“Enchanted with organizing” since childhood, tidying expert and bestselling author Marie Kondo rose to fame when her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, hit the U.S. market in 2014. Five years later, she channeled her de-cluttering philosophy into a series of inspiring home makeovers on Netflix’s hit show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.
Sharing three of her favorite books for sparking joy with Air Mail, Kondo included a Scandinavian recipe book, Elizabeth Gilbert’s guide to creative living, and a Japanese tome on restoring physical strength. Find her essential reads below.
Scandinavian Gatherings: From Afternoon Fika to Midsummer Feast by Melissa Bahen
“This book features Scandinavian-inspired recipes for parties and entertaining, but I keep it as a coffee-table book rather than a cooking book. Its use of color and beautiful styling are so lovely that simply looking at the pages sparks joy for me!” -MK
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (also rec’d by Rupi Kaur)
“As a writer, I deeply admire Elizabeth Gilbert’s work and the way she crafts a story. When a certain word or phrase intrigues me while I’m reading a book, I’ll earmark the page to revisit and reflect on it. I’ve done that in 46 places in this book. Big Magic will resonate not only with people who make a living by expressing themselves creatively but also with anyone who wishes to lead a life that is true to his or her heart. I had the pleasure of meeting with Elizabeth not long ago. She was soft-spoken, and her eyes emanated such a strong light that I could feel that she was no ordinary person.” -MK
Yamato Nadeshiko Seitai Dokuhon by Makoto Saegusa
“This book (available only in Japanese) is a bit old-fashioned, taking as its theme how Japanese people can maximize their physical energy to attain a healthier lifestyle. The book is not very long, and it features plenty of illustrations, so it’s a great one to flip through. It’s the kind of book that I like to turn to whenever I need to restore my physical strength, or if I notice that I’ve been getting tired too easily.” -MK
(via Air Mail)