The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Clean..., Margareta Magnusson
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Clean..., Margareta Magnusson
12 Rating(s)
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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter

Author: Margareta Magnusson

Narrator: Juliet Stevenson

Unabridged: 2 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/02/2018


Synopsis

The original, official, bestselling guide to Swedish death cleaning—a charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.

In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.

Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.

About Margareta Magnusson

Margareta Magnusson is, in her own words, aged between 80 and 100. Born in Sweden, she has lived all over the world. Margareta graduated from Beckman’s College of Design and her art has been exhibited in galleries from Hong Kong to Singapore. She has five children and lives in Stockholm. She is the author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and The Swedish Art of Aging Well.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lisa on January 31, 2018

Other than being utterly adorable, this book doesn't offer much insight beyond "get rid of your stuff before you die." My two favorite quotes from the book: "Life will become more pleasant and comfortable if we get rid of some of the abundance." "I have gone skiing in a bikini on a wonderful, sunny wi......more

Goodreads review by Ugvaja on April 16, 2024

This book offers invaluable wisdom on decluttering and simplifying life. If you're ready to free yourself from clutter, Highly recommended! This audiobook had me absolutely hooked from the first chapter - The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Audiobook) Magnusson's approach, rooted in the Swe......more

Goodreads review by Kathleen on October 08, 2017

"Funny, wise, and deeply practical..." Yes, yes, and yes! That last one may throw some people off, but if you're not discouraged by the title or thinking too deeply about mortality, this may be the right book for you. For anyone who is intrigued by the Marie Kondo method of tidying-up, but not on bo......more

Goodreads review by j e w e l s on December 12, 2018

FOUR STARS It's no secret I've been on a minimalist kick for the last year or so. I've read lots of decluttering how-to books and aside from Marie Kondo's way-out wacky 🤪 method, they're all basically the same. This book was a sweet surprise. I downloaded the audio version from the library and didn't......more

Goodreads review by Carol on February 02, 2018

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 wil......more