BOOK REVIEW: GOODBYE, THINGS BY FUMIO SASAKI

Fumio Sasaki has succeeded in reaching a degree of minimalism that most could not dream of reaching (nor would they truly want to). He has done this in every area of his life, perhaps, except for his writing. Though moments of clarity and relevance are able to push through in the otherwise ironically cluttered book, if this serves as your introduction to minimalism, you are equally as likely to reject the philosophy as embrace it. 

Sasaki's main point, that owning too much prevents us from living happy, fulfilled lives, gets lost in the repetitive anecdotes and the extreme lengths to which minimalism is taken by the author (he has discarded bath towels and a bed for a single hand towel and folding mattress). Though this book is highly praised by many already living the minimalist lifestyle, it could easily scare off those just beginning their journey. Sasaki does provide concrete steps to decluttering, many of which are useful, and if we are to truly engage with the minimalist philosophy he promotes, we can boil the best parts of the book down into a short list:
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1. Organizing without minimizing accomplishes nothing
2. If you lost everything, how would you begin again?
3. Items are not the same as the memories attached to them
4. Accumulating wealth does not bring happiness
5. Take photos of things that are hard to part with if you want to reminisce
6. Own less, live more

Goodbye, Things may be an excellent resource if you're interested in the ultra-minimalist lifestyle, or if you're simply looking for an extreme portrait of decluttering, but if you are just inching towards the idea of minimalism, it is perhaps not the place to begin your journey.

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