SPARK JOY

I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up when it was released in late 2014. I found Marie Kondo's book both useful and charming. I am a somewhat sloppy person. Neither am I a hoarder, however. I found Ms. Kondo's advice useful in tidying up both my bedroom closets and kitchen. I was able to toss a number of clothing items which I had kept from a sense of guilt instead of joy. Similarly, I was able to let go of a number of kitchen appliances to which I had sentimental attachments but no use. Ms. Kondo's childish suggestion to thank my things before letting go was oddly touching and helpful with regard to certain items. I photographed a number of items before releasing them to GoodWill; this gave me an opportunity to acknowledge the memories they generated without retaining the objects themselves (which included a 40 year old blender, some old and hole-ridden t-shirts, and a coffee press which I have not used in over ten years). Ms. Kondo touches on a few of these elements in the introduction of her book as well.Ms. Kondo's new book, Spark Joy, contains further instructions. For example, she provides detailed diagrams explaining how to fold certain clothing items. These are things I wish I would have had when I read the original book. I also enjoyed pictures of organized spaces. There is something attractive about the spartan simplicity of these arrangements, even if they are not for everyone. In the introduction Ms. Kondo highlights that it is good that this book has come later and serves the purpose for aiding those who are in mid-process, whereas those who are just starting may feel overwhelmed. I understand the rationale for not including as many diagrams in the first book, but, I do wish I had it when I was more invested in the process.In the Kindle version of the book, which I got, the first 900 locations (single page showing) is mostly verbal and revisits many of the aspects from her first book. Following this information, there is a “encyclopedia” section that has a large number of diagrams that are very easy to follow; especially with multiple folding techniques for clothing. There are additional paragraphs about specific items, with some pictures, but then the diagrams become less frequent. The abridged information on each section is useful though, and as Ms. Kondo references in her introduction, one can simply turn to the specific area and see what information Ms. Kondo provides for that specific section.There is also a very lovely section on working with others with regards to them being tidy. Ms. Kondo does a good job of helping an individual understand what they can do to help themselves, but still love others who may not have the same draw to being tidy. There is also, within this particular section, a conversation about working children into the process of learning how to fold, which will help them be tidy as well.Must you accept every one of Ms. Kondo's recommendations? I do not think so. For example, Ms. Kondo recommends eliminating extra books. But I am not about to whittle my book collection down to thirty volumes. I find myself going back to certain books again and again, or referring to something I had read years before. But I can still cull out certain books. Nor am I going to rid myself of my file cabinet and all its contents. But I do not need to maintain monthly copies of my cable and water bills, nor do I need to maintain handouts from old seminars. However, a year after reading her original book, I still find myself meditating while I fold clothes and tidy up my drawers, which is truly a bit of life-changing magic.This particular book is a nice addition, giving further insight, reminders, and guidance on the process of creating joy while organizing.

I originally got this book as an e-library book. As I began reading it I decided it would be more useful to me as a hardback o got my copy on Amazon. I like the organizational plans and the detail for all things in a house. It's a practical book with simple illustrations. It covers all aspects of tidying our homes right down to things like baking supplies and makeup. Very useful if you're interested in a clean, organized home. My favorite quote is found in the Preface: “The important thing in tidying is not deciding what to discard but rather what you want to keep in your life.”

I bought this book on the spur of the moment and I really loved it. I have to add though that I am a fairly orderly and clean person; I am not much of a clutterer and I do love organizing and keeping everything pretty (I'm very Monica -Friends- in that way, minus the extreme obsessiveness) so probably me liking the book would be pretty obvious, but I don't like it only because is a great book on how to keep everything organized and orderly, I liked it so much because is a book that helps you to live your life with joy in every little thing, including the things you own. I read the book in a week, the next day after finishing the book I started the "Tidying process" and something sparked in me. I realized how much joy I found in my things and how much they reflected who I am; but above all is that I managed to let go of many things that didn't sparked me joy anymore and mainly things that were part of my past one way or another. Clothes that I just hanged on to for whatever reason and I just couldn't see myself letting them go. I had some tops from at least 10 years! When I realized that they didn't sparked me joy and remembered the life stages when I did used those clothes I realized that was so long ago that I was someone else enterely, that I had changed, I am another person now and that if didn't spark me joy anymore I had the right to thank them, let go and move on. I cried in a few, because I realized that something in me was changing, that I was leaving the past behind with things, people or situations that I didn't knew I was still hanging on to. I am a firm believer that for cleaning your life your house is the first place you should start. There's a divine rule of reflection as it is said in great wisdom cultures that goes something like this: "as it is inside it is outside, and as it is outside is inside"; so I really think that for changing something within sometimes a change on the outside can be extremely helpful.Marie Kondo does a great job on teaching you how to maximize your space (honestly, didn't knew I could fit in so MUCH in my closet and still have space so it doesn't feel cluttered) and how to create a home filled with joyful things that spark happiness in you every single day. I haven't finished the whole "tidying process", I'm still just finishing clothes (which is the FIRST stage), but I am getting there and every time I open my closet I get and overwhelming and beautiful sense of pride and joy for myself and my life.We are all different and my experience may not be yours, but I do believe that if we open up ourselves to beautiful things happening then the world will make them happen. I advice you that if you buy this book be open to what it can do for you, inside and out, as it is honestly a whole process of introspection of oneself through our own things. And if you do just want a book about maximizing space, cool ways of folding clothes and really enjoying the things you own this book can also fulfill that! Seriously, folding clothes is so much more fun now, more work, but more fun when you know that those are things that SPARK JOY in you (see what I did there? jajaja).Also I bought the kindle version and I think is pretty useful! As it has links throughout the book, index and glossary to very useful sections, so when you are tidying something and need to check out how it was done or how to fold again you just click in the link and you get to the page immediately instead of having to sort through a bunch of pages, so in that sense I definitely recommend the kindle version for ease of use.