“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” Book Review

Rating: 4/5 Stars

“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo is a self-help book aimed at helping people to transform their home into the clutter free space of their dreams. The author Marie Kondo’s reality television show based on this de-cluttering method has gained a huge following and rightfully so. With the constant stress of a high paced environment, most people wish to escape to their home and use it as a respite. The book explains how the Kon Marie method can and should be used to create the reader’s ideal living space.

I chose to listen to this as an audiobook. The narrator had such a relaxing and smooth tone that after listening to the introduction and first few chapters I was completely ready to follow this woman’s advice and tidy up my life!

The beginning of the book discusses current flaws in tidying methods. She debunks the myth of “cleaning a little each day” and explains why that will never work. I found this information to be extremely helpful. As a person who is constantly chasing after twin toddlers and tidying, I was constantly feeling stressed at home and wishing my house was cleaner. The first portion of the book explained in detail why this was happening and made me feel more at ease that the problem could be conquered. 

The rest of the book outlines the Kon Marie method which she named by combining her first and last name. According to her book, in order to achieve a tidy house there are only two steps necessary. The person must get rid of items that do not “Spark Joy” and then reorganize the items that do.

The author makes it sound simple and outlines a regimented approach to removing clutter. She makes the method approachable and easy to understand.

The only thing that I did not particularly like about the book was that it put an existential spin on the owner’s possessions. For example, this occurred in the section on tidying up socks. The author goes into detail about how socks need to rest, and they should be tidied as such. This notion that socks have feelings and are being “worked” during the day left me feeling a bit alienated. It was too much of a stretch for me to really connect with this sentiment.

However, after getting past the fact that I might not be “zen” enough for this book, I truly appreciated the basic concepts and will definitely try this approach in my own home. The book was easy to read, enjoyable and helpful in providing a specific and regimented approach to tidying up!

Recommendations: Feeling the stress of constant cleaning up or tired of clutter in your home? Pick this book up ASAP!