Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you're wondering whether this is worth purchasing, as opposed to reading all the reviews and articles one can google on this book, I would say it depends on how neurotic you are. If you just want a few tips and have no trouble throwing things away, by all means just read bullet points. But if you know there's a reason why you can't face stacks of mail from yesteryear or can't throw away anything your mother has given you, then you will probably appreciate this book, because it makes you feel understood. But without the touchy feely language of American self-help. It's just rather matter of fact. First of all, I'm glad I didn't buy the physical version because I held it in the bookstore and it did not provide any sparks of joy. It felt slight and I was worried about bringing yet another item into my home. But reading it on my kindle provided many sparks of joy because there were so many sparks of recognition. For example, she notes younger sisters have many items in their wardrobe they are ambivalent about just from a trickle-down effect. I haven't lived with my sister in many years but did somehow inherit 20 pairs of black pants I never wear. Kondo details how to reduce your clutter as well as confronts what is going on when one can't make a decision on an item. She's experienced enough to really boil everything down. Basically, it's about attachment to the past and fear of the future. By no means is she saying throw everything out and live a spartan life. It's really more about living in a way that is intentional and chosen by you. All the little decisions on mundane and sentimental objects add up and you can make more decisions in the rest of your life that ARE A CLEAR REPRESENTATION OF WHAT YOU VALUE. It's like curating yourself, not just the stuff on your shelves. I found her really credible, especially in a practical way, because this is a woman who almost succumbed to tears because her shower utility basket always got gunky on the bottom.