Minimalism has evolved from an art movement to a lifestyle. Are you looking to declutter your home and reduce the number of your possessions? If so, then a book about minimalism can help you achieve your goals! It'll teach why minimalism can be of use and how to choose which items to throw away and which to keep.
We chose The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo as our favorite book about minimalism. It gives actionable tips on how to declutter your life and explains the philosophy behind her form of minimalism. We’ve also put together a top 10 list for you to consider and created a handy buying guide to help you make your choice!
Quick List - Top Books About Minimalism
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Before buying a book about minimalism, there are a few points you should take into consideration such as format, the author's credentials, and your own goals. To help you with this, we’ve put together this handy buying guide!
Minimalism has become increasingly popular over recent years thanks to popular media such as the Netflix show Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. Most people are now aware of minimalism and how it promotes decluttering and ridding ourselves of our unneeded possessions. However, the philosophy behind minimalism and why we do it is deeper than this.
Minimalism teaches us to concentrate on what we value and aims to free us from consumerism and surrounding ourselves with unnecessary distractions. If you're interested in this philosophy and why minimalism can be of such benefit to us, look for books that expand on this and talk about this philosophy.
There are many books about minimalism and they cover many different aspects of it. Try to identify if there’s a specific angle that intrigues you and look for books that cover that.
These books will help you reduce your possessions and distractions from all corners of your life. They will include advice and techniques that can be applied to everything in your home. They often delve into the philosophy behind minimalism and help you see the positive effects it can have on your home, family, and working life.
If you’re struggling with the amount of time you spend on social media and can’t spend time away from your phone without wanting to check the news, digital minimalism may be what you need. These books aim to help you only use technology when it is necessary, instead of spending hours mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds.
So many of us have closets that are on the verge of bursting open. We keep clothes that don't fit, don't suit us, or are only suitable for rare occasions. Books that concentrate on wardrobe minimalism can help us cut down on our clothes and ensure that we only purchase clothes that will be of use to us.
Check the credentials of the author to make sure that what you’re reading is well-researched. Does the author have experience in helping people reduce their clutter? Is there an actionable plan that can be followed or is it just pages of stories that may be insightful, but lacking in actual advice?
Take advantage of any sample pages that are available so you can see if you like what the book says. You can also check the reviews. Different things work for different people, so a few negative reviews shouldn’t be a deterrent, but you can get a general feel for how effective the advice is and whether it offers anything new.
Books aren’t just physical anymore; the vast majority are now also available as e-Books and audiobooks. Depending on your reading style and the book itself, choosing a different format may be of more benefit to you.
If you’re looking at books that will give you advice and tips on how to reduce your clutter, then why not choose the audiobook? This way, you can listen to the techniques while actually sorting through your items or looking at what you need to do.
The ability to search within an eBook could be very useful when looking for specific information in non-fiction books. An index will help you find some information but isn’t as powerful as being able to search the entire book for specific words or phrases. You can add notes and as many bookmarks as you wish, too!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marie Kondo The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up | ![]() | Popular Book That Has Helped Many Readers | |
2 | Erica Layne The Minimalist Way | ![]() | A Guide for Living a Minimalistic Life | |
3 | Francine Jay The Joy of Less | ![]() | Involves Your Family and Helps the Environment | |
4 | Fumio Sasaki Goodbye, Things | ![]() | A Personal Journey Through Minimalism | |
5 | Zoë Kim Minimalism for Families | ![]() | Minimalism for Families | |
6 | Joshua Becker The Minimalist Home | ![]() | Flexible Minimalist Method That Can be Applied by Many | |
7 | Courtney Carver Project 333 | ![]() | Reduce and Learn to Live With a Minimalistic Wardrobe | |
8 | Cal Newport Digital Minimalism | ![]() | Research and Tips on How to Reduce Your Digital Life | |
9 | Joshua Becker The More of Less | ![]() | A Motivating and Inspiring Take on Minimalizm | |
10 | Greg McKeown Essentialism | ![]() | Best for Minimalism in Your Working Life |
One of the driving forces behind the recent boom in minimalism, this book by Marie Kondo has sold millions of copies. The author helps you sort through all of your belongings with her decluttering system and aims to help you make a lifelong change.
For some reviewers, the core concept of this book is too simplistic. They also report that some of the tips are impractical for their own personal situations.
Many reviewers say that this book helped them change their lives and declutter their homes as nothing else has. They liked the stories and examples throughout the book from Kondo and her clients.
This book tackles all aspects of your life, such as decluttering your home and how minimalism can help your family life and finances. It outlines the philosophy behind minimalism and gives you tips on how to achieve it.
Reviewers say that this book is more about a minimalist lifestyle than being a guide on how to do it. The book does have some tips, but reviewers say these are only suitable for beginners to minimalism.
But many reviewers actually like that the book focuses more on life than on decluttering their homes and getting rid of possessions. They praise that the book doesn't assume everyone is the same but instead offers strategies that anyone can implement.
The minimalism journey in this book is split into four parts. First, the author takes you through the reasons behind using minimalism in your life and encourages you. The second part introduces you to the author's method, and the final two parts help you apply this to each room of your house and get your family on board.
Some reviewers found the author to be too long-winded and use too many words for the points she was trying to make. Others say that some of the advice is too specific, making some of the hints too difficult to implement.
Other reviewers say the book is very relatable. They like that there is a section on how to introduce your family to minimalism as this is often overlooked in minimalism books. Many also like that the author takes a look at decluttering with the view of helping the environment, too.
This book isn't a detailed book that concentrates on theory but is instead one man's personal journey of embracing minimalism. Sasaki guides you through his minimalism process, its benefits, and gives tips on how to achieve it.
The personal aspect of the book is divisive amongst reviewers. Many people liked that touch and found it easier to relate to and to apply to their own lives, but others didn't like the author's perspective.
Many reviewers like that the author once lived a cluttered life and is sharing tips that helped him personally, instead of preaching ideas that aren't proven. They found it motivating and easy to follow.
This book focuses on how minimalism can help families and how to get even the kids involved. It introduces the reader to the philosophy of minimalism and gives practical tips for each room of the house.
Reviewers who have experience with minimalism and have read other books say that this book doesn't offer anything new. It also may not be ideal for every family as it is more geared towards middle-class families with older children.
Reviewers praise this book for concentrating on minimalism when sharing a home with other people. They say the tone of the book is friendly and not judgemental, making it a pleasant and quick read.
This book takes you on a decluttering tour of your home. It has practical tips for how to reduce your possessions and live a more productive life.
A few reviewers found this book to be very repetitive as the same tips are repeated for each room.
Others like that the author's minimalism method is more flexible than many other systems. They say it doesn't subscribe to a strict aesthetic as many other books do. Reviewers find it inspirational and like the tone of the book.
This book aims to slash your wardrobe by reducing it to 33 items for three months. The book is full of tips on how to decide which clothes to keep and which to dispose of, while also focusing on self-care.
Some reviewers report that the book is simplistic in its approach. They say it is best for beginners of minimalism or shopaholics.
Reviewers praise the friendly tone of the book and say it is easy to follow. They like that the book addresses the reasons behind why so many of us indulge in retail therapy and that it gives useful hints to decide which clothes to dispose of.
This book aims to help you declutter your digital life. It doesn't just ask you to mute notifications or switch off completely but gives tips on how to use technology in considered and purposeful ways.
Some reviewers found this book to be simplistic and not as helpful for their circumstances as they had hoped. They especially say that it is not suitable for anyone who feels more comfortable socializing online than on the phone or face-to-face.
Other reviewers say that the author's digital reset and gradual reintroduction of technology were very useful for them. They say this was easy to follow and they found it very beneficial. They also like the research and anecdotes about technology.
The author draws on his personal experience of decluttering his life to help others achieve the same. The book encourages the readers through practical suggestions to declutter their lives in a way that suits them.
The author is a former pastor and relates his tips to his life as a Christian throughout the book. If this isn't an approach that appeals to you, you might want to choose a different book.
Many reviewers found this book to be inspiring and a helpful aid when reducing their possessions. They say it is very motivating and gives useful tips on how to declutter their lives.
If you're looking to apply minimalism to your working life and tasks, this is the book for you. The book aims to teach you how to decide what is necessary and to use your time more wisely.
Several reviewers found this book difficult to relate to as it doesn't take into account family commitments as much as it should. They say it is best for business people looking to reduce their workload.
Other reviewers found the book very useful. They like that the author gave personal stories and guides the reader to make their own decisions instead of telling them what is important and isn't.
Minimalism can help us streamline and improve our lives by decluttering our homes and lifestyles. There are many other techniques we can implement into our daily routines and many books to help us learn them. We have some more book recommendations for you to check out!
No. 1: Marie Kondo|The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
No. 2: Erica Layne|The Minimalist Way
No. 3: Francine Jay|The Joy of Less
No. 4: Fumio Sasaki|Goodbye, Things
No. 5: Zoë Kim|Minimalism for Families
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