By the reaction to Marie Kondo’s approach to weeding out the excess material things in life, including books, you’d think she suggested a Fahrenheit 451-level assault on literature. I have never read Kondo’s book or watched her show. (And, I was just struck by the odd irony of getting rid of books based on something that’s in a book…) That doesn’t mean friends and the internet have not educated me on her general approach: get rid of things that don’t bring you joy.
First, I appreciate her concept in general. I understand how the simplicity of her approach can help many people looking to de-clutter their lives. If it were up to me, 50% of my house would go in the trash. In fact, I dream of the day when I jettison nearly all my possessions (except books) and move into a tiny house. In my mind, my tiny house looks something like these:
However, I am not a single lady and exist as part of a lovely, but semi-hoarding, family (not REALLY but they do like to keep their stuff) and the whole process of forcing them to get rid of “things” is just not worth the effort.
This is all to say, I am not averse to Kondo’s “toss it!” approach. Like many people I have seen and read about, though, I do take issue with applying this method to books.
In case you haven’t heard about Marie Kondo yet, she wrote a book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which sold really, really well. Soon everyone was hugging their sweaters to determine whether they stay in the closet or get sent to a donation bin. Followers of Kondo’s tidying principles even call themselves Konverts. (Honestly, that’s a little cult-y and creepy.) Netflix followed up by giving her a show called “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” where she demonstrates how to put the “KonMari method” into action.
The basic principle of her method is this: Keep only what “sparks joy,” discard everything else, and assign a home for everything within your home.
Sounds simple and logical. Well, not for everyone.
What “sparked” such outrage among the book-lovers of the world? Well, in one episode of her Netflix show episodes Kondo says, “Take every single book into your hands and see if it sparks joy for you.” Essentially, if it doesn’t, get rid of it. This was such an outrageous concept several media outlets weighed in on the matter.
Based on the backlash, I imagine Kondo has since tried to clarify her stance (because what kind of monster would tell people to throw out books???). That said, the general premise of her method strikes me as a bit too oversimplified to apply to every single aspect of life. Applying the “spark joy” method to books devalues the purpose and the underlying intellectual fulfillment of reading.
As an avid reader and collector of literature, I have many books that don’t “spark joy.” For example, Night by Eli Wiesel or What is the What by Dave Eggers are not books I look at on my shelf and think “wow, joyful.” (If either of those books spark joy in you, there is something deeply, deeply wrong.) Still, I would never get rid of such incredibly impactful pieces of literature. Both had a profound effect on my understanding of humanity and the world. They are extremely important to me and I would never, ever throw them out (or give them away.)
The following are a few other examples of books that do not spark joy in me, but I would never toss away for reasons that are way more complicated than the KonMari method seems to allow for.
The Years of Lyndon Johnson (4 Book Series) by Robert A. Caro
Of all the past presidents, other than Obama, I find Lyndon B. Johnson the most fascinating. (Before 2016, he may have held the title of most crass and egomaniacal president. Pretty sure he has now lost that mantle.) I realize he is a strange choice. However, Johnson was a unique man and one of the most effective legislators of all time during his tenure in Congress. Although complicated and interesting, reading about him did not spark joy. Rather, the books, which are big enough to serve as brick foundations for a house, represents a significant and in-depth growth in my knowledge of history and politics. Again, I’d never toss them.
Ulysses by James Joyce
This book sits on my shelf with a bookmark about one-third of the way through. I did not finish it or even come close. Having loved the Odyssey, I was excited to dive into this book, once called “the most prominent landmark in modernist literature.” The partially read tome definitely does not spark joy in me. Instead, a sort of angry annoyance overwhelms me when my eyes flit across the spine, both at myself and at the book. Apparently, I am not smart enough to “get” this book and I kind of like the reminder I am not smart enough to get this book. Ulysses existence on my bookshelf humbles me whenever old sensations of lit snobbery brew in my mind. It may not spark joy, but there is no way I’m tossing that book. It’s my white whale in a way…
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
This book was my first heartbreak. I remember crying uncontrollably when reading the end for the first time as a child. When I re-read it as an adult, I had the same tearful reaction. No, joy was not felt in response to this middle-grade classic. However, it sparked much stronger emotions and an appreciation for friendships, love and life.
I suppose my point is, while the KonMari method provides a simple means for streamlining your life, sometimes we can oversimplify and lose important nuances. And, most importantly, perhaps we should not weigh every piece of your life on the same scale.
Lastly, before someone says you can read these books on a Kindle. I’m sorry, I just prefer reading and owning real books. THAT brings me joy.
Let’s chat: Anyone else have opinions on Kondo’s “sparking joy” approach to life and books?
January 29, 2019 at 12:42 pm
haha Ulysses is like this…doesnt spark much joy 🙂 but still epic
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January 29, 2019 at 12:55 pm
what’s the opposite of sparking joy? sparking anger? Although it did spark a lot of controversy too. I find the history of it more interesting than the book itself. 🙂
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January 29, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Sparking anger …ah I felt it way too often when I studied literature at college & uni. Too much boring-books-reading :))
I’m personally fascinated by the form of the book…
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January 29, 2019 at 1:34 pm
I’ve heard about this lady and the whole joy thing. My question: Should I throw out my dish rack? What about all my pots and pans? lol Sometimes practical things in life are necessary, even if they don’t give you joy.
I totally agree about the books as well (I’ve quite a collection). Books are not just for joy, they’re also for utility, as well as a way to span the spectrum of human emotion. They enrich our lives in ways we don’t even expect. ❤
Meno<3
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January 29, 2019 at 2:18 pm
I know, right? It’s not like my husband and kid spark joy in me all the time, should I throw them out? Kondo’s idea is interesting, but it has its limits. You just can’t apply it to everything, especially books. You put it really wonderfully! They do enrich our lives deep, unexpected, and sometimes not joyful, ways.
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January 29, 2019 at 2:25 pm
I read an article from a Japanese-American woman who discussed the Shinto roots of Kondo’s method, and how her own mother, a Japanese immigrant, applied the same methods to their household years before Kondo whrote her book. The writer talked about how, in cutting Kondo down to tweets and memes, Americans missed her point: that we should respect the things we own and be grateful that we have them while recognizing that once they have outlived their usefulness, we should be thankful for what we got out of them, and then pass them along to someone else (or to the trash, if they can’t be used at all). After the whole Twitter uproar about books, Kondo responded that the passionate way people responded to it should tell them something about their own passions– that the people who were super critical of her for telling clients to part with books were passionate about books themselves, and that’s where they find their joy.
I’ve read Kondo’s book and watched the show, and while, to us, the idea of thanking your socks seems a little weird, I understand the sentiment of gratitude behind it all. And it did remind me to evaluate my relationship with my own things and part with items (even books!) that have stopped enriching my life.
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January 29, 2019 at 2:39 pm
That is very interesting background. I like the way you put it too – enriching your life. I think if that had been the language used perhaps the outrage may have been lessened? Maybe not. Who knows? But I like the way you put it, not necessarily joy but enrichment. And I actually love the idea of thanking your socks! The world needs more gratitude! All and all, Kondo seems to be spreading a nice message, I suppose she just needs to be careful with the bibliophiles! 🙂
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January 29, 2019 at 5:07 pm
I am a huge fan of little Marie Kondo and if I could hug her to me, she would surely spark joy! I read the book when it came out and was so proud of myself after reading it. I accomplished a great attitude adjustment about stuff while sending tons of boxes and bags from my house to spark joy somewhere else during the KM’ing process. It has been four years and while a few items may have sneaked in under the spark joy radar, for the most part I feel that I gained a new relationship with almost everything in my home. Plus I literally know where all things are in my home now and that alone has been a miracle.
MK does point out that while some things don’t spark joy, you still need them (like your vacuum cleaner, or a dish rack as mentioned above). Their utility helps you keep your home clean (for example) and having a clean home sparks joy.
As for books, and anything, really, she gives you full freedom to determine what sparks joy, and what joy is for you.
I am actually reading the book titled, “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck” (seriously, that is the title) and I am absolutely loving how she picks up where Marie left off on assessing my time and energy in much the way MK helps you with your things.
So build your tiny home out of the books you have enjoyed and live your best life! Here’s to all of us finding and keeping that which brings us joy! ⚡️
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January 29, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Tiny home of books here I come! I bet they make good insulation…but are also highly flammable…I’ll need to think on this more.
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January 29, 2019 at 6:13 pm
I’ve read Marie Kondo’s book, and I do recall her explaining the whole gratitude thing that is mentioned in comments above. I personally got a lot of use out of her ideas, but part of that was because I was able to use the parts of it that make sense to me. Only keep the clothes that “spark joy”? Sure. Because in general, if I’m not happy about them, I won’t want to wear them. Organize my closet better? Sure, because otherwise all the clothes I wear the most are at the front and I never look at the clothes in the back of the closet. Hold each and every one of my books to decide what to keep? Sure. No problem there. But the Facebook MEME complaining about “ideally keep 30 books” is not referring to me, or TBH most book bloggers. It’s referring to the people who read maybe 5 books per year, and end up collecting books because they think they “should” have them. (I know. I don’t understand those people either.)
I think that Kondo-ing your house can be great. Just remember the pirate’s code: they’re guidelines, not rules.
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January 29, 2019 at 8:31 pm
I can definitely understand the appeal of KonMari when applied to many things (clothes, totally hear you). Although I wonder who has the time to do all that cleaning out and assessing? 🙂 And keep 30 books…can you imagine? I think I’d have a breakdown trying to figure out which 30 to keep. 😉 But, I agree, I definitely know people who read very few books and I wonder why they have a bookshelf at all. I think your pirate comment definitely says it best!
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January 29, 2019 at 11:06 pm
I took three months and applied the KonMari method to as much of my house as I felt like. It ended up being clothes & accessories, books (guidelines…), toiletries, and paperwork. Since I’d already allotted a set period of time to work in, I didn’t feel to stressed. I used time that I would have otherwise spent on Facebook or watching movies to organize the areas I felt I would benefit from the help, and it turned out to work really well. But… to do the entire house? All at once? Not going to fit into my lifestyle. I suppose I should make time to do the kitchen, though. 😉
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January 30, 2019 at 1:26 pm
Even toying with the thought of getting rid of any books, for me, is a sort of intellectual crime.
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January 30, 2019 at 9:46 pm
I know how you feel!! 🙂
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January 31, 2019 at 1:17 am
I think it’s a really good idea (though I thought parts of the book where a lot harsher to me when I read it a couple years ago) and sometimes it works for me. Although sometimes does it spark joy becomes more like if you donate it you have room to buy something shiny and new that sparks joy for now 🙂
Agree with you on the nuance as well The Book Thief doesn’t spark joy it makes me cry but it will always stay on my shelf. We have books that belonged to my great grandfather I don’t think anyone’s actually read but we’d never get rid of. I think her basic premise is good you just have to make it work for you.
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January 31, 2019 at 11:30 am
That makes sense. Hahaha – I totally get the getting rid of something and then immediately thinking about how you can replace it. 🙂 I actually think the premise is really interesting but agree with you, people should tailor it to what works for them!
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