Marie Kondo has inspired us to eliminate unnecessary clutter from our lives by initiating the renaissance of organisation and cleanliness through her revolutionary 2017 show, Tidying Up.
Her new Netflix programme, Sparking Joy, is premiering on August 31st and will see Kondo help people from various small businesses reorganise their workspace as well as their personal lives. She is the author of the best-selling book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and unsurprisingly, Kondo is also an avid reader.
She shared a list of her three favourite books that help her unwind and relax in a recent update to fans. These books feature a Japanese tome about restoring physical strength, a Scandinavian cookbook, and also a guide to creative living by Elizabeth Gilbert.
On the Scandinavian cookbook written by Melissa Bahen, Scandinavian Gatherings: From Afternoon Fika to Midsummer Feast, Kondo notes how it “features Scandinavian-inspired recipes for parties and entertaining”. The book has reportedly found its home on her coffee table as the “use of colour, and beautiful styling” of the book helps spark joy in Kondo’s head as soon as she glances at it.
In addition, she also recommends Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. “As a writer, I deeply admire Elizabeth Gilbert’s work and the way she crafts a story,” Kondo noted. She continued: “When a certain word or phrase intrigues me while I’m reading a book, I’ll earmark the page to revisit and reflect on it. I’ve done that in 46 places in this book.”
Kondo said that the book “will resonate not only with people who make a living by expressing themselves creatively but also with anyone who wishes to lead a life that is true to his or her heart.”
She also showered Gilbert with praise, talking about how the author was “soft-spoken and her eyes emanated such a strong light that I could feel that she was no ordinary person”.
Meanwhile, on Makoto Saegusa’s Yamato Nadeshiko Seitai Dokuhon, Kondo christened it as an “old-fashioned” book. Furthermore, she said it was only available in Japanese, and it focused on “how Japanese people can maximise their physical energy to attain a healthier lifestyle.”
Kondo revealed that “the book is not very long, and it features plenty of illustrations, so it’s a great one to flip through.” She further stated, “It’s the kind of book that I like to turn to whenever I need to restore my physical strength, or if I notice that I’ve been getting tired too easily.”
Marie Kondo’s three favourite books of all time:
- Elizabeth Gilbert – Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
- Melissa Bahen – Scandinavian Gatherings: From Afternoon Fika to Midsummer Feast
- Makoto Saegusa – Yamato Nadeshiko Seitai Dokuhon
