Read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson Online

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Book by The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter The Case for Swedish Death Cleaning Your Home The Swedish are good at so many things pop music, smoked fish, architecture, furniture and now, they bring us Swedish Death Cleaning. Things to Know About Swedish Death Cleaning Family Yes, the name Swedish Death Cleaning is off putting but it s kind of meant to jar you into action to decrease the burden on your family Find out what you need to Swedish Death Cleaning Taking Minimalism to the Swedish Death Cleaning Taking Minimalism to the Next Level Being that half my genetic stock traces back to the Vikings and my best childhood memories arise from my What Is Swedish Death Cleaning Dstdning BUY NOW , Magnusson is the author of the upcoming book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime A Year to Clear A Daily Guide to Creating Spaciousness A Year to Clear A Daily Guide to Creating Spaciousness In Your Home and Heart Stephanie Bennett Vogt on FREE shipping on qualifying offers The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up The Japanese Art Enter your mobile number or email address below and we ll send you a link to download the free Kindle App Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone No Holds Barred Living in a world of too much New My tonic drug for getting over the flu and Death Cleaning. Why it s your mother s duty to de clutter her home Jody Lawrance decided to de clutter her home after being overwhelmed when going through her mother s belongings after she died Margareta Magnusson shared tips on Torrentz Search Engine Torrentz will always love you Farewell Torrentz

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter Reviews

• 
  Carol

  I love the gentle art of Swedish death cleaning. The idea of it, that is. Not so much the book, though. I gave it two stars just because I think it's a good idea, even if really poorly executed. Thankfully, I won this book in a giveaway and didn't waste my own money on it. As a public service, I will save you the the cost of the book with a quick summary. I'd say that I'm also saving you time, but this book took literally 40 minutes to read - and that included my husband interrupting me to come I love the gentle art of Swedish death cleaning. The idea of it, that is. Not so much the book, though. I gave it two stars just because I think it's a good idea, even if really poorly executed. Thankfully, I won this book in a giveaway and didn't waste my own money on it. As a public service, I will save you the the cost of the book with a quick summary. I'd say that I'm also saving you time, but this book took literally 40 minutes to read - and that included my husband interrupting me to come to the study and proofread something for him!
  
  The premise is that we are all going to die. The older you get, obviously, the sooner that will happen. And when you die, your stuff becomes your heirs' burden. Death cleaning, or döstädning, is about off-loading things that no one will want after you are gone to reduce that burden. So get rid of your crap.
  
  That's it. That's what is of value in this book. The rest of it is random reminiscing about life in Sweden and an odd coyness about the author's age. Seriously, she says several times that she is "between 80 and 100." I found that irritating enough to google it - she's 83. Mystery revealed. I can't imagine saying I'm between 50 and 70. Although maybe I should tell people I'm between 30 and 56.
  
  Other tidbits from the book: She has a "stylish" leopard-print apron she wishes she could wear all the time. She repurposed a metal wok into a hat. She's remarkably snarky about her kids. Like this: "Still, I know families who live in a complete mess (I won't mention the names of my children here, but you know who you are.)" Well. Isn’t that lovely. She also kept some of her kids' baby clothes to spur their own procreation. "And when grandchildren failed to arrive, I would take the box down and remind my lazy children of what I wanted. It worked. Now I have 8 grandchildren." Jesus.
  
  Technology notes: She wishes she'd used tape to hold together papers instead of staples because you can't put staples through a shredder. Um, yeah you can. Also, a hook to hang your keys on doesn't actually "cost nothing" unless you steal it. And while she notes that encyclopedias are no longer necessary because of the wonders of the internet, she does hang on to reference books like a dictionary, a thesaurus, and an atlas. Because apparently she doesn't know those answers can also be found online.
  
  In a section on accumulation she says, "We feel like last year's colonial style of dark wood and bamboo has to be exchanged for this year's clean white Nordic minimalism"... "This is wasteful but not a huge problem if we remember to get rid of last year's things before we buy the new ones." Well, I beg to differ, Ms. Magnusson, it is indeed a huge problem. That kind of mindless consumption is killing the planet.
  
  Among the things she's held onto are ladles made from coconut shells (Ah, NOW I know what my kitchen is missing!) and a "small tea strainer of plaited bamboo, far too brittle and beautiful for daily use." Okay, forget the whole idea of using what you have. She feels these things will be "easy to place with anyone," but she also tells a story of a beautiful bracelet her father gave her that she sold rather than risk a possible fight over it when she died. She really doesn't seem to like her kids much.
  
  An additional reason to death clean is to rid your house of items others might find upsetting. Like grandma's collection of dildos. "Save your favorite dildo - but throw away the other fifteen!" (At this point in the book, I found myself wondering if I had any brain bleach on hand.)
  
  A side note - when I was googling her age, I watched a bit of an interview with the author. In it, she was dusting a packed bookshelf with loads of knick knacks in front of the books. So how much death cleaning is she really doing? Walk the walk, man, especially if you are selling a book about it.
  
  And the book wraps up with "I will feel so content and happy when I have done most of this work.... And if I don't die, I will probably go shopping. Again!" What the actual fuck? I do believe that for Margareta Magnusson, senility started to creep in somewhere between 80 and 100. ...more
• 
  Kay Carman

  Author Magnusson says she's between 80 and 100 and is doing her own death cleaning, the process of sorting through one's possessions and giving away, selling, or discarding things that are no longer necessary for your lifestyle. That's probably because you've reached the stage that you're no longer able to maintain your belongings and surroundings and are moving to an apartment or retirement community.
  
  The book is brief and the writing style folksy and warm. One paragraph I read today that made Author Magnusson says she's between 80 and 100 and is doing her own death cleaning, the process of sorting through one's possessions and giving away, selling, or discarding things that are no longer necessary for your lifestyle. That's probably because you've reached the stage that you're no longer able to maintain your belongings and surroundings and are moving to an apartment or retirement community.
  
  The book is brief and the writing style folksy and warm. One paragraph I read today that made me laugh out loud was about pets: "If I were to have a pet now when I am this old, I would like that pet to be old, too. I am too lazy to raise a puppy, and can't go for the long walks a young dog requires. If I were to get a dog, and I think about doing this sometimes, I would go to a kennel and ask if they had an old and tired doggy that I could take care of." I loved that.
  
  I have unknowingly been death cleaning for five years. When I retired in 2013 I systematically began going through my house, every closet, shelf, drawer, and cupboard, organizing and discarding. I've done the whole house again each year since. That's coming in handy now that I live in a house that has hardly any storage. Rather than buying more storage units I'm trying to reduce the stuff to be stored.
  
  When I first wrote this review I said that "I didn't learn anything new because I'm already there." As I've continued to think about it, though, I realize I did come away with something new to consider and hopefully incorporate into my life. That is that I need to develop a mindset in which I can see something I like/admire (and nine times out of ten it's going to be at Pier 1!) and realize that I don't have to own it.
  
  The author gave good advice on not starting with letters and pictures.
  
  I am totally invested in the idea of managing your own possessions so those you leave behind won't have to spend their time sorting through years of your accumulations. Think of it as cleaning up after yourself but before. ...more
• 
  Anne M.

  A sweet little book with tips, memories, tales, and tiny drawings from an "older woman" on dealing with the accumulated objects and memories of your life. Good for one at any age. I will loan it to my parents.
• 
  Tracy

  I loved this book. The gentle voice of the writer reminded me so much of my German mother in law. It was lovely and inspiring. It is funny because I disliked Marie Kondo’s book so much I really couldn’t read it at all. But this I loved. It is kind of inspiring and I feel like I need to do some death cleaning of my own.
• 
  Susan Underbrink

  A big thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC for my honest review. The name may be off putting but it is well worth the quick read that it is. I had just gotten back from a trip to Sweden and the name caught my eye. What the heck? I have been to Sweden loads of times and have never heard of this...so curiosity aroused I requested it. I have just gone through an unwanted divorce and so am clearing and cleaning out my house. Not for the same reasons but sort of-I feel like its a sort of d A big thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC for my honest review. The name may be off putting but it is well worth the quick read that it is. I had just gotten back from a trip to Sweden and the name caught my eye. What the heck? I have been to Sweden loads of times and have never heard of this...so curiosity aroused I requested it. I have just gone through an unwanted divorce and so am clearing and cleaning out my house. Not for the same reasons but sort of-I feel like its a sort of death. This book has good tips is quick to read and is very interesting. I found it to be well written, with a lovely sentiment. It helped keep me motivated to continue in the cleaning of our house-which is a cleansing in itself. I have told multiple people about this book and the concept (I rarely tell people about what I read-it is usually my private pleasure). I would recommend this to everyone. Thanks for the great read and inspiration. Loved her attitude- I am somewhere between 80 and 100!! ...more
• 
  dirt

  I'm not sure how someone could pass up a title like this. I'm pretty confident the power chords and blaring drums of Entombed (or maybe Dismember) must play in the background every time you read the title.
  
  You might expect some kind of hybrid between Marie Kondo and hygge, but it's just another get rid of stuff book with ABBA references and typically Swedish stories about sailing the coastline and skiing in swim suits. Plus advice like don't iron your whole shirt if you're going to wear a sweat o I'm not sure how someone could pass up a title like this. I'm pretty confident the power chords and blaring drums of Entombed (or maybe Dismember) must play in the background every time you read the title.
  
  You might expect some kind of hybrid between Marie Kondo and hygge, but it's just another get rid of stuff book with ABBA references and typically Swedish stories about sailing the coastline and skiing in swim suits. Plus advice like don't iron your whole shirt if you're going to wear a sweat over it, especially if you're a viking.
  
  My question is, if so many people start purging their possession, where will it all go? ...more
• 
  Vivian

  Alrighty, so not what I was looking for. This is a gentle nudge about getting your house together with basic breakdowns of clothing, furniture, knickknacks, and personal items. Unfortunately, either I have my act together or am way more neurotic that this provided nothing new for me. I routinely clear out closets and always have three piles: keep, throw, and donate. Since other members of my household tend towards hoarding I implemented a rule: Buy something, get rid of something--actually, in o Alrighty, so not what I was looking for. This is a gentle nudge about getting your house together with basic breakdowns of clothing, furniture, knickknacks, and personal items. Unfortunately, either I have my act together or am way more neurotic that this provided nothing new for me. I routinely clear out closets and always have three piles: keep, throw, and donate. Since other members of my household tend towards hoarding I implemented a rule: Buy something, get rid of something--actually, in one case it was buy something, get rid of two to work through their pile. I'd do it, but after the unfortunate incident of me disposing of a bag of treasured items (I still refute the treasured claim since they'd been abandoned for years) I'm not allowed or rather choose not to clear out for anyone to ensure domestic tranquility.
  
  Things that probably gave me an advantage: my parents were hoarders/collectors--thank the deities for hurricanes, if you sail you have to stow and the less crap you have the less stowing, and the more you move the less crap you drag around the world.
  
  This book is really for the person who is older and downsizing and has a reassuring, yet firm quality to the writing that is filled with personal anecdotes. It isn't very long and is a good first step for one looking to start clearing out.
  
  BEST Advice: Give away things before you die. If you know someone is getting something, then give it to them and get the pleasure of seeing them enjoy it. ...more
• 
  Carol

  Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish - or be able - to schedule time off to take care of what you didn't bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don't leave this burden to them.
  
  I value the concept of Death Cleaning, I was prepared to love this book, but I found only a few helpful suggestions in this short little book: start with areas that have the least emotional tug; give yourself a week per room; give away your treasures to loved ones now.
  
  The essence of this b Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish - or be able - to schedule time off to take care of what you didn't bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don't leave this burden to them.
  
  I value the concept of Death Cleaning, I was prepared to love this book, but I found only a few helpful suggestions in this short little book: start with areas that have the least emotional tug; give yourself a week per room; give away your treasures to loved ones now.
  
  The essence of this book is consideration of the people who survive you. She makes an important point that even if you don't have children, you need to put your affairs in order.
  
  Why my less-than-enthusiastic response? The material is more suited for a magazine article. My own view of death and eternity (and, frankly, my level of sexual frankness) didn't align with the author's. So it was only okay. ...more