Book SummaryGoodbye, Things, by Fumio Sasaki

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Goodbye, Things

What if all the possessions you’ve accumulated are holding you back from a life of focus, purpose, and fulfillment? That’s what Tokyo-based editor and publisher Fumio Sasaki discovered in his journey toward a minimalist lifestyle. He made a conscious decision to throw away nearly all of his belongings, keeping only the bare necessities, and found that it transformed not only his personal space, but his entire life.

In Goodbye, Things (2015; first English edition: 2017), Sasaki shares his story, arguing that you can become a happier, freer, and more focused version of yourself by eliminating all the clutter in your life. He presents minimalism as more than an...

Goodbye, Things Summary Part 1: Why You Have Too Much Stuff

Sasaki argues that most people have too much stuff. Maybe it’s a garage full of tools you never use, or a closet stuffed with clothes you haven’t worn in years, or a basement full of inherited furniture. How did you acquire all this stuff to begin with? Sasaki explains that most of your possessions come from attempts to fulfill emotional, not practical, needs. In this section, we’ll explore the emotional drives that motivate you to accumulate and hold onto these unnecessary possessions.

(Shortform note: Research has substantiated the view that people own an excessive number of possessions, especially in the US. The average household move in the US contains 8,000 pounds of items, and many Americans store extra possessions outside of their homes—making for a $24 billion self-storage industry. By contrast, some extreme minimalists report owning as few as 42 possessions, enough to carry around in a backpack.)

1) You Accumulate Things to Demonstrate Your Value

Sasaki argues that **you accumulate new...

Goodbye, Things Summary Part 2: Why Minimalism Makes You Happier

According to Sasaki, if you have too much stuff, you need to get rid of some of it. You can do this by embracing minimalism—an approach to life where you consciously decide to only own the bare necessities. To do this, you must consider the merit of each item you own—is it essential, or are you merely holding onto it for the emotional reasons outlined above? If it’s not essential, Sasaki encourages you to get rid of it. He elaborates that there isn’t a specific number of possessions someone needs to eliminate to become a minimalist, but that becoming a minimalist means making a personal choice about what you actually need.

Sasaki argues that getting rid of unnecessary belongings not only makes your home less cluttered, but that it leads to a more fulfilling, enjoyable, and purposeful life. He found that his own life transformed as he embraced minimalism. Sasaki achieved greater clarity of purpose, an improved mood, and more time and freedom than he had previously thought possible.

Criticism of Minimalist Philosophy

In advocating for minimalism, Sasaki takes part in [a growing minimalist...

Goodbye, Things Summary Part 3: How to Let Go of Possessions

Now that we’ve established that most of your possessions are unnecessary and that you’ll be happier without them, the question remains: How should you get rid of them? Sasaki also offers a range of practical tips for embracing a minimalist lifestyle, which we’ve organized into three categories: changing your mindset, starting to discard things, and keeping yourself from acquiring new things.

Recommendation #1: Embrace a Minimalist Mindset

Sasaki explains that before you start getting rid of things, you’ll need to change your mindset. He offers five specific shifts that will help you develop a minimalist way of thinking.

1) Understand that You Can Get Rid of Things

First, Sasaki recommends letting go of the idea that you can’t get rid of things. You may believe that you’re personally hardwired to hold onto things, and that while minimalism works for others, you could never do it yourself. While this view may be common, Sasaki argues that it isn’t true—anyone can become a minimalist if they put their mind to it.

(Shortform note: According to some psychologists, changing the way you perceive yourself may require [changing the story you tell about...

Shortform Exercise: Begin Your Minimalist Journey

This exercise will give you a chance to start applying Sasaki’s philosophy, beginning your journey toward minimalism.

Sasaki advises that you imagine starting over from scratch with no possessions to determine what you’d find most useful. Write a list of the items that you absolutely couldn’t live without.