The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
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Web ID: 2133180Most Fluffed Up Book I Have Ever Read
This book is over 200 pages, but has about 3 to 5 pages of good content. This is the most egregious example of someone taking a few pages of content and "fluffing it out" that I have ever seen. An example of this would be when a kid in junior high school has a book report due the next day but hasn't read any of the book who skims a couple of chapters and writes up a 15 page report of fluffed up nonsense, but this is over 200 pages! There are entire pages where she tells you you should "talk to your clothes," "talk to your house," etc. She says things like "your house will tell you where items should go." She attempts to manufacture some kind of "experience" by saying "I've been tidying ever since 6th grade when the teacher made me the tidy person," and "I was obsessed with tidying and read the magazines and tidied the house all the time," "I tidied my parents and siblings closets," etc. She writes a full page about how much she loves her green shirt. She spends multiple pages saying things like "I can predict which clothes don't bring my clients joy by just looking their closet the first time I come in their home, having never met them," and "doing my tiding program may make you lose weight and get diarrhea." I kid you not. She attempts to wax poetic and "new age," to fluff up the content, but falls way short of this. It just comes of as a blatant attempt to fluff up the book to meet her 200 page goal. This is by far the most ridiculous fluffed up book I have ever read, and I have read hundreds. I forced myself to finish it even though I did not want to in some hope that she would save the book, but it got worse and worse. Bad writing is one thing, but to purposely fluff up a few pages of decent content into HUNDREDS of pages is just a foul disrespect of the readers time. I can't imagine that all of these reviews are legitimate. Read the first 30 pages and you'll see for yourself what I'm talking about.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
My notes
Hope you find my summary below (from Littler Books) helpful! 1. Marie Kondo's KonMari method will not only help you tidy up your home, but also help you to make better decisions, be healthier, and live the life you want. 2. The first step to tidying up is to visualize the space and life you want. This visualization should be as detailed as possible. It should include details like your morning routine to the color of your bedsheets. 3. A tidy space is a place where you can access what you need and love efficiently, so it is important to know what you need and love. Don't be scared to discard things you don't love. Many items you discard can probably be obtained again if you change your mind later. 4. Organize your space in the way that feels the most natural to you. 5. Focus on what to keep instead of what to discard. 6. Evaluate each item based on the happiness or purpose it brings you. If it doesn't spark joy, doesn't serve a purpose, or has served its purpose, thank the item for its past contributions, and let it go with gratitude. 7. Tidying up is similar to meditation. It can feel therapeutic to let go of extraneous things and improve your space. It's like a detox of your body and mind. Some of the author's clients actually felt physical relief from tidying up. 8. As you tidy up, you inevitably introspect your past as you go through old items. This exercise will force you to examine what kind of person you were, and guide you to see who you'd like to become in the future. Remove items that don't fit the future version of yourself. 9. When going through your possessions, start with the easy categories (e.g., clothes, documents). End with the hard categories (e.g., sentimental items). 10. Do not just dump items you don't want on other people (e.g., your family). Ask them first if they want your items. 11. Always aim for simplicity and order when organizing your space. 12. A tidy space positively affects your happiness and ability to take action. An efficient and intuitive space saves you time and reduces stress. 13. There's no such thing as "born messy". Author has helped many clients with the "born messy" mindset improve their self-perception by going through the process of tidying up. 14. Tidying up is not a lifetime effort. You only have to do it once, but it could take a long time (author's clients take six months on average). However, after you're done, it inaugurates the start of a new lifestyle. 15. Communicate with your possessions and space as if they're sentient beings. This illuminates the relationships you have with them and should help you gain a more intuitive feeling of what to discard or keep. 16. Letting go of things can be difficult. Some questions to ask to help you decide are "Has it served its purpose?", "Does it make me happy?", "Why/when/how did I get it?", "How often do I see it or use it?"
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Ten top ideas in the book
1. Discard what doesn't spark joy: Kondo suggests that you only keep things in your life that make you happy and spark joy. If an item doesn't bring you joy, then it's time to discard it. 2. Tackle your clutter by category, not location: Kondo suggests that you tidy up your home by category, not location. This means starting with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally sentimental items. 3. Thank your belongings: Kondo suggests that you show gratitude towards your belongings by thanking them for their service before discarding them. This helps you develop a positive relationship with your possessions. 4. Fold clothes vertically: Kondo's signature folding method involves folding clothes into small rectangles and then stacking them vertically in drawers. This allows you to see all your clothes at once and saves space. 5. Store things in the right place: Kondo suggests that you store things in the place where they are most often used. This makes it easier to find what you need and reduces clutter. 6. Simplify your storage solutions: Kondo suggests that you use simple storage solutions, such as boxes and bins, instead of complicated storage systems. This makes it easier to maintain your space. 7. Take control of your papers: Kondo suggests that you discard most of your papers and only keep the ones that are necessary or bring you joy. She also recommends storing them vertically in a file folder or binder. 8. Respect your possessions: Kondo suggests that you handle your possessions with care and respect. This helps you appreciate what you have and reduces the likelihood of damage or loss. 9. Don't let sentimentality cloud your judgment: Kondo suggests that you don't let sentimentality cloud your judgment when deciding what to keep and what to discard. Only keep sentimental items that truly spark joy. 10. Tidying up is a mindset: Kondo suggests that tidying up is not just about cleaning your space, but also about transforming your mindset. It's an opportunity to reflect on your life and decide what you truly value.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Really is life changing, highly recommend
For me this book really was life changing. I was finally able to get rid of clutter and organize my things. I had read other books on getting rid of clutter and organizing that didn't work, but this one does because it changes the way you look at your stuff. I highly recommend it.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible
I'm known for not letting anything go. My house was cluttered, filled to the brim with boxes I couldn't bear to open but couldn't bear to discard. This book was life-changing, and gave me a brand new perspective on letting things go. So far, I've discarded more than 30 boxes of things, and my house is cleaner than it has ever been in my entire life. This book was also a really pleasant, uplifting read! I'd recommend it to everyone.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Inspirational
This woman is clearly an expert in her field and is doing something she was born to. I found her methods for getting rid of what you don't need/wear/use very helpful. Her point about "getting your house in order" would lead to an orderly mind is very true. This is something I struggle with big time. However, when she got to the clothes folding and insistance that your socks need to 'rest' in the drawer, I found it a little over the top. Her motivation and ideas are very clear and helpful, depending on exactly what you need to do. I found it very helpful and was to take what I needed and use it.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com