The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning - Margareta Magnusson

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

By Margareta Magnusson

  • Release Date: 2018-01-02
  • Genre: Lifestyle & Home
Score: 4
4
From 117 Ratings

Description

*The basis for the wonderfully funny and moving TV series developed by Amy Poehler and Scout Productions*

A charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.

In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.

Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.

Reviews

  • Guide might be a misnomer

    4
    By Atlz3
    If you are expecting steps to declutter or minimize this is not your book. For me somewhere between 60 and 100 ( author is between 80 and 100) this helps me find a way to let go of stuff and not buy more. One phrase resonates go look at stuff doesn’t mean you have to buy it. I’ll start now giving away stuff to visitors ( if they want- we gave airline first class amenities bags to our last visitors we still have at least a dozen!) hopefully in 5-10 years when we downsize our home it will be less of a chore. Book is a good quick read not morbid, look around your home do you really want someone else to decide what to do with all your stuff?
  • You will be happy you did your own cleaning

    4
    By Ruben.Omar
    She is a wise and practical person, even on my thirties I am doing my own death cleaning and loving it. It’s been also a nice way to chat to my parents about it
  • Best book on clearing and organizing your stuff.

    5
    By Camisrview
    I loved this book. The principles of her method are mingled with stories in a loving way that helps break some of the psychological barriers some of us have to the whole clearing/ cleaning out process. I’ll share this with several people who, like me are struggling with this task.
  • Disappointed

    1
    By mj323900!
    This book was a collection or of the ladies life. It in no way gave me any advice of how to clean out my belongings or as the doctors put it "put my affairs in order" feel like I wasted my money.
  • A good read

    4
    By j2jd
    A good read, but nothing I didn’t already know.