Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki is a refreshing, personal guide to the freedom of owning less. Once overwhelmed by clutter, Sasaki shares how minimalism transformed his life, bringing clarity, calm, and more space to breathe.
More than just a decluttering manual, this book explores how our stuff affects happiness and identity. With 70 practical tips and honest reflections, Sasaki shows how letting go can lead to real peace.
Have you ever looked around your home and thought, “Why do I have so much stuff… and why can’t I seem to let any of it go?” That was Fumio Sasaki’s life, and in Goodbye, Things, he walks us through his journey from clutter and dissatisfaction to intentional living and freedom.
This book is more than just a how-to guide on decluttering. It’s a deeply personal story of transformation. Sasaki, an ordinary guy living in Tokyo, didn’t start out as a minimalist. He was, by his own admission, messy, insecure, and constantly comparing himself to others. Sound familiar? It did for me too.
First published in Japan in 2015 and then translated into English, Goodbye, Things has become a cornerstone in the growing global conversation about minimalism—not the Pinterest-perfect version, but the kind that cuts through mental clutter and reshapes your relationship with stuff.
Key Ideas and Takeaways
1. Minimalism isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about freedom
This was a game-changer for me. Sasaki insists that he doesn’t “miss” anything he got rid of. Instead, letting go gave him more time, clarity, and presence. It’s not about living with less for the sake of austerity—it’s about choosing what matters.
2. Our stuff is tied to our identity—but maybe it shouldn’t be
He makes a compelling point: many of us keep things not because we use them, but because they represent who we think we are or who we wish we were. Oof, right? That hit me. I still have a guitar from university that I’ve barely touched in years. Why? Because it says something about “past me.” But is it serving “present me”?
3. “Just in case” is a trap
I laughed out loud when he described keeping things “just in case”—guilty as charged! Whether it’s an old laptop charger or that third umbrella, Sasaki shows how this mindset keeps us trapped in fear instead of trust.
4. Letting go is a skill you get better at
Here’s some encouragement: you don’t have to go full minimalist overnight. Sasaki started small and slowly built his way up. And the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
5. Gratitude deepens when you own less
This surprised me. With fewer things, Sasaki became more appreciative. A cup of coffee, a beam of sunlight, a conversation—all became more vivid when he wasn’t overwhelmed by excess.
Detailed Section Summary
1. Why Minimalism?
So, why minimalism? Why strip your life of things that once felt comforting or even essential? Sasaki opens the book not with a rulebook or checklist, but with this very human question. He doesn’t come at it from a lofty place either. He talks about how he was constantly comparing himself to others, chasing status, and finding that no matter how much he owned, he never felt satisfied. Sound familiar? It sure hit home for me.
He frames minimalism not as a trend, but as a kind of emotional detox. He realized that the more he filled his apartment with books, clothes, gadgets, and furniture, the emptier he actually felt inside. It’s a strange paradox, right? That you can be surrounded by stuff and still feel like something’s missing. And that’s what Sasaki leans into, this hunger we all have for meaning, clarity, and connection.
What really got me thinking was his idea that minimalism is a response to modern life. We’re not just busy, we’re overstimulated, constantly scrolling, comparing, acquiring. We’re taught to want more, aim higher, buy bigger. Minimalism, in that light, becomes almost a form of quiet rebellion. Like saying, “I’m not playing that game anymore.”
One of my favorite things about this section is how Sasaki gently challenges your assumptions. He doesn’t say, “You must do this.” He just lays out how things weren’t working for him and shows how his life started to shift when he began letting go. It’s a soft entry point, and it’s powerful precisely because it feels so relatable.
And here’s the surprising twist: for Sasaki, minimalism didn’t start with clarity. It started with chaos. He didn’t declutter because he had all the answers, he decluttered because he didn’t. That might just be the most comforting truth of all. You don’t have to figure it all out before you start. You can start messy, unsure, and a little scared. Just like he did.
2. Why Did We Accumulate So Much in the First Place?
This section feels like a heart-to-heart about our emotional baggage, except the baggage is literal. Sasaki turns his attention to why we fill our lives with stuff in the first place. And spoiler: it’s not just because we like shiny things. It goes deeper than that.
He dives into the psychology behind our consumerism, pointing out how we often use objects to define ourselves. “I’m the kind of person who reads classic literature,” we think, so we keep a stack of untouched Dostoevsky. Or maybe, “I’m stylish and put-together,” so we hoard clothes we haven’t worn since 2019. I’m definitely guilty of the “someday sweater” trap. You?
Sasaki also highlights how advertising fuels this. We’re sold the idea that buying X will make us confident, cool, successful, or lovable. It’s like we’re constantly being told we’re not enough, unless we upgrade. That kind of messaging sticks with you. It becomes background noise you don’t even notice anymore. But when you start to pay attention, it’s like peeling off blinders. You see how much of your desire to buy isn’t even yours.
Another thing he touches on is fear. Fear of being left behind. Fear of losing status. Fear of needing something one day and not having it. That one hit hard. I’ve kept things “just in case” that I haven’t touched in five years. What if I need it someday? Sasaki challenges that mindset, gently but firmly. Because most of the time, that “someday” never comes.
He wraps up this section with an invitation, to look inward, not outward. To stop using things to paper over discomfort and instead get curious about where that discomfort comes from. It’s not about blaming ourselves for buying too much; it’s about finally understanding why we did.
3. 55 Tips to Help You
Ah, the heart of the book. This section is like the friendly pep talk and practical guide you didn’t know you needed. It’s packed with 70 bite-sized tips that range from the deeply philosophical to the ultra-practical. It’s also where Sasaki really shines as a minimalist mentor, not because he’s perfect, but because he’s been exactly where you are.
What I love about these tips is that they don’t feel rigid or judgmental. Some are incredibly actionable: “Discard anything you haven’t used in a year.” Others are more like mindset shifts: “Don’t get creative when you’re trying to discard.” That one made me laugh out loud because wow, have I suddenly become the world’s most inventive decorator when I’m trying to justify keeping something I don’t need?
Many of the tips are refreshingly real. He acknowledges that letting go is hard. That sometimes you’ll want to cling. That sometimes you’ll feel guilty. And that’s okay. But he also gives you tools to move through that discomfort. I personally loved his suggestion to take photos of sentimental items, it helped me let go of a few things I wasn’t ready to part with emotionally, but didn’t actually use or need anymore.
The last 15 tips are all about moving forward, not just decluttering, but living lighter. This is where the minimalist mindset really takes root. You’re not just throwing things out; you’re changing how you relate to objects, to space, and even to your own thoughts. You start to realize: “Hey, I don’t miss that thing. And I feel… calmer.”
If I had to describe this section in one word, it would be: generous. Sasaki gives you permission, tools, and reassurance all at once. And by the end, you’ll probably be itching to fill a donation box. (I know I was.)
4. 12 Ways I’ve Changed Since I Said Goodbye to My Things
This section feels like a window into what’s possible. It’s personal, reflective, and honestly quite moving. Sasaki shares how minimalism changed his daily life—but also how it changed his emotional landscape, relationships, and even his self-esteem.
One of the most touching points? He started sleeping better. Yep, just from having a calmer, less cluttered space. I’ve felt this too—when my space is messy, my brain feels messy. When things are clear, I feel like I can breathe again. And he describes that shift with such simplicity, it makes you want to clean out your nightstand immediately.
He also talks about confidence. This surprised me. How does owning fewer things make you more confident? But it makes sense—when you’re not constantly comparing yourself to others or clinging to stuff to define your worth, you start standing on your own two feet. You learn to like yourself as you are, not as you wish you looked in a new outfit or expensive gadget.
There’s also something beautiful about the way he talks about relationships. When he stopped using stuff as a crutch, he started being more emotionally available. He had more time. More attention. And more willingness to just be with people. Imagine that—your things were actually stealing your presence. What a thought.
He doesn’t claim perfection here. In fact, he admits he’s still learning. But the changes he lists are honest, humble, and inspiring. They’re not dramatic reinventions—they’re quiet transformations. The kind that ripple out over time.
And if you’re wondering what minimalism can really do for you, this is the section that answers that.
5. “Feeling” Happy Instead of “Becoming” Happy
This section is the soul of the book, in my opinion. It’s where everything comes full circle. After all the decluttering, the mindset shifts, the letting go—what are we really chasing? According to Sasaki, it’s not happiness someday. It’s happiness right now.
He makes a subtle but profound point: so much of our culture tells us to work hard now to be happy later. Buy this. Achieve that. Wait until you have X, and then you’ll finally feel okay. But what if that “someday” never comes? Or worse, what if it does—and you still feel empty?
Minimalism, Sasaki says, helped him stop chasing and start noticing. He began feeling grateful for small things. Sunlight through a window. A cup of coffee. The ability to sit still and not reach for his phone. These aren’t flashy joys—but they’re real. And they’re available to us all the time, if we can just quiet the noise.
I really appreciated how he doesn’t try to oversell it. He admits that happiness isn’t a constant state, and minimalism isn’t a cure-all. But it creates space—literal and emotional—for joy to enter. And in today’s world, that feels like a miracle.
This section made me pause. Like, actually sit still and just feel grateful. Which is weirdly hard sometimes, isn’t it? But Sasaki reminded me that happiness isn’t something you acquire. It’s something you allow. And the less you carry, the more room you have to receive it.
So if you take nothing else from the book, take this: happiness isn’t in the next purchase, or the perfect version of you. It’s in the tiny, quiet, unremarkable moments that become visible when you finally clear the clutter.
My Impressions
I’ll be honest, I picked this book up thinking it would be another Marie Kondo-style checklist. (No shade to Marie; I love a good “spark joy” moment.) But Goodbye, Things is something else. It’s deeply human. Sasaki isn’t preaching from a mountaintop; he’s stumbling along the same path many of us are.
What made this book different for me is the tone. He’s not trying to impress. He’s vulnerable. He talks about jealousy, loneliness, and even crying in public. There’s a humility to the book that makes it feel like a long coffee chat with a friend who’s just a few steps ahead on the same journey.
Also, it made me go into my closet and, no joke, get rid of seven sweaters. I still have more to do, but Sasaki made it feel okay to start small.
Best Quotes and Passages
“Minimalism is just the beginning, not the end.”
This stood out to me. It reframes minimalism as a starting point—a clean canvas for a richer life, not a destination of deprivation.
“I didn’t need all those things to be happy. I was just clinging to the past and trying to keep up with others.”
Been there. Still there sometimes. This quote hit deep and helped me reflect on where my own consumer habits come from.
“My possessions were weighing me down, not just physically but mentally and emotionally.”
It’s amazing how clutter isn’t just about space—it’s about attention and energy. Sasaki brings that to light beautifully.
Gaps or Unexplored Areas
One thing I noticed, and I think it’s fair to mention, is that the book is very centered on a single, male, urban experience in Japan. That’s not a flaw, but it does leave out the complexities that come with larger families, rural life, or people with disabilities, for example.
Also, while there’s some mention of environmental impact, I would have loved to see a deeper exploration of sustainability and ethical consumption. For readers already motivated by climate or waste reduction, this might feel like a missed opportunity.
And finally, Sasaki is very “all in.” That might overwhelm some readers. If you’re looking for gentle encouragement rather than a radical reboot, you might want to pair this with something softer or more flexible.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Read This Book
This is a great read for:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed by their belongings
People curious about Japanese minimalism
Readers looking for more philosophy than Pinterest
It’s probably not the best fit for:
Readers wanting a step-by-step decluttering guide
People seeking advice on organizing (this isn’t that book)
Those who need family-centered or accessibility-aware minimalism tips
But if you’re seeking a mindset shift? This is gold.
My Suggested Reading (If You Liked This…)
If you liked Goodbye, Things, you might also enjoy:
The More of Less by Joshua Becker – for a family-friendly and values-driven take
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport – for a tech-centered approach to intentional living
Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton – for a softer, poetic look at Japanese lifestyle philosophy
The Art of Discarding by Nagisa Tatsumi – another Japanese perspective, with practical decluttering strategies
Essentialism by Greg McKeown – minimalism applied to work and decision-making
How I’m Applying This Book
Reading Goodbye, Things inspired me to not only declutter but also rethink my relationship with space and silence.
I’ve started doing a weekly “one thing out” habit. Every Sunday, I pick one thing—big or small—that no longer serves me, and let it go. It’s such a tiny habit, but it’s helped me feel less stuck.
I also started turning off background noise when I work. No music, no podcasts—just space. It’s not always easy, but like Sasaki says, quiet lets your real thoughts rise up.
I’ve also come up with the “Let Go List”, discussed below. This is a great, focussed way to let things go, so now there’s no excuse not to start!
My "Let Go List" – 60+ Tips to Help You Say Goodbye to Stuff
Letting go of things isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s emotional. Sometimes it’s “but what if I need this someday?” Sometimes it’s just plain exhausting. So I made this list for both of us—a little grab-bag of encouragement, reality checks, and bite-sized nudges. Use it like a bingo card, a checklist, or just a source of inspiration. Ready to start letting go?
Let’s Start Simple
Get rid of duplicate kitchen tools (you probably don’t need three spatulas).
Toss expired pantry items.
Recycle that stack of takeout menus—hello, Google Maps.
Donate clothes you haven’t worn in a year (yep, even the “just in case” ones).
Let go of broken umbrellas—why are they still in your car?
Purge mystery cords. If you don’t know what it charges, out it goes.
Say goodbye to socks with holes (even if they’re comfy).
Toss old makeup and skincare that’s expired.
Cut down your mug collection to your top 3 favorites.
Recycle unread junk mail. Don’t even open it.
Gentle Nudges for the Sentimental Soul
Photograph sentimental items before letting them go.
Keep one item from a collection, and let the rest go.
Write a goodbye note to something special you’re releasing.
Ask: “Does this item make me feel joy—or guilt?”
Let go of the souvenir if you’ve already got the memory.
Realize: The person you love isn’t in the object they gave you.
Declutter “aspirational you” stuff (that calligraphy kit from 2012?).
Say goodbye to yearbooks if you don’t ever read them.
Release birthday cards you’re keeping out of obligation.
Let go of gifts you never liked. The love isn’t in the object.
Decision-Making Hacks
Use the “Would I buy this again today?” test.
Ask: “If this disappeared tomorrow, would I even notice?”
Give yourself permission to own fewer “special occasion” outfits.
Try the “one-minute rule”: if you can decide in under a minute, do it.
Set a number limit for things (e.g., 10 t-shirts max).
Create a “Maybe” box—seal it, date it, and check it in 3 months.
Do a 12-12-12 Challenge: 12 items to toss, 12 to donate, 12 to return to their place.
Use a decluttering buddy to help you stay objective.
Try a packing party: box everything, and only take out what you need.
Ask yourself: “Would I pack this if I were moving tomorrow?”
Digital + Paper Clutter
Unsubscribe from email newsletters you never open.
Delete unused apps from your phone.
Sort your desktop—your future self will thank you.
Scan or photograph old paperwork, then shred it.
Toss manuals for electronics—you can find them online.
Clear out your downloads folder (seriously, go look).
Cancel subscriptions you forgot you had.
Go paperless for bills and bank statements.
Recycle old magazines and catalogs.
Delete duplicate photos and blurry screenshots.
Minimalist Mindset Shifts
Let go of the idea that more stuff = more security.
Embrace “enough” as a mindset, not a number.
Notice how much lighter you feel with each thing you release.
Realize: memories live in your head and heart, not your shelves.
Understand that you’re not throwing things “away”—you’re setting them free.
Shift your focus from what you’re losing to what you’re gaining: space, peace, time.
Celebrate every small win. Even tossing one item is a step forward.
Say aloud: “Thank you and goodbye” as you release each thing.
Make it fun—put on music, light a candle, make tea.
Remind yourself: your life is not your possessions.
Practical Daily Habits
Declutter one drawer every Sunday.
Try “one in, one out” for every new item you bring home.
Do a 5-minute tidy timer each evening.
Keep a donation box by the door and fill it weekly.
Don’t let stuff “linger”—decide quickly, act immediately.
Use vertical space instead of buying more bins.
Empty your bag every night—bonus: you’ll always know where your keys are.
Store things where you actually use them.
Keep flat surfaces clear—it creates instant calm.
Revisit your closet seasonally. What hasn’t been touched? That’s your next release.
Bonus Tips (Because I Couldn’t Stop at 60)
Sleep on big discard decisions. If you still don’t miss it in the morning, let it go.
Let your “why” guide your choices—not guilt, not habit.
Think like a traveler—what would you pack for a year abroad?
Keep things out of reach to test if you really use them.
Celebrate space like you used to celebrate things.
Final Verdict
Goodbye, Things is a gentle yet radical reminder that less really can be more—more time, more clarity, more joy.
It’s not a book that tells you what to do; it’s a book that quietly shows you what’s possible.
Whether you’re already on the minimalist path or just starting to feel the weight of your “stuff,” Sasaki’s story might be the nudge you need.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 from me)
Let me know—have you read Goodbye, Things? Did anything shift for you after? Or is there another book that transformed how you live with stuff? Drop a comment—I’d love to swap stories.
