My rating: 3/5
Goodreads rating: 3.80/5Published: April 11, 2017
Author: Fumio Sasaki
Translator: Eriko Sugita
Genre: non-fiction, self help, philosophy
The best-selling phenomenon from Japan that shows us a minimalist life is a happy life.
Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert or organizing guru like Marie Kondo—he’s just a regular guy who was stressed out and constantly comparing himself to others, until one day he decided to change his life by saying goodbye to everything he didn’t absolutely need. The effects were remarkable: Sasaki gained true freedom, new focus, and a real sense of gratitude for everything around him. In Goodbye, Things Sasaki modestly shares his personal minimalist experience, offering specific tips on the minimizing process and revealing how the new minimalist movement can not only transform your space but truly enrich your life. The benefits of a minimalist life can be realized by anyone, and Sasaki’s humble vision of true happiness will open your eyes to minimalism’s potential.
#tbntbookchallenge for March: A book featuring LGBTQ issues OR written by a Japanese author.
As I do not recall having books featuring LGBTQ issues, I've settled on books written by a Japanese author. I do have a handful in my TBR pile but I just had the knack for non-fiction lately. As such, I've devoured this one by Fumio Sasaki.
Goodbye, Things is all about minimalism. It's about the author's experience from being a maximalist to a minimalist, on how he has encountered, embarked and eventually enveloped minimalism. His journey may be the same with other minimalist but it is his honesty and simplicity that is engaging for me. In some ways quite scary, such as the way he uses only one towel for everything which is too extreme for me but I do understand his relevance and attitude towards his goal.
I can say for now, I am not minimalist material. However, I do want to minimalize my belongings so that I would not burden my family when I pass on eventually. I do not want my children to experience an abundance of stuff left behind by me and be overwhelmed to sort it all out. It may be my beloved stuff but it could be garbage to them. As such I do not want to accumulate unnecessary materials which will take up my time to maintain them and it could eventually be a burden to my children. A boon to me but a bane to them, so to speak.
Hence quite a lot of details in this book resonated with me. I've been sticking quite a few tabs which I've transferred to my book journal for future reminders and reference. This is a good read, aside from Marie Kondo's Spark Joy, which I do feel that both can work hand in hand. After 2 rounds of KonMari, I still feel overwhelmed with my material belongings so I'm going to attempt a third round with additional tips from Sasaki. I hoped this would work out and finally spark joy for me!
A point to note which I'm amazed is that most minimalists meditate and practice yoga. Apparently Google and Facebook are also into such Zen and meditation where they have workshops in their offices. It is a good way to declutter their mind since they have to always be online :-)
There are many quotes I've liked but I've picked these few to share:
Our worth is not the sum of our belongings.
All these things eventually turn on us; we become slaves to our belongings, forced to spend time and energy caring for them.
Our houses aren't museums; they don't need collections.
When you think about it, it's experience that builds our unique characteristics, not material objects.
Listen, life is short. It's a shame to waste it because of some material object.
All in all, it was well translated and I do recommend this book if you are finding inspiration especially on how to start on being a minimalist or finding a more effective way to KonMari. Either way, it's nice to know there are others with similar headaches LOL!
When we aim for gratitude right now, we become more positive, tolerant, and generous. Above all, we open ourselves up to everyday happiness, and that openness will eventually change reality.
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