Scan barcode
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
A gentle but informative read about minimalism and how to maintain order in one's lifestyle. Cary and Kyle place themselves within the minimalist space by offering insights from other minimalist-esque organizers such as Marie Kondo while also bringing something new to the table. They offer four archetypes and descriptions for these archetypes that explain what this particular category might succeed in organizing and minimizing and what they might struggle with.
Alongside gorgeous photographs of clean and serene-looking spaces, this book is both informative and beautiful. However, these pictures are not one-size-fits all. Cary and Kyle argue that you should define what you want your space to feel like (serene, relaxed, comfortable, warm, etc.) and ask readers to play around with thesauri and synonyms. The more particularly you can define what you want your space to be, the easier it will be to see if your possessions match up. And the easier it'll be to invite new belongings into your space.
They also ask us to reconsider our current definitions for words such as "full". If you have difficulty closing your kitchen cabinets, it's perhaps because that space is not full but overfull. What does full look like when you prioritize the care of your items and ease of access? They ask us, further still, to consider minimalist trends and understanding the feelings a more minimal space can give us. Is it worth it to whittle your belongings down to 100 items or is it simply enough to know that everything you own, you love (or it fulfills its purpose--nobody is exactly in love with their phone charger wire) and has its place?
Definitely a great book to read for the burgeoning minimalist.
Alongside gorgeous photographs of clean and serene-looking spaces, this book is both informative and beautiful. However, these pictures are not one-size-fits all. Cary and Kyle argue that you should define what you want your space to feel like (serene, relaxed, comfortable, warm, etc.) and ask readers to play around with thesauri and synonyms. The more particularly you can define what you want your space to be, the easier it will be to see if your possessions match up. And the easier it'll be to invite new belongings into your space.
They also ask us to reconsider our current definitions for words such as "full". If you have difficulty closing your kitchen cabinets, it's perhaps because that space is not full but overfull. What does full look like when you prioritize the care of your items and ease of access? They ask us, further still, to consider minimalist trends and understanding the feelings a more minimal space can give us. Is it worth it to whittle your belongings down to 100 items or is it simply enough to know that everything you own, you love (or it fulfills its purpose--nobody is exactly in love with their phone charger wire) and has its place?
Definitely a great book to read for the burgeoning minimalist.
labyrinth_witch's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Most of all the archetypes of how you relate to your material objects. I discovered I’m a cross between energetic (scattered) and frugal (can’t let go of things that cost money). And it helped me understand why I can clear out certain rooms without blinking an eye and other rooms paralyze me with indecision. I also really enjoy the furthered discussion of decluttering by category. I’ve always done it by room, but I do see the logic of decluttering by category. This will be my spring project. While I had hoped for a little more substance from the design principles, it was an interesting discussion of what “full” means and space. Overall a helpful read.
ellie_outdoors's review
3.0
A decent two hour read. Nothing revolutionary, but visually it was an attractive collection.
niniane's review against another edition
4.0
Four archetypal reasons why people resist getting rid of old belongings:
- Emotional memories
- Could MacGyver it someday
- Energetic mid-project
- Frugal view of its monetary value
The book point out that people are paying the hidden cost of being annoyed by the clutter.
Using overflow spaces (under the bed, in a high shelf) actually mean the item is out of sight and we will probably never use that item. If we ever needed it, we might spend hours searching for it.
Identify your 5 favorite pieces of clothing. Use this as a reference for how all the rest of your clothing should make you feel. Ditto with 5 pieces of furniture.
A drawer is full when all of its contents can be easily seen and taken out. There might be lots of empty space still in the drawer.
I like this book, though its middle section is a rehash of Marie Kondo (gathering all items, seeing what sparks joy).
- Emotional memories
- Could MacGyver it someday
- Energetic mid-project
- Frugal view of its monetary value
The book point out that people are paying the hidden cost of being annoyed by the clutter.
Using overflow spaces (under the bed, in a high shelf) actually mean the item is out of sight and we will probably never use that item. If we ever needed it, we might spend hours searching for it.
Identify your 5 favorite pieces of clothing. Use this as a reference for how all the rest of your clothing should make you feel. Ditto with 5 pieces of furniture.
A drawer is full when all of its contents can be easily seen and taken out. There might be lots of empty space still in the drawer.
I like this book, though its middle section is a rehash of Marie Kondo (gathering all items, seeing what sparks joy).
justiceofkalr's review
3.0
Overall a pretty decent decluttering book. I found their types of people interesting and what each type should be aware of. There were also a fair number of tips and tricks throughout that I took note of. They occasionally ran a little too crunchy PNW though, particularly when they started talking about composting and only using natural products. I'm all for being eco-friendly and green but they were just a step beyond for me sometimes. Also, some of those options just aren't very viable in other areas.
megan_prairierose's review
4.0
A more gentle and balanced approach to minimalism that was right up my alley.
lauren131's review
3.0
There wasn’t anything “new” about the minimalist concepts in this books, but they were presented well.