Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up premiered on Netflix on January 1 and people have Opinions. Of course they do. How dare she suggest we remove that from our lives which no longer serves a purpose? I’m going to eat that pizza eventually! Kondo’s organization method, called KonMari and outlined in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, involves five categories. They are: clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and sentimental items. The idea behind her method is that individuals looking to tidy their home takes each item into their hands one by one and determine whether each item “sparks joy,” or gives them a warm, happy feeling. If it does, it can stay. If not, it has to go. All well and good, right? WRONG. It’s wrong because this means we have to throw out books. The horror.
Lots of people on Twitter also felt outrage at this concept.
i don’t care if the marie kondo hype is true – there is absolutely no way i’m throwing out all of my unread #books. they’re the reason my bedrooms have always been well-insulated. plus, they are not to be looked at shamefully. they’re a window to a future mind. pic.twitter.com/QhosBRd2by
— dan kelly (@dnlchrlsklly) January 7, 2019
Do NOT listen to Marie Kondo or Konmari in relation to books. Fill your apartment & world with them. I don’t give a shite if you throw out your knickers and Tupperware but the woman is very misguided about BOOKS. Every human needs a v extensive library not clean, boring shelves
— Anakana Schofield (@AnakanaSchofiel) January 3, 2019
I’m a Marie Kondo devotee, but I disagree with her when it comes to books. Books are works of art. They enrich a reader’s life, are an avenue for introspection, escape, conversation, and empathy, and help to make a house a home. They spark joy and so much more! #booklover https://t.co/4dWfXZ783t
— GreekGirl (@GreekGirl2018) January 4, 2019
Apparently tidying expert Marie Kondo is suggesting to throw away books…..
No thanks! pic.twitter.com/17UrCoow17
— Dexie Jane 🦋 (@DexieJaneRW) January 5, 2019
My hot take on Marie Kondo that no one asked for: I bought her book that told me to get rid of books which do not spark joy, so I got rid of her book.
— sara krauser hinkle (@sarawithoutan_h) January 7, 2019
Ouch.
But also, how dare Marie Kondo. How dare.
Books are not to be thrown away. It’s just plain wrong. In the fifth episode, “From Students to Improvements,” Kondo even says, “Books are the reflection of our thoughts and values.”* So, what, are our thoughts and values meaningless? Do we just throw them out, too?
I cannot—cannot—believe the audacity.
Look, I’m a librarian. I love books. I LOVE them. I come home from being a librarian and either read or write for Book Riot because 40 hours a week of books** just isn’t enough for this book lover.
And Marie Kondo is wrong. We shouldn’t throw books away!***
Nope.
We should recycle them.
*Taken out of context.
**This is a gross misunderstanding of librarianship for humor. I only wish my life was such. Don’t at me.
***The reality is, lots of folks are totally misconstruing Kondo here. (Though lots aren’t, as evidenced in the Twitterverse.) It is fine and good to remove books from your life that no longer serve you. This might come as a surprise, so prepare yourself, but—libraries do this all the time. It is literally in my job description to manage the collection, which means (get ready) getting rid of books.
WHAT MARIE KONDO SAYS: Think about getting rid of books you aren’t going to read or reread.
WHAT TWITTER HEARS: Let’s burn all books and slay the writers! Let the streets run red with their blood as our literary pyre’s smoke blocks out the sun! FUCK BOOKS.
— Kevin Church 🖖🏻 (@Kevin_Church) January 5, 2019
Wondering what to do with all those books? Donate ’em. (But not your gross, outdated books. No one wants those. Recycle those.)
Source : Marie Kondo Wants to Throw Away Books and I Am Outraged
