Goodbye, things (2015) by Fumio Sasaki & Minimalism (2017) by K.L. Hammond

 

Goodbye, things: on Minimalist Living (2015) by Fumio Sasaki &

Minimalism for Living, Family, and Budgeting (2017) by K.L. Hammond

Finished listening to these two audiobooks this week as a follow-up with the previous one by Kiku Katana's Minimalism (to read my general view and opinion on minimalism philosophy, CLICK HERE). I find that these two authors are very interesting. Like I said in the review, the philosophy of minimalism is simple (true to its meaning), but the implementation is different based on context, culture, and preferences.

Fumio (read the book a few years ago borrowed from the state library) writes from the Eastern - or Japanese, to be exact - background. Meanwhile, Hammond, I presume based on his examples and contents, from the Western background. Fumio is well-known (next after Marie Kondo) in the minimalist world, but, Hammond, although has written other books on different subjects, is not that popular. I can relate to Fumio's experience more than Hammond's because Fumio is a single man but Hammond is a family man. Yet, I'm more inclined to Hammond's ideal of things because Fumio can be a little bit extreme (oh yes, Hammond too in some points). Which one is better? Well, it depends. If I have to suggest one between the two, I say, read Fumio's goodbye, things, especially if you're still single. But the holistic view that Hammond adopts in this book like family and budgeting (i.e. financing) is very much needed for both singles and married couples in a difficult time nowadays. By the way, consider their ideas and suggestions but don't take them too literally. Follow it if it's good. Tweak it until you're comfortable. Toss it if it's impractical. This is a philosophy, not an orthodox religion.

Let me suggest some FREE resources for you to get to know what is minimalism and probably you can apply some of the ideas in your lives ��� P.s: Just be careful not to be too obsessed with it. I find that the philosophy is harmless but the movement(s) have the potential to become a cult ��� #1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #Minimalism #Philosophy #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

1) DOCUMENTARY. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016) by The Minimalists, click here ��� https://youtu.be/27So9GlE87w 

2) SERMON. Less: A Biblical Guide for Living Joyfully with Less Stuff by Spencer Bernand, click here ��� https://youtu.be/-YzZijLr-bo 

3) BLOG & PODCAST. Becoming Minimalist by Joshua Becker, click here ��� https://www.becomingminimalist.com/

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The Gift of Reading and The Gift of Time #1Book1Week April 2021

 I'm concern with how many of us use the gift of reading and the gift of time nowadays. With no exception, most people would agree with me that reading a good book is better than reading hundreds of random posts on Face-book. Although a heavy use of social media can cause lower levels of literacy and decrease comprehension ability, I bet most of us actually can read fairly well. People who can read very well, but, for whatever reason, are choosing NOT to read a good book is like what Mark Twain observed, "The people who can read but doesn't isn't any better off than the person who can't read."

On second thought, I think Mark Twain is being too modest. I think the person who can read but doesn't is WORST OFF than the person who can't read because they are taking this gift for granted. I've been to rural areas in Sarawak where some of the youths are trying their best to learn to read but because of their culture and limited resources, they can only learn so much. If they have the same kind of opportunities and facilities as most of us in the cities have, they could be as literate as us - and probably even better if they continue to have the thirst for knowledge that we lack. Don't despise the gift of reading and don't waste the gift of time. Or, BOTH WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. God is not fair but He is just ⚡

"Reading," said Burke Hedges, "can transform your life in a flash, and you never know which book... at which time in your life... might be the one that rocks your world and inspires you to grow in ways you never thought possible." Take a good book - and read! ��� By the way, here are my #1Book1Week for April 2021 ���

To read my reviews of these books and more, CLICK HERE.

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #TheGiftsOfReadingAndTime #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Minimalism: The Japanese Art of Declutter to Organize Your Home Life (2018) by Kiku Katana, Somewhat REVIEW

 

Minimalism: The Japanese Art of Declutter to Organize Your Home Life (2018)
by Kiku Katana

One of my habits while reading a book is that I also take time to listen to the author’s interviews and/or talks on podcasts and YouTube and, if available, I listen to the audiobook. In this way, I can absorb more information, catch what I might miss when I’m just reading it and figure how the author thinks or the reasoning process. Also, it helps me to know what is his or her main points (if you can find the author’s TED Talks online that would be superb!). If I’m very interested in the subject, I explore other authors or speakers that cover the same topic. Because of this habit (or rather discipline?), I can somewhat figure out either the author is original – in a sense of the way the author expressing the thoughts or ideas not the actual subject itself, for “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) – or just straight-up plagiarizing.

So, what do I think about Kiku Katana’s Minimalism? Well, to put it mildly, she falls in between. Before this book, I’ve read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Fumio Sasaki’s Goodbye, Things, and Kiku draws heavily from these two books. It is not word-for-word or even thought-for-thought similarities but more like paraphrasing ideas and techniques. Although it is very familiar, repetitive, and not-so-original for me, I find that this book is helpful: 1) as an introduction if you haven’t read any of the minimalist books (one of the definitions of a minimalist that I like is someone who “keeping things very simple”); 2) to remind us that we are living in a very consumeristic society that wants more and so we must examine ourselves and control our impulses to be passive consumers; and 3) the approach to extend the philosophy holistically in our lives not just our dealing with things or stuff is seem unique to Kiku for she also talks about health, finance, and food consumptions. Other than that, it is similar to other books (and most of the popular authors are from Japan, the same culture). Understandably, the subject of minimalism is not that broad and straight to the point. If you ‘get’ the philosophy, then, the execution is a matter of context, purpose, and experience.

I own only less than a dozen of plain t-shirts, use a plastic cardholder as my wallet, I don’t watch TV, no wall decoration in my place so far, almost non-active in social media except for LEGASI.tv, only leave essential apps on my phone, no debt except one, etc., I’m not calling myself a minimalist because a) I might change; b) I’m a maximalist when it comes to physical books and motorcycles; c) It should become a lifestyle not just following the trend; and d) although the term ‘minimalism’ (and even ‘essentialism’) first use as an art term*, I found out that the modern-day teachings of it are rooted from the Zen Buddhism (the practice, however, are ancient). This requires discernment. One of the mottos of minimalism is: “Less is more.” But as Christ-follower, my motto is: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). If it seems like I go with the minimalist mentality, it is because it will lead me to contentment 😊💪

#1Book1Week #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #Minimalism #Essentialism #GodlyContentment #Lifestyle

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BOOK REVIEW Goodbye, things: on minimalist living (2017) by Fumio Sasaki

Goodbye, things: on minimalist living (2017) by Fumio Sasaki

This book was first published in Japan as Bokutachi ni mou mono was Hitsuyou Nai in 2015. A minimalist, said Fumio, an ex-messy-maximalist, is "a person who knows what is truly essential for him – or herself, who reduces the number of possessions that they have for the sake of things that are important to them." What important for each of us are vary, but the essential needs are almost similar. Minimalists "are people who know what's truly necessary for them versus what they may want for the sake of appearance, and they're not afraid to cut down on everything in the second category." It's about choosing needs rather than wants.

Minimalist is a buzzword at Japan (many years ago) and in some other countries today since the publishing of a smash-hit book by Marie Kondo in 2010, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. But for Fumio, he suspects that there are already many minimalists around but since the publishing of Marie's book, they ‘emerged' in Japan. For him, there are three major contributions to the phenomena – in the background – namely:

#1 Information and Material Overload. "…we need to get rid of the extra load that isn't needed."

#2 The Development of Technology and Services that make it possible for us to live without as man possessions as we had in the past. "…we can now get by without actually owning a lot of things.”

#3 The Great East Japan Earthquake. When the not-so-recent tsunami struck the country of Japan (I was there to see the aftermath of the tragedy of tsunami. Horrible!), the people realized that "all of their cherished objects were washed away by the tsunami. Everything had been ruined."

Due to these three contributors, Fumio believes that "minimalism had to be born," the desire and fervent need to rethink our lives. I agree! Throughout the book, the author explains why he became a minimalist and why we have this habit of accumulating so many material things in the first place. Fumio also offers some basic rules and techniques for reducing our material possessions: 55 tips to help you say goodbye to your things, 15 tips for the next stage of your minimalist journey, and 12 ways he has changed since he said goodbye to his things. In short, this book is both personal, a bit of theoretical and very practical. In the last chapter, Fumio describes the different between ‘feeling' happy and ‘becoming' happy. The philosophy of minimalist is so persuasive and urgent for today. Do not be intimidated by the element of Zen Buddhism teachings (this is not a religious book I can assure you) if you're not a Buddhist. It's the way of living, not a religion.

I'm moving to my apartment this coming September. This book helps me to think through about the possessions that I have, how to design my apartment and what to buy or get away with so that I can live happier, freer and lighter. There is one tip that I don't agree with him and will never subscribe to – get rid of my books! No. Books are part of me. I will sell some but mostly I will keep. If to be minimalist means reducing unnecessary items, then books for me is a necessity. Period.

[P.s: By the way, this book remind me of why I love Japan so much. Been there and I've witnessed minimalism in action (memories such as sleeping on a block of wood). Would love to be back soon.]

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