The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
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| Author | Marie Kondo |
|---|---|
| Language | Japanese |
| Published | 27 December 2010 |
| Publisher | Sunmark Publishing |
| Publication place | Japan |
| Pages | 270 |
| Website | www.sunmark.co.jp |
"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" (人生がときめく片づけの魔法, Jinsei ga tokimeku katazuke no maho) or shortly Tidying Magic (片付けの魔法, katazuke no maho) is a book by Marie Kondo about professional organizing. The book was translated in more than 15 languages and sold worldwide more than 10 million copies.[1][2][3]
It was adapted into a television drama on Nippon Television Network in 2013.[4]
The book presents the KonMari Method, a systematic and spiritual approach to decluttering a home and achieving lasting order. The philosophy centers on performing a single, exhaustive tidying event rather than engaging in continuous, incremental tidying. The fundamental tenet of the method is the selection criterion for determining what to keep: an item must "spark joy"—a feeling of positive connection or affirmation when held. Items that do not spark joy are to be respectfully thanked for their service and discarded.[5]
The process mandates tidying by category, not by location, ensuring that the entire volume of one type of possession is assessed at once. The categories must be addressed in a specific order designed to hone decision-making skills: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items. Completing the discarding phase is emphasized as the crucial first step. Following this, the remaining possessions are given a designated, permanent storage place, often employing Kondo's signature vertical folding and storage techniques. The book suggests that this methodical process forces an individual to confront their relationship with their belongings, leading to profound transformations in lifestyle, confidence, and perspective.[6][7]
Publication
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: Hardcover, Sunmark Publishing, 15 January 2011, ISBN 978-4-7631-3120-1
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up 2: Hardcover, Sunmark Publishing, 10 October 2012, ISBN 978-4-7631-3241-3
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: Hardcover, Sunmark Publishing, 10 January 2014, ISBN 978-4-7631-3352-6
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up with Illustrations: Small B6 Hardcover, Sunmark Publishing, 10 January 2015, ISBN 978-4-7631-3427-1