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Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Review

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo (Amazon link)
Rating: 2 Stars
Source: Gift
Description:  This guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari method for simplifying, organizing and storing.  (from Goodreads)

Genre: Nonfiction

Why I Picked This Book:  Who doesn't want to be tidier?  Plus I kept seeing the book everywhere so I couldn't resist.

My Impression:  I felt like there was quite a bit lost in translation and definitely a cultural gap with this one.  On a large scale I'm not sure how the KonMari method would work in American homes where the layouts and purpose is so different from Japanese homes.  A lot of the more general home organizing advice I just didn't find applicable.  The chapter on books just hurt.  I'm not getting rid of all the books I haven't read or hiding my bookshelves in a closest.
Not to say this book was a waste of time.  I did get inspired to really clean out my closet and drawers and I'm intrigued by the idea of vertical folding.  I also came to a realization that I should just toss all those accumulating magazines that are taking up space and that I'm honestly never going to read.  But there's a lot of repetition and the language is stilted and a little disjointed (I'm guessing this is from the translation).  While there was some interesting information I think the book could've been consolidated into a magazine article with much the same results.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Probably not.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Eh - it was okay and it's a short read so if you really need inspiration for clearing out this isn't a bad read.  I'd get it from the library or borrow a copy instead of buying it though.

11 comments:

  1. I've read a lot about decluttering recently. This book is a best-seller here, my library owns it. I haven't taken a look at this specific book yet, but I will to see the translation is better in French :) Anyway, the subject itself is interesting, it's great to walk around in your house/appartment and have more space and tidiness ! But no touching the books !!!

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  2. I've seen this around and thought about picking it up because well I would love to declutter and organize. Maybe this isn't the book I need though. Great review!

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  3. I get in these jags of cleaning, I mean like super cleaning, but the books are usually the same. Get baskets to organize, etc......

    Hey, I sent you an email about a book if you'd like it. Just checking in case it went to your Spam :-)

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  4. Most of it was a bit much for me, too, but I'm so happy with my closet purge and reorganization!

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  5. I have been curious about this one too. It's so popular right now. I'm sorry this one wasn't as inspiring and useful as you were hoping for.

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  6. "The chapter on books just hurt. I'm not getting rid of all the books I haven't read or hiding my bookshelves in a closest. " - I'm with you on this. :D

    It's too bad the book didn't live up to its promise but if it inspired you to start de-cluttering it did something right. I can always use help with de-cluttering as I'm a pack rat. :( I'm curious about vertical folding; I may need to Google it.

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  7. My sister-in-law recommended this book today at a family party. I've read several reviews and feel it's probably not for me. However, my SIL summed it up best saying take everything out of a closet and only put back what you will wear. I can follow THAT advice :)

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  8. Pffftt, getting rid of books, that's not going to happen!

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  9. I've been doing my own version of decluttering over the past few months....and getting rid of too much gives me a pain in my heart! But yes, I could (and have done) eliminate more magazines.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  10. I haven't finished reading this one yet--I seem to read it in bits and spurts. I am finding it not to be too practical either. I do want to continue with it though. If it motivates me to do some decluttering, then I'll count it as a success. :-)

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  11. Getting her to listen to me was like a little miracle haha In the video Japanese Magic Method

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