Goodbye, things




Japanese style minimalist living

Fumio Sasaki


Author who living in a small apartment in Tokyo with three shirts, four trousers, four pairs of socks, and little else. Is there happiness behind having less?

Starting with Fumio Sasaki describing his former life as a maximalist and his journey to becoming a minimalist.

About the contents of this book:
Chapter 1: We will learn the definition of minimalism and its meaning if we choose to live this lifestyle.
Chapter 2: We start to ask, why do we collect so many things? As well as considering our habits and desires as humans, including the meaning behind our objects.
Chapter 3: Covers a number of basic rules and techniques for reducing the things we have.
Chapter 4: Talks about the changes that the author personally experienced in the process of reducing possessions to the minimum amount.
Chapter 5: Presents an explanation of why all these changes made the author happier and what the author learned in general about happiness.

Minimalism as the author defines it in this book:
(1) The process of reducing our possessions to the minimum amount.
(2) Live only with the things we need so we can focus on the things that are truly important to us.

Some of from 55 tips for parting with things:
(1) Throw away the thought that we can't afford to throw away things.
(2) Our mental capacity, energy and time are limited.
(3) Throw away items purchased just for the sake of self-image.
(4) Stop holding on to “someday”.
(5) Don't repeat the “Concorde error”.

Some tips from 15 additional tips for the next stage in the journey to minimalism:
(1) Having fewer things will not reduce feelings of satisfaction.
(2) Minimalism brings independence - the sooner it is done, the better.
(3) Don't think about it. Throw away!

Some things from 12 things that have changed since the author parted ways with possessions:
(1) I have more time.
Your time is limited, don't waste it living your life as someone else. - Steve Jobs.
(2) I no longer compare myself with other people.
When you realize that you lack nothing, the whole world becomes yours. - Lao Tzu.
(3) I feel true gratitude.

“Feeling” happy instead of “being” happy.
Genes determine 50% of happiness.
The environment only determines 10% of happiness.
Our actions determine 40% of our happiness.

When talking about minimalism, perhaps many people associate it with a minimalist house, but Fumio Sasaki looks deeper and more comprehensively at the minimalist concept.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Highly recommended for anyone!
Do you interested in implementing this concept?

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