A review: Goodbye, things - on minimalist living, Fumio Sasaki
How I review books;
Top notes – a first impression. A practical summary of everything you need to know including a completely biased view on how much I liked the cover.
Middle notes – the foundation. Readability / structure and characters.
Base notes – the impression. Interpretation and everything else.
Top notes:
259 pages + 4 recap pages.
I have the Penguin edition, orange spine and very appropriate minimalist cover. Everything is well structured, thought out and feels minimal in approach and delivery.
There are pictures, there are 5 chapters, there are numbered steps. There is even a section about the structure of this book. Everything is wonderful. My reading and annotating of this book did leave the spine with creases.
The author’s Instagram is true to form too @minimalandism.
Middle notes:
Chapter 1 – why minimalism?
This chapter sets the scene. I felt particularly confronted by; the things I threw away list, as It starts with all my books. Which scared me as I realised I have books from throughout my life – everywhere including every single book from studying. Do you think I will ever feel compelled to read my GCSE History Guide book again? The short answer is absolutely not. This chapter also covers why the author became a minimalist.
“I think minimalism is a method for individuals to find the things that are genuinely important to them. ”
Chapter 2 – why did we accumulate so much in the first place?
Every part of this chapter is gold – but the one part that really hit me (you know that feeling in your chest) was the section our self-worth drives our behaviour and the sections that followed. I love it when a book does this to me – I can feel a realisation / change happen because of the words on the page. The more I learn the more I realise how a lot of our actions are rooted in our self worth and material items are a part of this.
“I believe self-worth lies at the base of nearly all our actions. ”
Chapter 3 – 55 tips to help you say goodbye to your things and 15 more tips for the next stage of your minimalist journey.
As the title says – 55 tips. Read, annotate, follow and more importantly do. Tip 7 discard something right now was the small step - that started everything for me.
“Don’t get hung up on the prices you initially paid.”
Chapter 4 – 12 ways I’ve changed since I said goodbye to my things.
I don’t want explain this section. Read the book, do the steps, read this chapter and then come back and read this chapter again when you have done the work. It will amaze you how many of these things now apply to you too.
“Experiences can’t be taken from you. ”
Chapter 5 – “Feeling” happy instead of “becoming” happy.
Once again I can’t explain this section or summarise it in any way. Read it and take what resonates with you from it.
“What is important in my life? It’s the person who’s sitting or standing in front of me right now.”
Base notes:
A reflection on my experience reading this book for the first time and the impact it had on me.
Ironically I bought my copy of goodbye, things in TK Maxx– a place I frequented usually to buy more things. I saw the irony in buying this book in TK Maxx but it was worth every molecule of irony.
I originally read this book in October 2022 and a year on I have removed boxes and Ikea bags full of things. Only yesterday I parted with a mushroom salt and pepper shaker, 30+ books and a load of clothes that I haven’t looked at in 3 years. I am still sorting things out but my spending has decreased and I have fewer possessions. Each item has a place and a reason to be there (we ignore the fossils and craft collections in my shed we will get to that one day).
This book confronted me with the fact I had so much stuff; things in cupboards, things in my parent’s garage , things under beds – things EVERYWHERE. Some of these things I had not missed or touched in years but when it came to sorting through I couldn’t part with them. Every time I moved house it was a nightmare and I felt the pressure of owning so much rubbish. I always ‘sorted’ things but I could never let things go - convincing myself they were too expensive originally to just give away so they just sat there taking up space in my life.
It was startling to realise I may have a bit of a problem and I would have to do something about it. Why hold on to clothes that no longer fit me? Why hold on to furniture that doesn’t fit my style? Why have a collection of fruit keyrings that I can’t let go of? Everything had an excuse; imaginary practical reason, memory or feeling attached to it or ‘this is too cute to get rid of’.
Throughout sorting I realised that I loved the feeling that came with owning less – my space feels clean, I don’t miss things I have given away and I have headspace - when your mind is cluttered it can help to have an uncluttered space. Day to day I have to keep my inner maximalist under control. An outcome I didn’t anticipate is that I noticed I stopped placing my worth in items. I know this all sounds revolutionary but this book just opens your eyes to the reality of what you have and why you might have it. I figured my ‘reason out’ – I wonder what yours is?
My main lessons learnt:
Keeping something because it was expensive is not a reason - sell it or donate it. Just do something with it.
If I list things for sale, on Vinted for example, and they don’t sell in 2 months - donate to charity.
Get rid of something every week.
When I feel like decluttering - go with it and get as much done and take action straight away - list for sale or donate.
Stay away from shops I know I am prone to spend money in - for me that is charity shops and TK Maxx.
It is a change of mindset not just an action.
These are some initial reflections I am off to read the book again and see what happens – I will keep you updated.
Ms ASK