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L’art de la Liste: Simplify, organise and enrich your life
'Perfect for fans of Marie Kondo' Publishers Weekly DISCOVER THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF LISTS IN THIS INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER The humble list has the power to change your life. In its immediacy, its simplicity and its concise, contained form, the list enables us to organise, to save time and to approach facts with clarity. Yet why do we end up with interminable To Do Lists that are never completed? After decades living in Japan, Dominique Loreau has become a master in the art of de-cluttering and simplifying. Now, in L'art de la Liste - a huge bestseller in her native France and translated into English for the first time - she turns her attentions to better list-making, showing you how to organise them and use them intelligently. Taking you on a step-by-step journey to greater productivity, this practical, inspiring book influences every aspect of your life - from home, diet and beauty to mental health and self-awareness. To perfect the art of the list is to live simpler, richer and more organised lives.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
128 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Dominique Loreau
77 books165 followersDominique Loreau est une essayiste française qui vit depuis la fin des années 1970 au Japon, où elle propose des séminaires destinés à ceux qui veulent simplifier leur vie. Elle s'est fait connaître grâce à son ouvrage L'Art de la simplicité, paru en 2005.
« Je ne suis pas du tout écrivain », déclare-t-elle. Lorsqu'elle a commencé à rédiger son livre à partir de ses notes personnelles, certains passages s'adressaient spécifiquement aux femmes, d'autres aux hommes, puis elle s'est dit: « Flûte ! Le monde est toujours au masculin, moi je le mets au féminin. C'est une petite plaisanterie ».
L'idée de son livre est née en voyant les citadins japonais « vivre dans tant d'encombrement et de choses, et d'être toujours stressés et fatigués, à chercher leurs affaires, à vivre dans des intérieurs qui sont vraiment pleins à craquer. On ne sait pas où s'asseoir. Et je me dis: "A quoi ça sert tout ça?". »
—from Wikipedia
« Je ne suis pas du tout écrivain », déclare-t-elle. Lorsqu'elle a commencé à rédiger son livre à partir de ses notes personnelles, certains passages s'adressaient spécifiquement aux femmes, d'autres aux hommes, puis elle s'est dit: « Flûte ! Le monde est toujours au masculin, moi je le mets au féminin. C'est une petite plaisanterie ».
L'idée de son livre est née en voyant les citadins japonais « vivre dans tant d'encombrement et de choses, et d'être toujours stressés et fatigués, à chercher leurs affaires, à vivre dans des intérieurs qui sont vraiment pleins à craquer. On ne sait pas où s'asseoir. Et je me dis: "A quoi ça sert tout ça?". »
—from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 9, 2021
3.5 stars.
This is much more than a book of list themes, a book of lists. This book shows you how much power they can have, for organizing, saving time, seeing facts clearly, finding who you are and what you can improve. A guide to everyday life, self-knowledge, life’s pleasures, and at the end of the book is a guide on how to go at it. Through the history people have made lists on various kinds of surfaces with various kinds of tools, and it’s a way of saying things in a short manner.
This book certainly has the mood of its writer, too, showing her tastes, her past and present interest in Japan, and her Frenchness (if you can put it that way). By the way, the money managing way of kakeibo is mentioned here, too, though the form of word is ‘kakebo’ here.
Of course, as you read it, you’ll probably also understand that one should make lists one’s own style, that not everything here attracts. Some things are not as affordable to all as it is to the writer, you might prefer some other drink to tea, have no interest in religious practices or not in the religious things mentioned here, or you are male so some feminine things don’t apply to you, or need to be changed into the male versions.
Some chapters are without lists, and merely talk about what lists are or can be, so more of a philosophical talk – this is partly why I prefer giving this book 3.5 stars and not the full 4.
I do like that you don’t have to use words, or words in a straight line, to make lists; one can draw or paint pictures also. One can do lists with another person (spouse, mother, kids) or as a family. One can give lists as gifts, especially if they are beautifully made.
There’s very many inspiring lists here; they might not all attract you, but there will be plenty still to use even if you’re picky. Some lists were familiar to me already: the to-do list, traveling stuff lists, housework chores list, Christmas cards to send list, budgeting, shopping list, meal planning. Everyday stuff. And then there’s the more fun ones, which makes this book worth looking into, when one is ready to start, so I will certainly reread this then. This book certainly makes me want to reread also Sei Shonagon’s “Pillow Book” again. There might be weaknesses, but there is enough strengths to make this a must for any list-making enthusiasts and people curious about the fun of lists.
This is much more than a book of list themes, a book of lists. This book shows you how much power they can have, for organizing, saving time, seeing facts clearly, finding who you are and what you can improve. A guide to everyday life, self-knowledge, life’s pleasures, and at the end of the book is a guide on how to go at it. Through the history people have made lists on various kinds of surfaces with various kinds of tools, and it’s a way of saying things in a short manner.
This book certainly has the mood of its writer, too, showing her tastes, her past and present interest in Japan, and her Frenchness (if you can put it that way). By the way, the money managing way of kakeibo is mentioned here, too, though the form of word is ‘kakebo’ here.
Of course, as you read it, you’ll probably also understand that one should make lists one’s own style, that not everything here attracts. Some things are not as affordable to all as it is to the writer, you might prefer some other drink to tea, have no interest in religious practices or not in the religious things mentioned here, or you are male so some feminine things don’t apply to you, or need to be changed into the male versions.
Some chapters are without lists, and merely talk about what lists are or can be, so more of a philosophical talk – this is partly why I prefer giving this book 3.5 stars and not the full 4.
I do like that you don’t have to use words, or words in a straight line, to make lists; one can draw or paint pictures also. One can do lists with another person (spouse, mother, kids) or as a family. One can give lists as gifts, especially if they are beautifully made.
There’s very many inspiring lists here; they might not all attract you, but there will be plenty still to use even if you’re picky. Some lists were familiar to me already: the to-do list, traveling stuff lists, housework chores list, Christmas cards to send list, budgeting, shopping list, meal planning. Everyday stuff. And then there’s the more fun ones, which makes this book worth looking into, when one is ready to start, so I will certainly reread this then. This book certainly makes me want to reread also Sei Shonagon’s “Pillow Book” again. There might be weaknesses, but there is enough strengths to make this a must for any list-making enthusiasts and people curious about the fun of lists.
August 1, 2018
dacă ești fan făcut liste sau îți place să scrii (un fel de terapie prin scris și nu numai), este cartea perfectă. Îți oferă atât de multe idei și simplifică atât de multe obiceiuri zilnice care ne consumă foarte multă energie și timp.
September 5, 2020
I tried to pick this up again after some time off it to see if it got better.
It didn't.
For a book that raves about how the conciseness of a list is beneficial to the mind, it sure is wordy.
It didn't.
For a book that raves about how the conciseness of a list is beneficial to the mind, it sure is wordy.
December 29, 2019
Singurul lucru care îmi vine în minte e: păcat de ediția asta frumoasă de la Baroque Books. Pentru că pun face o listă cu alte zece activități mai interesante decât lectura acestei cărți. Lipsită de substanță, scrisă într-un stil care mi-a amintit de publicațiile online de calitate îndoielnică dedicate femeilor. Am încercat și „Micul infinit” de Dominique Loreau și aveam impresia că nu e pentru mine. „Arta listelor” mi-a cimentat părerea. Singurul lucru care mi s-a părut util în întreaga carte sunt câteva sugestii de liste care îndeamnă la introspecție și care pun în valoare puterea terapeutică a scrisului. În rest, eram mai câștigată dacă citeam orice altceva.
May 24, 2020
Move over, diaries, lists are where it's at! L'art de la liste is a fresh take on organizing one's life by organizing one's thoughts. Instead of organizing one's house or one's desk, Loreau offers the idea of organizing with the help of lists. Movies one's loved, memories one cherishes, places one wants to see. By organizing lives in this way, Loreau suggests that lives can become more enriched, simpler. It allows for a sense of calmness by having everything organized in a similar fashion.
This is a book that normally catches my attention, because I too, love lists. I'm a sucker for these books. And I think she does a great job at highlighting the different kinds of lists one can make with personal anecdotes and quotations--but as beautiful and as wonderfully this book is, I didn't find myself super inspired to make many of the lists she suggests. And she suggests a lot. Of course, that could just be a personal thing--the fact that I have different types of lists that I enjoy making, and that of course there are other people who can really benefit from these lists.
Overall, this is well done and well crafted, though it didn't inspire me to the fullest that I think Loreau wanted to inspire her readers.
Review cross-listed here!
This is a book that normally catches my attention, because I too, love lists. I'm a sucker for these books. And I think she does a great job at highlighting the different kinds of lists one can make with personal anecdotes and quotations--but as beautiful and as wonderfully this book is, I didn't find myself super inspired to make many of the lists she suggests. And she suggests a lot. Of course, that could just be a personal thing--the fact that I have different types of lists that I enjoy making, and that of course there are other people who can really benefit from these lists.
Overall, this is well done and well crafted, though it didn't inspire me to the fullest that I think Loreau wanted to inspire her readers.
Review cross-listed here!
February 19, 2017
A go-to book to put words and structure on life. Making lists is so efficient and a really wonderful process to take control of what we want, don't want, and defines tastes and identity. The act of writing something down really takes ownership of this process.
The references to other books really color the chapters and add valuable examples of diaries, letters, books, sayings. I've always liked Dominique's taste in books. This is the book through which I discovered a more ancient list maker, Sei Shonagon, so I'm really grateful for that discovery.
The different chapters explore our relationship with the inner and outer world: listing memories, or places visited, gifts to give to friends, things owned (and what we don't need), practical lists, poetic lists, nostalgic lists, makes it really easy to take a step back.
Despite her persuasive language, I resisted the temptation of emulating her prompts of ready-made lists and exercise discernment on what suited me personally. It's useful to interpret some of the material as a suggestion rather than a rule. In any case, I certainly found life becomes richer with these lists. It's a beautiful treasure to keep as the changing fruit of experience.
It has helped me save a lot of time over the past years, find clarity, to travel light, and to make informed and choices in harmony with what I really love.
Dominique Loreau successfully translates the values she learned during her stay in Japan for a western audience. A thoughtful and helpful read, which puts pen to action and sublimates the quality of one's life.
The references to other books really color the chapters and add valuable examples of diaries, letters, books, sayings. I've always liked Dominique's taste in books. This is the book through which I discovered a more ancient list maker, Sei Shonagon, so I'm really grateful for that discovery.
The different chapters explore our relationship with the inner and outer world: listing memories, or places visited, gifts to give to friends, things owned (and what we don't need), practical lists, poetic lists, nostalgic lists, makes it really easy to take a step back.
Despite her persuasive language, I resisted the temptation of emulating her prompts of ready-made lists and exercise discernment on what suited me personally. It's useful to interpret some of the material as a suggestion rather than a rule. In any case, I certainly found life becomes richer with these lists. It's a beautiful treasure to keep as the changing fruit of experience.
It has helped me save a lot of time over the past years, find clarity, to travel light, and to make informed and choices in harmony with what I really love.
Dominique Loreau successfully translates the values she learned during her stay in Japan for a western audience. A thoughtful and helpful read, which puts pen to action and sublimates the quality of one's life.
October 18, 2016
I think this book should be compulsory reading for those who are struggling with life. How easy simplify your life and see what. Happens. I read this book and thought I can make simple changes that will make my life more liveable. Great read
May 19, 2019
“Scrivere elenchi significa assaporare la vita, ma è anche l’arte di dilatare il tempo, suddividerlo, scandirlo, misurarlo con punti di riferimento e di collezionarne i singoli istanti all'infinito.”
Bello e con tanti suggerimenti utili per organizzare la propria vita.
Bello e con tanti suggerimenti utili per organizzare la propria vita.
January 1, 2019
A really good book to start the year with, I’m definitely going to give lists a try.
October 4, 2019
I enjoyed the ideas in the book, and realised afresh the full value of what she is suggesting; making lists brings clarity, simplicity and therefore peace.
I’m happy to have read it. I wouldn’t describe it as groundbreaking, but I’m glad I came across it, and read it.
I’m happy to have read it. I wouldn’t describe it as groundbreaking, but I’m glad I came across it, and read it.
September 4, 2017
Am primit-o cadou, dar am găsit-o și online tradusă de Georgeta Cristian de la editura Baroque Books, mai exact aici: http://baroquebooks.ro/colectii/savoi...
O carte se citește ușor și poți apela la ea când ești în impas organizațional. Cu explicații simple, cu idei de liste pentru momente de cumpănă, cartea te scoate din impas. Este de ținut la îndemână, un prieten de nădejde pentru cei care au multe de făcut și, aparent, puțin timp la dispoziție.
O carte se citește ușor și poți apela la ea când ești în impas organizațional. Cu explicații simple, cu idei de liste pentru momente de cumpănă, cartea te scoate din impas. Este de ținut la îndemână, un prieten de nădejde pentru cei care au multe de făcut și, aparent, puțin timp la dispoziție.
June 1, 2019
3.5 stars | There are part of this books that are so eye opening and make me feel some type of ways. But overall, this is just a book that recommended you to write list in your everyday life. 🤷🏻♀️
Conclusion : write list to simplify your life , seize the day, be happy.
Conclusion : write list to simplify your life , seize the day, be happy.
January 24, 2020
If you’re a list person like I am then you will love this book. This is not a book of things you have to do, it’s a guide to telling your story and self discovery through lists. So easy and so much fun.
July 31, 2017
Scegliere le cose di cui vogliamo nutrire la mente è importante tanto quanto scegliere come nutrire il corpo
Sono una grafomane. Appunto tutto, o quasi, quello che mi interessa, che voglio ricordare, che devo fare, vedere, comprare, regalare. Ho un'agenda, post-it e foglietti ovunque. Colleziono matite, mi piacciono gli evidenziatori e i pennarelli e ho una passione per le liste. Un po' come a Nick Hornby, ma le mie vanno oltre il numero cinque....:)
L'idea di questo libro l'ho trovata divertente, alcune liste sono troppo assurde e anche inutili, qualche pagina è fin troppo banale però mi ha messo allegria e concordo sull'idea di fondo, e cioè che una volta che scriviamo qualcosa la fissiamo nella nostra mente o quanto meno su un foglio che nel tempo potremmo rileggere.
Scrivere elenchi significa assaporare la vita, ma è anche l’arte di dilatare il tempo, suddividerlo, scandirlo, misurarlo con punti di riferimento e di collezionarne i singoli istanti all'infinito.
La realtà si crea giorno dopo giorno, per mezzo di tante piccole cose e una vita vissuta un giorno per volta è una vita fatta di molto, è come una sinfonia.
Sono una grafomane. Appunto tutto, o quasi, quello che mi interessa, che voglio ricordare, che devo fare, vedere, comprare, regalare. Ho un'agenda, post-it e foglietti ovunque. Colleziono matite, mi piacciono gli evidenziatori e i pennarelli e ho una passione per le liste. Un po' come a Nick Hornby, ma le mie vanno oltre il numero cinque....:)
L'idea di questo libro l'ho trovata divertente, alcune liste sono troppo assurde e anche inutili, qualche pagina è fin troppo banale però mi ha messo allegria e concordo sull'idea di fondo, e cioè che una volta che scriviamo qualcosa la fissiamo nella nostra mente o quanto meno su un foglio che nel tempo potremmo rileggere.
Scrivere elenchi significa assaporare la vita, ma è anche l’arte di dilatare il tempo, suddividerlo, scandirlo, misurarlo con punti di riferimento e di collezionarne i singoli istanti all'infinito.
La realtà si crea giorno dopo giorno, per mezzo di tante piccole cose e una vita vissuta un giorno per volta è una vita fatta di molto, è come una sinfonia.
September 16, 2024
For somebody who does not have the head structured as a list, it is very helpful, I believe. I am a list, so it did not bring so much novelty to me and I even have more advanced and refined structures for list making.
Key messages:
- if you are not a list maker then this will open a mew whole world to you
- if you are a poor list maker it helps you structure better
- if you are a lista fan - it gives you ideas of lists and things you can list, nice readings recommendations and small items which help you enjoy more of your life
- it is not so much the list but following up on it which can improve your life - that is from me; and I would rather do fewer lists but make sure you follow up ok them and use them properly
For me it was sometimes boring though fun mostly and reassuring.
What I did not like is the fanatism - you cannot tun your whole life into lists and you should not have someone teach you how to live. Just live and understand in today’s world you cannot do w/o lists and they can help you a lot, but it is your decision which for which exact things you actually need a list and for which you don’t.
Key messages:
- if you are not a list maker then this will open a mew whole world to you
- if you are a poor list maker it helps you structure better
- if you are a lista fan - it gives you ideas of lists and things you can list, nice readings recommendations and small items which help you enjoy more of your life
- it is not so much the list but following up on it which can improve your life - that is from me; and I would rather do fewer lists but make sure you follow up ok them and use them properly
For me it was sometimes boring though fun mostly and reassuring.
What I did not like is the fanatism - you cannot tun your whole life into lists and you should not have someone teach you how to live. Just live and understand in today’s world you cannot do w/o lists and they can help you a lot, but it is your decision which for which exact things you actually need a list and for which you don’t.
May 18, 2020
I adored this unique book. The whole premise of the book is based on and ancient Japanese text; Sei Shonogon's Pillow Book (which I promptly ordered) She was a Japanese courtesan who recorded her life in diaries of lists.
This French author spent many years in Japan and brings both cultures into her research and her writing. She guides the reader through a series of explorative exercises and ideas on how to use lists to explore your life, your deep desires, and the core of who you are and want to become.
This was the first time that I felt excited about writing about my life - Lists are easy! The description of historical diaries and famous lists was also so intriguing. This is a book that I want my teenagers to read. It will also be on my gift list this Christmas for all of my friends.
This French author spent many years in Japan and brings both cultures into her research and her writing. She guides the reader through a series of explorative exercises and ideas on how to use lists to explore your life, your deep desires, and the core of who you are and want to become.
This was the first time that I felt excited about writing about my life - Lists are easy! The description of historical diaries and famous lists was also so intriguing. This is a book that I want my teenagers to read. It will also be on my gift list this Christmas for all of my friends.
April 18, 2024
Read the English version but could not find it here on Goodreads. This book sent me down a rabbit hole of writing lists. If you just read it, it may not be so thrilling for some but I immediately had my head spinning what yo put on these lists. I started some list for myself and even did it together with my son and it sparked conversation and brought back memories that we had forgotten. Writing lists is an active thing and it gets your mind going. It focuses and refocuses your brain and indeed brings back happy memories and makes you want to move forward with writing lists into the future like an active vision board.
October 29, 2018
Plus j'avance dans la lecture moins j'apprécie ce livre... j'ai stoppé a la moitié. Il y a quelques idées intéressantes, des astuces sympas et un bon mood mais c'est très vite redondant. Ca tourne vite en rond et beaucoup des sujets sont très peu interessant. L'idée de faire des liste est néanmoins dans ma vie mais a la lecture de ce livre c'est comme si l'on devait tout organiser se A à Z... pas top, c'est dommage c'est une lecture qui me trotait depuis un long moment et dont j'étais très impatiente de faire. Doumache
February 9, 2021
The author suggests, towards the end of this book, to delay the gratification of reading certain books in order to appreciate them more, or something to that effect. The problem is I did just that with this book, and feel this lead me to reading the right book at the wrong time. There were some beautiful sentiments, but I am not in the frame of mind to embrace them. Still, I feel it deserves to be found by the right reader, at the right time, perhaps by somebody younger. I'll be sure to donate this to a local library.
May 25, 2024
Il libro in sé era piacevole, soprattutto per una come me a cui piace l'idea di organizzare/programmare e scrivere liste. Poi mi sono imbattuta in questo passo, cito testualmente, "Louise Hay, famosa per aver sconfitto il cancro tramite un processo di auto guarigione e un lavoro psicologico su sé stessa..." che mi ha fatto raggelare il sangue per la sua assurdità e la valutazione del libro, avrei messo 3 stelle, è scesa drasticamente a una.
July 2, 2019
Je conseille fortement ce livre à toutes les personnes qui adorent être organisées et vivre pleinement les petites subtilités de la vie. Beaucoup d'idées de listes complètement différentes sont abordées dans ce livre, ce qui donne des idées, à nous d'être créatif et de se l'approprier à notre manière par la suite !
March 28, 2020
L'arte delle liste è un manuale pratico che offre molti spunti di riflessione. Annotare tutto ciò che facciamo, ciò che amiamo, ciò che vorremmo fare è utile per migliorare la propria organizzazione personale ma è anche un modo per scoprirsi e conoscersi meglio. Il libro da tantissimi esempi pratici e sopratutto per nulla scontati.
August 1, 2021
I don't think I could live my life by lists but this was a really effective way of using lists as a kind of mindful writing and so I will definitely continue applying some of the principles. The book does tend to get a bit repetetive and could have done with further editing down but overall it was enjoyable.
October 10, 2018
Non è un libro che cambia la vita ma mi ha dato ciò che mi aspettavo quando l’ho comprato, ovvero degli spunti per liste che permettano di fissare concetti e organizzarsi meglio. La parte sull’utilizzo delle liste come strumento psicologico e di miglioramento di sé invece è piuttosto banale.
December 19, 2018
As someone who loves lists, I was very excited to find a whole book dedicated to list writing. I simply enjoyed reading a book about lists. For some people they wouldn’t enjoy this book but I was delighted by the idea of it.
February 4, 2019
Content is great and I liked the idea of suggested lists! The descriptions that preceded the suggestions became really repetitive at some point and felt like fillers. Could have been half the size and still hold its value.
June 23, 2019
Some advice from there is really practical and should help you organize your life. The chapter about self-improvement however is more difficult to put into practice, but that is due to the difficulty of the subject.
Hope I will manage to follow some of the advice.
Hope I will manage to follow some of the advice.
July 31, 2019
E un po noioso da leggere, ma devo dire, che mi sono fatta la lista delle liste xD dove su un foglio ho segnato quei punti che davvero mi interessa farne delle liste. Diciamo che è una sottospecie di Bullet journal, senza la parte de l'agenda.
May 10, 2020
For everyone who writes lists. Being a list maker this book gives you many ideas for even more lists and how to use them and celebrate them. It validates everything I have ever said about making lists. I highly recommend this book for anyone who makes a lot of lists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews