A nice positive thing - going through your "treasures" can have a reward

[leftieNanner]

My daughter gave me the new Tidying Up book for Christmas. Subtle hint?

Anyway, I sorted through my bookshelves and found three large boxes of books that I didn't need any more. I decided to let them go to another house to be loved by someone else. So I took the boxes to a local used bookstore. They told me they would either give me cash or credit towards other books. Knowing that I didn't need to bring more books back into the house, I called the high school to see if one of my daughter's favorite English teachers was still there so I could give him the credit to use for his class. He had recently retired, but the Admin at the school told me that the teacher of one of the special needs classes was trying to track down 18 used copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for his students.

Excellent! So I took the credit (plus a few bucks) back to the bookstore, bought the three new copies they had in stock and ordered the other 15. These kids will all have new books that their teacher certainly couldn't afford, and I got to clean out some extra stuff in my house. A win-win, I would say.

What do you have in your closets or cupboards?

[blue neen]

1. What a good idea!

Thanks for the suggestions.

[MLAA]

2. I like to sprinkle designer treasures..

When I clear out for good will /veterans/ big brother big sister organizations I like to sprinkle in a few designer treasures. Hoping somebody comes across them and claims them for their own with joy. It makes me smile.

[Croney]

3. You did good! Watching Tidying Up inspired me to revamp my linen closet.

Right now there are several hundred books stacked on my dining room table because the bookcases were moved to paint the wall. I'd love to donate some of them somewhere. My problem is that I pick up a book, look through it, put it down, then repeat until the day is gone and I make plans to cull out some books... tomorrow.

[fierywoman]

4. You can also donate books to libraries if they have a (used) book shop. And certain Goodwills

sell the books on Amazon's used book section.

[leftieNanner]

19. There were some of the books that the bookstore did not take

and I did donate them to the Goodwill.

Brilliant minds...

[pamela]

5. That's a good mindset for getting rid of clutter.

I think it takes a mental shift from "what do I have to get rid of" to "what do I have that someone else would love or need more than I do."

I was in a thrift store once, just looking around after I had dropped off a few things. I overheard a woman talking to the clerk about an event she needed a nice outfit for. Her son was graduating, as was his girlfriend, and the girlfriend's parents were throwing a fancy party. I was so struck by that.I went home and couldn't stop thinking about that woman. I went to my closet and pulled out a bunch of nice dresses I never wore but felt "too guilty" to get rid of. Now, I was actually excited about taking them to the thrift shop. I know it was probably too late for that woman to see them but maybe someone else found a nice outfit for a special event.

I always think about that woman when I'm getting rid of things. I actually get excited when I come across something really nice to give away. It brings me joy to think it might get to go to a fancy party.

[volstork]

7. That's a great way to think about it.

I've been in clean-out mode myself, and may take in some old dresses I never wear any more.

[EveHammond13]

6. I love this! And acts like this create a wonderful snowball effect, too. Good work!

[demigoddess]

8. bought some books for myself for christmas. I will give what books I have to clean off

the shelves to Goodwill.

those kids will love those books!!

[DRoseDARs]

9. I'm glad you decided to donate the books instead.

Marie Kondo. Much literary blood has been spilled over her and her views.

If part of a book gives you joy, KEEP THE DAMN BOOK and any you don't read yes, donate them or give them as gifts. Tearing out pages? Jesus fuck no. Then she just threw those away too. The intentional, physical destruction of books is the realm of tyrants and regressives throughout the history of the written word for whom knowledge is a direct challenge to and a check on their power. It is perhaps the greatest sin a sapient creature can do, it is so antithetical to sapience. Books are whole narratives and in doing that, you remove the context and full meaning of the passage. You disenfranchise the author's message for your own selfish, ignorant desires and unenrich yourself in the process, and deny another the opportunity to enrich themselves from the same tome you've elected to destroy. Keeping personal libraries shows a dedication to knowledge and the physical manifestation of sapience and the Human Experience. No animal in creation can lay claim to such a fundamental example of enlightened existence as a person with a book. Yes, one *can* get too many but that is simply a practical matter of limitation of space. One must decide for themselves whether a single shelf of 30 books or a room of 30 shelves of books is appropriate. Digital copies are all well and good, but what happens when the provider goes offline or belly-up, or the publisher decides nah I don't want that distributor selling copies? Your copy, paid for with your money, is gone forever unless the seller had an existing and progressive policy that allowed persistent copies to exist DRM-free.

Hers is the opinion of a self-help guru trying to... irony of ironies... sell books. The Japanese have many amazing traditions and worldviews, but destroying books isn't part of that. She's managed to raise all kinds of hackles in the book-lovers' community. Hopefully enough are well-read enough to know better.

[leftieNanner]

11. I guess I haven't gotten to that part of her book yet

Destroy books????? That's absolutely nuts! For the three boxes that I took to the used bookstore, I kept the treasured ones - my favorite books from my childhood, my late father's set of Charles Dickens that I still read from time to time, the books that I read to my daughters - over and over and over again.

[DRoseDARs]

13. From what I understand, her actual comments were fairly tame, but still problematic...

The monster did admit to tearing pages out and discarding the rest of her victim, then later discarding those pages as well. *heavy breathing* And she does note that 30 is the number that works for her, but do find your own number. Mostly people reacted poorly because she's fairly casual about her seeming disregard for books, that they're just like any other disposable bauble or knickknack. Many, myself included, think that's wrong and she doesn't give due respect to them. Trying to couch her opinion into the notion it's just Japanese minimalist culture rings hollow and merit-less for many. Other things she said struck some as implying you mostly *shouldn't* bother with books because reasons? I don't think she meant keep yourself ignorant, but it was worded in a way that was open to interpretation and made many uncomfortable. That could just be a cultural thing that her meaning didn't translate well when put to print.

For me, the tearing out of pages was enough for me to discard any notion of listening to her. It was grotesque even though she admitted to only doing it one time. The casualness of it really bothers me and is indicative of deeper problems. No, I don't think she's a fascist and wants to lead a book burning, but for reasons I stated in the previous post I think she's missing why people are upset.

[leftieNanner]

20. I agree with you

Books have been treasures for my family for ever. I am of a generation that we didn't even have a TV until I was in 8th grade!

I don't love every book that I read, but other than extensive travel, I think reading provides windows into other places and times that are valuable for having a good world perspective.

The Tidy woman sounds a bit myopic in my opinion. But it's still a good idea for me to get rid of stuff I don't need and liberate it to someone else who might.

[Generic Brad]

10. Nothing

I made two interstate moves in the past three years and down scaled to increasingly smaller places each time. My wife and I also became empty nesters. I just have the essentials and have found I don’t need much anymore.

[leftieNanner]

21. Good for you

I'm trying to head in that direction.

[lunatica]

12. I love this story!

That’s a gift that will leave a good mark for a lifetime! Everyone remembers their favorite books their entire lives!

[FakeNoose]

14. These days, almost all of my books are ebooks

... and I do own thousands. I'd never be able to store printed books the way I've archived my ebooks. I have enough to read in my next life too.

However your suggestion to de-clutter is a good one. I need to clean out closets and give old clothes away to the GoodWill.

[TeamPooka]

15. You can pry my books from my cold dead hands. nt

[leftieNanner]

22. THIS!

[bedazzled]

16. Goodwill is an awful, abusive organization

I work there and it is dreadful. Dangerous working conditions. Injure yourself you are gone. Medieval pay, except upper management, which pays itself quite well.
They create high paying jobs for relatives and friends to spread the wealth from your donations. Low paid store cashiers haven't had a raise in years. Psychopathic, inept and cruel management. Look at their reputation online and you will see. I am an old fat woman and can't seem to find other work or I would leave gladly. I have posted this before for those who don't know. There are many better places to donate your goods. I use habitat. Hope to work at habitat sometime soon.

[demigoddess]

23. in our area is Value Village. Maybe they will get my books instead.

I thought Goodwill was a good organization. I'm shocked.

[bedazzled]

24. Ya can't believe the ads ... unfortunately

There are many better organizations. Most money earned goes right to the highly paid management staff. It is disgraceful

[crazycatlady]

17. I put my books in the town's 'Little Free Library"

It's like a take a penny, leave a penny for books. I've found some good reads in there too. That way someone can enjoy them.

I no longer buy books. I use the library instead. If I will read the book more than once (reference), I will get it used

[malaise]

18. What a great post

Rec