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

Description

Swedish-born Margareta Magnusson is, in her words, 'aged between 80 and 100'. When her husband died, she had to downsize her home. The experience forced her to recognise the power of 'death-cleaning' and the concerns that must be addressed in order to do it with thought and care. Done well, the approach not only makes things easier for your loved ones later on, it allows you to revisit the lifetime of memories accumulated with your things. From clothes and books to stuff you just can't get rid of, stuff that only matters to you, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning offers indispensable advice on questions you will inevitably face when sorting through a lifetime of objects- How do you deal with your secrets? Tackle photographs and letters? Avoid heirs fighting over your belongings after you are gone? This charming, practical book based on personal experience and anecdotes will guide you in making the process uplifting rather than overwhelming- it focuses on the importance of living - even through death cleaning.

Margareta Magnusson says she is 'somewhere between 80 and 100 years old'. She was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on New Year's Eve, and graduated from Beckman's College of Design in Stockholm. After working as a fashion and advertisement designer, she embarked on a career as a painter. Her first solo exhibition was held in Gothenburg in 1979. Later, she exhibited in Stockholm, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and widely around Sweden. She has moved house 17 times within Sweden and abroad, which is why she says, 'I should know what I am talking about when it comes to deciding what to keep and what to throw away'.

`Keep only what you love and what makes you happy in the moment. It's like Marie Kondo, but with an added sense of the transience and futility of this mortal existence.' -The New York Post `Proustian ... A primer on how to winnow your belongings before you die, so you don't burden your family ... Ms. Magnusson is the anti-Kondo, who takes us on a charming and discursive tour of her own stuff.' - Penelope Green, The New York Times `A slim yet sage volume ... While Japanese item-control diva Marie Kondo gave us strict instructions to only keep things that spark joy, Magnusson's book is straightforward and unsentimental (with a bit of humour). The main message from this mother of five is: Take responsibility for your items and don't leave them as a burden for family and friends.' - The Washington Post `Magnusson shares solid guiding principles for organising your home, no matter your age or life circumstance.' - Business Insider `Magnusson has something worthwhile and amusing to say to adults of all ages ... This is not an orderly book for people who like dot points and detailed instructions, but a meandering personal essay that weaves memoir with household tips and a calm philosophy.' - Weekend Australian `If you love Marie Kondo, Swedish Death Cleaning may be for you ... feels especially relevant these days ...The idea of death cleaning is to simply organise your everyday life to make it run more smoothly. People of any age can benefit from that!' - The Kitchn `Packed with positive and practical suggestions, this slim volume could change your life.' - Juliet Stevenson