Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert; he’s just a regular guy who was stressed at work, insecure, and constantly comparing himself to others—until one day he decided to change his life by reducing his possessions to the bare minimum. The benefits were instantaneous and absolutely remarkable: without all his “stuff,” Sasaki finally felt true freedom, peace of mind, and appreciation for the present moment.
He writes in his book:

“I wasn’t always a minimalist. I used to buy a lot of things, believing that all those possessions would increse my self-worth and lead to a happier life. […]. At the same time, I was always comparing myself with other people who hard more or better things, which often made me miserabile. I didn’t know how to make things better. I couldn’t focus on anything, and I was always wasting time. […]. This is a maximalist state. These stressful situations tend to happen when you’re saddled with more objects than you can handle. You aren’t able to separate out what’s really important. With our desire to have more, we find ourseves spending more and more time and energy  to manage and maintain everything we have. We try so hard to do this that the things that are supposed to help us end up ruling us. Tyler Durden said it best in the film FIGHT CLUB: <The things you own end up owning you>. […]. My definition of a minimalist is a person who knows what is truly essential for him – or herself -, who reduces the number of possessions that they have for the sake of things that are really important to them.”

Goodbye, Things explores why we measure our worth by the things we own and how the new minimalist movement will not only transform your space but truly enrich your life. Along the way, Sasaki modestly shares his personal minimalist experience, offering tips on the minimizing process and revealing the profound ways he has changed since he got rid of everything he didn’t need. The benefits of a minimalist life can be realized by anyone, and Sasaki’s humble vision of true happiness will open your eyes to minimalism’s potential.

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