The life-changing magic of tidying up

[Cover]

Title: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up. The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing.

Author: Marie Kondo

Publisher: Ten Speed Press, October 2014

Summary/Review: As a librarian at Fairfield Public Library I was intrigued by the high number of “holds” on this book.  I consider myself to be tidy, organized, with minimal amounts of junk drawers scattered throughout my house. (Although I will admit to a few closets that I don’t like to open any more.)

As I started to read, I realized that the author’s skills in organizing far surpass my own, or anyone I have ever known.  Her lessons are demanding:  declutter all at once, not a little at a time- throw all your clothes on the floor and then sort them–don’t keep worn out clothes to wear them “around the house.” She instructs that if an item does not “spark joy” then get rid of it.  If I followed this criteria, I would have no garden or lawn tools at all. “Sorry dear, the lawnmower does not spark any joy for me!”

She also says forget about the fancy storage systems.  People who advocate for them are closet hoarders!

For the most part, though, her methods made sense to me, and I will make use of them when I next suffer a fit of tidiness.

I have to draw the line, though, at folding my socks, stockings, and tee shirts so that they stand up “on end” in the drawer. The goal is to instantly see everything in the drawer. Great idea! So I read the instruction several times but can’t grasp how my tee shirts are going to stand up in the drawer.  If you read this book and understand how to make my clothes stand in the drawers, please drop by the Reference Desk. I would love to talk to you!

The author claims an even grander goal, though, beyond tidying.  The goal is to free yourself of things that mean nothing to you and to find those interests and loves at the core of your soul.  “Putting your house in order is a great way to discover what they are.”

I am all for that.

Who will like this?:  Someone looking to get organized – whether you take each piece of advice and use it or pick and choose which you implement, her methods are sure to get you thinking about the “junk” items in your house.

If you like this, try this:  This book has swept the nation but this is the first credible book the author has published.  Be on the lookout for her companion book, coming in December.

Recommended by:  Sue Z, Reference Librarian

If this looks like a book you’d like to read, check the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and/or to place a hold!

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