I typically stay away from self-help books (most of them seem like the author is trying to profit off of people's lack of self-confidence, which never sits well with me). But after many failed attempts at getting my room in order, I figured I'd skim this for some good tips. I ended up reading it cover to cover - partly because it had some great concepts, and partly because Marie Kondo is hilariously insane. 
 There is a method to Ms. Kondo's madness though, and I think overall it makes sense. A lot of it is reminiscent of the Japanese art of feng shui, which is a fascinating subject in its own right. The basis of the KonMari method is: why keep things that don't currently bring you joy? By deciding what does and ditching what doesn't, you pare down your possessions to what matter most to you, and you aren't overwhelmed by stuff you forgot you even had. By having a place for everything, nothing can ever be misplaced. I also loved reading about how tidiness can bring you happiness. It is definitely a lot easier to relax within a clean and organized room (which mine rarely is). 
 But then there's Kondo's blatantly obvious OCD. I didn't count but I'd estimate about 17 times Kondo mentions that she started tidying at the age of five (this book can get very repetitive at times). She would tidy not only her own room, but her siblings as well (my sisters definitely would've murdered me if I decided to tidy/throw away their stuff). This is not normal five-year-old behavior. And she only gets worse as she grows. From insisting that everything has to be stored vertically and folded correctly, to hanging wet sponges on her veranda, to thanking each and every item for getting her through the day...I just couldn't read these parts without laughing out loud or rolling my eyes. This is the cuckoo crap that has me avoiding self-help books in general. Telling people they should say hello to their house everyday and thanking it for sheltering you? Come on. 
 And then I would feel bad, because OCD is no laughing matter. This quote straight up made me sad for Kondo: "It was material things and my house that taught me unconditional love first, not my parents or friends." I hope she has been able to find love outside of her handbags. I really do. 
 I'm going to give the basics of the KonMari method a try. Will I be saying goodnight to my shoes? Probably not. Will I be ripping out my favorite pages of books I don't really need to keep but have trouble parting with? ABSOLUTELY NOT. This suggestion hurt my heart, as does any mention of vandalizing perfectly good books. My full bookshelf and teetering book piles spark copious amounts of joy. But I can't deny the basic principles of KonMari seem worth putting into practice. We shall see if my half-hearted approach works. If not, I'll find a way to be happy in my untidy room without having to date my socks.