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joanna_reinecke's review
4.0
Very simple book about decluttering and discarding items. There were a lot of valid suggestions, but most of them were common sense. Albeit, maybe the more I read the same things over and over again about organization, the more likely they will become ingrained into my brain. I liked that the book went over reasons why we hold onto clutter and why it's ok to let go. There was heavy emphasis on understanding the true value of the objects we hoard and why the value we project onto most of it is overkill.
This book is a tad dated and also more oriented toward Japanese culture, though several of the scenarios mentioned still hold true for modern day western culture.
This book is a tad dated and also more oriented toward Japanese culture, though several of the scenarios mentioned still hold true for modern day western culture.
lizendo's review
3.0
This book is dated but there are some still relevant messages. She advocates to not buy into all the guru storage methods because they don’t work if you’re not like the person who came up with it. There was also a bit about not trying to use techniques from foreign countries, which is ironic since this book inspired Marie Kondo’s.
The problems I had was that there was a large emphasis on paper discarding, which I think it becoming less relevant now that more is digital. She covers some concepts about recycling and thrift store donations, but she never gets past surface level explanations.
The problems I had was that there was a large emphasis on paper discarding, which I think it becoming less relevant now that more is digital. She covers some concepts about recycling and thrift store donations, but she never gets past surface level explanations.
trippalli's review
3.5
A good motivator and low of good information. Each topic has a bunch of specific examples. These are thought provoking vote after the first few chapters I started skimming these examples... Still a great read!
I recommend to anyone with lots of excuses or issues decluttering, the examples will help and hear logic to motivate and verify the benefits of decluttering and got to get through it
I recommend to anyone with lots of excuses or issues decluttering, the examples will help and hear logic to motivate and verify the benefits of decluttering and got to get through it
odin45mp's review
3.0
This is the foundation of Marie Kondo's KonMari method.
I liked the psychology that the author delved into around WHY people keep things, and why it is hard to talk themselves into getting rid of stuff. I felt ashamed more than once as she pinpointed why I struggle with tossing crap out of my life.
However as a straight up "clean house" book, the KonMari method detailed in Spark Joy is much more straightforward and gives concrete steps to declutter your life. I would recommend that over this if you're looking for a How To, but the psychology in this one makes for an educational read.
I liked the psychology that the author delved into around WHY people keep things, and why it is hard to talk themselves into getting rid of stuff. I felt ashamed more than once as she pinpointed why I struggle with tossing crap out of my life.
However as a straight up "clean house" book, the KonMari method detailed in Spark Joy is much more straightforward and gives concrete steps to declutter your life. I would recommend that over this if you're looking for a How To, but the psychology in this one makes for an educational read.
amotisse's review
3.0
I love the idea of having less stuff and being more organised. I know that some of us are better at it than others. I guess we all do what works for us and as long as it doesn’t impede on how we function on a daily basis, maybe it doesn’t matter how much stuff we have...
I possibly spend more time reading about how to have less stuff than actually physically doing anything about it! I’m not sure artists have been added to the equation. I keep/collect in able to (re)create but inevitably, the project pile increases. Do we need to worry about it so much? I’m not sure.
This book contains the same kind of useful information as similar titles with plenty of scenarios, perhaps a little repetitive. I’m feeling it’s all about develop good habits. Buying and acquiring less to start with. No quick fixes here, an ongoing project.
I possibly spend more time reading about how to have less stuff than actually physically doing anything about it! I’m not sure artists have been added to the equation. I keep/collect in able to (re)create but inevitably, the project pile increases. Do we need to worry about it so much? I’m not sure.
This book contains the same kind of useful information as similar titles with plenty of scenarios, perhaps a little repetitive. I’m feeling it’s all about develop good habits. Buying and acquiring less to start with. No quick fixes here, an ongoing project.
labyrinth_witch's review
3.0
It was interesting to read the book that inspired Marie Kondo and the subsequent konmari craze that has swept millennial culture. She offers some useful mindset for common mentalities such as “I’ll just keep it for now.” I like best get discussion of thinking of everything as trash first, of considering your purpose for an item and then discarding it once your purpose is fulfilled, of designating one spot for a category rather than letting it overflow into multiple places, and choosing one place where you will NOT put anything.
However, I found her examples a bit trite to read and much of her recommendations are repetitive. It’s not a big book- 166 pages- but it could have easily been half the size and communicated the same information.
However, I found her examples a bit trite to read and much of her recommendations are repetitive. It’s not a big book- 166 pages- but it could have easily been half the size and communicated the same information.
justiceofkalr's review
3.0
This is the book that inspired Maria Kondo and her Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I definitely could see a lot of similarities between the two and a lot of the ideas that Kondo built on. There were also a few things that Kondo had clearly changed or discarded. Overall I definitely liked Kondo's method better, but for those who just can't deal with her weird personification of objects this book might go over better while containing many similarly helpful ideas.