The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

I didn't read the description closely enough to catch that this book is focused on those who are nearing the end of life. That being said, I found a number of great ideas for my item life.

The beauty of this book is the story telling. Listening to the audio, the reader brought the text to life, as though I were listening to my grandmother. The practicality the author describes while not shaming made it easier to think about the ideas rather than my own feelings. In fact, the theme of the whole book encourages the reader to think of others and to make the best of life.

This book isn't quite what I expected. It was better than I expected.

In these “unprecedented times” (to quote many a British politician), we've been given a lot of spare time on our hands whilst the world has slowed down, in order to contemplate our lives - I know I certainly have - and think about what the future holds. We do know one thing however, and that is we all eventually will pass on.

Despite the morbid title, Magnusson takes us on a gentle walk/guide through how to begin the process of lightening the load that I suspect many families have gone through when relatives pass away. I myself have watched my parents go through this process on a few occasions with older relatives' stuff and it's not easy or indeed pleasant. Magnusson simply advises us to get on with this process now.

Whilst perhaps not as gut punchy as “Goodbye, things” by Fumio Sasaki or the Konmari method touted by Marie Kondō herself, this is a charming addition to the decluttering genre (if such a thing exists?).

Though generally I liked this and it was a gentle read, I'm quickly returning to the methods touted by Sasaki and Kondō.