05/08/2017
Sasaki, co-editor-in-chief at Wani Books, a manga publisher in Tokyo, delivers insights on the benefits of a private refuge in his compulsively readable primer on living with less. Using his 215-square-foot apartment as the prime example, he suggests that studio living with mere basics not only reduces overhead and improves one’s social life but makes housekeeping three times easier. builds his case for a minimalist lifestyle by looking inward and sharing personal details about the improvements he’s made in his life. The book is surprisingly intimate and often reads like a memoir posing as a self-help guide as the narrative moves between Sasaki’s search for happiness and practical ways to implement lifestyle changes (for example, he suggests thinking of possessions as roommates who don’t pay rent). He also credits the rise of the minimalist movement in Japan to information overload, the destruction of houses in the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, and the advancement of technology—particularly smartphones and cloud storage. In essence, Sasaki argues, the minimalist lifestyle liberates people by eliminating distractions and encouraging them to partake in the new sharing economy. By sharing his personal story, Sasaki makes his argument all the more appealing. B&w photos. (Apr.)
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
Narrated by Keith Szarabajka
Fumio SasakiUnabridged — 4 hours, 32 minutes
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
Narrated by Keith Szarabajka
Fumio SasakiUnabridged — 4 hours, 32 minutes
Overview
Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert; he's just a regular guy who was stressed at work, insecure, and constantly comparing himself to others-until one day he decided to change his life by reducing his possessions to the bare minimum. The benefits were instantaneous and absolutely remarkable: without all his “stuff,” Sasaki finally felt true freedom, peace of mind, and appreciation for the present moment.
Goodbye, Things explores why we measure our worth by the things we own and how the new minimalist movement will not only transform your space but truly enrich your life. Along the way, Sasaki modestly shares his personal minimalist experience, offering tips on the minimizing process and revealing the profound ways he has changed since he got rid of everything he didn't need. 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.
Editorial Reviews
"Take your spring cleaning to the next level with Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki. A best-seller in Japan, this book uncovers why we want to own more than we need, what this mentality does to our well-being and how we can live better by owning less."
"If you’ve ever felt bogged down by all of the things filling your life up with clutter then this is the book for you."
"In his new book, Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki shares the lessons he learned by going minimalist. . . . For Sasaki, minimalism isn't about how little you have, but how it makes you feel. Sasaki credits his minimalist lifestyle with helping him lose weight, become extroverted and proactive, and above all, feel happy and grateful for what he has."
"In a time of rampant consumerism, a new movement is preaching an alternative path — one that banishes all but the most fundamental and enriching consumer products from our lives. In Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki recounts his conversion from reckless hoarder to hyper-mindful consumer, and offers advice to those seeking the same simple happiness that he found in minimalism."
"Makes the case for radical minimalism . . . treat each of [Sasaki's] 70 tips as an opportunity to reevaluate how you use and why you keep the things in your home."
"Inspiring in its straightforwardness and sincerity . . . I don't think it would be possible to read Goodbye, Things without taking a look at your own home (and life) with a new set of eyes. . . . In the end, what matters is the thoughtfulness the book inspires."
08/01/2017
Think Marie Kondo (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up) on steroids: fellow Japanese lifestyle (albeit reluctant) guru Sasaki shed 95 percent of his stuff. "There's happiness in having less," his here's-why-and-how primer begins. "That's why it's time to say good-bye to all our extra things." Adding cultural and historical context, he cites three specific reasons for the modern rise in minimalism: information overload, technological developments, and (unexpectedly) the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake—a reminder of how quickly things disappear. He offers consistently doable suggestions on how to pare down, with reminders that there's no single correct answer and reducing possessions is "not a goal unto itself." As for perfect minimalists, Sasaki cites Mother Teresa (mentioned once) and Steve Jobs (who haunts the whole book). The single weak link here is narrator Keith Szarabajka, who should have said good-bye to unnecessary accents when reading the would-be inspirational quotes scattered throughout; a call to a native Japanese speaker about pronunciation is the single lacking essential. Going aural also means missing the motivating photographs that highlight five minimalist lifestyles (including a family of four!). VERDICT Stick with the book; for would-be minimalists, library borrowing or electronic checkouts are highly encouraging options.—Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DCvideo
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169914580 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Blackstone Audio, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 04/11/2017 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Sales rank: | 783,376 |
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