can be.

Kondo insists that you touch each possession - that you hold it in your hand and ask yourself whether you feel that special spark. When I looked at my many hundreds of books, my heart sank. But I did it. And, I hate to admit it, but it worked. When I thought about how I felt with so many of my unread books, the honest answers were "obligated" (because someone insisted I read it and I didn't really want to), "uninterested," and, sometimes, "confused" (because I couldn't remember why I wanted it in the first place. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there were some books that were such living parts of my soul that they seemed to have their own light source. It turned out to be a very easy, rewarding and eye-opening experience.

I won't be following all of Marie Kondo's advice. I can't see myself emptying my handbag every time I come home, and I doubt there will ever be a time when all the books I own will take up only half of a tiny shelf. Furthermore, I can tell you now that I won't ever be drying my dishes out on our patio. Finally, it seems that everything to be gotten rid of by her just seems to be thrown out in the garbage, and I simply CANNOT do that. The items I'm parting with may have finished their time with me, but that doesn't mean that they won't be useful for someone else and I abhor waste.

There is a LOT of value to me here, however. I am much more conscious of how much I love my home and how I can honor the space by treating it with respect (i.e., not overcrowding it with superfluous junk). I'm also paying very close attention to how I feel about various items when I use them, or when I stumble upon them while trying to get to the things I actually need. Marie Kondo has given me a new way to look at those items and the help I needed to part with the ones that leave me joyless, without guilt, and with gratitude for the freeing feeling and, yes, "joy," that they have brought to my life - and just as is true of people, some items bring me joy by being here, and some bring me joy by going away. ...more

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Apr 22, 2015 Beth Given rated it liked it

Shelves: audio

A few really great principles in this book, like:

- the secret to keeping things tidy is decluttering. So many of us have way too much stuff. (She is Japanese, so I can't imagine what she'd make of my very overstuffed American closets and garage ...) Even if we "might need it someday," most of the time we can just buy it when we need it instead of wasting time trying to find it (if we even remember about it!).

- when decluttering, handle each item and ask yourself, "does this give me joy?" If it d A few really great principles in this book, like:

- the secret to keeping things tidy is decluttering. So many of us have way too much stuff. (She is Japanese, so I can't imagine what she'd make of my very overstuffed American closets and garage ...) Even if we "might need it someday," most of the time we can just buy it when we need it instead of wasting time trying to find it (if we even remember about it!).

- when decluttering, handle each item and ask yourself, "does this give me joy?" If it doesn't, get rid of it. Life is meant to be spent surrounded by things we love, not things we put up with. I love this approach so much more than the "have you used this in a year?" rule.

- recognize the purpose of an item, and that the purpose might already be fulfilled (and thus, you are free to get rid of it without guilt). For example: the purpose of a sweater you never wear was to give you the thrill you felt when you bought it, or teach you that you don't look good in a particular color, or whatever. Instead of feeling guilty about getting rid of it, be grateful for what you have learned from it, or the experience (however brief) you had with it.

- choose things to keep, not things to get rid of. This approach to decluttering helps in surrounding us with joy.

What I didn't like: the all-or-nothing approach; there are some pretty dire warnings about how, if we don't follow her method, we will just rebound. Additionally, I had a hard time trying to imagine how I'd implement that "tidy once and for all" technique in a household with four little kids and a husband who haven't read this book. I guess I will probably just have to accept that I will be one of the ones who rebound! Still, the principles I mentioned are good ones to have and to teach to my family, even if I can't imagine myself adopting such a thoroughly minimalistic lifestyle.

One more bonus point for this book: it's a quick read! (Glad Kondo practiced what she preached and kept out unnecessary clutter in her text!) ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Phaedra rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I'm almost scared to review this book: people are rabid on both sides of the equation.

Listen, it's an organizing book. There are thousands of books on organizing out there. If caressing and communing with your belongings to make sure they do in fact belong is your jam, go for it. If not, read one of the other gazillion organization books by another charming guru.

I lack the mysticism necessary to jive with this method, and found Kondo a little too earnest for my taste. YMMV. ...more

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Jun 07, 2016 Debbie rated it really liked it

While some of the ideas are a little out of step with American culture, there are many great tips for decluttering and freeing your life from the burden of too many possessions. I enjoyed reading it and will apply the strategies that fit my life (and probably won't start emptying my purse every day). I'll also pass this book along to someone else to help them get organized! ...more

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Mar 23, 2016 Sam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It's a good books, a fun method though not for everybody. I am having some regret over throwing some things away. ...more

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Mar 14, 2016 Jane rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

stopped only because I had so many other books to read for book clubs and school.

You should see my clothes drawers. Things of beauty. Really. Time to dump everything out of my closet and see what I need to let go. Imagine my shirts and sweaters and blouses with wings, flying out of my windows.

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May 23, 2015 Anastasia rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, sustainableliving, 2015

This is one approach, among many, to decluttering (I think tidying is a poor translation). The author is young, lacks a lot of life experience, and often writes utter nonsense... but there are some good ideas here, too.

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Jul 22, 2015 Celeste rated it liked it

This book has interesting ideas, but it doesn't have all the answers. Obviously the writer doesn't organize houses with kids and sometimes it was cheesy, but I liked the overall idea. ...more

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