Ask Yourself This:

"Does it spark joy?" That’s the essential question Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, asks of all material possessions. For Kondo, reducing clutter means more than just throwing things out. Tidiness is as much a state of mind, as it is the condition of a closet. Objects have value. Even discarded ones should be thanked for their service. To learn more about the Konmari method, watch her on "Talks at Google."

Kondo’s self-help book is a global best seller. The Wall Street Journal attributes some of this success to shifting attitudes, declaring, "Ms. Kondo's book has captured the imaginations of readers around the world at a moment when many people seem to have reached a tipping point of clutter in their lives. It coincides with the recovering economy, an increase in donations of clothing and household goods to charity and a move toward downsizing as the U.S. population growth shifts from the suburbs to city centers in many areas."

Since lots of us yearn for order and harmony in our lives, you may need to place a hold on Kondo’s book. (Be sure to check the "It's Your Lucky Day!" bookshelf, whenever you're at the Library.)  In the meantime, you can search the Library's catalog for other great clutter-busting books.  Or read Penelope Green's humorous struggle with purple tights and turtlenecks, "Kissing Your Socks Goodbye," in The New York Times.