Non Fiction Book Review: Keep What You Love

Keep What You Love by Irene Smit
Keep What You Love: A Visual Decluttering Guide (Flow)
by Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst,  Lotte Dirks (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This book lists things you might want to declutter, and asks the question, “Do I really need it?” Each little page lists one thing, (an empty shoebox, old board games, nuts and screws, enough linens to stock a hotel, old phones, a breadmaker, holiday dinnerware, blank notebooks, and dozens more) and underneath it are checkboxes for “Yes” or “No”.

After every five or six decluttering items, there is a little snippet of advice about decluttering, living more minimally, and letting go of the emotions surrounding your possessions. The tips and advice are interspersed throughout the book, so I would recommend reading all of those first, and then going back and actually doing the declutter items checklist.
The great thing is you don’t HAVE to declutter or get rid of any of the items. You just have to ask yourself, “Do I really need it?” If you answer “Yes”, and you have a real reason why you love the item and use it, then you can keep it with confidence. If you answer “No”, then you can donate or trash the item with a clear conscience.

I love that focus of this book is on what you want to keep, not on what you are throwing in the trash. The whole attitude toward decluttering is purposeful, and that’s what minimalism really is… being intentional about your possessions.

The writing style is encouraging and positive, with lots of funny little witticisms. Some of the items are really funny but also relatable, because we all have some weird lamp, souvenir snow globe, old cassette tapes, novelty pencil sharpener, or dorky item we won at a fair or carnival.

The illustrations are what make this book really special! There are little drawings of each decluttering item, some of them showing the wear and tear on the clothing, and the dirt or grime on the item, and the holes in the socks, and how the silverware is tarnished. The artwork is so whimsical and sweet! I love all the designs in this book!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

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