Bloodorange
I'm a GoodReads user testing new waters after the serious website changes. I mostly read fiction, usually Anglophone classics/ modern classics; I like nonfiction (mostly social and cultural history), good fantasy and graphic novels. For guilty pleasure, I read advice and how-to books.
I made at least two reading resolutions recently; 1. read less, live more; 2. read books which give me more pleasure. I have poor filters, and books I find stylistically pleasing tend to be depressing, so I need to do something about that; if you think you know a book that is very well written, but won't make me weep, please drop me a line.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Post-read edit: Added 4th star. Rarely do I see self-help books which really help, once you give them the chance.This is a really useful book, particularly therapeutic if you feel guilty about throwing away/ donating your things; the author reasons with the reader, patiently providing statistics (the average chance that you will reread a book you've read already if you are not an academic? 15%) and arguments to help you part with 'difficult gifts' from family members, for example.
I essentially agree with the basics precepts of the book, which are:
- be honest about whether you use the items you own
- throw away/donate items you do not use and/or do not like
- make the segregation process thorough, but quick (this is probably one of the reasons why Kondo does not suggest selling things - this would definitely create the room for misgivings and 'adopting' the discarded items back)
- store items owned so that you can see them/ in a way conducive to using them.
The author is young and zealous, but I must say she gives lots of practical advice. Still, content-wise, I can see two potential weak points: first, the book documents life in a very affluent society, and may be grating to some. Secondly, it seems to be primarily addressed to single (not to mention childless) people, with only a few consoling statements along the lines of
or"To quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the best way of dealing with a family that doesn’t tidy. As if drawn into your wake, they will begin weeding out unnecessary belongings and tidying without your having to utter a single complaint..."
The reason why I can't find it in me to give the book 4 stars is part V, full of woo-woo psychobabble, which makes me too embarrassed to really recommend this book to people (and it deserves to be recommended).Cleaning quietly on one’s own generates another interesting change—the ability to tolerate a certain level of untidiness among your family members."
