Book provided by Blogging for Books for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo caught my attention for 3 reasons: the title, the cover and the sticker stating that 2 million copies had been sold. Two million people just can’t be wrong, right?
Well, yes and no. Let me just first say that I think this book is a very worthwhile read. I’m glad I put the time into it, I really am. I learned some important lessons from Marie, who is without a doubt a true expert on tidying. She provides countless examples of how she has really devoted her life to this practice. Here’s my BIG takeaway:
GET RID OF MOST OF YOUR STUFF.
I really think that’s what the book boiled down to. Only keep what brings you true joy. Let go of pretty much everything else. Reading the book was good because I got that same message over and over again, and that has helped it sink in a bit. As a result, I’ve pulled quite a lot of clothes out of my closet and drawers, and parted ways with lots of stuff in my kitchen. And I do feel lighter and happier, because when I look in my closet, all I see is stuff that I actually want to wear. And all I see in my kitchen cupboards are items I want to use. This is a good thing.
So that’s my big YES for the book. As for the NO? I think that 99.9% of the people who read this book will realize that the author is very VERY obsessed with tidying, and that she truly lives and breathes it. And that same 99.9% of people are not going to be interested in following suit and living their lives the same way. The author, for example, unpacks the contents of her purse every day, even going so far as to put her wallet away in a box under her bed and storing her bag away (in another bag…?). This just makes absolutely no sense to me. She gives some context to help you understand why she is doing it, but I just can’t get on board with stuff like that. It doesn’t sound simple to me, but rather, ridiculously complex. It also seems to value a ritual of tidying over simply enjoying life. I think the author would definitely argue that point with me, but I also think the author is quite the rare bird when it comes to the joy that tidying gives her.
Still, I’m glad I read it. Though I will be following the author’s advice and parting ways with the book now that it has fulfilled its purpose with me.
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