I never get through books (even little ones, like this) quickly. But this one has me filled with hope and a hint of motivation, which has been lacking for write some time. I’m a little leery, but I’m going to give it a shot. ( )

I haven't started actually tidying yet, but I like a lot of her philosophy. there's a lot of attention paid to how to emotionally let go of different types of possessions and it really makes me think it's doable. ( )

4.5 ( )

I suspect that I did not read this book for the same reason as most people. A friend recommended it as, basically, I am off-brand British amateur Marie Kondo. I’d already watched her netflix series, indeed I re-watch it when I need to calm down. That show taught me her folding approach, which I’ve since applied and adore, but everything else she says just seems like common sense that I’ve been applying since childhood. Thus reading her book was slightly spooky at times, because Marie Kondo and I do seem rather like kindred spirits. We both love tidying and have very similar attitudes to possessions. I too store my handbags inside other bags; keep only items that inspire joy and/or are vitally important; have a clear sense of when I have too many possessions and need a clearout; keep everything in a specific place; store categories of items together; consider a clearout a special event; dislike piling things; keep only one box of childhood stuff at my parents house; and generally try to own as little as possible because I'm happier that way. Although Marie Kondo’s philosophy is influenced by shinto, about which I know nothing, it definitely echoes my feelings. She mentions saying goodbye to possessions with thanks and belief that they might come back in another form. This is analogous to my attitude when giving things to charity shops: I believe in a sort of charity shop cycle. The more that you donate, the more likely you are to find useful bargains yourself.

The main difference is that Marie Kondo has monetised her tidiness in a massively successful manner, while I’ve helped my friends and parents with clearouts in return for meals. Kudos to her on that. I can’t imagine making a job out of tidying, though. It’s just a thing I do reflexively, as housemates tend to find. It’s harder for me to leave things on the floor than pick them up. As to where I diverge from Marie Kondo, there are a few minor things in the book that I do differently. Rather than keeping all papers in a single file, I have two: one for papers on my home (mortgage, insurance, etc) and one for papers about me (student loans, bank accounts, etc). I keep unread books for longer than she suggests, as long as they still spark joyful anticipation, because experience suggests I will read them eventually. I also disagree that women’s pyjamas should be ‘feminine’. I think that above all they should be warm and comfortable - that’s what sparks joy for me. Otherwise, though, I basically agree with her whole approach and found her explanation of it charming and readable. Tidying and donating excess possessions are fun! I’m very glad that these ideas are becoming mainstream.

Prior to discovering Marie Kondo, the nearest thing I’d come across to an articulation of my attitude to possessions was Bruce Sterling’s 2008 last Viridian note. Although environmental impact in not mentioned in ‘The Life-changing Magic of Tidying’, it seems implicit that Marie Kondo’s approach deters wasteful overconsumption. The book focuses on being mindful of the possessions you already have, while developing a habit of tidiness that deters further unnecessary purchases. She emphasises consideration of why something was purchased, even if it was never worn/used/read. The flexibility of her approach is its great strength: no specific quantity of possessions or draconian storage strategy is presented. I find this much more appealing and realistic than 100-possessions-type minimalism. Not only will different people wish to own different quantities of clothes, books, and so on, the appropriate amount of possessions will vary at different stages of life. Now that I own my flat, I need a toaster, kettle, and microwave. Previously I rented places where the landlord or my housemates provided them. I agree with Marie Kondo that it’s important to develop a sense of how much stuff you as a person want to own, in the context of where and how you live. The appropriate level should be internally rather than externally determined.

Her evangelism about tidiness as a route to changing your life for the better amuses me, though. Just because I’ve always been tidy does not mean I’ve always known what I want from life. Indeed, that’s something I’m still struggling to work out. Knowing where to find things is nonetheless very reassuring and useful. Rearranging my bookshelf is the ultimate anti-anxiety activity, one that I highly recommend. My shelves are sometimes ordered by read/unread, by fiction/non-, or by spine colour. I don’t mind which; the important thing is knowing exactly where to find what I’m looking for. Marie Kondo gets that. ( )

Entire book summed up in one sentence: throw away everything that doesn't bring you joy. ( )