How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life
August 15, 2022
Kondo returns with a wise guide to achieving one’s “ideal lifestyle” that builds upon the “spark joy” philosophy laid out in her bestselling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She invites readers to ask themselves “what do you really want to put in order” and to imagine their perfect home. One’s entryway should feel like “a sigh of relief” with just one pair of shoes left out for each family member, a living room should “foster conversation” and have a designated space for each object, and “a good kitchen makes cooking fun.” Then come steps for tidying up each part of a daily routine: morning should involve a good breakfast, daytime plans should stick to an established schedule, and cotton or silk pajamas are a good idea for a calm evening. Along the way, Kondo includes family recipes, among them her mother’s black vinegar chicken wing stew, miso soup, and “amazing amazake.” While some suggestions will likely be a bridge too far (such as wiping the soles of one’s shoes every day), the majority of her advice is sound and easy to implement. This one’s another must-read for Kondophiles.
October 15, 2022
Expanding on her enduring blockbuster, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2014), Kondo moves her focus from belongings to kurashi or lifestyle. Still using her patented technique (examining each article and asking "does it spark joy?"), the author urges readers to visualize their ideal home (after tidying up, of course) and lifestyle choices. As she moves through each room, Kondo offers tips for making areas more playful and joyful. The Konmari method can also be used for social obligations and relationships, says the author. The key is to sift through these options and choose the ones that spark joy. Stories from her many clients are woven into the narrative, and the text is set tastefully amid nicely shot photographs of cleared spaces, striking accessories, and the serene author herself. Kondo includes worksheets in the appendix to guide readers in planning their ideal mornings, workdays, and evenings. Kondo's life has changed since the success of her first book, and she admits to challenges as a wife and mother. But she retains her overall peacefulness and her love of order, which readers find so very inspiring.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Kondo has a vast following, and her newest book is sure to attract legions of eager readers.
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October 28, 2022
Tidiness guru Kondo's (Spark Joy) newest book begins with her standard tidiness method, but it expands to examine what readers do in their current life in order to spark joy in their lifestyle. The Japanese word for lifestyle is "kurashi," and in this book, it more subtly means living one's ideal life. Filled with practical and common-sense tips and techniques for decluttering one's home and life, the book also includes suggestions for visualizing what one's ideal home and life might be. The book also focuses on the practices and behaviors a person might do in their daily routines to achieve the ideal lifestyle. Kondo incorporates examples from her personal life and Japanese culture to illustrate her suggestions and to enhance her messages. This is mitigated by a series of worksheets at the end to help readers reflect on, identify their ideal lifestyle, and implement it. VERDICT This book moves beyond the home to include everyday activities and lifestyle. It's likely to be in high demand due to Kondo's popularity.--Marjorie Mann
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