Title: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Author: Marie Kondo
Basic Overview:
This book really is what it claims in the title: life changing. The author, Marie Kondo, is an organizing consultant in Tokyo. In her own words, she helps clients change their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration. In her book, she explains what she does with her clients in an easy-to-read way that guides readers to systematically de-clutter their homes, and, in the process, their lives.
Marie Kondo’s book is different from any other cleaning or organizational book I’ve read. Some of her approaches may strike American readers as a little unorthodox, as she works with mainly Japanese clients. For instance, she often mentions thanking your belongings for a job well done before parting with them. Her system is different, but that is part of what makes it effective. Before you begin decluttering, you have to change your mindset. There are wonderful explanations as to why we should discard those object that truly do not make us happy.
Her process focuses on going category by category, as opposed to room by room, and taking each one of your belongings in your hand and deciding if that object brings you joy. You only keep those things that bring you joy.
Kondo explains that it is only after you have discarded that which does not bring you joy, that you can begin to organize your home. This isn’t a book about storing all your “stuff,” because inevitably all those things become messy again. This is a book about re-evaluating your possessions and realizing that a clutter-free and tidy home is the way to a happier, healthier life.
I’ve been working on de-cluttering and minimizing belongings for over a year, but it wasn’t until I read Kondo’s book that I really made dramatic progress towards an uncluttered, tidy home.
The only shortcoming I found about the book was that it seemed to be aimed more toward childless females. There is a lot of discussion of travel toiletries, but toys, which are a huge issue for most mothers I know, aren’t mentioned at all.
Overall, though, this is an excellent book and approach to home organization. I think anyone could read this book and immediately make positive changes in their home. Even those who, like me, have been working on purging their belongings will get a lot out of her approach. The change in mindset from “figuring out what you can get rid of” to “keeping only what sparks joy” brings a positivity to the process of tidying up.
Parts I like best:
I think what made her approach to purging more effective than other attempts was that she explains, “we should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want tot get rid of” (41).
Kondo guides you through each category, giving you helpful points along the way. Have you ever arranged your (or even more likely, your kid’s) drawer only for it to end up in disarray after searching for a certain shirt? In the clothing category, she teaches a new way to fold your clothes. It may sound minor, but, in my opinion, that alone is worth the price of the book!
Do you ever hold on to things, just because they were a gift? When guiding you through the sorting of miscellaneous items, komono as she calls them, she discusses that the purpose of a gift is in the giving of it. “The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not ‘things’ but a means for conveying someone’s feelings. When viewed from this perspective, you don’t need to feel guilty for parting with a gift” (108). After reading her explanation, I was able to part with quite a few items I only held onto because someone had given them to me.
How this book made an impact in my life, especially as a mother:
Reading this book helped change my whole family’s relationship with the stuff we own. The tone of the process is so upbeat and positive that it’s infectious. My children have started to come up to me with a toy and say, “This doesn’t bring me joy anymore. Let’s give it to someone else.”
Although it’s not directed specifically at mothers, I had little trouble adjusting her suggestions to match my own situation. My family’s home has become a lot less cluttered, and, in the process, so have our thoughts and our lives.
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We used this for my sister and her 9 kids and got rid of 40 black bags for donation!!
That’s wonderful! More room for them to live surrounded by only that which brings them joy!
I have been hearing so much about this book so thank you for this great review! I love organizing and yearn for a minimalist lifestyle so I think this will be a great resource for me.
It sounds like exactly what you’re looking for!
LOVE this review! I’m ordering the book right now. 🙂
Thank you for putting your ideas together in such a powerful, succinct way. This is wonderful!
Aww, thank you, April! That’s a great compliment coming from you!
This book has been life-changing for me. I have read tons of decluttering books and none of them made the difference like this one did. I have just decluttered my clothing however I noticed how easy my mornings are now. I only have items in my closet that I love, that fit, and bring me joy. What an easy way to start the day. I used to go into my closet and already feel defeated because I had so much stuff in there and I didn’t know which way to turn. I can’t wait to start with my books and other mementos. I highly suggest this book it was fantastic 🙂
I’m glad to hear you love it, too! I wish you continued success in the process!
Thanks for this summary. I have recently read this wonderful book. I still haven’t started with the declutter part. I have a big question about the folding system. I am not an English-speaking native, although I read and speak it. However, the folding system… I cannot picture what she means. I wonder if anyone who has read the book and applied the konmari system could explain and send a photo or something that could clarify for me, please.
Thank you!
On Marie Kondo’s website tidyingup.com she has a video showing exactly how to fold every item.
Great! Thanks for your reply!
You did a great job reviewing the book and pointing out how it does/ doesn’t work for larger families. Because I tend to hang on to things, I am in the process of listening to the book a second time as I go through the categories and discard things that do not spark joy. I needed her voice in my head a second time around to shift my mindset, and keep my motivation going!
I agree that this book has had more of an impact on me, and helped me make more progress, than other tidying books.
There are definitely cultural differences, such as the Japanese collections of charms and shrines. But like you said- we instead have toys to deal with.
I must say, however, that buying in bulk is one thing that she’d have a hard time convincing many American Moms out of. For a family of 7 who has ample closet space downstairs, a 3 month supply of toilet paper is more wise, than extreme!
Also, cleaning out your “handbag” every day???
What diaper bag carrying Mom does that !?!
(Although it did feel good to at least clean mine out once during my tidying process. Heaven knows it was high time.)
I love this book! Has dramatically changed my way of thinking, my household and my way if life by changing my attitude towards “stuff” and my joy sparking possessions! If you are unclear about toys, toilet paper, folding, like the comments above I have found a few resources. 1, Marie has published a new book clarifying a few points, makes a big difference in how you understand her. 2, there are Many Facebook groups that are Marie enthusiastusts, I have joined many. You have to see which works for you, I like the Mormon KM group, they cover toys and stockpile/goods storage more than others. 3, Utube has a lot of videos about folding and other suggestions around the KM method as you will find it called. Big POM fan and KM fan. Not compensated, I just love and fund Joy from both!