Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism

by Fumio Sasaki

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.

• ISBN10: 0393609030
• ISBN13: 9780393609035
• Publish Date: 12 May 2017 (first published 11 April 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: WW Norton & Co
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[Raven]

There is absolutely no reason this book couldn't have been a blog post.

[lex6819]

This is my new bible. I'm getting rid of my stuff much faster now, and not brining as many new things into my home. I have already freed up one entire room to a new purpose, and my kitchen is beginning to look almost Instagram-worthy in its simplicity. I love this book.

[mercurial]

My first minimalism read after Marie Kondo's 2 books on organization. This is not just a guidebook for practical organization tips but one that walks through the author's thoughts and journey to reducing clutter. For those who prefer a to-do list, the second half of the book will be more useful. In audio book format, I enjoyed the first half of the book as an experience close to guided meditation.

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: What I like about Goodbye, Things is the focus on mindset on top of the physical reduction of possessions. Sasaki talks a lot about the impact minimalism has had on his life and how things have changed for him over time, presenting a sort of before and after to the reader. Some parts are quite repetitive, though. Three times he explains that after becoming a minimalist, it only took him half-an-hour to pack up and move to a new home:

"This spring, I moved into a new apartment. I didn’t do any packing beforehand and yet it only took thirty minutes to take everything out of my home, including the time it took to remove the light fixtures and unplug the washing machine." (p.162)

"After going minimalist, I moved for the first time in a decade. It was from Nakameguro to an area called Fudomae, not too far away, and the packing (without a single cardboard box, mind you), the move itself, and unpacking all took but an hour and a half. I kid you not." (p.176)

"Finally moved for the first time in a decade (it took thirty minutes but it shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes next time)" (p.194)

On several other occasions, he repeats how he downsized to a smaller apartment, and how simple it was. He also dwells a lot on the simplicity of Apple products. So yeah, Goodbye, Things could've been two-thirds as long.

Nonetheless, the inclusion of practical steps towards minimalism, makes Goodbye, Things a more than worthwhile read. I also enjoyed the discussions on how we we attach our self-worth to possessions and look to objects to shape our identities. Plus, I liked how Sasaki made it clear that he values experiences, and why, which is sure to lead any reader to healthy introspection.