Every now and then, usually in the Spring when I have that itch to Spring clean and try as many new things as I can cram into my waking hours, I want to pick up a book on minimalism. The idea that you should have only the possessions you need, or at least the fewest possessions you can get by with, is nothing new. And even though I don’t really want to live a minimalist life, I am always a little curious. Fumio Sasaki has so few possessions, it takes him thirty minutes to move apartments. I look around my apartment and get an overwhelming feeling of not even knowing where to start if I wanted to move. So, as appealing as it sounds to be able to pick up and go at the drop of a hat instead of spending a month to pack up my place, what I realized when I was reading this wasn’t that I want to be able just abandon all my things and live with a toothbrush, a bowl, a cup, a spoon, my cat, his bowls, and his litter box (until I teach him to use a toilet, of course). What I want is to have more emotional space in my life. I would like some room, metaphorical but also physical, to grow.

In the end, this is what I take from minimalism. The Marie Kondo idea that if it doesn’t spark joy, I don’t need to keep it. I don’t need to keep something I am not using and don’t love, even if it was a gift. I don’t need to keep a piece of clothing, even if it will be cute once I lose another ten pounds. I don’t need to keep yarn I no longer love. And, gasp, I don’t need to keep books I know I’ll never (re-)read. That, in itself, is a daunting project. But, it is also exciting. I could have shelf space. Shelf space for new books that I am excited to read. Or, shelf space for something else. Who knows what’s out there?

This book (essay?) was short and it was okay. It wasn’t overly groundbreaking. The writing was economical and there were no turns of phrase that caught me and had me thinking days later. I have been thinking about the concepts of minimalism, but there’s a good chance I would have been anyway since I made a massive Spring cleaning list. So, in the end, this book gets a 6/10. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but I also wouldn’t not recommend it.