Some months ago my sister, who is a very tidy person, sent me a book called The Life-changing Magic of Tidying. Unlike my sister, I am not a tidy person, so obviously I am the sort of individual such a book aims to help.

Although I had not, prior to this, heard of the author, a young Japanese woman named Marie Kondo, I soon discovered her simple message had elevated her to the status of the guru of declutter, the queen of the tidy-up. Kondo calls her method ‘Konmari’ (a variation on her name) and has forged a career for herself doing what she says she loves best -- helping people to reclaim the space around their clutter.

Kondo’s method discourages chronic tidying up and says what you should do is "start by discarding, all at once". This involves a massive audit of one’s belongings and the adoption of a new approach to what you actually own. She recommends ‘marathon tidying’, not one shelf or cupboard at a time but a complete overhaul -- putting all of your belongings on the floor (books, clothes, whatever) and then discarding everything except things that "bring you joy" -- of which she elaborates "my criterion for deciding to keep an item is that we should feel a thrill of joy when we touch it". She discourages keeping anything you do not cherish in any way or anything that does not bring you any joy.

She also recommends talking to your belongings and repeatedly expressing your gratitude to them: "express your appreciation to every item that supported you during the day. If you find it hard to do this daily then at least do it whenever you can".

She insists that the whole process can be transformative -- as it will clear space not just physically but mentally as well. Kondo also insists that the process can take your life in a new and exciting direction and lend greater clarity to your existence.

Kondo’s book has become an international bestseller and she now has a client waiting list of over three months. She is suddenly hugely in demand, the doyen of de-cluttering. But basically what she is saying is that we should all have the confidence to believe in ourselves, our instincts and our feelings (‘joy’) and have the confidence to live unfettered by acquisitions.

Thus far, I have only read the book. I have not put any of it in practice even though it makes ample sense. The thought of laying all of my books on the floor and discarding of the majority just seems too overwhelming. How on earth can anybody throw books out of their lives? I am always distrustful of people whose homes have no books in them. Kondo recommends transforming your life through "the magic of tidying" but what if her method becomes the end rather than the means?

Kondo is a cleaning/organising evangelist and makes no attempts to conceal her utter excitement at the prospect of tidying something and introducing order into clutter. In so many ways I do agree with her, but I feel I’m just not ready to turn my home into a minimalist and shrine-like interior….

You see -- as with so many thing in life -- Konmari sounds a great deal more do-able and therapeutic than it actually is. But I plan to implement it soon -- or at least take the first step -- i.e. visualise my home as clutter free… hopefully, the rest will just follow.

Best wishes,