Publisher's Weekly Review
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.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
This dude only owns one towel, and he's proud of it. Sasaki shed most of his possessions in a quest to achieve true minimalism. After reevaluating his life's direction, it seemed logical to do dishes and dry off after bathing with the same cloth (it helps him truly appreciate fancy hotel towels) and to live with as little as he could in order to focus more fully on his relationships and in being consciously present. Of course, as a Tokyo book editor, he refers to Marie Kondo and the larger trend of decluttering starting around 2010; he's fully aware that he's taking these philosophies to the extreme. But the book is also suffused with a deep sense of loss, referencing the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and aftermath as the tipping point for many Japanese to focus on people over possessions. A list of 55 tips to help rid yourself of excess belongings is included as well as a reflection on his grand experiment that will inspire some (but certainly not all) to say good-bye to things and hello to life.--Howerton, Erin Downey Copyright 2017 Booklist
Library Journal Review
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, DC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
