Marie Kondo's Kurashi at Home

August 15, 2022
Kondo returns with a wise guide to achieving one’s “ideal lifestyle” that builds upon the “spark joy” philosophy laid out in her bestselling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She invites readers to ask themselves “what do you really want to put in order” and to imagine their perfect home. One’s entryway should feel like “a sigh of relief” with just one pair of shoes left out for each family member, a living room should “foster conversation” and have a designated space for each object, and “a good kitchen makes cooking fun.” Then come steps for tidying up each part of a daily routine: morning should involve a good breakfast, daytime plans should stick to an established schedule, and cotton or silk pajamas are a good idea for a calm evening. Along the way, Kondo includes family recipes, among them her mother’s black vinegar chicken wing stew, miso soup, and “amazing amazake.” While some suggestions will likely be a bridge too far (such as wiping the soles of one’s shoes every day), the majority of her advice is sound and easy to implement. This one’s another must-read for Kondophiles.