Goodbye, Things: On Minimalist Living
Ratings3
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings3
Average rating3.7
Reviews with the most likes.
Fumio is preaching to the choir here - I am a work in progress minimalist and many things he talked about in this book I already practise. Still, I managed to take a few new tips from the book. His thoughts about how minimalism helped him be content with the lot in his life and thus helped him stop comparing himself to others was a revelation. I am definitely not there yet, but it gives me hope that I will get there. It's the section about how minimalism transforms your mindset that I found most inspiring.
Fumio's brand of minimalism may seem extreme to many (five shirts only? No books? Not gonna happen to this gal, that's for sure) but he takes pains to say that we create our own brand of minimalism.
Really inspiring book. Fumio is great at explaining how and why minimalism has made him so much happier. and I agree!
The author's minimalist journey was interesting enough. I have yet to renounce my possesions though. But the best part about it is that it put me to sleep after about 15 minutes, every night. I'm tempted to revisit it just to see if it would work again. Currently I toss and turn for about an hour.
I would say this is extreme minimalism. It's a good read but you gotta be ready to learn about someone who almost does not own furniture or towels and who loves cleaning his home.
The reasons he gives for pursuing a minimalist lifestyle are inspiring.
“Goodbye, things” was recommended to me after having experienced a particularly traumatic 2019, and it won't be a year I want to repeat. It's also worth mentioning that I've also struggled with clutter/stuff/junk for nearly twenty years since my early teens and for whatever reason, I've never been able to overcome it.[a:Fumio Sasaki 15267855 Fumio Sasaki https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507746600p2/15267855.jpg] hasn't written a how to declutter guide in the same way that [a:Marie Kondō 5589647 Marie Kondō https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1451520607p2/5589647.jpg] has, but more of an ‘essay' of reasons how minimalism can improve our lives for the better. In fact, if I had the physical version of this book I no doubt would have highlighted large portions of the text - that's how much I have learnt and want to take on board for the future with this book.A few years ago, I read “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by [a:Marie Kondō 5589647 Marie Kondō https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1451520607p2/5589647.jpg] and certainly got a lot from it, her “Spark Joy” method works well to an extent, especially when dealing with clothing and books. This book, however, I feel has given me the extra push to really get my life in order for 2020 and beyond.If you've read Kondo's “Magic”, then think of this as a companion text, the brother to her sister, if you will. “Goodbye” is the gut punch that myself and many others of us need.
