Discover the Power of Japanese Minimalism: Farewell to Possessions with Goodbye, Things

SoCal B&B: Too extreme for my liking, but eye opening!

United States on Nov 16, 2023

S N Cowan: I’m a committed minimalist and this is one of my favourite books on the subject. I reread it regularly and enjoy it every time.

United Kingdom on Nov 07, 2023

book&moviefan: This book made me realize how trapped I was holding on to so much stuff. I have successfully removed a large portion of my former belongings, but I still have a way to go. But that's okay. I am excited and looking forward to the future! I have a ton of energy to get rid of more stuff. I was so unhappy and spent so much money on things trying to cover up the unhappiness. What a waste! Written in plain, simple language that is easy to understand. I hope the author reads this review and knows how much his book inspired me and set me free.

United States on Sep 08, 2023

Megan: Have re-read this book over the years as I had it on kindle but recently decided to get a physical copy. Well worth it. I'm not new to minimalism but this book took me to the next level. It's so well written and has many compelling thoughts. Highly recommend wherever you are at in your simplifying journey:)

Australia on Sep 06, 2023

Joshua Leeger: Marie Kondo's books are great, and the idea of "sparks joy" is very appealing - comforting even. But after reading Sasaki's book, the KonMarie method feels like a woobie for someone who refuses to grow up. Sasaki lays (physical product) minimalism bare, and his dictum is more useful to me than Kondo's "sparks joy."

“Reducing the number of possessions that you have is not a goal unto itself...minimalism is a method for individuals to find the things that are genuinely important to them. It’s a prologue for crafting your own unique story.”

“experience ... builds our unique characteristics, not material objects. So maybe it’s natural that we find our own originality when we strip away all the things that distract us.”

“once you are a minimalist who only has what you need, your focus will inevitably shift from others to yourself. Freed from comparing, you’ll start to discover who you truly are.”

United States on Aug 29, 2023

GFA: I have read probably 75 books on decluttering, organizing and minimizing because they calm me. I have been slowly trying to become a minimalist for a while now.
I think this is the first book to talk about your things talking to you. That is EXACTLY how I felt but I didn’t put 2 & 2 together until I read it in this book.
My things tell me:
I need washing or dusting
I need a new battery
You’d better put me back on the shelf before your mother-in-law/ friend / neighbor doesn’t see me out of this drawer that you hide me in until they come over.
It’s almost Halloween, time to drag me out once a year so every one can see my adorable holiday displays that hide in the attic the rest of the year with all of the other showy, holiday clutter. Oh, and sidenote, you’re 55, have no kids and no one saw any of your Halloween stuff last year so….. yay you, what a waste of time and energy.
I am out of date, buy a newer version of me….and the list goes on.
Less things equals less chatter. Less of my life energy being spent on THINGS.
Thank you Fumio, that one idea was so enlightening and helped me release sooo many more things from my life.

United States on Aug 25, 2023

Diana: El contenido excelente pero el libro llegó maltratado

Mexico on Jul 19, 2023

mandovi joseph: This poignant story of minimalism will keep you hooked and by the end you will make some very important changes in life.
From tidying up, to not hoarding to a whole lot of positive lifestyle changes.

India on Jun 13, 2023

Amazon Customer: This book goodbye, things is about minimalism and the positive impact this lifestyle has had on the author and includes a manual on how to disregard with possessions in a positive way. The author testifies he formerly lived a shallow life full of clutter but has not now transformed to a life of meaning because he's stripped it of non-essentials. He's learned he doesn't need most of the things society says is important for happiness, so everything he owns now is crucial. Discarding things has freed him up to focus on what he, the individual, not society, believes are the most important things in life; people and present experience.  This book says simple living, gratitude, and flexibility are the keys to a well lived life. 

Big Ideas I Took from This Book

Get Rid of the Notion that Someday You'll Use Something: I like this rule because I use it when I try to justify keeping mess in my house. I was mortified he caught me keeping "fancy disposable bags" I think I'll use in the future.
Get Rid of Decorative Stuff and Unused Furniture: I like the rule about getting rid of unused furniture. Extra furniture and things increase the need for square footage and...

United States on Feb 24, 2021

Hande Z: Fumio advocates a style of living that is close to that of the ascetic, and is difficult to live as he does – he has only four shirts. He got rid of all his books (all £7,000 worth), CDs, rolls and rolls of developed photographs, and, well, almost everything else he owned. Some people are hoarders by nature and this book will never appeal to them. Some people are neat and minimalist by nature, and this book will not add much other than the pleasure of reading a fine personal account of the life of a minimalist. But there are many in the middle, who at times feel that their lives and living conditions are cluttered. There are people who are on the verge of deciding whether to keep their keeps sakes or throw them away. If they read Fumio, they will go right ahead and chuck their stuff.

Fumio is a minimalist, not so much because he is a Japanese, who are more minimalist than many other societies, but because he was reacting to his ‘overly cluttered pigpen’. As a Japanese, he once was a hoarder! Not anymore, as he tells us his reasoning that we do not need most of the things we possess. A £20,000 will not have fifty times the battery life of a £400 one, and it is...

United Kingdom on Aug 28, 2017