REVIEW: The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Title: The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up 

Author: Marie Kondo
Publication Date: July 4th 2017
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: Penguin India (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon IN || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Infibeam || Kobo || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: From the #1 New York Times best-selling author and lifestyle/cleaning guru Marie Kondo, this graphic novelization brings Kondo's life-changing tidying method to life with the fun, quirky story of a woman who transforms her home, work, and love life using Kondo's advice and inspiration.
Marie Kondo presents the fictional story of Chiaki, a young woman in Tokyo who struggles with a cluttered apartment, messy love life, and lack of direction. After receiving a complaint from her attractive next-door neighbor about the sad state of her balcony, Chiaki gets Kondo to take her on as a client. Through a series of entertaining and insightful lessons, Kondo helps Chiaki get her home--and life--in order. This insightful, illustrated case study is perfect for people looking for a fun introduction to the KonMari Method of tidying up, as well as tried-and-true fans of Marie Kondo eager for a new way to think about what sparks joy. Featuring illustrations by award-winning manga artist Yuko Uramoto, this book also makes a great read for manga and graphic novel lovers of all ages. 

 

I’m not what you would call a tidy person. I’m not a hoarder or a clutter-er either, but at any given point, my room which is where I spend most of my free time, is always a little messy.

There’s no piles of clothes lying on the floor, nor junk trashed everywhere, but things do get messier than I would like and, on occasion, I find myself just going on a spree to clean everything up and then the whole process repeats itself.

I wasn’t sure what this book was going to be about when a lovely publicist at Penguin Random House sent it my way, but it certainly seemed like something I could use in my life.

MY THOUGHTS:

1.       My first thought as I opened The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up was about how BIZZARE it was that I was ACTUALLY reading a book that would teach me how to clean up. I was unsure if I would learn anything and a little weirded out that I was trying to.

2.       One of the first things I noticed was how absolutely ADORABLE all the characters and illustrations were. It totally kept my attention through the entire book.

3.       There was also a real story going on in the background, one with a girl who had a tendency to hoard and how a tidying instructor taught her not how to dump things and throw them away, but in finding the joy in small possessions and only keeping those.

4.       The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up definitely had some really interesting tops such as categorizing and tidying by OBJECT (like clothes) instead of by physical space, which actually helped me.

5.       It also taught you the art of de-cluttering and how it isn’t about just throwing everything away, but instead finding the things that gave you JOY to keep around and only keeping those.

6.       There were also a lot really well illustrated HOW TO parts to the book including how to fold different types of clothing that really MADE SENSE and isn’t how I would traditionally go it but definitely gave me the sense that I should try it out.

Honestly, this book inspired me to go and clean up my own room. I only followed a few steps in this book but perhaps next time, I’ll actually declutter by finding joy as well. 3 stars. 

Marie Kondo (近藤 麻理恵) is a Japanese organizing consultant and author. Kondo's method of organizing is known as the KonMari Method, and one of the main principles is keeping only possessions which "spark joy."

Kondo's best-seller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing has been published in more than 30 countries.

She was listed as one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time Magazine in 2015.

Personal website: http://konmari.com/en/
Book website: http://tidyingup.com/
App website: http://konmari-media.com/

Are you a hoarder or a clutterer? Have you heard of the KonMari Method before?
I'd love to hear from you guys. 

REVIEW: Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson

Title: Mind Your Head

Author: Juno Dawson (With Notes from Dr. Olivia Hewett)

Publication Date: 14th February 2016

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone

I Got A Copy Through: Bloomsbury India (THANK YOU!)

Buy Links: Amazon IN || Amazon UK || Amazon US || The Book Depository || Wordery || Google Play Books || Barnes&Noble

Blurb Description: We all have a mind, so we all need to take care of our mental health as much as we need to take care of our physical health. And the first step is being able to talk about our mental health. Juno Dawson leads the way with this frank, factual and funny book, with added information and support from clinical psychologist Dr Olivia Hewitt. Covering topics from anxiety and depression to addiction, self-harm and personality disorders, Juno and Olivia talk clearly and supportively about a range of issues facing young people's mental health - whether fleeting or long-term - and how to manage them, with real-life stories from young people around the world.
With witty illustrations from Gemma Correll.

Imagine going to one of those food tasting parties (assuming they're real, because I've never actually been to one) where all you do is get a preview, or a basic introduction to what the food will be like, and not the actual full course meal.

That was what this book was like.

Not that I'm comparing mental illness to food, but more the analogy. 

Mind Your Head is a book about Mental Health, why it shouldn't be taboo, about the different kinds of mental health problems, the kinds of treatments available and the difference between something serious and something temporary.

But just like trying too much food can get you nowhere except a very confused palate, I'm left wondering if this book decided to take on EVERYTHING with too little explanation about that everything? 

Don't misunderstand me, I fully understand the need to talk about mental health, understand it and help people deal with it, but there was so little about diseases so complex, the book in all felt rushed. 

I understand that diagnosis can't happen through the pages of a book, and too much information would only further that cause, but I would have loved more information on all the illnesses, but especially the personality disorders. 

It was a good book, simple to read, one encouraging you to get more help and understand these diseases better to be able to talk about something you might be facing yourself, or help someone else through it, but I still feel like a Little More Information over the bare minimum, especially with the more clinically complicated ones. 

3.5 stars, and a book still worth the read. 

Have you read any books on MENTAL HEALTH - whether they're fiction or non-fiction?

Have you read any books by Juno Dawson?

I'd LOVE to head from you!

REVIEW: Selfienomics: A Seriously Funny Guide To Living The Good Life by Revant Himatsingka

Title: Selfienomics: A Seriously Funny Guide To Living The Good Life

Author: Revant Himatsingka
Publication Date: November 3rd 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: Bloomsbury India (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon IN || Flipkart || Snapdeal || Infibeam ||

Blurb Description: "Original version of a #selfie: Taking a photo of yourself rather than having someone else take it for you. You try out various filters and select the one that makes you look your best. #Selfienomics version of a #selfie: reflecting on different aspects of your life and taking the initiative to improve so that you can be the best version of yourself." 
And so begins Selfienomics, the first Indian self-help book written for young people by a young entrepreneur who speaks their language. Offering workable, practical advise on how to manage finances, start a business, complete creative projects and how to be a better citizen, Selfienomics is so funny, upbeat and entertaining, it's not just a must-read but also a mast-read.

I bet the MINUTE you read this title, alarm bells went off in your head: NON-FICTION? Really? What was she THINKING?

Don’t worry, I thought the same. Or well, if you gave this book to me six months ago, I would have.

On June 24^th, I walked into freshman orientation at college, and one week later at a Personal Development class I got asked a question: “Why should a company hire YOU? There are over 500 undergraduates in this state doing the same course you are, multiplied by 28 states in the country, multiplied by all the undergrads in the world.”

“So, why should somebody hire YOU?”

Suffice to say, there were nightmares that followed.

I learnt, through the class, that the only way to get hired is to be better than the fray and so when the lovely folks at Bloomsbury India sent over a Guide to Live The Good Life, I thought that it could only help me.

Still, having never read Non-Fiction, the apprehension was omnipresent.

While I won’t say I’ve transformed into a better person magically, I will say that Selfienomics has some GREAT advice for teenagers and young adults, directed towards making you think about your life, money, jobs and relationships and what it means (and how) to be a socially active, financially responsible youngster in the world today.

""If we compare ourselves to anything, it should be to our own potential.""

If you’re a college kid, or working your first job or trying to get out of your first job and move onto something better, this book will probably give you the motivation you need. Whether it’s wasted time or productive doing nothing time, dreaming or visualizing, convenience or logic and morals,  Selfienomics ACTUALLY explains to you (with hashtags and humour) what you COULD be doing wrong, what might be better, but most importantly, encourages you to THINK about it all.

While Selfienomics was certainly a more entertaining read than I expected it to be, and even more helpful than I expected it to be, it’s the kind of book you need to read again and again, at different parts in your life for it to keep striking home.

So, before you write it off as “Oh NONFICTION. Why bother?” maybe consider that something along these lines could be beneficial to where you want to go, and who you want to be.

Selfienomics was a surprisingly fun and helpful read that I would genuinely recommend to all young adults!

Have you read any good non-fiction that you would recommend to all young adults? If you have a job, any tips and tricks?

I would LOVE to hear from you.