Tea & Read January Non-Fiction Review: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Title: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondo

Rating: Two Cups of Tea (3 Stars)

Blurb:

Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list). 

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

Terri’s Review:

This book has been on the NYT Bestseller list since it’s been published. One of my coworkers at Barnes & Noble read it and loved it. She raved about it so much, I decided to give it a try. This book definitely makes you think about the clutter in your life in a different way. As a person who loved clean, clutter free anything, this book spoke to me in that manner. One of the best things about the KoMari Method is that it really makes you think about why you keep the things you keep. I was a little indifferent about the litmus test she used of what you should keep and what you should toss, but that was kinda minor. I don’t know if I was ready to get into my feelings about my clutter. This book definitely made me what to clean, but felt a little anti-climatic since Kondo has a method in which you are to clean. I would recommend you not read this book until you are ready to start the purging process. I will put many of the things she suggests into practice. I may have to read her new book, too.

Here are my February reads:

Fiction: A Virtuous Ruby by Piper Hugley

Non-fiction: Infectious Madness: The Surprising Science of How We "Catch" Mental Illness by Heneretta A. Washington

My upcoming reviews will be posted in the sidebar. Comment below if you want to read along!

Tea & Read: Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World

Title: Soul Detox

Author:

Genre: Christian Living

Rating: Spend the day sleepy (★★★★★)

I heard about this book when an interview from the author aired on my local Christian radio station. I immediately hunted it down and it was worth the trouble.

Blurb:

As believers we are called to be in the world, but not conformed to its desires or values. This can be more difficult than we think. More often than not we feel compromised by ungodly influences and emotions like anger, envy, fear, and unforgiveness leak into our hearts and minds. When these feelings take up residence, like a musty house, our souls need a thorough spring cleaning.

Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel explores how we can overcome the emotional and spiritual toxins that assault us daily. With grace and insight you'll be challenged to examine areas of complacency and bring them into the light of God's holiness. Learn how to be free from toxic emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, and discover the freedom of choosing to live with the mind of Christ.

This book was excellent and very timely. Groeschel does a great job of presenting the information in the book in a very practical manner, which is great for Christian living books. His detailed treatment of the toxins Christians encounter in live prompts some serious introspection. He makes a point not to command readers to abstain from toxic behaviors, but he encourages honest examination of self and their relationship with God. With his honest and frank explanations, it’s not hard to see the impact toxicity has on believers.

Most of all, Groeschel’s theology is rightly divided. I’ve read far too many authors that stretch theology to meet their book’s theme. This book is not one of them. Strengthen by clear writing, the scriptures ring out loud and clear.

If you looking for a way to “clean up” your relationship with God from the inside out, this wonderful power-packed book is perfect for the job.