Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I found this book totally charming and a refreshing take on tidying/de-cluttering. I had a look at some of the negative reviews and in my opinion many of these stem from a shallow reading coupled with unfamiliarity with Japanese culture and living conditions. While I don't claim to be an expert on Japanese culture, I have been there multiple times and visited ordinary Japanese apartments and homes so I am familiar with the typical architecture and home layout. Some things that might help you decide whether the book is for you: Bear in mind that this book was originally written for a Japanese audience. For me, that was one of the most charming things about it. I loved getting a different cultural perspective on organization. The Japanese generally live in very tiny dwellings (by American standards) so I figured if anyone would know how to declutter and organize effectively it would be a Japanese tidying expert. It appears, however, that some other readers are not so comfortable with a non-Western perspective. I see some reviewers mocking the notion that "inanimate" objects have feelings. In Japan, these things are not considered "inanimate." Hence you'll see signs asking that you not walk on the grass because it will hurt the grass' feelings, or not to dispose of cigarette butts in the street for the same reason. I'm not saying every Japanese person believes this (anymore than every American Christian goes to church), but there are those who sincerely believe objects are animate, in accordance with Shinto tradition, and Kondo seems to be one of them. If you don't share that belief, just use it as a psychological or imaginative exercise or something. Some of the basic ideas behind the "KonMari" system have been described in press reports about the book. If all you want are the basic guidelines without any context or explanation of why they should be used, don't buy the book, just search for a couple articles about it on the internet. But the method is quite different from conventional wisdom (an oxymoron if ever there was one) about tidying and organization, so I needed to understand the reasoning behind it. Like many people, I have tidied a zillion times in my life and it never sticks. Most of all, this is not just a book with some handy home organization tips. It is not about the daily (more or less) cleanup that comes with living. It's not Martha Stewart. Note the "Life-Changing" part of the title--that's the point of the book. Bringing your material possessions, your home, and your desired lifestyle into alignment through consciously changing your relationship with stuff. If that sounds good to you, you'll enjoy this book.